Marnach transmitter

The transmitter is a Marnach on the frequency 1440 kHz operating radio stations in the medium-wave band. This is one of the strongest radio stations. ( Transmit power up to 1,200 kW).

Construction

The transmission system consists of two directional antennas: Main antenna: three insulated from earth towers of 105 meters. Reserve antenna: a 60 -meter-high, insulated against ground guyed lattice steel mast and one serving as a reflector free-standing 65 meters high steel truss tower with a triangular cross-section.

History

The transmitter was in December 1955 about 1.5 kilometers southeast of the town Marnach first with two masts and 200 kilowatts of power in operation in order to improve the reception of the English program compared to the previous, in operation since 1951 medium wave transmitter in Junglinster and a German-speaking to send program.

In 1956, another medium-wave transmitter was moved with an output of 150 kilowatts of Junglinster after Marnach and increases the transmission power to 350 kilowatts.

On 15 July 1957, the German language, today emitted by this transmitter system program RTL Radio took over the station Marnach on its operation. The airtime was first daily 14-15 clock, from the end of 1957, 15 to 18 clock. In April 1958, the program was eventually aired throughout the day, with the exception of the evening, in which the English language program was still widespread.

From November 1962 to the commissioning of new transmission plant in Hosingen also FM stations were initially installed 97.0 MHz for FM frequency in Marnach. In May 1967, another FM station was added on the frequency 88.9 MHz. On January 17, 1969, the 1960 built 220 meter high and FM transmission tower toppled and damaged the transmitter building. Prior to commissioning of the new transmitter in Hosingen a provisional transmitting antenna was used for FM broadcasting.

In 1963, another mast was added to the tag antenna to improve the directivity of the radiation by Day in Germany (90 °) and the night broadcasts to the UK (314 °). Different Power supply for masts a switchable directional radiation could be achieved.

In the summer of 1964, followed by expansions of buildings and in September 1965 the commissioning of another 300 kilowatt transmitter, so the transmitter power was increased to 600 kilowatts. In November 1967, another new medium wave transmitter was installed, which replaced three old stations from 1952 and 1955. In October 1968, the output power could be increased to 1,200 kilowatts by an additional 600 -kilowatt transmitter commissioning.

On 14 January 1970, the 60 -meter-high radio mast at night antenna was put into operation, which should improve the directivity radiation to the UK. The corresponding reflector mast was put into operation on 3 December 1976. Today, this plant is used as a reserve antenna.

Mid-70s, came another two masts added to the main antenna, which should improve the directivity radiation after Germany (90 °). These poles have meanwhile been taken down, because the antenna did not meet the desired requirements.

In the course of the Geneva wave plan, the frequency of 1439 kHz in 1978 was changed to 1440 kHz.

1981, the 300 -kilowatt medium-wave transmitter was dismantled in 1967 and replaced by a new 300 -kilowatt medium-wave transmitter. The following year, the 600 -kilowatt medium-wave transmitter from 1965 was replaced by a new equally powerful medium wave transmitter with the name Telefunken S4006.

Until 30 December 1991, 31 December 1992, finally all set English-language service of Radio Luxembourg was broadcast by the station Marnach from. Since then, the German -language channel RTL radio broadcast via the transmitter. Later, other broadcasters have been added, including January 1, 2002 China Radio International, which has rented in the evening a few hours airtime. From January 2001 to April 2003 also sent forth the German -language radio program Mega by this transmitter. During this time, the programs of mega radio and were broadcast by RTL radio transmission power of 300 kilowatts, while 1,200 kilowatt transmitter power was used for the religious broadcaster. Today, the power between 300 and 600 kilowatts fluctuates. From the 8th September 2003, the transmission power was increased to 1,200 kilowatts due to a relaunch of the morning show on RTL radio from 5:30 clock to 10 clock. This performance enhancement has since been reversed.

In 2005, a new medium wave transmitter of the Trans radio systems Berlin was installed, who arrived on 20 December 2004 the transmitting station in Marnach. The transmitter enabled, an output power of 600 kilowatts to the analog modulation amplitude and 280 kilowatts in the Digital Radio Mondiale digital. Usually the transmitter was digitally operated during the day with 240 kilowatts or at night with 120 kilowatts. The directional radiation was there during the day in the direction of Germany (45 °) and at night for the UK (320 °). However, the old stations have been retained. Since the antenna allows only a maximum RF power of 1200 kilowatts, no interconnecting the old station with the newly installed 2,000 kilowatt would be possible.

On 1 January 2005, RTL radio with this newly installed transmitter according occurred in December 2004 tests in the period between 1:05 bis 4:50 clock clock clock and between 9 und 18 clock broadcasts in DRM from the transmitter Marnach from. These programs, however, were reinstated in early 2011.

Since the end of DRM programs of channels was in the period between 9 und 18 clock clock out of service. In early December 2011, the transmission mode at this time, however, was resumed with analog broadcasts.

Today transmitter Marnach from 5 to 8 clock ( in multiple shipments from various mission agencies ), from 13 to 18:15 as well as 18:30 bis 19:30 clock radio RTL, 18:15 to 18:30 and from 19: 30-20 clock ( on some days starting from 19:15 clock ) religious programs of various mission stations and 8-13 and for 20 clock clock bis 1 Radio China International aired in German language in analog modulation. The broadcasts of RTL Radio and of the religious program providers are usually aired with 300 kilowatts of power, while the broadcasts of Radio International China with 600 kilowatts of power are being broadcast.

Closure of the transmitter

On 3 October 2011, the Minister of Communications has announced that within three years set the transmission activities and on the present transmitter site a new data center to be built, since the transmitter exceeds the allowed Immisionsgrenzwerte partly to nine times. Previously, CLT- UFA had ( the Luxembourg subsidiary of RTL Group), the municipality Munshausen and the Luxembourg authorities agreed on a closing. The inhabitants of Marnach had complained for some time about electronic interference that would be caused by the transmitter. Although there since 2003 have been several class action lawsuits and petitions from the citizens' initiative " Fir méi Liäwensqualitéit ", however, was only decided in 2011 in favor of the initiative. Before that, there were three sentences that had the operator Broadcasting Center Europe committed to compliance with the emission limits, but had achieved nothing. Background to have been an increase in power from 250 kilowatts to 1,200 kilowatts in 2002, for which the transmitter on 4 October 2002 received a new permit after it was first sent since the early 90s with a reduced transmission power. Building a new transmission plant at another location is not planned because the cost is high for the operation of the medium wave transmitter and the receiver are long numbers in a non- measurable range. In June 2007, however, the village Helzingen was planned as an alternative location for a short time.

Others

  • Because of the change of directional radiation daily each against 18 and 22 clock short interruptions observed.
  • The medium wave frequency 1440 kHz transmitter Marnach counted in addition to the short- wave frequency 6090 kHz of transmitter Junglinster and the VHF frequencies 88.9 MHz and 97.0 MHz, the transmitter or the transmitter Hosingen Dudelange ( until 1969 also from Marnach ) to the four cheerful waves of former Radio Luxembourg.

Pictures

Reserve antenna consisting of a 60 meter high lattice steel mast (left ) and a 65 meter high steel truss tower as a reflector (right)

Sendemast the reserve antenna

Reflector antenna of the reserve

Overall view of the system, in July 2013

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