HAIKU OMEGA NAVIGATION STATION - 1973 - 1997

Text and uncredited Photos by Robert & Thomas Lancaster

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David Jessup > Marie, Robert & Thomas Lancaster - - 1970sFor best results do not change photo size or use the Slideshow [ NEXT SCREEN ] TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE CLICK HERE Photo courtesy of Annette Lancaster

David Jessup > Haiku Valley, located on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii, is a horseshoe-shaped valley eroded from the rim of the caldera of the extinct Ko'olau volcano. Its precipitous walls on three sides reach over 2800 feet above sea level. The valley and its ridges are highlighted. The Omega antenna system stretched across the valley: A distance exceeding 1 1/3 miles. The Yellow lines indicate the area covered by the six valley spanning cables. The measuring system with the white arrow is a feature of GoogleEarth. The red insert displays - (And points to) - the transmitter building that first housed the navy VLF alternator and then later the Omega Navigation Aid equipment. For best results do not change photo size or use the Slideshow [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]1986 insert by Steve Malavolti

David Jessup > The lower portion of the vertical element of the Omega antenna can be seen rising over the trees directly above the Coast Guard sign. The west cliff of Haiku Valley is in the background. Civilian contract employees began experimenting with the Omega Navigational Aid system at Haiku in 1971. Coast Guard personnel took over the program February 1973. One death and several serious injuries occurred before the completion of the antenna system in 1974.For best results do not change photo size or use the Slideshow1986 Photo by Steve Malavolti courtesy of Dr. Ronald Hillstrom [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]

David Jessup > The Omega antenna in Haiku Valley had one of the biggest spans ever built. It reached from the transmitter building in the center of the valley floor to over 2000 feet in height. Some of the six cables spanning the valley were 4 inches in diameter.This view shows only the lower portion of the vertical antenna. [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]

David Jessup > The Navy constructed the single level building extension, shown on the right side of the transmitter building, in 1948 to house the second Alternator. The Coast Guard installed the top floor about 1973. Upon completion of the Omega antenna system large red balls were placed on the cables crossing the valley to warn aircraft. The first activation of the Omega transmitter caused the balls to explode into flame. A manned tethered balloon removed the remains. [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]1986 Photo by Steve Malavolti

David Jessup > The "actual" antenna consisted of six 1½ inch multi-strand cables rising from the top of the transmitter building. The antenna received its power from the transmitter through the phase transformer then one of the variometer coils and finally the giant helix coil located inside the building.For best results do not change photo size or use the Slideshow [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]Photo by Dr. Ronald Hillstrom.

David Jessup > Six cables were spaced and held together around aluminum rings approximately two feet in diameter (may have been larger). About half way up the 6 cables divided into a “V” shape with 3 cables on each side; This time separated and held in place with aluminum rings at least one foot in diameter. The "actual antenna" (You know, the part that sent out the signal): Consisted of only the vertical part of the antenna from the top of the building to the point it connected to the horizontal cables that crossed the valley. There was no down feed or transmission line in the antenna system. [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]

David Jessup > Think about it! 6 unsupported cables 1 1/3 miles long!
All six cables spanning the valley were electrically interconnected to allow them to form what is known as a Capacity Hat. The “V” shape of the vertical antenna was added to increase capacity to an already capacitive antenna. This may seem contradictory, but if you do the math you will find that this capacity was needed to help resonate the antenna. [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]

David Jessup > The large steel A frames anchoring the capacity hat cables were electrically grounded to the top of the mountain. To prevent the antenna from being shorted to ground gigantic insulators about the size of a bus were placed between the ends of the capacity hat cables and the “A” frames. [ BACK ] . . . . . [ NEXT ] TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE CLICK HERE

David Jessup > The Capacity hat cables as well as the helix coil, located in the top of the transmitter building, were not RF radiators; However they both played vital parts in the equation that made the antenna resonate! The capacity hat enabled the Omega antenna to be resonated with a smaller helix coil. Without the immense capacity hat the helix coil would have needed to be bigger than the size of the entire huge transmitter building in which it was housed. [ BACK ] . . . . . [ NEXT ]Photo courtesy of Annette Lancaster

David Jessup > A capacity hat is used on an antenna to add - Yup you guessed it - capacity to the antenna. The radiating vertical element of the Omega antenna was much shorter than the very long wave length (very low frequency) signal sent by the transmitter.The helix coil and capacity hat allowed the antenna to react as though it matched or equaled the wavelength and thereby enabled it to absorb and radiate the transmitted signals.If an antenna does NOT absorb the transmitted energy it will feed back toward the transmitter instead of being radiated into the atmosphere: NOT GOOD! Want more details? - - - CLICK ME! [ BACK ] . . . . [ NEXT ]Photo from GoogleEarth

David Jessup > The top of the right hand ”V" of the vertical antenna is connected both to valley span #2 and to a drooping cable, the other end of which is connected to valley span #1: Adding it to the capacity hat. The other drooping cable going to the left from the top of the other “V" portion connects span #3 to span #4. More drooping cables connect spans #5 and #6. These electrical connections make all six cables crossing the valley part of the capacity hat. The last two drooping cables connecting spans #5 and #6 are not visible but they are there - trust me. [ BACK ] . . . . . [ NEXT ]Photo courtesy of Annette Lancaster

David Jessup > Notice the counter weight tower in the lower left corner of these two views. This counter weight tower served as an anchor for the antenna and provided stress relief during high winds. If you look closely you’ll see a white object at the bottom of the tower on the road side. That is a multi ton concrete block mounted on vertical rails that slides up and down (usually only a few inches). It afforded the antenna stress relief during a high wind event and during an earth quake. Want more details? - CLICK ME! [ BACK ] . . . . . [ NEXT ]

David Jessup > The reasons for the vertical element's six cable arrangement were three fold. First, The massive amount of current coursing through the antenna required a lot of surface on the cables to carry the RF current load. Second, with that arrangement it had much less wind resistance. Third, a solid cable of sufficient size would’ve pulled off the top of the mountain due to its weight! [ BACK ] . . . . . [ NEXT ]Photo courtesy of Annette Lancaster

David Jessup > The Screen Room.The brains of the station. This piece of equipment created, formatted and timed the five Omega signals. The walls and ceiling were all shielded. From here the signal went to one of two transmitters. The second transmitter remained on standby. For more information about this unit's many functions - CLICK ME! [ BACK ] . . . . . [ NEXT ]Photo by Steve Malavolti - 1986 - Courtesy of Dr. Hillstrom

Marie, Robert & Thomas Lancaster - - 1970s
For best results do not change photo size or use the Slideshow [ NEXT SCREEN ]
TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE CLICK HERE Photo courtesy of Annette Lancaster

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