The Transmitters

Marconi SWB11 & SWB 8

A Marconi-SWB11 Transmitter in Black and White
Marconi SWB-11
SW8-B Colour

These transmitters could be anything up to forty years old and were made to work reliably `As New’. Marconi’s SWB build quality was second to none, mostly constructed in brass and still in their original enamel, this equipment was intended to last `forever’ and they would have done too, but technology left them behind as it does with all things technical.


Marconi T1509

Black and White image of a Marconi T1509 transmitter
T1509 – Black and White

The colour image to the right was found here and copyright remains with the original photographer.


Marconi SWB8

Black and White image of SWB8 Transmitter
SWB8 in situ
Colour image of an SWB8 Transmitter Set
SWB8 Transmitter Set

Who remembers phoning Bracknell Met, for FMS while winding up or down the VFO on one of the SWB’s, Then! Magic in technology started with the DAWES frequency meter with a long row of neon ‘nixie’ tubes acurate to 5 cycles-second, this hammered enamel blue wonder was a third of the size of our ‘spectrum display unit’, which sat on an enormous trolly, bigger than a naafi tea trolly!! These completely eclipsed the humble wooden boxed BC221 set, which carefully used (rare!) could get you to within the same year, er! um! That’s a couple of k/c’s. Within 200 cycles was the required accuracy, which was very good for that technology. Phased locked loop was yet to be invented in a year or so’s time.


Marconi HS31 (6 kW)


HS51 (30 kW)


HS71 (12 kW) 


Colour image of a Marconi MST1200
Marconi MST1200

Marconi MST (Marconi Self Tuner) 1200 (30 kW).

Apologies for the chap in his budgie smugglers, this was an image taken from here.

It has been confimred by the chap that it wa staken in 1976 on Hittadu Island, across the atoll from RAF Gan, but is the ONLY image I could find for this beast of a transmitter. I have now had some contact with him and he has agreed that the image can remain published.

The final stage valve had to be lifted in by crane, they were rumoured to cost circa £5000 each and that was in 1982 (ish).  I have avid memories during some of the scheduled maintenance having to run it with no covers and adjust settings using a glass screwdriver whilst leaning over the top of the cathode.


Marconi 1140

Image of two airmen repairing a Marconi 1140 transmitter at RAF Greatworth circa 1982
Marconi 1140

Gareth Hanbury and Dave Allen repairing a Marconi 1140 transmitter. These were installed new during my tour sometime between 1982 and 1987


Colour image or a RACAL SpeedRace Transmitter
RACAL SpeedRace

RACAL Speedrace transmitters

Yes the budgie smugglers are back, and again to reference that this was an image taken from here.

It was taken in 1976 on Hittadu Island, across the atoll from RAF Gan and again was the the ONLY image I could find. I have managed to have an email exchange with the chap and can confirm he is happy that his picture is being reused…