Diploma longwave radio broadcast station Europe 1

Latest news about the diploma:

The diploma is available via DCL since September, 1st 2023. All necessary steps are described there. Anyway we are happy for any questions.

Have fun hunting for the needed points!

Announcement:

Target points: 50

Bands and modes: all

Overview:

- QSO with members of Q16 5 points

- QSO with the special DOK DVQ 10 points

- QSO with DF0AP 10 points

- QSOs from within district Q / Z19 3 points

- QSOs from within district Q / Z19 in CW 10 points

- QSOs from 70cm and higher in Q / Z19 10 points

Any station can be worked once per day, band and mode. All qso's from 2016 are valid since in 2016 the location went into the community property.

The above listing is also valid for SWLs.

Pricing:

- 5€ / 5$ PDF

- 10€ / 15$ print version (15$ for shipping into non-EU countries).

Reason:

Since 01.08.2016, the site and buildings of the former Europa 1 long-wave transmitter in Berus have been owned by the municipality of Überherrn. Since then, cultural events, guided tours and other events have been held there regularly. The architecturally unique broadcasting hall is currently undergoing renovation and cannot currently be visited, at least from the inside. This work is likely to continue until mid-2024.

Regardless of the renovation, the Open Monument Day is still held every year under different themes. During the construction work, however, it will unfortunately only take place outside. However, we as radio amateurs are predestined to present ourselves there and at the same time support the community in organizing this and other events. Who else would be better suited to the broadcasting hall if not us?

Historical facts:

The Europe 1 transmitter was built in 1954 by Europäische Rundfunk und Fernsehen GmbH, which was founded in '52. After initial difficulties and constant further development, it eventually became the most powerful long-wave transmitter in the world with 2MW (2,000 kW).

Transmission operations from the Berus site ended in 2019 and the six transmission masts disappeared from the scene in 2020. One set of 4 and one set of 2 masts each formed a directional antenna facing France. The group of two formed the emergency solution in the event of a failure. Overall, great care was taken to ensure that a certain degree of redundancy was achieved in all areas in order to minimize downtime in the event of a failure. There was a tolerance of only around 10 seconds in which the transmission operation was allowed to fail. Accordingly, the power supply from two power plants was also secured at all times.

Fortunately, the equipment in the hall that was necessary for operation was preserved even after the transmitter was switched off and can still be admired during guided tours. The dimensions of the transmitters are extremely impressive and in no way comparable with "conventional" transmitters.

It is therefore a unique monument in all respects. Be it architecturally or technically. This monument is certainly unique.

Current events:

As already mentioned, the hall can be visited on certain dates. These dates are usually published by the municipality or organized privately. Information on this can be obtained from the municipality of Überherrn.

There is currently still an antenna tower right next to the broadcasting hall. This is used to broadcast the digital radio and TV program of Saarländischer Rundfunk (DAB+, DVBT 2), as the location for this could not be better.

Further information on the Europe 1 transmitter and the topics of history and technology can be found in the following article from CQ/DL 11-2022.