Maryland Microwave Long Distance Telephone Tower Photos

These photos are some of the photos I have of some of the AT&T/Bell long-distance microwave telephone towers in Maryland. This system operated from the large square horn-like antennas at the top of the tower and operated by generating line-of-sight microwave signals projected and received by these horns. Towers with 4 or more of these projectors are relay stations that continue carrying the telephone signals through the system and towers with only 2 horns are the originators and terminators of the microwave line. The horns are in groups of 2, as one horn is exclusively for transmitting and the other is only for receiving. These systems were popular and started to be implemented in the late 50s as they could simultaneously support more phone lines than conventional copper wire. This microwave system was in service nationwide until the 80s when it was replaced by fiber optics, satellites, and other data transmission methods. Little is known of left of the equipment which ran these towers, so their operation is still for a large part a mystery.
(2022)