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Longwave

(Redirected from Long wave)

Longwave radio frequencies are those below 500 kHz, which correspond to wavelengths longer than 600 meters. They have the property of following the curvature of the earth, making them ideal for continuous, continental communications. Unlike shortwave radio, longwave signals do not reflect or refract using the ionosphere, so there are fewer phase-caused fadeouts.

The earliest radio transmitters, including the Alexanderson alternator , were all longwave transmitters.

In Europe, North Africa and Asia, longwave radio frequencies between 153 and 281 kHz are used for domestic and international broadcasting. In the Americas, frequencies between 200 and 430 kHz are used for non-directional radio beacons, and do not necessarily follow the same 9 kHz spacing that other areas do.

The frequency of 60 kHz is used by several nations, such as the United States, England, and Japan, for extremely accurate time and precision frequency signals. (77.5 kHz is used in Germany.) Many commercial appliances (such as self-setting clocks) sold since approximately 2000 have a VLF receiver capable of receiving these signals, which penetrate indoors more effectively than mediumwave or shortwave signals.

Radio signals below 50 kHz are capable of penetrating ocean depths to approximately 200 meters. The United States, Russian, British, Swedish, and Indian navies communicate with submarines on these frequencies.

In addition, Royal Navy nuclear submarines carrying ballistic missiles are allegedly under standing orders to monitor the BBC Radio 4 transmission on 198 kHz in waters near the U.K. It is rumoured that they are to construe a sudden halt in transmission as an indicator that the U.K. is under attack, whereafter their sealed orders go into place.

Longwave transmitting antennas take up large amounts of space, and have been the cause of controversy in the United States and Europe due to fears over proximity to high-power radio waves.

List of longwave broadcasting transmitters

List of the most important longwave broadcasting transmitters (Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langwelle).

Frequency Name of transmitter Country Location Power Remarks
153 kHz Deutschlandfunk Germany Donebach 500 kW night 250 kW
Radio Romania Romania Brasov 1200 kW  
NRK Finnmark Norway Ingoy 100 kW  
162 kHz France Inter France Allouis 2000 kW  
171 kHz Radio Medi Morocco Nador 1200 kW  
Radio Rossia Russia Kaliningrad 1200 kW  
177 kHz DeutschlandRadio Berlin Germany Zehlendorf (Oranienburg) 500 kW  
183 kHz Europe 1 Germany Felsberg 2000 kW French Program
189 kHz RAI Italia Caltanissetta 10 kW inactive since August 2004
198 kHz BBC Radio 4 Great Britain Droitwich 500 kW BBC World Service
BBC Radio 4 Great Britain Burghead 50 kW  
BBC Radio 4 Great Britain Westerglen 50 kW  
Radio Polonia Poland Raszyn 500 kW only active at daytime
207 kHz Deutschlandfunk Germany Aholming 500 kW night 250 kW
216 kHz Radio Monte Carlo France Roumoules 1200 kW Transmitter site exterritorial, exclave of Monaco
225 kHz Radio Polonia Poland Solec Kujawski 1000 kW Earlier tranmitter site Konstantynow
234 kHz RTL Luxemburg Beidweiler 2000 kW Spare transmitter site Junglinster
243 kHz Danmarks Radio Danmark Kalundborg 300 kW  
252 kHz RTA Algier Algeria Tipaza 1500 kW French programme; during nighttime half transmitter-power
RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland Clarkestown 500 kW Earlier used by "Atlantic 252" and "TeamTalk 252"
261 kHz Transmitter Burg Germany Burg 200 kW inactive at the moment
Radio Rossia Russia Taldom 2500 kW Most powerful transmitter in the world
270 kHz Radiozournal Czech Republic Topolna 500 kW  
279 kHz Musicmann279 Isle of Man Location: coast 500 kW  
Belarus, Radio 1 Belorussia Minsk 500 kW  


See also

External links


Radio spectrum
ELF | SLF | ULF | VLF | LF/LW | MF/MW | HF/SW | VHF | UHF | SHF | EHF
3 Hz | 30 Hz | 300 Hz | 3 kHz | 30 kHz | 300 kHz | 3 MHz | 30 MHz | 300 MHz | 3 GHz | 30 GHz | 300 GHz



Last updated: 11-08-2004 10:58:07