Roumoules transmitter
Coordinates: 43 ° 47 ′ 28 " N , 6 ° 9 ′ 21.2" E
The Roumoules transmitter is a transmission system for broadcasts in the long and medium wave range from Radio Monte Carlo near Roumoules in France. The transmitters installed there are among the most powerful in the world and can be received well throughout Europe at night.
Long wave transmitter
The long-wave transmitter Roumoules, which went into operation in 1974, works on 216 kHz (until 1988: 218 kHz) with a transmission power of 1400 kilowatts (until 1976 2000 kilowatts). It consists of two parallel-connected 1000-kilowatt transmitters that are operated with an output of 700 kilowatts. A third 1000 kilowatt unit has been in place since 1983. Although this device only serves as a backup device, it is possible to connect all three units in parallel, which would allow operation with a transmission power of 3000 kilowatts. A directional antenna with a maximum pointing to the northwest (azimuth: 309 °) is used as the antenna in the Roumoules long-wave transmitter . It consists of three 300 meter high guyed, base-fed steel framework masts that are insulated from the ground. A 330-meter-high guyed steel lattice mast is available as a reserve antenna, which is also a base-fed self-radiating transmitter mast isolated from the ground . This mast only allows omnidirectional operation. The earthing system of the long wave transmitter is 200 kilometers. It covers an area of 150 hectares. Since the area around the mast is used for agriculture, the grounding wires were laid at a depth of 80 centimeters.
Medium wave transmitter
In 1987 a directional antenna for the medium wave frequency 1467 kHz with switchable directional characteristics was built nearby. It consists of five braced steel truss masts isolated from earth and allows directional radiation in the following directions:
| Destination | Azimuth |
|---|---|
| Scandinavia | 25 ° |
| Eastern Europe | 85 ° |
| Italy and Greece | 150 ° |
| Spain, Portugal, North Africa | 241 ° |
| UK | 325 ° |
Switching itself only takes 5 seconds. It is noteworthy that there are no voting houses next to the mast foundations as in most comparable systems, but that the voting elements are in the open. Both the feed line of the medium and that of the long wave transmitter are designed as a trap line . The medium wave transmitter Roumules has an output power of 1000 kilowatts. It is also used to broadcast Trans World Radio's religious programming . In contrast to the long-wave transmitter, which can be received well all day in southern France , northern Italy , Switzerland and southern Germany , this transmitter can only be received well during the day within a radius of 100 kilometers from Roumoules. However, due to its excellent sky wave propagation, its waves can cover at least the same distance as those of the long-wave transmitter.
Power supply
The Roumoules transmitter has a high power consumption. This is provided by two transformers with an output of 5000 kilowatts. The energy required is supplied by a 150 kV and a 220 kV line. This type of power supply, which seems to be overdimensioned (roughly comparable to a place with 5000 inhabitants with its own substation for 150 kV), is a method of power supply. Nevertheless, there is an emergency generator with 3300 horsepower (2460 kilowatts) in Roumoules and the Possibility of power supply from the medium voltage network with 20 kV.
One of three long wave masts that distribute the RMC program
Long wave masts from RMC
Ceramic insulator, which ensures galvanic isolation from the ground at the mast base ( Marconi antenna )
Self-induction coil at the base of a mast
Transformer system 225/20 kV, which ensures the supply of electricity
