The White Alice Communications System (WACS) was a United States Air Force telecommunication network constructed in Alaska during the Cold War. It used tropospheric scatter for over-the-horizon links and microwave relay for shorter line-of-sight links. Sites were characterized by large parabolic, tropospheric scatter antennas as well as smaller microwave dishes for point to point links.
The system connected remote Air Force sites in Alaska, such as Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W), Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) and Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS), to command and control facilities and in some cases it was used for civilian phone calls. The system was advanced for its time, but became obsolete within 20 years following the advent of satellite communications.
Read more about White Alice Communications System: Historical Perspective, Construction, Operation, The End of White Alice, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words white, alice and/or system:
“The seagulls wings shall dip and pivot him,
Shedding white rings of tumult, building high
Over the chained bay waters Liberty
Then, with inviolate curve, forsake our eyes”
—Hart Crane (18991932)
“Penny: Grandpa found the cutest place near where Alice is, right on the ocean.
Paul: Lake, Penny. Lake.
Penny: Thats what I said. Lake. Were gonna invite you all up to go deep sea fishing.”
—Robert Riskin (18971955)
“Never expect any recognition herethe system prohibits it. The cross is not affixed to the genius, no, the genius is affixed to the cross.”
—Franz Grillparzer (17911872)