Longwave transmitter Europe 1

The transmitter used directional aerials of four guyed, insulated radio masts which are 270, 276, 280, and 282 metres (886', 905', 919' and 925') high. Furthermore, there is a backup aerial, which consists of two guyed insulated radio masts with a height of . Due to the strong south-west directional characteristic of the antenna, reception to the northeast of the transmitter (i.e. in the largest part of Germany) is poor or distorted. The building, in which the transmitters are situated, has a length of , a width of , and a height of . Its surface area is 2,700 square metres (29,000 sq. ft.) and its volume 31,000 cubic metres (40,000 cu. yd.). In front of this building, there is a telecommunication tower, which was used for broadcasting the programme of Telesaar. A new transmitter house with new 2x750 kW transmitter was built in 2015 next to the backup aerial, that was used until the shutdown in 2019. On the morning of 8 August 2012 an 80 meters (262') tall part of the 280 meters (919') high transmitting mast broke down. This was caused by a ragged guy wire. The damaged mast was demolished on 19 November 2012. Mast 1 was demolished on 13 June 2013, because it was useless without mast 2. ==History==

The longwave transmitter traces its existence to the special state of the Saar Protectorate in the 1950s: Occupied by France in 1946, the French military authorities allowed the people to organize elections and govern themselves, becoming a Protectorate using the French Franc as money. It was integrated to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957 as a compromise between France and Germany, after the Saar people decided by referendum against a "special European district" status they were proposed. The transmitter was built in 1954, broadcasting since 1 January 1955, on land which is now located inside German borders. In 1959, one of its main masts was relocated to vertical. ==See also==