"Sotra" Aagotnes Decca Site
was situated at 050034E/602424N.The close down was Jan.17th, 1997 at 1200 noon.

The village of Aagotnes on Sotra Island in Western Norway housed a Decca site from 1966-1999. Pic with kind permission of Knut Lysklett, Aune kunstforlag.(F-11477-5) Aune kunstforlag, Trondheim©
The station radiated on 5 VLF frequencies from 70,2 to 115,1 kHz(main 84,2), each with 1200 watts, the latter channel not too far from our original frequency AM153
Site seen with accomodation hut used in the first years of operation
Aagotnes transmitter house
Inside, we first look at the generator
Then a look at one of the 5 transmitters
Station seen from path leading to mast and coil house
A sign near the station path warns against ice falling from the guy wires
Mast of Aagotnes, coil house. Here we planned housing the transmitter
Inside the Coil House. This Master station, had three slaves, Stad Red, Shetland(Green) and "Stavanger"(Hodne Beach, Purple)
Feeder and ATU
Mast of Aagotnes seen upwards
The village of Aagotnes on Sotra Island in Western Norway as it was in the 80s with Decca site. With kind permission of Knut Lysklett, Aune kunstforlag.(F-11476-5) Aune kunstforlag, Trondheim©
Aagotnes Decca site seen with oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer in harbor plus old type stone fence
Warning sign put up by local FTD, Telecoms service of the Dept of Defense in 1998 lead to hopes that the site would be untouched, but finally the bureaucrats had their way
Aagotnes site half a year before it was blown up-Picture from April 1999

"Stavanger" Hodne Decca Site
was situated at 053242N/584715N.The close down was January 22nd, 1997. It was a "purple" Slave station. The site was also a hot candidate for 1314 kHz in the late 70s.

Entrance to Hodne Beach Decca station.
At Hodne Beach on Jaerens Reef near the North Sea in July 1997. Here Northern Star proposed the big LW in its initial application document of May, 1997. The impressive coverage map may be found in the respective chapter of this website
Hodne Beach Decca station radiated on 5 VLF frequencies from 70,2 to 115,1 kHz
What was Hodne Beach Decca station now completely reverted to nature. June 2001
The transmitter building is now used as a storage house
The remnants of the 136 metres antenna mast were found at a nearby yard

Stad Decca Sites
(with slightly smaller masts of 122 metres)was situated at (Nord/Green) 050731E/621135N , (Soer=South/Red) 050746E/62 1115N.The close down was January 1997.
Stad North, "Green Slave" as shown here, is still standing. The site has been considered for 630 kHz.

At the Kjerringa Mountain at Stad facing the North Atlantic Ocean in July 2000. When in use, the two stations radiated on 10 VLF frequencies from 70,7 to 116,1 kHz
Up close at Stad Green. It is now used for mobile phones traffic
The remnants of Stad Red atop West Cape. The coil house is only a ruin

Coverage map of Aagotnes and its Slave stations
Diagram for light-and darkness period transmission of Decca stations
Norwegian Decca stations frequency list

Moen Island Decca Site
For comparison, we cross over to the Baltic Sea for a look at the Danish station
Moen situated at 1228E/5457N.It closed together with the rest of the Decca network Dec.31st,1999.
Part 1 of the antenna arrangement near Moens Klint
Part 2. Station is in full operation in Mid-July 1999
Part 3. The station radiated on VLF frequencies from 71,1 to 128,0 kHz


Picture:Another Radio Seagull!136 metres radio mast at Aagotnes, Sotra Island, Norway. Here Northern Star proposed a MW relay of the big LW in its initial application document of May, 1997.
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