Transmitter building
A transmitter building (also broadcast building ) is a building to accommodate transmission facilities and this required auxiliary facilities.
Transmission and auxiliary equipment
In addition to the actual transmission devices, it also houses the devices required to power the transmission system (transformers, emergency power supply and rectifiers) and the devices required to monitor the proper functioning of the transmitter . Special devices are provided for the water cooling of high-performance transmitters.
Often the transmitter buildings also include storage rooms for spare parts and workshops for the corresponding repairs . Social rooms are also to be provided for transmitter systems in which personnel are often or always on site.
A transmitter building should not be confused with a studio, as it has no corresponding facilities. A small studio can be provided for malfunctions which, together with an emergency power supply, maintains operations.
Installation sites of transmitter buildings
In the case of VHF and TV transmission masts, the transmitter building is erected directly next to the transmission tower or mast , while in the case of transmission systems for long, medium, and short wave, the transmitter building is usually at a distance of 30 m to 600 m from the transmitting antenna for radiation reasons is erected.
In the case of directional radio and VHF transmitters, the transmitters can be located in a room on the tower. In these cases only heavy elements such as transformers or emergency power generators are present in buildings in addition to the antenna carrier.
In principle, however, the distance to the transmitting antenna should not be too great in order to prevent transmission losses of the high frequency.
cables
The program to be broadcast is usually sent to the transmission system via cable, satellite, radio relay or IP data connections. In the case of high transmission powers, coaxial cables are usually used to connect the transmitter to the antenna , which are filled with protective gas and kept under slight overpressure - this prevents moisture from penetrating and the protective gas has a very low loss angle . Trap lines can also be found in older transmission systems for long, medium and short wave . Goubau cables have historically been used for VHF and TV broadcasters . In large transmission systems and at frequencies of a few 100 MHz upwards, waveguides are used to feed the antennas .
Fire hazard and air conditioning
Since transmitter buildings are exposed to an increased risk of overvoltage due to the mostly exposed antenna support, only non-flammable materials should be used in transmitter buildings for fire protection reasons.
Transmitter buildings should definitely be heated and, under certain circumstances, also air-conditioned, since excessive temperature fluctuations can lead to malfunctions. In the case of transmitter buildings that house transmitter systems with a higher output, the heating can be done by the waste heat from the transmitter.
architecture
Transmitter buildings are usually designed as purely functional buildings. Sometimes they are also architecturally adapted to the landscape. There are also transmitter buildings that have been designed to be particularly appealing, such as the Muthesius building in Nauen or the transmitter building of Europe 1 in Felsberg-Berus.