Weiskirchen transmitter

The former station Weis churches of the Hessischer Rundfunk stood in the northwestern district area of the Hessian town Rodgau near Highway 3 For cost reasons, the Hessischer Rundfunk broadcasts basically set on medium wave from 1 January 2010, thus the operation of the transmitter Weis churches.

On April 11, 2012 at 12:30 clock both masts were laid down by explosive demolition of guy rope anchors.

Frequency and radiation

The Rodgauer district Weis churches was from 1967 to 2012 Location of a medium wave radio station Hessischer Rundfunk for the frequency 594 kHz. Until the transition to divisible by nine frequencies in the framework of the Geneva wave Plan 1978, the transmission frequency was 593 kHz. Until 1994, the transmitting power was 400 kW. Starting in 1994, was sent with only 300 kW. The transmitter Weis churches had a directional antenna, which consisted of two insulated against ground 126.5 m high radiating transmitting masts in steel frame construction. Unlike other medium wave transmitter masts the backstays used were not divided by insulators, but over coils that were immediately adjacent to the anchor block, grounded. We avoided this way the carrying out of maintenance on surge in hard to reach intermediate insulators. The transmitter Weis churches worked with the transmitter on the Hoher Meissner in single-frequency operation. Again, the medium wave operation ended on 1 January 2010. Directivity diagram of the transmitter Weis churches had a maximum in the north-west and two minima each in a north-easterly and south-easterly direction. By controlling the feed- ever transmission tower polar pattern could be changed, in cooperation with the transmitter Hoher Meißner the maximum was even east.

Operation

The feeding of the program was carried by cable, alternatively, via a radio link from Feldberg. The first station, from 1967, was a tube transmitter with water-cooled tube amplifiers. The whole station was duplicated to produce in a tube change just a short transmission failure, the short changeover delay was announced by the broadcaster with the words follows. Later, the station was equipped with a semiconductor transmitter, which only had a water-cooled power tube, modernized. This modern network had then no more standby transmitter and worked with the energy-saving method Dynamic Amplitude Modulation ( DAM). The power supply was normally carried out by the local power grid, in case of power failure by starting within 10 to 20 seconds diesel generator. To start the generator ( marine diesel ) compressed air was used from bottles. The launch took place automatically in case of power failure. In emergency mode, the transmit power was reduced to about 100 kW. Since switching to computer-based fault detection and the station is automatically monitored by the addition of Feldberg.

Building

Right next to the remote transmitter is the former offices and residential buildings of the transmitter station attendant, whose roof and external walls are protected against electromagnetic radiation by grounded copper sheathing. The buildings were heated by the waste heat from the tube cooling in winter. The residential building was inhabited by the sender waiting until the closure of the station. Also, the actual transmitter building is sheathed with grounded copper plates, so that despite its proximity to the antenna mast, were all measuring systems operate properly.

Maintenance program

First, the transmitter combination Weis churches and Hoher Meißner supplied without frequency switching mobile receiver (car radios ) with the FM -HR1 program that was created with a spark gap, and later by telephone cord, transmitted and implemented on the medium wave frequency. Until the fall of 1989, this program was emitted due to the large range in the night hours by changing the directional diagrams of both transmitters predominantly east. Until the closure of the radio program hr- info from 19-22 clock the program for foreigners, as well as transfers from state and federal debates or major events have been sent.

Reduction

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, three guy ropes of the antennas have been cut by blasting at 12:30 clock. This led the two masts, which shaped the landscape for decades, controlled, contrary to its final end.

Gallery

Transmitter building

Bracing

Eastern Transmission Tower

Antennas on the service building

Warning sign at the fenced guy wires

Mailbox with sign