Lakihegy Tower
Encyclopedia
The Lakihegy Tower is a 314 metre (1,031 ft) high radio mast at Szigetszentmiklós
-Lakihegy. The Blaw-Knox
type tower was built in 1933 and was one of Europe
's tallest structures at the time of construction. It was designed to provide broadcast coverage for Hungary
with a 120 kW transmitter.
Developed in the U.S.A., the cigar shaped mast was specially designed to radiate radio
waves in such a way that reduce fading
. Thus it was able to serve the whole country.
The mast was destroyed by retreating German
troops in World War II
, but was later rebuilt in 1946. In 1968 the tower was upgraded to serve the new 300 kW transmitter (amongst others, the ceramic base insulator had to be replaced to withstand the higher voltages).
In 1977 the new 2MW transmitter at Solt
has replaced the Lakihegy tower as the primary national transmitter. Subsequently, it was nearly torn down in 1981, but widespread objections saved the tower, and later it became a protected industrial monument.
This guyed mast, which is probably still the tallest structure in Hungary
, is currently being used for power-distribution control data transmission at 135.6 kHz with a power of 100 kW; the data bursts are at 200 baud
with +/- 170 Hz FSK (Frequency Shift Keying).
In Europe there are similar radio masts at Lisnagarvey
, Northern Ireland
, at Riga
, Latvia
, at Vakarel
, Bulgaria and at Stara Zagara
, Bulgaria.
There are two smaller guyed mast radiators for mediumwave at Lakihegy. They are as Lakihegy Tower insulated against ground, but smaller and from conventional construction type.
A further antenna consisting of two free-standing towers is situated at 47°22′25.4"N 18°58′59.74"E. It is fed by a 2.1 kilometres long overhead radio frequency power line.
The mediumwave frequency of 540 kHz with 150 kW was diplexed to the Lakihegy Tower in 2006 by Bernd Waniewski.
Szigetszentmiklós
Szigetszentmiklósis a city in Pest county in Hungary with approximately 26,662 inhabitants.- Name :* Sziget – island: Szigetszentmiklós is a town in the Csepel Island* Szent Miklós – Saint Nicholas, who is the patron saint of Szigetszentmiklós...
-Lakihegy. The Blaw-Knox
Blaw-Knox Tower
The Blaw-Knox company was a manufacturer of steel structures and construction equipment based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company is today best known for its radio towers, most of which were constructed during the 1930s in the United States...
type tower was built in 1933 and was one of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's tallest structures at the time of construction. It was designed to provide broadcast coverage for Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
with a 120 kW transmitter.
Developed in the U.S.A., the cigar shaped mast was specially designed to radiate radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
waves in such a way that reduce fading
Fading
In wireless communications, fading is deviation of the attenuation that a carrier-modulated telecommunication signal experiences over certain propagation media. The fading may vary with time, geographical position and/or radio frequency, and is often modelled as a random process. A fading channel...
. Thus it was able to serve the whole country.
The mast was destroyed by retreating German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
troops in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but was later rebuilt in 1946. In 1968 the tower was upgraded to serve the new 300 kW transmitter (amongst others, the ceramic base insulator had to be replaced to withstand the higher voltages).
In 1977 the new 2MW transmitter at Solt
Transmitter Solt
The Transmitter Solt is a transmission facility for 540 kHz MW near Solt, Hungary. It is designed for an output power of 2000 kilowatt and is therefore one of the most powerful broadcasting towers in the world...
has replaced the Lakihegy tower as the primary national transmitter. Subsequently, it was nearly torn down in 1981, but widespread objections saved the tower, and later it became a protected industrial monument.
This guyed mast, which is probably still the tallest structure in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, is currently being used for power-distribution control data transmission at 135.6 kHz with a power of 100 kW; the data bursts are at 200 baud
Baud
In telecommunications and electronics, baud is synonymous to symbols per second or pulses per second. It is the unit of symbol rate, also known as baud rate or modulation rate; the number of distinct symbol changes made to the transmission medium per second in a digitally modulated signal or a...
with +/- 170 Hz FSK (Frequency Shift Keying).
In Europe there are similar radio masts at Lisnagarvey
Lisnagarvey transmitting station
The Lisnagarvey transmitting station is a facility for mediumwave broadcasting located in the townland of Magherageery, on the southern edge of Lisburn, Northern Ireland...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, at Riga
Riga LVRTC Transmitter
The Riga LVRTC Transmitter was a mediumwave transmitter in Riga, Latvia, which broadcasted on 945 kHz a music program in DRM-simulcast mode, which was receivable at night time in wide parts of Europe. It used as an antenna two guyed mast radiators. One of them was a 125 metre tall guyed lattice...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, at Vakarel
Vakarel Transmitter
The Vakarel Transmitter is a large broadcasting facility for long- and medium wave near Vakarel, Bulgaria. The Vakarel Transmitter was inaugurated in 1937. It has one directional antenna consisting of three guyed masts and another consisting of two masts....
, Bulgaria and at Stara Zagara
Stara Zagora Transmitter
The Stara Zagora Transmitter is a high power mediumwave broadcasting station near Stara Zagora in Bulgaria. It has at least 3 guyed masts. One of these masts is a Blaw-Knox Tower. It is one of the few Blaw-Knox towers in Europe, along with similar masts at Vakarel, Bulgaria, at Riga, Latvia,...
, Bulgaria.
There are two smaller guyed mast radiators for mediumwave at Lakihegy. They are as Lakihegy Tower insulated against ground, but smaller and from conventional construction type.
A further antenna consisting of two free-standing towers is situated at 47°22′25.4"N 18°58′59.74"E. It is fed by a 2.1 kilometres long overhead radio frequency power line.
The mediumwave frequency of 540 kHz with 150 kW was diplexed to the Lakihegy Tower in 2006 by Bernd Waniewski.
External links
- Diplexer 135,6 and 540 kHz published by http://www.waniewski.de/id208.htm
- Lakihegy 873 kHz published by http://www.waniewski.de/id208.htm
- http://www.antennahungaria.hu/Sajtoszoba/Sajtofotok.aspx?sc_lang=en
- for more info visit
- http://photo.lipilee.hu/galleries/index.php?dir=./2006-08-23-lakihegy
- Lakihegy Blaw Knox Tower published by http://www.waniewski.de/id208.htm