Elysburg ground based satellites

Status
Not open for further replies.

awattam

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2008
Messages
268
Location
Nashua NH
I read somewhere that its a NSA data gathering facility known as Roaring Creek but that was on one of those conspiracy websites so dont know if that has any credibility.
 

HM1529

Pennsylvania DB Admin
Database Admin
Joined
Jul 16, 2003
Messages
3,087
Location
West of the Atlantic Ocean
It's an old AT&T Earth Station, although some things I read online indicate that it is still in operation and the imagery on Google shows vehicles in the parking lot.

Here's another old Earth Station in California that is/was for sale:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/us/jamesburg-earth-station-can-be-yours-for-3-million.html?_r=0

Information on Earth Stations and other relics of the Cold War and original national microwave networks can be found here:

The Microwave Radio and Coaxial Cable Networks of the Bell System

If you Google AT&T Catawissa, you'll get listings for this location located on, conveniently enough, Earth Station Rd. If it is NSA, they're hiding in plain site.
 
Last edited:

HM1529

Pennsylvania DB Admin
Database Admin
Joined
Jul 16, 2003
Messages
3,087
Location
West of the Atlantic Ocean
I have to amend my previous post to include this Wired article that specifically mentions the Catawissa site as a currently active AT&T international satellite hub that is tapped by the NSA.

The NSA Is Building the Country's Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say) | Threat Level | Wired.com

The eavesdropping on Americans doesn’t stop at the telecom switches. To capture satellite communications in and out of the US, the agency also monitors AT&T’s powerful earth stations, satellite receivers in locations that include Roaring Creek and Salt Creek. Tucked away on a back road in rural Catawissa, Pennsylvania, Roaring Creek’s three 105-foot dishes handle much of the country’s communications to and from Europe and the Middle East. And on an isolated stretch of land in remote Arbuckle, California, three similar dishes at the company’s Salt Creek station service the Pacific Rim and Asia.
 

ra7850

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2003
Messages
712
Location
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Thanks for the information and the links. Now I'm gonna have to go back and see what security is in the area. that would be a sure sign as to its use and functionality. I'm sure if it's really NSA tapped the security should be visible everywhere.

Robert
 

n3obl

Ø
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,813
Location
PA
looked like a guard shack in the sat pics.
 
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
2,078
Location
So Far Away....
Thanks for the information and the links. Now I'm gonna have to go back and see what security is in the area. that would be a sure sign as to its use and functionality. I'm sure if it's really NSA tapped the security should be visible everywhere.

Robert

You would be surprised!
Look out for bushes with feet..
 
Last edited:

altermanncam

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Oct 7, 2015
Messages
2
Location
Bloomsburg, PA
I know this is an old thread but I just joined literally so I can try to help clarify some things...
I was at the Roaring Creek Earth Station today and took several photos. The roads leading to it are pretty desolate but there are residential houses nearby. Not much activity happening within the gates. Front entrance's "guard shack" was empty and adorned an AT&T sign. A recent one at that (newer logo). The fences contain barbed wire, but that's about the security they have. There are no towers of any kind, it's not like Area 51 or anything. It was incredible to see the dishes in person though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top