What's that satellite dish in Mount Cottrell?

[Okihara]

Can anyone explain what the satellite dish symbol next to Mount Cottrell (MCOT) on the Melbourne VTC is referring to? I've been scanning Google Maps images (taken in 2018 apparently) but I can't find anything remotely looking like that. It seems to be on Mount Cottrell Rd., roughly half way between Boundary Rd. and Greigs Rd.

[Paul O'Rourke]

Dishes on a tower as opposed to a satellite dish? It’s not even mentioned on the VTC legend.

[Okihara]

Much obliged. Fair to say that, judging by the size of the symbol alone, I was expecting something slightly larger and more visible from the air than your average Foxtel dish!

What are the coordinates of your find?

[Paul O'Rourke]

There is a dish there.... but I was hoping for something like Parkes

[Going Nowhere]

https://www.melton.vic.gov.au/files/...stle_lease.pdf

[Okihara]

C h e e r s

[Ramjet555]

Its a long time since I've been there but it looks like a
Microwave relay tower, which might explain the dish symbol.

[KRviator]

According to the ACMA, one tower is used by AirServices, in the UHF and microwave bands, the other tower is used by the BoM, PowerCor and Western Comms, both private companies... If you plug these numbers: -37.762608, 144.622526 into this website, it'll take you to the ACMA database of transmitters, and from there your own Google-fu should be adequate if you are still curious.

[CaptainMidnight]

I haven't looked at the site myself for some time, but I think at one point Airservices had a large satellite dish there, of the type 3 metres or so diameter you see at various country aerodromes where they have a VHF outlet, hence the symbol was put on the chart.

If it isn't there now, perhaps the site now has a terrestrial microwave link to somewhere. .

[kaz3g]

CASA OnTrack

onTrack refers to the “satellite” dish but it only stands out at low level, a bit like the Academy these days.

kaz

[Paul O'Rourke]

Originally Posted by kaz3g

CASA OnTrack

onTrack refers to the “satellite” dish but it only stands out at low level, a bit like the Academy these days.

kaz

I am understanding what you are saying Kaz. Back when Mt Cottrell formed part of the LOE (Lane of entry) it was very difficult to site the “Mount” when in close proximity, or distant for that matter. Academy is best spotted from the distance if viewed from north or south aspect as its silhouette is distinctive.

[gipjet]

Radio 3AW have their transmitter and radio mast on the corner of Boundary and shanahans road at Mt Cotterel.