History

The link between Leeds and Hull had at least two unusual features. Its main purpose was to connect with the telephone network in Hull, historically run by the Corporation (then City Council) and later known as Kingston Communications and KCOM. This was also an early 11 GHz (analogue) system and probably the first operational multi-hop 11 GHz route in the UK. When the main UK SHF network was planned, 11 GHz had been held in reserve for future use but local links were permitted where conditions required. It seems likely the other routes through Leeds were expected to need the full capacity of 4 GHz and both 6 GHz bands; 2 GHz was in use for Linesman and therefore 11 GHz was the best option for the Hull route. It is also possible the route was chosen as a long-term test for the new band as performance data was collected for the first few years of operation.

The entire route was a "join the dots" exercise, except at Hull where a tower was added on the roof of the Post Office exchange ("Anson"), located next to one of the Kingston exchanges ("Civic"). Leeds (Tinshill) was long-established and the intermediate sites at Stillingfleet and Cave Wold had been introduced as part of the Linesman radar links. Equipment is believed to have been the Pye M1117 with 960 voice circuits per channel (Post Office designation RS 10/25). The link was operational by early 1973. The overall capacity of the system is unclear - a number of cables already existed linking Hull with the Post Office network.

We understand it was possible for outside broadcast traffic to be injected at Anson, probably using the "Protection Channel" however it is unlikely the link carried vision circuits on a permanent basis. The route was migrated to digital systems in the 1980s, and possibly remained available for use until the early 2000s. The dishes at Hull had been removed by September 2009.