Boatbird
Well-known member
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1875 and by 1884 the Barbados Telephone Company was in operation.
Forward on less than 100 years and satellites were becoming part of the modern telecommunications developments and the Barbados Earth Station was built at Congor Bay in the St Johns District.
This station formed the nucleus for an international telephone-switching centers for, not only Barbados, but much of the English Caribbean.
By 1982 fiber optic cables were introduced in Barbados, again a first for the Caribbean region. And within a few years, the earth station was abandoned as technology outdated it.
Although attempts were made to turn the area into a hotel complex, it has become too expensive with the world economy and nearby farmers graze cows in what should be the car parks.
Oh, and its got the coolest GPS co-ords ever at Latitude: 13.183333 / Longitude: -59.483333.
Entrance gate- while the drive is complete there is a rather large gap in the concrete stopping car access.
Main building
Main control room from a side room
Loading Bay area
Inside the power room
Mission statement
Generator room?
Fuel tank storage bay
Tool storage
Phone number list from 1988
Main entrance showing dedicated parking bays and seperate buildings
The building that held the satellite downlink (there was a great big dish on here years ago) didn't get any closer due to cows and lack of time
There are more photos here
Thanks to at_home for showing me where it is and looking after the wee dude so we could explore!
Forward on less than 100 years and satellites were becoming part of the modern telecommunications developments and the Barbados Earth Station was built at Congor Bay in the St Johns District.
This station formed the nucleus for an international telephone-switching centers for, not only Barbados, but much of the English Caribbean.
By 1982 fiber optic cables were introduced in Barbados, again a first for the Caribbean region. And within a few years, the earth station was abandoned as technology outdated it.
Although attempts were made to turn the area into a hotel complex, it has become too expensive with the world economy and nearby farmers graze cows in what should be the car parks.
Oh, and its got the coolest GPS co-ords ever at Latitude: 13.183333 / Longitude: -59.483333.
Entrance gate- while the drive is complete there is a rather large gap in the concrete stopping car access.
Main building
Main control room from a side room
Loading Bay area
Inside the power room
Mission statement
Generator room?
Fuel tank storage bay
Tool storage
Phone number list from 1988
Main entrance showing dedicated parking bays and seperate buildings
The building that held the satellite downlink (there was a great big dish on here years ago) didn't get any closer due to cows and lack of time
There are more photos here
Thanks to at_home for showing me where it is and looking after the wee dude so we could explore!
Its in the St Johns district on the Atlantic side of the island.
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