# Allied Command Europe Highband

Allied Command Europe Highband, better known as ACE High, was a fixed service NATO radiocommunication and early warning system dating back to 1956. After extensive testing ACE High was accepted by NATO to become operational in 1964/1965.
The frequency supportability and frequency assignments were provided in accordance with the NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). The system was designed to be a combined UHF troposcatter/microwave radio system, providing long-range communications in the form of telephone, telegraph and data traffic in the NATO chain of command.
Its combined services produced over 200 channels and equipment was in place to multiplex them to contain up to 12 different calls each. There used to be 49 troposcatter links augmented by 40 line-of-sight Microwave terrestrial stations, located in nine different NATO countries from northern Norway through central Europe to eastern Turkey. The transmitters broadcast at 832.56 - 959.28 MHz producing an average transmitting power of 10 kilowatts.

## History

NATO was established in 1949 with a supreme command (SHAPE) near Versailles, France, and the regional headquarters (RHQ) Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) at Kolsås, Norway (responsible for Denmark, Norway and the UK), Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) at Laffaux, France (responsible for Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands) and Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) at Naples, Italy (responsible for Italy, Greece and Turkey). Supreme command, the three RHQ's and all subordinate units used various communication systems to establish contact: high frequency radio networks, VHF transmitters and civil or military landlines. All systems had their weakness in equipment reliability, maximum amount of data transferred, encryption possibilities and unauthorized data interception. So in the early 1950s, there existed an urgent need for a reliable, foolproof, long distance European communication network.
US developed tropospheric diffusion techniques, integrated in a new military communications network, appeared to be the solution and in 1956 STC, a planning, design, engineering and installation company was ordered to develop a new integrated communications network in Europe. This network consisted of a number of "backbone" stations covering a 6,800 km (4,200 mi) path from northern Norway to southern Turkey and was initially called the "Over the Horizon Troposperic scatter Communications Net," but was renamed "Allied Command Europe - Highband" (ACE-High). The network was kept operational until the 1990s when all frequency allocations had to be released to civilian authorities.
After all components were installed at their locations by Marconi Electronic Systems, UK in 1961, (from 1968, part of General Electric Company) the ACE-High system was officially transferred to NATO.
In 1966, France, under president Charles de Gaulle, withdrew from NATO integrated military structure (not from the Alliance itself) and systems had to be rerouted from France to Brunssum, Netherlands while the former Primary Control Center at Beauvais, was relocated to Lamersdorf, West-Germany.
In the early 1970s, the first geostationary satellites in the "Satellite Communication" network (SATCOM) were activated, thus expanding the ACE-High system.
The rise of the military SATCOM I-III (1971–1994), SATCOM IV (1995-now) network satellites, Internet routers, and the Central Region Integrated Communication System (CRICS) and the Crisis Response Operations in NATO Operating Systems (CRONOS) made ACE High obsolete. By the end of the 1980s, its replacement was already available but NATO postponed the ACE High phase-out until 1995.
In 1995, the first British NATO SATCOM IV/B satellites were activated and because the ACE-High frequencies had to be released for civil TV and mobile phone usage, NATO decided to deactivate ACE-High in 1996, and the frequencies in the 800 MHz band became available for civilian use again.

## ACE High sites

Download coordinates as:
* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)
The ACE High network included the following major sites and terminals, but also connected Line of Sight (LOS) microwave links to other networks reaching C2 centres not listed here.

### AFNORTH-Norway

* (NC- Senja) > NSEZ
Pos 69°19′44″N 17°29′49″E﻿ / ﻿69.32889°N 17.49694°E﻿ / 69.32889; 17.49694 TX RX Equipment:1 Scatter Line + 2 Radio Line
* (nca - Höggumpen) > NHGZ
Pos 69°04′41″N 18°00′16″E﻿ / ﻿69.07806°N 18.00444°E﻿ / 69.07806; 18.00444 502 m TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line
* (ND- Bodö) > NKLZ
Pos 67°10′23″N 15°01′24″E﻿ / ﻿67.17306°N 15.02333°E﻿ / 67.17306; 15.02333 801 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line
* (nda - Bodoe Tail - Kletkov) > NVAZ Pos unbekannt
TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line
* (NE - Mosjöen) > NMOZ
Pos 65°52′41″N 13°18′11″E﻿ / ﻿65.87806°N 13.30306°E﻿ / 65.87806; 13.30306 627 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line
* (NF - Trondheim) > NSBZ
Pos 63°18′41″N 10°56′17″E﻿ / ﻿63.31139°N 10.93806°E﻿ / 63.31139; 10.93806 677 m AMSL TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line
* (nfa - Trondheim Tail - Graakallen)
Pos 63°25′15″N 10°15′06″E﻿ / ﻿63.42083°N 10.25167°E﻿ / 63.42083; 10.25167 543 m AMSL TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line
* (NG - Oslo AAA) > NSOZ
Pos 60°03′34″N 11°16′09″E﻿ / ﻿60.05944°N 11.26917°E﻿ / 60.05944; 11.26917 246 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line
* (Oslo YYY - Svartas) > NVAZ
Pos 68°18′3″N 14°14′16″E﻿ / ﻿68.30083°N 14.23778°E﻿ / 68.30083; 14.23778 TX RX Equipment:3 Radio Line
* (nga - Oslo Tail 01 - Kolsaas) > NKOZ
Pos 59°55′7″N 10°30′58″E﻿ / ﻿59.91861°N 10.51611°E﻿ / 59.91861; 10.51611 TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line
* (ngb - Oslo Tail 02 - Maakeroy) > NVEZ
Pos 59°09′22″N 10°26′19″E﻿ / ﻿59.15611°N 10.43861°E﻿ / 59.15611; 10.43861 14 m TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line
* (NH - Grimstad - Stormyrheia/hørte) > NSMZ
Pos 58°27′19″N 08°27′43″E﻿ / ﻿58.45528°N 8.46194°E﻿ / 58.45528; 8.46194 326 m TX Rx Equipment:3 Scatter Line
* (NJ - Sola - Lysenut) > NLYZ
Pos 59°31′40″N 05°54′12″E﻿ / ﻿59.52778°N 5.90333°E﻿ / 59.52778; 5.90333 792 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line

### AFNORTH-Denmark

* (DA - Karup - Torphøj) > DTOZ
Pos 55°52′28″N 09°21′00″E﻿ / ﻿55.87444°N 9.35000°E﻿ / 55.87444; 9.35000 135 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line
* (daa - Karup Tail - Lundbakke) > DLUZ
Pos 56°13′49″N 09°09′48″E﻿ / ﻿56.23028°N 9.16333°E﻿ / 56.23028; 9.16333 68 m TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

### AFNORTH-United Kingdom

* (EAA - Faroes - Sandfelli 2)
* (EA - Shetlands - Mossy Hill) > UMSZ - Mossy Hill > 59°57′17.15″N 01°18′11.60″W﻿ / ﻿59.9547639°N 1.3032222°W﻿ / 59.9547639; -1.3032222 227 m AMSL
* (eab - Shetlands Tail Relay - Collofirth Hill) > UCOZ - Collafirth Hill > 60°32′00.75″N 01°23′28.30″W﻿ / ﻿60.5335417°N 1.3911944°W﻿ / 60.5335417; -1.3911944 239 m AMSL
* (eac - Shetlands Tail - Saxa Vord) USVZ - Saxa Vord 60°49′37.20″N 00°50′22.59″W﻿ / ﻿60.8270000°N 0.8396083°W﻿ / 60.8270000; -0.8396083 276 m AMSL
* (EB - Aberdeen - Mormond Hill) > UMOZ - Mormond Hill 57°36′11.19″N 02°01′51.86″W﻿ / ﻿57.6031083°N 2.0310722°W﻿ / 57.6031083; -2.0310722 227 m AMSL
* (eba - Aberdeen Tail - Long Haven Hill) > UBUZ - Long Haven Hill 57°27′31.94″N 1°48′46.07″W﻿ / ﻿57.4588722°N 1.8127972°W﻿ / 57.4588722; -1.8127972 95 m AMSL
* (EC - Boulmer - Brizlee Wood) > UBOZ - Brizlee Wood 55°25′05.28″N 1°46′04.26″W﻿ / ﻿55.4181333°N 1.7678500°W﻿ / 55.4181333; -1.7678500 250 m AMSL
* (ED - Binbrook - Stenigot) > UBIZ - Stenigot 53°19′36.08″N 00°06′57.44″E﻿ / ﻿53.3266889°N 0.1159556°E﻿ / 53.3266889; 0.1159556 153 m AMSL
* (EE - London - Coldblow Lane) > UMAZ - Coldblow Lane 51°17′44.95″N 00°36′51.52″E﻿ / ﻿51.2958194°N 0.6143111°E﻿ / 51.2958194; 0.6143111 194 m AMSL
* (eeb - London Tail Relay - Woldingham - RAF Botley Hill Farm)
* (eea - London tail - Hillingdon)
* RAF Uxbridge – local terminus

### AFCENT-France

* (FAN - Paris - Mont Florentin) FFLZ - Paris North 49°20′27.59″N 02°03′06.79″E﻿ / ﻿49.3409972°N 2.0518861°E﻿ / 49.3409972; 2.0518861 222 m AMSL
* FTAZ - Taverny 49°02′02.88″N 02°13′45.85″E﻿ / ﻿49.0341333°N 2.2294028°E﻿ / 49.0341333; 2.2294028 178 m AMSL
* (fac - Paris Tail (2)- Sant Germain) 48°54′44.67″N 02°01′25.44″E﻿ / ﻿48.9124083°N 2.0237333°E﻿ / 48.9124083; 2.0237333 71 m AMSL
* (fae - Paris Tail (2) - Extension (SHAPE) 48°50′34.19″N 02°06′14.30″E﻿ / ﻿48.8428306°N 2.1039722°E﻿ / 48.8428306; 2.1039722 178 m AMSL
* (fa - Relais Paris - Emeville) FEMZ - Emeville 49°18′01.83″N 03°00′41.00″E﻿ / ﻿49.3005083°N 3.0113889°E﻿ / 49.3005083; 3.0113889 247 m AMSL
* (faa - Paris Tail (1) - Laffaux) 49°27′15.05″N 03°24′57.39″E﻿ / ﻿49.4541806°N 3.4159417°E﻿ / 49.4541806; 3.4159417 143 m AMSL
* (fad - Relay Paris - Rozoy Bellevalle) FRBZ - Rozoy Bellevalle 48°55′56.05″N 03°28′24.62″E﻿ / ﻿48.9322361°N 3.4735056°E﻿ / 48.9322361; 3.4735056 219 m AMSL
* (FAS - Paris - Mont Aout) FAOZ - Paris South 48°46′14.78″N 03°53′25.33″E﻿ / ﻿48.7707722°N 3.8903694°E﻿ / 48.7707722; 3.8903694 216 m AMSL
* (FA - Trier - Rohrbach) FROZ - Rohrbach 49°03′18.47″N 07°14′40.74″E﻿ / ﻿49.0551306°N 7.2446500°E﻿ / 49.0551306; 7.2446500 376 m AMSL
* (fay - Trier Tail - Kindsbach) ABHZ - Kindsbach 49°23′48.11″N 07°35′38.32″E﻿ / ﻿49.3966972°N 7.5939778°E﻿ / 49.3966972; 7.5939778 458 m AMSL
* (FC - Lyon - Pierre sur Haute) FLYZ - Lyon 45°39′11.52″N 03°48′33.07″E﻿ / ﻿45.6532000°N 3.8091861°E﻿ / 45.6532000; 3.8091861 1632 m AMSL
* (FD - Nice - Signal de la Chens) FNIZ - Nice 43°44′53.67″N 06°39′44.85″E﻿ / ﻿43.7482417°N 6.6624583°E﻿ / 43.7482417; 6.6624583 1703 m AMSL

### AFCENT-Netherlands

* HBRZ - Brunssum 50°56′19.11″N 05°58′35.60″E﻿ / ﻿50.9386417°N 5.9765556°E﻿ / 50.9386417; 5.9765556 95 m AMSL TX equipment 1S + 1R
* HMAZ - Maastricht 50°50′25.05″N 05°39′33.78″E﻿ / ﻿50.8402917°N 5.6593833°E﻿ / 50.8402917; 5.6593833 82 m AMSL TX equipment 1S +2R

### AFCENT-Belgium

* BADZ - Adinkerke
* BCAZ - Casteau Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe Pos 50°30′05.56″N 03°58′15.69″E﻿ / ﻿50.5015444°N 3.9710250°E﻿ / 50.5015444; 3.9710250 87 m AMSL TX Equipment 2S +2R
* BCHZ - Chievres Pos 50°35′7.75″N 3°48′59.84″E﻿ / ﻿50.5854861°N 3.8166222°E﻿ / 50.5854861; 3.8166222 TX Equipment 2S +2R
* BFRZ - Baraque de Fraiture 50°15′07.94″N 05°43′56.13″E﻿ / ﻿50.2522056°N 5.7322583°E﻿ / 50.2522056; 5.7322583 654 m AMSL TX Equipment 3R

### AFCENT-Germany

* ABHZ - Kindsbach 49°23′51.24″N 07°35′41.17″E﻿ / ﻿49.3975667°N 7.5947694°E﻿ / 49.3975667; 7.5947694 458 m ü. NN
* (AA - Emden - Aurich) AEMZ - Aurich 53°30′32.04″N 07°26′34.83″E﻿ / ﻿53.5089000°N 7.4430083°E﻿ / 53.5089000; 7.4430083 10 m ü. NN
* (AB - Moenchengladbach - Roetgen) ALAZ -Lammersdorf 50°39′57.59″N 06°17′14.58″E﻿ / ﻿50.6659972°N 6.2873833°E﻿ / 50.6659972; 6.2873833 593 m ü. NN
* (abb - Moenchengladbach Tail (1) - Hehn) AHEZ - Hehn 51°10′51.44″N 06°23′37.77″E﻿ / ﻿51.1809556°N 6.3938250°E﻿ / 51.1809556; 6.3938250 81 m ü. NN
* (aba - Moenchengladbach Tail (2) - Millen) 50°45′57.87″N 05°33′47.26″E﻿ / ﻿50.7660750°N 5.5631278°E﻿ / 50.7660750; 5.5631278 151 m ü. NN
* (abc - Uedem) AUEZ - Uedem 51°39′39.08″N 06°16′58.97″E﻿ / ﻿51.6608556°N 6.2830472°E﻿ / 51.6608556; 6.2830472 47 m ü. NN
* AFEZ - Feldberg 47°52′23.09″N 08°00′59.73″E﻿ / ﻿47.8730806°N 8.0165917°E﻿ / 47.8730806; 8.0165917 1458 m ü. NN

### AFSOUTH-Italy

* IDGZ - Dosso dei Galli 45°51′13.66″N 10°22′32.28″E﻿ / ﻿45.8537944°N 10.3756333°E﻿ / 45.8537944; 10.3756333 2174 m AMSL
* IVTZ - Verona Tail ( im West Star Bunker ) 45°33′17.89″N 10°45′46.83″E﻿ / ﻿45.5549694°N 10.7630083°E﻿ / 45.5549694; 10.7630083 334 m AMSL
* (IA - Livorno - Monte Giogo) IMXZ - Livorno 44°19′17.38″N 10°07′30.94″E﻿ / ﻿44.3214944°N 10.1252611°E﻿ / 44.3214944; 10.1252611 1496 m AMSL
* (IAZ - Cavriana - Monte Bosco Scuro) IMBZ - Cavriana 45°21′00.79″N 10°37′01.46″E﻿ / ﻿45.3502194°N 10.6170722°E﻿ / 45.3502194; 10.6170722 189 m AMSL
* (iaa - Verona Torre 4) 45°27′11.35″N 11°00′30.55″E﻿ / ﻿45.4531528°N 11.0084861°E﻿ / 45.4531528; 11.0084861 164 m AMSL
* (IAY - Lame - Cavanella) ICEZ - Lame Concordia 45°44′55.99″N 12°52′08.75″E﻿ / ﻿45.7488861°N 12.8690972°E﻿ / 45.7488861; 12.8690972 7 m AMSL
* (iax - Aviano) IAVZ - Aviano 46°01′23.02″N 12°35′34.19″E﻿ / ﻿46.0230611°N 12.5928306°E﻿ / 46.0230611; 12.5928306 99 m AMSL
* (IB - Rome - Tolfa) ITLZ - Rome 42°09′01.76″N 11°54′32.73″E﻿ / ﻿42.1504889°N 11.9090917°E﻿ / 42.1504889; 11.9090917 621 m AMSL
* (iba - Rome Tail - Monte Cavo) IMCZ - Monte Cavo 41°45′04.86″N 12°42′31.03″E﻿ / ﻿41.7513500°N 12.7086194°E﻿ / 41.7513500; 12.7086194 930 m AMSL
* (IC - Naples - Ischia - Punta Fetto) IICZ - Naples 40°35′50.88″N 13°54′08.54″E﻿ / ﻿40.5974667°N 13.9023722°E﻿ / 40.5974667; 13.9023722 639 m AMSL
* (ica - Naples Tail - Monte Pecorara) IPEZ - Monte Petrino 41°13′24.29″N 13°57′57.75″E﻿ / ﻿41.2234139°N 13.9660417°E﻿ / 41.2234139; 13.9660417 335 m AMSL
* (icy - Monte Vergine) IMNZ - Monte Nardello 40°56′33.27″N 14°43′07.28″E﻿ / ﻿40.9425750°N 14.7186889°E﻿ / 40.9425750; 14.7186889 1516 m AMSL
* (icz - Monte Vulture) IVUZ - Monte Vulture 40°57′03.12″N 15°38′10.75″E﻿ / ﻿40.9508667°N 15.6363194°E﻿ / 40.9508667; 15.6363194 1301 m AMSL
* (icv - Monte Iacontenente) IIAZ - Monte Iacontenente 41°47′20.2956″N 16°2′58.0236″E﻿ / ﻿41.788971000°N 16.049451000°E﻿ / 41.788971000; 16.049451000
* (icf - Pietra Ficcata) IPFZ - Pietra Ficcata 40°34′04.90″N 16°19′21.31″E﻿ / ﻿40.5680278°N 16.3225861°E﻿ / 40.5680278; 16.3225861 586 m AMSL
* (icw - Martina Franca) IAMZ - Martina Franca 40°39′22.968″N 17°17′21.048″E﻿ / ﻿40.65638000°N 17.28918000°E﻿ / 40.65638000; 17.28918000
* (ID - Catanzaro - Monte Mancuso) IMMZ - Catanzaro 39°01′09.13″N 16°13′32.02″E﻿ / ﻿39.0192028°N 16.2255611°E﻿ / 39.0192028; 16.2255611 1319 m AMSL
* (IDA - Monte Lauro - Cozzo tre Grotte) ICCZ - Monte Lauro 37°06′52.13″N 14°51′18.96″E﻿ / ﻿37.1144806°N 14.8552667°E﻿ / 37.1144806; 14.8552667 944 m AMSL

### AFSOUTH-Malta

* (idb - Malta - Gharghur) IDBZ - Malta - Gharghur

### AFSOUTH-Greece

* (GA - Kefallina) > GKFZ - Kefallonia 38°10′11.18″N 20°37′08.53″E﻿ / ﻿38.1697722°N 20.6190361°E﻿ / 38.1697722; 20.6190361 1001 m AMSL
* (GB - Athens - Pendelikon) > GPKZ - Athens 38°04′50.46″N 23°52′58.14″E﻿ / ﻿38.0806833°N 23.8828167°E﻿ / 38.0806833; 23.8828167 1038 m AMSL
* (GBZ - Crete - Ziros) > GZIZ - Ziros 35°03′53.52″N 26°09′14.24″E﻿ / ﻿35.0648667°N 26.1539556°E﻿ / 35.0648667; 26.1539556 786 m AMSL
* (GBY - Larissa - Phillon) > GPIZ - Phillon 39°25′22.75″N 23°03′11.54″E﻿ / ﻿39.4229861°N 23.0532056°E﻿ / 39.4229861; 23.0532056 1513 m AMSL
* (GBW - Vitsi) > GVIZ - Vitzi 40°38′43.34″N 21°23′11.07″E﻿ / ﻿40.6453722°N 21.3864083°E﻿ / 40.6453722; 21.3864083 2009 m AMSL
* (GBV - Ismaros) > GISZ - Ismaros 40°53′34.67″N 25°32′56.06″E﻿ / ﻿40.8929639°N 25.5489056°E﻿ / 40.8929639; 25.5489056 612 m AMSL

### AFSOUTH-Turkey

* (TA - Izmir - Bespinar Tepes) > TBPZ - Izmir - Bespinar Tepes 38°18′48.72″N 27°01′29.89″E﻿ / ﻿38.3135333°N 27.0249694°E﻿ / 38.3135333; 27.0249694 964 m AMSL
* (taa - Izmir Tail) > TKYZ - Izmir Tail
* (TB - Eskisehir) > TKUZ - Eskishir - Kutahya Dagi 39°25′03.25″N 29°51′19.07″E﻿ / ﻿39.4175694°N 29.8552972°E﻿ / 39.4175694; 29.8552972 1820 m AMSL
* (tba - Eskirsehir Tail) > TESZ - Eskirsehir Tail
* (TC - Ankara) > TEDZ - Ankara - Elan Dagi 39°48′20.59″N 32°59′32.27″E﻿ / ﻿39.8057194°N 32.9922972°E﻿ / 39.8057194; 32.9922972 1856 m AMSL
* (TCK - Merzifon) > TKJZ - Merzifon
* (TCW - Persembe) > TPEZ - Persembe
* (TCV - Pazar) > TPAZ - Pazar
* (TD - Siwas - Pinarbasi) > TPIZ - Pinarbasi 38°40′38.09″N 36°24′10.59″E﻿ / ﻿38.6772472°N 36.4029417°E﻿ / 38.6772472; 36.4029417 2285 m AMSL
* (TG - Adana) > TDDZ - Davudi Dağı 36°49′39.37″N 35°38′18.66″E﻿ / ﻿36.8276028°N 35.6385167°E﻿ / 36.8276028; 35.6385167 515 m AMSL
* (tga - Adana Tail) > TDAZ - Adana Tail
* (TE - Dyarbakir - Karaka Dagi) > TDIZ - Dyarbakir - Karaka Dagi
* (tea - Dyarbakir Tail) > TDEZ - Dyarbakir Tail
* Bloatli, Turkey

### AFSOUTH-Cyprus

* (TCZ - Cap Greco) > JCGZ -Cavo Greko 34°58′00.85″N 34°04′11.41″E﻿ / ﻿34.9669028°N 34.0698361°E﻿ / 34.9669028; 34.0698361 62 m AMSL

### Equipment used

Initially, 60, 30 or 15 ft dish or planar antennas were used in combination with General Electric or RCA AN/MRC80 TRC24; AN/FRC-75 or 39 radio sets. Later replaced by newer Siemens & Halske EM 120/400 and 12/800 types. The type and beam angle of the antennas depended of the local site position and its distance to the next relay.