DENMARK
New transmitter towers for Denmark 243 kHz.
The two 118 metre tower structures on Kalundborg longwave 243 kHz have been renewed by public service broadcaster DR in order to retain transmission capabilities for future DRM broadcasts. The new towers have only two top wires as compared to previously eight, but still work together as a top capacitance loaded "Alexanderson" antenna.
Photographs reveal that some of the isolators in the end guy wires have been shorted during calibration, and consequently the top capacitance wires now extend electrically down to almost ground level. The high bandwidth and electrical efficiency is reported to be within one dB of the original 1954-vintage Alexanderson design, which was already proven to be DRM compatible.
Kalundborg 243 kHz has been silent on AM since 15 February 2007, but an unconfirmed report from 21 April 2008 on the DRM Forum www.drmrx.org claims that low-power DRM calibration signals for the new antenna have been picked up as far away from Denmark as Switzerland. At full power, the signal on 243 kHz can be reliably received in most of Western Europe, the North Sea, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the southern parts of Greenland.
In contrast to medium wave which can be received at long distances only by night, the coverage area of Kalundborg 243 kHz is virtually constant around the clock.
Sources: Original communication, Radionyt.com and DRMRX.org (13/5-2008)
DENMARK
Public broadcaster to keep 243 kHz longwave.
The longwave towers in Kalundborg will stand for at least five more years, even though regular AM broadcasting on 243 kHz ceased last year. This means that Danish public service broadcaster DR keeps its attractive frequency for digital longwave broadcasts.
A face lift [see photo] will remove the top structures that were added to the towers in 1954. This will reduce the wind load significantly and give the masts their original 1927 "slim-line" look back. Only the inner two of the eight top capacitance wires that also feed the secondary tower of the Alexanderson antenna system will be retained.
Calculations and antenna measurements made earlier this year by technical operator Broadcast Service Danmark A/S show the modification will not affect the extremely high relative bandwith of the antenna system needed for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) broadcasts.
The QRP measurement signal was picked up by at least two DX listeners on 25 March 2008, a testament to the efficiency of the antenna system on the "Gisseløre" peninsula. According to calculations, a 1 kW transmitter should be sufficient for covering most of Denmark with DRM test transmissions.
The 300 kW long wave AM transmitter is kept in working order and reaches most of Western Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Southern Greenland.
Source: Radionyt.com and DRMRX.org (4/4-2008)
DENMARK
In a surprise move the long wave transmitter in Kalundborg on 243 kHz - which ceased operation more than a year ago on Feb 15 2007 - is now on the air again.
I first noted it back yesterday afternoon.
It is broadcasting a 1 kHz tone in DRM (with 13 kbps compression) and ID'ing as 'DR DENMARK'.
Signal strenght here (in Jutland) is lower than when they used AM.
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen via MWC (24/3-2008)
DENMARK
Jeg kan høre kraftig støj på 243 kHz, der lyder som et DRM signal. Har du hørt noget om DRM-test's fra Kalundborg. Hvad søren kan det ellers være??
Heavy noise heard on 243 kHz, sounds like a DRM signal. Does anybody know anything about DRM tests from Kalundborg?
Stig Hartvig Nielsen (23/3-2008)
DENMARK
Effective today DR is now longer airing a weather forecast (at 2145-2200 UTC) and the news (at 2200-2205 UTC) on 1062 kHz.
The weather forecasts at 0445, 0745, 1045 and 1645 UTC remain on the air. So do the newscasts at 0500, 0800 and 1100 UTC, as well as the navigational warnings at 1700 and the gymnastics programme at 0730 UTC.
Besides these few short broadcasts the 250 kW transmitter on 1062 kHz in Kalundborg remains silent for most of the day.
More info (in Danish): http://www.radionyt.com/artikel/default.asp?id=14567
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen via MWC (3/12-2007)
DENMARK
Not a DX catch here, but nice to hear them briefly :-)
12 Oct at 1540 when passing 1062 noted an interval signal with DR 1062 kHz ID's. At 1544 time announcements (like from the dial-up "time-lady") and at 1545 into sea weather
information. Later temperatures in the main capitals of Europe and navigational warnings. Audio off around 1615 and transmitter was switched off at 1625. Dominant background station was Czech Country Radio with Italy and others popping up at times.
Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski Finland via dxld yg (12/10-2007)
DENMARK
DR Kalundborg 243 kHz went silent at 2304 14/2-2007, after the News at 2300. Carrier on frequency until 2315 UTC.
Ydun Ritz (15/2-2007)
DENMARK
DR 243 kHz seemingly still is there today.
Regards, Harald Kuhl (14/2-2007)
Kalundborg LW 243 kHz still on air, I'm listening to the last hours of transmission just now with a talk programme and songs.
At 2330 UTC tonight it is said to sign off for good, unfortunately!
Ydun Ritz (14/2-2007)
In future a typical weekday programme on MW 1062 kHz - which also can be heard during weekends - will look like that (outside these hours DR will switch off the transmitter, to save power expenses):
04.45-04.51 Vejrmelding (weather report)
05.00-05.07 Radioavis fælles med P4 (News together with P4)
07.30-07.40 Krop og bevægelse (gymnastics px)
07.45-08.00 Vejrmelding (weather report)
08.00-08.07 Radioavis fælles med P4 (News together with P4)
10.45-11.00 Vejrmelding (weather report)
11.00-11.30 Radioavis fælles med P4 (News together with P4)
16.45-17.00 Vejrmelding (weather report)
17.00-17.16 Meddelelser fra Søværnets Operative Kommando (Info for vessels in Danish waters)
21.45-22.00 Vejrmelding (weather report)
22.00-22.05 Radioavisen fælles med P4 (News together with P4)
All times UTC. Check out at www.dr.dk/programoversigten.
DR's website via Ydun Ritz (14/2-2007)
DENMARK
Danmarks Radio LW 243 kHz: February 14th will be the last day for this legendary transmitter to be on air. Catch it when you can!
Ydun Ritz (6/2-2007)
DENMARK
243 kHz - You can see a 2 minute item from the Danish TV News (in Danish, that is) about the closure of the Danish LW tx at:
http://www.dr.dk/DR1/TVAVISEN/tvaindslag.htm
Choose out right under 'TV Avisen': Tors (=Thursday) 18.30. Then go down to item no. 19:
'Virkeligheden overhaler langbølge-radio' (Reality overtakes Long Wave Radio).
I wonder why also a mobile telephone antenna is shown!
Forgot to mention that the last broadcast will be up to midnight Danish time on Febr. 14 - or rather: the final closure is around 23.30 UT, Febr. 14.
Erik Koie, dxld yg (27/1-2007)
Photos of the antenna towers at Kalundborg (Ydun Ritz)
DENMARK
On February 14th 2006 at 2330 UTC the 300 kW transmitter in Kalundborg operating on 243 kHz will be switched off for the last time.
And starting February 15th there will be a strong reduction of airtime on the 250 kW transmitter in Kalundborg operating on 1062 kHz. This is the new schedule:
0445-0507
0730-0807
1045-1130
1645-1716
2145-2205
(All times in UTC)
I believe that the transmitter will be switched on some 5 minutes prior to these s/on times and may also stay on the air a couple of minutes after official s/off times.
The programmes to be carried are:
0445-0451: Weather forecast
0451-0500: // DR P4
0500-0507: News (// DR P4)
0730-0740: Gymnastics
0740-0745: Interval signal
0745-0800: Weather forecast
0800-0807: News (// DR P4)
1045-1100: Weather forecast
1100-1130: News (// DR P1 and DR P4)
1645-1700: Weather forecast
1700-1716: Navigational warnings
2145-2200: Weather forecast
2200-2305: News (// DR P4)
The news in Danish from KNR, Greenland, currently heard Mo-Fr 1755-1800 UTC will be discontinued on 1062 and will only be available on DR P1 (on FM and the internet).
The reason for the closure of 243 kHz and the reduced schedule on 1062 kHz is the fact that hardly anyone in Denmark listen to LW and MW - and due to the high cost of running the transmitters.
Additional information (in Danish) here:
http://www.radionyt.com/artikel/default.asp?id=13404
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen via mwc (18/1-2007)
DENMARK
Long wave station in Kalundborg to be closed - medium wave will continue.
Initially DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) wanted to close down both the medium wave and the long wave transmitters in Kalundborg operating on 243 and 1062 kHz by the end of 2006. But the Danish Ministry of Culture has decided that DR must continue using medium wave till at least December 31 2010. It is however uncertain which programmes will be carried on 1062 in the future. Director of DR Radio, Leif Lønsmann, says to radionyt.com, that DR is going to air navigational warnings, weather forecasts and possibly newscasts on medium wave - but no final decision on this has been taken yet.
The switch off of the long wave station [243 kHz] in Kalundborg is expected sometime during the spring of 2007.
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen (1644 UTC 4/1-2007)
DENMARK
A couple of hours ago it was made official that DR will continue on 1062 kHz in the period January 1st 2007 - December 31st 2010. However we still don't know (officially) which programmes will be offered on 1062 and the broadcasting hours. It is however likely that operations will be limited to weather forecasts, newscasts etc.
Long wave 243 kHz from Kalundborg will cease operations.
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen (1835 UTC 3/1-2007)
DENMARK
I have an interesting logging of Danish Broadcasting's medium wave transmitter on 1062 kHz from Kalundborg. As we all know, the Kalundborg site was due to close on New Year's Eve 2006. Monitoring 1062 kHz at 2300 UTC on 31st December I noticed some sort of New Year
celebration transmission including hymns, presumably in Danish, followed by a news bulletin, followed by the P3/P4 night programme, which was transmitted right through the night. The transmitter was still on air on New Year's Day and it is still in operation now on the evening of Wednesday 3rd January at 1750 UTC, putting out a nice clear signal (55555 on the Sony
Hi-Fi) with their nice rounded valve type easy-on-the-ear sound characteristic of Kalundborg
1062. There also appears to be a frequency announcement after the 1700 navigational warning specific to 1062 kHz at approximately 1715 UTC(I cross checked with 243 kHz and they were putting out P1 as normal). The announcement lasted about 5 minutes. I assume this is a "we're leaving AM soon, please re-tune to FM" announcement, but, if this is so, why
is it not carried on 243 kHz? (This announcement was also present on 1062 kHz at the same time the previous day.) What is the position on the Kalundborg site at the moment? I hope someone will tell me that DR have decided to continue broadcasting on 1062 kHz. P3 is
indeed an excellent px to listen to!
Darren Rozier, Suffolk UK via Glenn Hauser (3/1-2007)
DENMARK
Kalundborg 243 kHz and 1062 kHz still on air; just listened to them. 243 kHz transmitting DR P1 and 1062 kHz transmitting DR P3.
Ydun Ritz (0035 local [2335 UTC] 1/1-2007)
DENMARK
Both 243 and 1062 from Kalundborg will continue on January 1st 2007. The FINAL decision as to what exactly will happen with these two transmitters still hasn’t been taken.
Stig Hartvig Nielsen via yours truly and via Media Network weblog (31/12-2006)
DENMARK
Where do these rumours about a shut-down of Danmarks Radio longwave 243 kHz and mediumwave 1062 kHz come from? Nothing heard here so far.
Ydun Ritz (31/12-2006)
DENMARK
Kalundborg shut-down?
This New Year's Eve, December 31, Denmark leaves the longwaves. Of course we have seen many European longwave stations close down in the last fifteen years, as FM became the delivery method of choice, and the end of the Cold War, also brought an end to the power and coverage race between East and West on longwave and medium wave in Europe. Denmark is the latest to close down, both on longwave [243 kHz] and medium wave [1062 kHz] as this year ends.
As far as I can tell, the station was on the air in the mid 20's on 260 kHz eventually working its way up to 7,500 watts. In 1934, as per a 1933 wavelength conference, it moved to 238 kHz with a major power increase to 60,000 watts.
(Radio Luxembourg was never recognized by, nor did it adhere to the 1933 longwave frequency adjustment treaty. After jumping around the dial, they settled down to 230 kHz, just prior to World War II. By the time of, and during its German occupation and control, Radio Luxembourg blasted out 200,000 watts on 232 kHz. Just 6 kHz away from Denmark.)
Following World War II, A longwave reassignment plan moved Denmark to 245 kHz. On this frequency, its power was eventually increased to 150,000 watts.
When another longwave band plan that went into effect in 1987, Denmark had moved down 2 kHz to 243 kHz, and by this time, their power was up to 300,000 watts. On trips, I was able to receive them with a fair signal at 12 noon in London on a "barefoot" Sony 2010. And so can you. For one more day.
Regards, Brock Whaley, Lilburn, GA, Dec 30, dxld yg (31/12-2006)
DENMARK
Reminder - Denmark closing LW/MW .
A reminder that there are just a few days left before Denmark is due to cease all broadcasting on longwave (243) and mediumwave (1062). Quite an historic moment, as I can remember in the 1970s when all the Nordic countries could be heard fairly easily in the UK on both LW and
MW.
Chris Greenway, Dec 26, BDXC-UK via DXLD 6-191 (28/12-2006)
DENMARK
MW Country #49 Verified. Many thanks to v/s Erik Koie, Vagtchefen, of Danmarks Radio for the QSL received in today's mail, for DR 1062 Kalundborg. He posted an invitation for DXers, that I saw on Glenn Hauser's DXLD, to get their reports to him before he leaves the station in the fall. So I resent my unanswered report from earlier in the year. I got a prompt e-mail reply from him, and then the QSL arrived in today's mail. One was my prepared card, and the other was the "National Anthem" QSL card. This card is one of a set of four that when combined show a colorful landscape. I received the same cards many years ago for shortwave reception reports. Erik also enclosed various DR stickers. I used the address shown in the WRTH, with attention to Erik Koie, enclosed with an IRC.
Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, Aug 1, DXLD 6-114 (1/8-2006)
DENMARK
I have just had a very nice meeting with Erik Koie from Danmarks Radio who is visiting Flanders.
I don't know whether this has been in the news yet, but Erik told me that there are very serious plans to clown down the LW and MW transmitter site of Kalundborg next year. Some people at Danmarks Radio would even like to close it before the end of this year already!
Herman Boel via EMWG (14/4-2006)
The frequencies concerned are 243 kHz and 1062 kHz. (Ydun Ritz)
DENMARK
Time running out to hear Radio Denmark --- Just a reminder that time is running out to hear news in English from R. Denmark. The station is easy to receive (almost all day long here in north west England) on 1062 kHz and 5 minute English news programmes can be heard at 0930, 1605 and 2100. However, the medium wave transmitter is due to close on 31 December.
Regards Paul Bann, BDXC-UK via DXLD 5-218 (20/12-2005)
DENMARK
DANISH RADIO STOPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE BROADCASTS.
Foreign language broadcasts will cease at the end of this year, except Faroese (Saturdays at 18 UT). The six 5-minute broadcasts are aired Mon-Fri at 0930-1000, 1605-1635 and 2100-2130 UT on 1062 kHz. English is heard the first 5 minutes. The web site, including audio, is: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Andre+sprog/English
The very last broadcasts will be on Friday, December 30. Furthermore, plans are to stop the 243 and 1062 kHz transmitters by the end of next year. But no final decision has been made.
To be sure to get a reply, reports can be sent to me, either to this email or to ehk @ dr.dk - or:
DR Radio
Att: Erik Koie,
NF-4
DK-1999 Frederiksberg C
73, Erik Køie, Denmark, Dec 20, DX Listening Digest 5-217 (19/12-2005)
DENMARK
243 kHz, Danmarks R., Kalundborg, splendid and never so good as on 04 Nov 2145-..., weather report; 55454 via the shoulder of the 225º SoAm Beverage. Conditions held so I tried it daytime: 06 Nov 1519-1536, talks, classical music excerpts; 33453, adjacent utility. QRM, which can be worse when DXing in the capital (not the case past Fri. evening-Sun. morning).
Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX Listening Digest 5-192 (7/11-2005)
DENMARK
No, I don't think there's a chance that DR or Denmark would give up 243 even though transmissions on 243 kHz are likely to be suspended as of Dec 31 2006. Plans are that the transmitters will be kept in place ready to be taken into use should it be necessary in an emergency situation or whenever DRM should become relevant.
I am one of the 10 members of the board of DR and I was the only one to vote against the closure of the MW and LW transmitters in Kalundborg. Following the board meeting (where the decision was taken) I suggested replacing the LW/MW transmissions with SW transmissions of a few newscasts to serve Danes abroad (incl. fishermen at sea) but this was (of course) also turned down.
Please get in touch should you wish any further details about the situation here.
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen via Wolfgang Büschel (30/9-2005)
DENMARK
Re 243 kHz to be closed: So, there is a chance to move Europe-1 Saarlouis 183 kHz and DLR Oranienburg 177 kHz into raster 180/243 kHz in future?
Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX via DXLD 5-170 (29/9-2005)
DENMARK
DANMARKS RADIO TO REDUCE BUDGET BY 95 MILLION KRONER.
Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) has announced that it is to reduce its budget by 95 million kroner over the next two years. Approximately 100 jobs will be cut, mostly through voluntary retirement. However, the budget cuts also mean that the news in English and five other foreign languages on radio, Internet, teletext and via telephone will end. The new Managing Director of DR, Kenneth Plummer, said at a press conference that DR will still spend more on programming next year than this year. The financial crisis affecting DR has been caused by the late-running and heavily over-budget construction of a new HQ building, due to open next year.
RN Media Network weblog via Steve Whitt, Sept 9, MWC via DXLD
It was also decided that the LW and MW transmitters in Kalundborg would be closed down - and so DR will stop using 243 and 1062 kHz.
The final decision on such a closure must however be taken by the Ministry of Culture. Currently DR is obliged to use LW and MW. A decision on the closure of the transmitters in Kalundborg will probably take effect as of January 1st 2007.
The foreign language services (in English, Arabic, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Urdu and Turkish) will be terminated by the end of December 2005.
I was the only board-member to vote against these cuts. Too bad :-(
Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark via DX Listening Digest 5-161 (11/9-2005)
Yes that's too bad! For many reasons! (Ydun Ritz)
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