RMC ON LONG WAVES, THE MYSTERY SOLVED

Il trasmettitore superpower di Roumoules utilizzato fino ad alcuni mesi fa da Radio Monte Carlo sull'onda lunga dei 216 KHz potrebbe avere un futuro con il sistema di trasmissione DRM. Questo, sinteticamente, è ciò che è emerso dopo un scambio di emails tra il dx francese Christian Ghibaudo e il signor Pennella, uno dei responsabili tecnici del sito dell'emittente monegasca. Come i nostri lettori ricorderanno, un paio di giorni fa abbiamo parlato della strana ricomparsa delle trasmissioni di RMC-Info Talk sport sulle onde lunghe rilevate dal milanese Giroletti e dal sottoscritto lo scorso 24 novembre. L'amico Christian, profondo conoscitore della realtà monegasca si è immediatamente attivato presso i responsabili dell'emittente per scoprire l'origine di queste trasmissioni. Dal signor Pennella ha appreso che si trattava di test di trasmissione in simulcast della durata di 10 minuti con una potenza di "soli" 400 KW in vista di un utilizzo del sito col sistema DRM. Per questo motivo i responsabili tecnici dell'emittente sembrano intenzonati a coinvolgere gli appassionati di radioascolto in grado di ascoltare la radio con questo sistema. 

The superpower transmitter of Roumoules used until a few months ago by Radio Monte Carlo on the long wave of 216 KHz could have a future with the DRM transmission system. This, briefly, is what emerged after an exchange of emails between the French right-wing Christian Ghibaudo and Mr. Pennella, one of the technical managers of the Monegasque broadcaster's website. As our readers will remember, a couple of days ago we talked about the strange reappearance of the broadcasts of RMC-Info Talk sport on long waves detected by Giroletti from Milan and myself on November 24th. His friend Christian, a profound connoisseur of the Monegasque reality, immediately contacted the managers of the broadcaster to discover the origin of these broadcasts. From Mr. Pennella he learned that it was a simulcast transmission test lasting 10 minutes with a power of "only" 400 KW in view of using the site with the DRM system. For this reason the broadcaster's technical managers seem intent on involving radio listening enthusiasts who are able to listen to the radio with this system.

The longwave transmitter at Roumoules, which was inaugurated in 1974, transmits at 216 kHz (until 1988: 218 kHz) with a transmission power of 1400 kW (until 1976: 2000 kW). It consists of two 1000 kW transmitters switched in parallel, which are however run with 700 kW output power. A third 1000 kW unit has been available since 1983. Although this unit is only used as backup unit, it is possible to switch all three units in parallel, which would allow an operation with a transmission power of 3000 kW. Since the 31st of March 2020 the transmitter has ceased transmitting the French program of Radio Monte Carlo but remains available for contract use.

The longwave transmitter uses a directional aerial with a maximum strength pointing northwest (azimuth: 309 °). It consists of three 300-meter (980 ft) -high guyed masts, which are insulated against ground and ground-fed. As a backup a 330-meter (1,080 ft) -high guyed, ground-fed lattice steel mast radiator is available on the site, which only allows an omnidirectional radiation pattern.

The grounding system of the long wave transmitter is very large. The total length of all wires of the grounding system is 200 kilometers (100 mi), covering an area of ​​150 hectares (370 acres). Because the area around the mast is used for agriculture, the ground wires are laid to a depth of 80 centimeters (31 in).