Remains of RAF Ventnor Radar Station

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Radar during the Second World War and postwar period. This is one of the 20 built radars along the coast of Great Britain for the early detection of aircraft on Luftwaffe raids on London and other places.
Home Chain or AMES Type 1 (Air Ministry Experimental Station Type 1) - radar stations were built along the coast of the British Isles. They made a significant contribution to the defense of Britain from air attack in World War II, especially during the Battle of Britain.
To detect low-flying aircraft radars used in Home Chain built with the latest radar Home Chain Low (AMES Type 2).
January 28, 1935 Watson-Watt (Watson-Watt) wrote a Ministry of Aviation report to substantiate t the UK the opportunity for early warning of air attack by detecting enemy aircraft using radio waves. In the course of the experiment on February 26 of that year, for the first time in the UK, with the help of radio waves, he detected flying aircraft. According to the results of the experiment, to enable further work in the field of radar, he was allocated 12,300 pounds. This allowed experienced radar operators the summer of 1935 aerial target at a distance of 60 km. In September, a decision was made for production of Home Chain. In December 1935 work started on the first 5 radar stations installed on the east coast of Britain. In the summer of 1938 the UK network for protection against air attack consisted of 20 radar stations. Later the number was increased. From 1939 work began on installing radars Home Chain Low, operating at a higher frequency and able to detect low-flying planes. From 1943 - Home Chain Extra Low. These radars have worked with Home Chain. Radars operated at frequencies of 20-30 MHz (wavelength 10-13 m). The pulse power was 200 kW at first, later it was increased to 800 kW. The transmitting antenna consisted of horizontal dipoles and reflectors hung on metal masts 115 m high. Antenna wwere fixed and had a wide beam pattern - the plane could be detected in a sector of 120 °. Receiving antennas were placed at 80 meter wooden towers. They consisted of two crossed dipoles to determine the azimuth and the two were located at different heights for measuring angles. The comparison of the amplitude of the reflected signal from the plane on the upper and lower dipoles determined the elevation, ie altitude air targets. The signals were received, as reflected directly from the aircraft, and additionally reflected from the surface. Height, at a distance of 100 km from the radar was determined with an accuracy up to 500 m. In order to verify the correct operation to determine the elevation and azimuth of the radar calibration often required. Rear and side lobes of the radiation caused by the reflection of the mountains and aircraft outside the working area of ​​radar. The station could not detect low-flying aircraft. Located aircraft were displayed on a cathode-ray tube with a horizontal sweep. At present, the remaining antenna are used by local radio stations.