The new JB2XH

Original: Ryota / JJ1WTL — 504743515 · Original Japanese HTML

Published: 2024-09-09T00:00:00+09:00

English translation of the archived article text. The author’s first-person observations, uncertainty and later additions are preserved; this is not the research summary. Image contents are preserved as images, not silently incorporated into the translated prose.

I have uncovered another site belonging to an experimental HF digital fixed station.

Previously

Restarting the investigation.

(1) I heard there might be another site in Minamiboso City

(2) Someone suggested the previously reported Gotenyama station might be a receive station

Until now, I had treated this site as High Bar Communications' JB2XH.

But someone pointed out that the station building was too small for that.

(3) An unidentified dish counterpart at SoftBank Maruyama International Relay Station remains unexplained

One dish alone points off in a completely different direction: south-southwest.

The counterpart to this ↓:

On a map, the red line:

Based on direction and system layout, SoftBank Chikura Relay Station had been my prime suspect.

…But I still have not confirmed a dish antenna there.

• Maruyama International Relay Station.

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@35.0057543,139.9753517,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

• Chikura Relay Station.

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@34.9636625,139.9523967,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

Another search in Google Maps satellite imagery

Searching south-southwest of SoftBank Maruyama International Relay Station.

Examining the ridgelines…

There was a likely-looking site!

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@34.9631127,139.9368967,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

Let's go

Friday, September 6. A paid day off, after some errands.

Tamachi, 10:39.

My second trip on the Boso Nanohana bus: Tokyo Station Yaesu south exit 11:20 → Chikura Station 13:42.

Found it! Here!! No, wrong one. This is near Takeoka．）

Arrived at Chikura. Here I am again.

Walking south. A barrier seems to ward off my approach.

Here:

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@34.9665841,139.9497124,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

I take the hill path.

Look for the signs: Kokoro-no-Kai recruiting members / Minamiboso Chikura Cemetery / Chikura Pet Ceremony.

The paving stops partway. Keep going regardless.

?!

Zoom…

This is it.

Site

Arrived after a 35-minute walk from Chikura Station. The station also rents bicycles.

Street View gives up partway along the approach.

Three towers—only one in Google Maps satellite imagery.

Click to enlarge, including the individual photographs below.

I worked hard with the wide-angle end to fit all three into the frame.

From left: west tower, north tower, east tower.

West tower.

The oldest: the only one visible in Google Maps.

Aimed at Johor Bahru.

All of these are thirteen-element log-periodics.

The rear elements are shortened.

North tower. Aimed at London.

East tower. Aimed at Chicago.

This is the one that first caught my eye in the earlier photograph.

Station buildings [revisited November 30, 2024]

The station buildings.

And the electricity supply lines.

Homeward

Success; withdrawing.

Depart Chikura 15:22.

Cross-platform change at Kimitsu; depart 16:35.

Depart Shimbashi 18:11.

Expenses

¥167: JR, Tamachi → Tokyo.

¥2,450: Boso Nanohana express bus, paid online.

¥2,310: JR, Chikura → Tamachi.

―――――――――――――――――――――――

¥4,927 total.

Results

Updated the diagram; click to enlarge.

If you know any others, please contact TV Asahi's ‘A House in the Middle of Nowhere’ the ‘I found a suspicious log-periodic’ department.

Updated comparison table

Mainly from the Radio Station Information Search.

Changes from the initial records:

*: Licence renewed.

†: Additional counterpart destination.

**: Additional frequency.

††: Reduced power.

The frequencies are shared.

Hearing something on a frequency should not immediately tell you which station it is.

Links to the Radio Station Information Search and Google Maps

(1a) JS2RA — DATACOM SERVICES GK.

https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/musen/SearchServlet?pageID=4&IT=A&DFCD=0004295380&DD=1&styleNumber=21

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@35.4465812,140.0198497,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

(1b) JS2RB — the same company.

https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/musen/SearchServlet?pageID=4&IT=A&DFCD=0004448132&DD=1&styleNumber=21

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@35.4466528,140.0195507,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

(2) JS2SA — 4HF K.K.

https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/musen/SearchServlet?pageID=4&IT=A&DFCD=0004464656&DD=1&styleNumber=21

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1114822,139.9555643,53m/data=!3m1!1e3

(3) JB2XH — High Bar Communications GK.

https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/musen/SearchServlet?pageID=4&IT=A&DFCD=0004474981&DD=1&styleNumber=21

TX: imagery shows only one tower; there are now actually three.

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@34.9631127,139.9368967,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

RX:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0819152,139.9447268,53m/data=!3m1!1e3

(4) NuVo Networks K.K.

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@35.0179693,139.9833674,52m/data=!3m1!1e3

Not yet in the satellite imagery, but visible in Street View.

Other operators expressing interest

According to the draft minutes of the First HF Digital Fixed Station Working Group meeting, Land Radiocommunication Committee, Information and Communications Technology Subcommittee, Information and Communications Council:

https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000862432.pdf

That is the source.

• GT Technologies Japan GK.

Already provides microwave services between cable landing stations and central-Tokyo data centres.

• Sora Communications.

Earlier posts

‘JS2RA / JS2RB’

https://jj1wtl.seesaa.net/article/499204144.html (English translation)

‘JA/CB-004’ (visiting the 4HF and HBC stations)

https://jj1wtl.seesaa.net/article/499505940.html (English translation)

‘JS2SA / JB2XH’

https://jj1wtl.seesaa.net/article/500304565.html (English translation)

‘The Minamihara log-periodic’ (NuVo Networks)

https://jj1wtl.seesaa.net/article/501355072.html (English translation)