US Naval Communications Station Balboa - Panama - NBA

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Early Naval Radio in Panama - Photos  

The U.S. Naval Communications Station, Balboa (NAVCOMMSTA BALBOA), established in 1908, is the oldest Naval Activity on the Isthmus. Its headquarters is located adjacent to the Fifteenth Naval District headquarters at Fort Amador and houses a facilities control center, a message center, a cryptographic center and a fleet broadcast center. It's receiver unit is located on the opposite side of the Canal at Farfan while the transmitter station, Summit, is situated on the Trans-Isthmian Highway on the continental divide. Providing communications support for the fleet is a primary consideration of NAVCOMMSTA BALBOA. Additionally, as a tributary of the Naval Communications System, the station meets the communications needs of all the commands in the area.
  • Farfan receiver site
  • Summit transmitter site 
  • Gatun VLF transmitter site
  • Inter-American Naval Telecommunications Network - web site
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NAVCOMMSTA Balboa patch

1960's - Summit Transmitter Site - AN/FRT-73 transmitter photos from Jay Schroeder - more Summit photos

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Transmitter & Helix buildings & antenna lead-in
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Control Console
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NRS Atomic Clock
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Helix Coil
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Transmitter heat exchanger
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Transmitter finals
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Output tuning coil

1968 article
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NAVCOMMSTA Balboa plaque
thanks to Randy Hoops

Summit Transmitter Site Map (1983) & Photos (1999) - thanks to Matt Paulonis

map-summit-00.JPG (8845091 bytes) Building 6102 at Base of 600' tower
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Base of 600' tower (#6103)
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Base of 600' tower (6103)
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Taken from Transmitter Building 6003
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Helix House (6002)
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