Wiederau transmitter
Encyclopedia
The Wiederau transmitter is the oldest broadcasting facility in Saxony
. It is located near Wiederau
, a village which is part of the municipality of Pegau
, and is used for medium-wave, FM
and Television
broadcasting.
Wiederau transmitter went into service on October 28, 1932 as medium-wave transmitter for broadcasting supply of Saxony on 782 kHz. It had a transmission power of 120 kW
and used a T-antenna, which was mounted on two 125 metre tall wooden lattice towers.
In spite of its high transmission power, reception of the Wiederau transmitter was not satifactory at night times in areas more than 80 kilometres away from Wiederau, because the antenna radiated a great deal of skywave
, resulting in fading
. Therefore, in 1935 the T-antenna was replaced in 1935 by a vertical wire antenna
, which was hung up in a 150 metre tall free-standing wooden lattice tower.
In 1939, a second mediumwave transmitter was installed at Wiederau. This transmitter, which is still functional, was designed for fast change of transmission frequency and used as antenna a triangular antenna, which could be used for every frequency in the MF-band. During air raids in World War II
this transmitter formed, with other radio stations in Germany
, a single frequency network
in order to make it as difficult as possible for allied
planes
to use it for radio navigation
.
In 1943, construction work of a short wave transmitter started, but it could not be completed before the end of World War II. Instead, some transmitters for jamming
radio communication between the allied aircraft were installed.
The Wiederau transmitter remained in service until April 12, 1945, when the power supply failed. The transmitter remained silent until September 1945 as the Soviet Military administration
allowed it to get into the air again. In 1947, its transmission frequency was changed to 722 kHz. In 1953, the Wiederau transmitter got a new antenna tower
in the form of a guyed steel tube mast radiator insulated from the ground.
The new mast antenna went in service on September 19, 1953. On October 27, 1953, the old wooden tower, which was the tallest wooden structure in East Germany
, was demolished
by explosives. In December 1953, short wave transmissions started at Wiederau.
In May 1954 the transmitter site was flooded. Although parts of the area were 70 centimetres under water, it was possible to save all equipment from the flooding and transmit without interruption. As consequence of this flood, in 1958 a dam was built around the site. In 1959, the 156 metre mast of the station had an antenna for TV and FM-transmission added on top, increasing its height to 236 metres. During this work, the medium wave program was temporarily transmitted from a triangular antenna installed at the site of the former 150 metre tall wooden tower.
After completion of the work, the medium-wave transmission frequency was changed from 722 kHz to 575 kHz. While this frequency also had better groundwave propagation, the change also had the goal of making reception of the Mühlacker transmitter working on the same frequency very difficult.
In 1968–69 a second guyed mast 211 metres high was built at Wiederau in direct proximity to the existing 235 metre tall mast. This mast is in opposite to the old mast grounded and can therefore only used for FM and TV broadcasting.
As result of the Wave plan of Geneva
, the Wiederau transmitter had to change its frequency to 531 kHz. This frequency change ended its interference with the Mühlacker transmitter (which was still interfered with significantly by Wöbbelin transmitter), but now interfered with Beromünster transmitter
in Switzerland, which also operated on 531 kHz.
Until the inauguration of the new Radio Moscow
transmitter at Wachenbrunn in 1989, it also served to transmit Radio Moscow programming
. After German reunification
, the number of FM transmitters at Wiederau increased, but the short wave transmitter was shut down in 1993 and all shortwave antennas were dismantled. In 1995, the medium wave transmitter moved its frequency from 531 kHz to 783 kHz,
which ended its interference with German speaking medium-wave broadcasting stations.
In 1998 a fully transistorized medium-wave transmitter was installed at the Wiederau transmitter. During this work one of the triangular antennas was replaced, which is now in use for the medium wave transmissions. The previously mentioned 236 metre tall mast is only used for FM and TV transmissions today.
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. It is located near Wiederau
Wiederau
Wiederau may refer to:*Wiederau , a small village, part of the municipality Pegau, south of Leipzig in Saxony.*Wiederau , a small village in Saxony, part of the municipality Königshain-Wiederau....
, a village which is part of the municipality of Pegau
Pegau
Pegau is a town in the Leipzig district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, situated in a fertile country, on the Weiße Elster, 18 m. S.W. from Leipzig by the railway to Zeitz....
, and is used for medium-wave, FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
and Television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasting.
Wiederau transmitter went into service on October 28, 1932 as medium-wave transmitter for broadcasting supply of Saxony on 782 kHz. It had a transmission power of 120 kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
and used a T-antenna, which was mounted on two 125 metre tall wooden lattice towers.
In spite of its high transmission power, reception of the Wiederau transmitter was not satifactory at night times in areas more than 80 kilometres away from Wiederau, because the antenna radiated a great deal of skywave
Skywave
Skywave is the propagation of electromagnetic waves bent back to the Earth's surface by the ionosphere. As a result of skywave propagation, a broadcast signal from a distant AM broadcasting station at night, or from a shortwave radio station can sometimes be heard as clearly as local...
, resulting in fading
Fading
In wireless communications, fading is deviation of the attenuation that a carrier-modulated telecommunication signal experiences over certain propagation media. The fading may vary with time, geographical position and/or radio frequency, and is often modelled as a random process. A fading channel...
. Therefore, in 1935 the T-antenna was replaced in 1935 by a vertical wire antenna
Monopole antenna
A monopole antenna is a class of radio antenna consisting of a straight rod-shaped conductor, often mounted perpendicularly over some type of conductive surface, called a ground plane. The driving signal from the transmitter is applied, or for receiving antennas the output voltage is taken,...
, which was hung up in a 150 metre tall free-standing wooden lattice tower.
In 1939, a second mediumwave transmitter was installed at Wiederau. This transmitter, which is still functional, was designed for fast change of transmission frequency and used as antenna a triangular antenna, which could be used for every frequency in the MF-band. During air raids in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
this transmitter formed, with other radio stations in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, a single frequency network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
in order to make it as difficult as possible for allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
planes
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
to use it for radio navigation
Radio navigation
Radio navigation or radionavigation is the application of radio frequencies to determine a position on the Earth. Like radiolocation, it is a type of radiodetermination.The basic principles are measurements from/to electric beacons, especially...
.
In 1943, construction work of a short wave transmitter started, but it could not be completed before the end of World War II. Instead, some transmitters for jamming
Radio jamming
Radio jamming is the transmission of radio signals that disrupt communications by decreasing the signal to noise ratio. Unintentional jamming occurs when an operator transmits on a busy frequency without first checking whether it is in use, or without being able to hear stations using the frequency...
radio communication between the allied aircraft were installed.
The Wiederau transmitter remained in service until April 12, 1945, when the power supply failed. The transmitter remained silent until September 1945 as the Soviet Military administration
Soviet Military Administration in Germany
The Soviet Military Administration in Germany was the Soviet military government, headquartered in Berlin-Karlshorst, that directly ruled the Soviet occupation zone of Germany from the German surrender in May 1945 until after the establishment of the German Democratic Republic in October...
allowed it to get into the air again. In 1947, its transmission frequency was changed to 722 kHz. In 1953, the Wiederau transmitter got a new antenna tower
Radio masts and towers
Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. They are among the tallest man-made structures...
in the form of a guyed steel tube mast radiator insulated from the ground.
The new mast antenna went in service on September 19, 1953. On October 27, 1953, the old wooden tower, which was the tallest wooden structure in East Germany
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
, was demolished
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
by explosives. In December 1953, short wave transmissions started at Wiederau.
In May 1954 the transmitter site was flooded. Although parts of the area were 70 centimetres under water, it was possible to save all equipment from the flooding and transmit without interruption. As consequence of this flood, in 1958 a dam was built around the site. In 1959, the 156 metre mast of the station had an antenna for TV and FM-transmission added on top, increasing its height to 236 metres. During this work, the medium wave program was temporarily transmitted from a triangular antenna installed at the site of the former 150 metre tall wooden tower.
After completion of the work, the medium-wave transmission frequency was changed from 722 kHz to 575 kHz. While this frequency also had better groundwave propagation, the change also had the goal of making reception of the Mühlacker transmitter working on the same frequency very difficult.
In 1968–69 a second guyed mast 211 metres high was built at Wiederau in direct proximity to the existing 235 metre tall mast. This mast is in opposite to the old mast grounded and can therefore only used for FM and TV broadcasting.
As result of the Wave plan of Geneva
Wave plan of Geneva
The Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975 is the internationally agreed frequency plan which was drawn up to implement the provisions of the Final Acts of the Regional Administrative LF/MF Broadcasting Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, in...
, the Wiederau transmitter had to change its frequency to 531 kHz. This frequency change ended its interference with the Mühlacker transmitter (which was still interfered with significantly by Wöbbelin transmitter), but now interfered with Beromünster transmitter
Blosenbergturm
The Blosenbergturm is a transmitting tower in Beromünster, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, built in 1937 for the German language radio station DRS and radiating at an AM frequency of 531 kHz marking the bottom end of the official mediumwave broadcasting range. The Blosenbergturm has a height of...
in Switzerland, which also operated on 531 kHz.
Until the inauguration of the new Radio Moscow
Voice of Russia
Voice of Russia is the Russian government's international radio broadcasting service owned by the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company. Its predecessor Radio Moscow was the official international broadcasting station of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.-Early years:Radio Moscow...
transmitter at Wachenbrunn in 1989, it also served to transmit Radio Moscow programming
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
. After German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
, the number of FM transmitters at Wiederau increased, but the short wave transmitter was shut down in 1993 and all shortwave antennas were dismantled. In 1995, the medium wave transmitter moved its frequency from 531 kHz to 783 kHz,
which ended its interference with German speaking medium-wave broadcasting stations.
In 1998 a fully transistorized medium-wave transmitter was installed at the Wiederau transmitter. During this work one of the triangular antennas was replaced, which is now in use for the medium wave transmissions. The previously mentioned 236 metre tall mast is only used for FM and TV transmissions today.
External links
- History of Wiederau transmitter (German) — 150 metre tower — main medium-wave antenna mast — FM-transmission mast
- http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b60809 , http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b60804 125 metre tall wooden towers at Skyscraperpage
- 150 metre tower Wiederau at Skyscraperpage
- Main mediumwave antenna mast at Skyscraperpage
- Site on Google Maps
Source
- 100 Jahre Funktechnik in Deutschland, Gerd Klawitter, Verlag für Wissenschaft und Technik, Berlin (Deutschland) , 1997; Page 155-162.