The Tropospheric Radio Relay network called Sever (North) is a former Soviet system of communications lines the purpose of which was to provide connection between remote parts of the country. The line is 13 200 km long and consists of 46 Tropospheric Radio Relay Stations (TRRS) located mainly along the coast of the Northern and Pacific Ocean and largest Siberian rivers.

The system was launched in the end of 1960. With its help people of the Far North and Far East of Russia were connected to one another. The system actually embraced a network of stations located 120-145 km away from one another. Every such a station was represented by a military town that could supply itself with energy and heat, water and necessary goods.

The TRRS-60 we are visiting today was situated on the Far North of Russia that was launched in 1966.

It was decided that the station will be serviced by soldiers and officers as it would be hard for civilians to handle the severe conditions of the north.

All the station were autonomous.

The tropospheric network could not supply people with reliable connection. The signal was rather weak and due to the tropospheric condition the transmitted signal could be shifted considerably.

But, according to the person, who worked at such a station that time, the connection was considered as very reliable. All changes observed due to weather were corrected by the personnel of the station easy and fast. Weakening of a signal for 1 minute was taken as an emergency.

There were no better decisions that time.

The TRRS Sever was closed in 2003 because satellite communication became available.

via russos