NHK Kawaguchi Transmitter
Encyclopedia
The NHK Kawaguchi Transmitter was a medium-wave broadcasting station at Kawaguchi, Saitama
, Japan
, which was built in 1937. It used for transmissions on 590 kHz with a power of 150 kW, a T-antenna
, which was spun between two 312.78-metre-tall guyed masts, which were 463 m apart and which were both insulated against ground.
The masts of NHK Kawaguchi Transmitter were until erection of Tokyo Tower
the tallest towers of Japan and belonged at time of completion to the tallest man-made structures of the world.
The antenna was built as T-antenna and not as mast radiator
, as the technology of building tall mast radiators insulated against ground was not very well developed in Japan at the time. After the completion of Shobu-Kuki tower
, a 240-meter-tall mast radiator in Saitama Prefecture
, NHK Kawaguchi Transmitter went out of service in 1982. In 1984 the towers were dismantled with a crane.
In the neighbourhood of the masts, in the 1970s a 110-metre-tall mast radiator was built. Today, the basements of the masts and the guy anchors remain there.
In the days following the Surrender of Japan
, the transmitter was occupied by members of the faculty and students at Imperial Japanese Army
's Signals School. This is known as the . Later, the U.S. military seized it, and used it for the Far East Network
.
Kawaguchi, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1933.As of January 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 517,171, the second largest in Saitama Prefecture after Saitama, and a population density of 9,276.61 persons per km². The total area is 55.75 km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, which was built in 1937. It used for transmissions on 590 kHz with a power of 150 kW, a T-antenna
T-antenna
A T-antenna is an antenna whereby "a vertical or sloping wire is connected to the approximate centre of a straight horizontal top wire" . This forms its characteristic "T"-shape.-External links:*...
, which was spun between two 312.78-metre-tall guyed masts, which were 463 m apart and which were both insulated against ground.
The masts of NHK Kawaguchi Transmitter were until erection of Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At , it is the second tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.Built in...
the tallest towers of Japan and belonged at time of completion to the tallest man-made structures of the world.
The antenna was built as T-antenna and not as mast radiator
Mast radiator
A mast radiator is a radio mast or tower in which the whole structure itself functions as an antenna. This design is commonly used for transmitting antennas operating at low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in particular those used for AM broadcasting. The metal mast is electrically...
, as the technology of building tall mast radiators insulated against ground was not very well developed in Japan at the time. After the completion of Shobu-Kuki tower
Shobu-Kuki transmitter
The is located in Kuki, Saitama. It is the largest centre for mediumwave and shortwave broadcasting in Japan. It is fed over a 60000 volt powerline and there are two large mediumwave broadcasting antennas, one of them 240 metres tall.The centre is operated by NHK....
, a 240-meter-tall mast radiator in Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, NHK Kawaguchi Transmitter went out of service in 1982. In 1984 the towers were dismantled with a crane.
In the neighbourhood of the masts, in the 1970s a 110-metre-tall mast radiator was built. Today, the basements of the masts and the guy anchors remain there.
In the days following the Surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
, the transmitter was occupied by members of the faculty and students at Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
's Signals School. This is known as the . Later, the U.S. military seized it, and used it for the Far East Network
Far East Network
The Far East Network was a network of American military radio and television stations, primarily serving U.S Forces in Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and U.S...
.
External links
- http://www.miwachiri.com/tokyo/0308_kawatwr.html