Norddeich station

Norddeich station was a wireless radio station in Norddeich, Germany.

Background

The station was originally going to set up on the Island of Borkum but in the end Norddeich was chosen.^[1]

Standing at 213.25 feet (65.00 m) high, the tower was expected to cover a circuit of not less than 932 miles (1,500 km).^[1] The station could convey messages through Europe as far as Russia, UK, part of Spain and most of Sweden and Norway. German vessels returning from North America could communicate with Germany from far out in the Atlantic once they passed 12 degrees west of Greenwich.^[1]

In 1910, it began to broadcast a time signal along with the broadcast tower on the Eiffel Tower.^[2] As technology improved it was involved in a number of record-breaking transmissions including the 1912 record-breaking distance of a wireless transmission of 2,400 miles (3,900 km).^[3]

During World War I it was used to signal German naval vessels.^[4] In 1925, three of its masts collapsed.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Big wireless station nearly covers Europe" (PDF). The New York Times. November 19, 1905. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9402E5D6163EE733A2575AC1A9679D946497D6CF. Retrieved September 5, 2009. 
2. ^ Arthur E. Zimmerman, Ph.D. (Copyright © 2002). "The first wireless time signals to ships at sea". Antique Wireless Association, Inc. Old Timer's Bulletin On-line Edition. http://www.antiquewireless.org/otb/timesignals.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2009. 
3. ^ Transatlantic, Marconi (October 1, 1912). "Liner's wireless feat" (PDF). The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A04E7DE133CE633A25752C0A9669D946396D6CF. Retrieved September 5, 2009. 
4. ^ "Hold German Hospital Ship" (PDF). The New York Times. May 22, 1915. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=2&res=9807E2D91E3EE033A25751C2A9639C946496D6CF. Retrieved September 2, 2009.