Transmitting Station Osterloog
|
A
scene from the early 80's. The "Log-Periodic-Antennas" are still not finished, and also the "Fan-Antennas" are missing..
|
The transmitting station
Osterloog was about 11 km northeast of the receiving station Utlandshörn,
and was an important part of Norddeich Radio. This generous separation
was necessary because with the high transmitting power level, if closer
the receiving´equipment would have died.
In the years with the highest
traffic level, there were 6 short-wave transmitters with 20 kw output,
and 6 combination of coastal telephony and short-wave transmitters with 10 kw output.
There were also 5 medium-wave transmitters with 5 kw output.
Overlooking the antenna area
was the 133 m high tubular mast for 500 kHz. This mast was for this
frequency almost the ideal quarter-wave height. Then came 65 m high
steel towers for medium-wave transmission, and 22 m high Prism antennas
for coastal telephony transmission. Six horizontal dipoles and four log-periodics
completed the antennas for short-wave. |
The ac power was 380/220
volts three-phase from transformers at 600 kva. In event of power
failure there were two diesel-generators with an aggregate output of 450
kva.
In Osterloog there were about
45 people employed.
Not mentioned also was the
transmitting station in Elmshorn, near Hamburg. Here for our needs
were 14 transmitters operated by remote control for Norddeich Radio.
In Sahlenburg near Cuxhaven
there was also a small transmitting station with two medium-wave reserve
transmitters with 3 kw output, and two coastal telephony and short-wave transmitters
with 10 kw output.
From this falls one little
story: Presently we had to call a ship that was a very long way off.
For us in night service, we had a procedure in our box of tricks.
We connected transmitters in Utlandshörn and Sahlenburg in parallel,and
called the ship on 500 kHz. Due to delays in keying from Cuxhaven,
this parallel operation must not have sounded very good. Quickly
came a call from a friendly coastal station on 500 kHz, who said: "DAN
UR TX IS NOT OK MODULATION VY BAD." We thanked him for the information,
disconnected the second transmitter, and were pleased when the called ship
actually reported.
Worth mentioning is perhaps
the story of the radio station at Osterloog. In the 1930's it was
built as short-wave station "Bremen," and broadcast propaganda in English
during WWII to England. After the war it was put in short-wave service
for the British Liberation Army.
In 1948 the transmitter was
identified as NWDR (Nordwest Deutscher Rundfunk), and later changed to NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk).
|
And
this is the scene today. Nothing reminds one
that radio and maritime radio
were transmitted here
for over 70 years.
|
In 1964 it was taken over
by the former Deutsche Bundespost, converted to maritime service, and put
into service in 1967.
Today people don't remember
that for ten long years "Radio Dramas" were played out here.
The transmitters were sold
or scrapped, or with luck landed in a museum.
The emergency power supply
equipment was taken over by the city of Norden as reserve power equipment.
The building stood long empty, but will soon, in part, house the Seal
Breeding and Research Station Norddeich. The changes inside will begin shortly. There will be a quarantine station for seals, and a treatment center for oil-polluted sea birds.
Additional uses for this large, former antenna area, are not in sight.
The antenna installation
was taken down in 1998, and in summer only cows are seem in the former
antenna installation - a sorrowful picture. |
Photo-Gallery Transmitting Station Osterloog
