Does anyone know what happens to decommissioned NDBs?

[N0BAA]

First I am new to forums so I hope I don't do anything wrong. I am very interested in NDB stuff, I don't know why. I was looking around my area at NDBs and saw a bunch that were decommissioned but were still up. One I was looking at seems to be right where they are building a housing complex or something and it most likely will be demolished. So to the title, What will/does happen to NDBs when they are decommissioned? I have heard story of HAMs getting radio equipment from decommissioned FCC monitoring stations when they were getting taken out. Would the same thing be possible and reasonable to try to do with NDBs? I have heard that a lot of NDBs and VORs are being taken out as GPS is taking over.

 

[spanky15805]

Leave your name and number on the door, seriously.

 

[jwt873]

I would LOVE to get my hands on a decommissioned NDB site. I have room on my property to set one up.. I'd use it for operating on the 475 kHz 630 Meter ham band. I always dream about that when I drive by one

I'm sure they will eventually call for tenders from companies capable of dismantling the sites. What happens then, who knows....

 

[spacellamaman]

the folks who have to manually cart the stuff off may not mind if someone has beat em to it.


maybe

 

[WB9YBM]

What will/does happen to NDBs when they are decommissioned? I have heard story of HAMs getting radio equipment from decommissioned FCC monitoring stations when they were getting taken out.

In a perfect world--and at some point in history--yes hams (or other serious hobbyists, museums, etc.) would probably get it. In today's world where we need to be paranoid about almost everything falling into the "wrong hands" for nefarious purposes, getting government equipment isn't so easy any more...

 

[mmckenna]

I've seen a few NDB transmitters on e-Bay. I think some of them were from outside the USA.

We had one here in town at our airport. It was shut down a few years back. It was licensed to the city. I sort of know the airport manager and should have asked them if they were going to surplus it, but never got around to it. Don't really have a need for it. The antennas are pretty inefficient, so not sure if it would be of much value, other than parts.

 

[spanky15805]

Seriously, if you can walk upto the fiberglass shelter, write your name and number by the lock. The contractor who *won* that contract really didn't really want to *win* and now has to complete the terms of the contract which means sending people out-of-state, paying per-diem, milage, hotel, dump rates for the closest landfill and so on...

 

[cmjonesinc]

Seriously, if you can walk upto the fiberglass shelter, write your name and number by the lock. The contractor who *won* that contract really didn't really want to *win* and now has to complete the terms of the contract which means sending people out-of-state, paying per-diem, milage, hotel, dump rates for the closest landfill and so on...

You wouldn't happen to be that contractor would ya?

 

[pb_lonny]

You might get lucky

 

[AA4TX]

Interesting:

NDB/ADF (Non-Directional Beacon) - govdeals.com

GovDeals' online marketplace provides services to government, educational, and related entities for the sale of surplus assets to the public. Auction rules may vary across sellers.

www.govdeals.com