Ortsverband Wiesbach (Q18) - A Historic Visit to the Langwellensender

On August 20, 2022, the Wiesbach Ortsverband (Q18) organized a remarkable visit to the former Langwellensender Europe 1 in Berus-Felsberg, attracting 50 participants from Germany and France. This special event allowed attendees to explore one of the world’s most powerful longwave transmitters, which had a transmitting power of 2,000 kW before its shutdown in 2019.

A Fascinating Journey Through Radio History

The group was guided by a former employee of the facility, who provided deep historical insights into the 1950s-era origins of the station and the technical challenges involved in building the transmitter hall. Visitors were impressed by the size of the facility and the immense effort that went into constructing the transmission systems, power supplies, and antennas.

The transmitter hall, which houses giant copper coils, rectifier tubes, capacitors, switches, and the impressive TH539 tube (capable of 1500 KW), provided an awe-inspiring sight for all who visited. The station’s remarkable technical legacy was preserved even after its shutdown and the demolition of its towers in October 2020, making this an incredibly rare opportunity to witness such an extraordinary feat of engineering.

An Experience to Remember

Although Europe 1’s transmitter operations ceased in 2019, this tour offered a rare opportunity to witness the scale of the facility. The Wiesbach Ortsverband (Q18) is grateful for the collaboration with the local community of Überherrn, the current owners of the station, and for the opportunity to provide a detailed guided tour that left a lasting impression on all attendees.

For those who missed the tour, September 11th offers another chance to visit during the Tag des offenen Denkmals (Day of Open Monuments). It's a rare chance to experience this historic site up close.

A special thank you to Eugen Düpre, DK8VR for organizing this unique event and to Rene Zimnoch, DJØQO for providing the event’s photographs.

For more information or inquiries, please contact Eugen Düpre at dk8vr@darc.de.