Voice of Russii. 10 years of oblivion.
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Article + picture from the directory “Radio Broadcasting in Russian”.
Author Andrey Molokov, St. Petersburg, Russia
January 18, 2024.
Source – Internet page in Russian – “Radio room. Pages of the history of Powerful Radio.”
https://vk.com/public158109176
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At the beginning of December 2013, the oldest radio broadcaster in Russia was signed with a liquidation verdict.
Russian foreign broadcasting had only a few months left to exist. By the time of liquidation, the frequency schedule had been significantly reduced. Sessions were filmed from many directions, and accordingly the load on the high-power radio broadcasting centers within the Federal State Unitary Enterprise RTRS dropped.
However, how the life of Russian foreign broadcasting ended is a separate matter. Today we’ll see what the frequency schedule of the Voice of Russii looked like in the 2001 – 2002 season.
Please note that in addition to the main program, the Sodrugestvo radio channel, which is part of the Voice of Russii, was broadcast.
The broadcasting service “Commonwealth” was created at the end of 2000 to inform the Russian-speaking population of the former Soviet republics about the main events in Russia, and to reflect the course of the Russian leadership in the post-Soviet space. The frequency schedule is not provided in this article – there will be a separate post.
Data from the directory “Radio Broadcasting in Russian” (autumn 2002 – spring 2002)
Authors and compilers: Konstantin Gusev, Igor Yaremenko, Alexander Dementyev, Andrey Tavrizov.
So, let’s start with medium waves.
– 999 kHz – Transnistrian Radio and Television Center. In the past, it was one of the main frequencies for
broadcasting towards Eastern Europe and our closest neighbors. Radio Russia programs are now broadcast (from 04/05/2022)
– 1089 kHz – Kuban Radio Center. Krasnodar region. The European direction is similar. It was also well received in the Caucasus, although long-wave broadcasting was available for mountainous areas. In 2014, broadcasting was stopped. Restored in test format in 2022. There are no regular broadcasts. The equipment is ready upon request.
– 648 kHz – Orzu. Radio station No. 5. Tajikistan. A huge enterprise with amazing infrastructure. Dozens of antennas, including two Big Zarya systems. The radio station still operates today, fulfilling orders from various broadcasters.
– 1215 kHz / 1143 kHz – Radio Center No. 5. Bolshakovo. Kaliningrad region. At a frequency of 1215 kHz, a directional antenna system of the “Square” type was used, which ensured effective coverage of the territories of Central and Northern Europe. 1143 kHz – broadcasting in the direction of the Baltic countries, the Republic of Belarus (pie chart)
– 1170 kHz – one of the frequencies of the Kuban Radio Center. The RV-680 (1200 kW) transmitter operated in combination with the Bolshaya Zarya antenna. The main lobe of the diagram “beat” in the direction of Israel (very relevant now). In general, it is a Middle Eastern frequency. The transmitter has been removed. The antenna system has been taken out of service.
– 1314 kHz – Radio station in the village of Noratus, Republic of Armenia. The RV-602 transmitter worked in combination with the Bolshaya Zarya antenna. Azimuth – 195 degrees. Near East. The equipment has been preserved and is in working order. There are plans to use this frequency in the near future.
– 1323 kHz – Germany. Wachenbrunn. This venue was called the “Russian Quartet”. 4 masts of 125 meters each (directional antenna system). Power – 1000 kW (decreased in certain periods). The transmitting facility confidently provided radio coverage of European territories.
– 612 kHz. Moscow. Kurkino. The same small radio center from which, in the last years of his on-air work, the broadcasts of “Narodnoe Radio” – 612 kHz and “World Radio Network” – 738 kHz were heard
Not working since 05/01/2019.
– 603 kHz – local German transmitter in Berlin.
A few conclusions. In the direction of Europe, broadcasting was organized more than voluminously.
At frequencies 999/1089/1143 kHz – omnidirectional antenna systems were used (pie chart) In addition to the “target” regions, it was possible to receive transmissions on very extensive routes. For example, during the Sputnik Radio test in February 2023, many letters came from the Orenburg region.
The Middle East, Asia and other destinations on medium waves are represented modestly or completely absent. This means that it’s time to turn to short waves.
And now everything is getting more serious.
– Sessions from Transnistria (read Grigoriopol) were possible anywhere – the rotating antenna made it easy to cover any territory. By the way, the antenna can now transmit a signal in any necessary direction.
– Vladivostok. Razdolnoye/Tavrichanka.
Both radio centers are in the process of being dismantled. They lasted a long time though. To a certain extent, thanks to caring leadership.
– Lvov. Radio center in the village of Krasnoye. The former luxury of powerful radio broadcasting, which Ukraine inherited after the collapse of the USSR. The company had great potential. The equipment has been dismantled. As of 2022 – 2023, the antennas were being dismantled. The current condition is unknown.
– Krasnodar. Kuban Radio Center. Naturally, in addition to medium waves, the company also dealt with short waves. Fortunately, there were plenty of antennas and transmitters here. Minimal shortwave broadcasting remained until 2020 (Adygei Radio). As a result of the ongoing dismantling (2020 – 2023), the possibility of short-wave on-air work has come to naught. Although… it’s still possible to restore something (Sputnik, come to your senses before it’s too late!)
– Moscow. Here you need to take into account that there were many radio centers in the Moscow region. These are Taldom, Kurovskaya and Lesnoy. In general, when they were drawing up the frequency schedule, the engineers tried to ensure that every Russian enterprise had something for a powerful radio. Now it is difficult to say which centers are meant in the lines under the general designation – Moscow. Most likely, the load is spread across at least two centers. Taldom was also used for Radio Rossi broadcasts on HF. Radio centers in the Moscow region are in very poor condition. A small amount of work remains in Taldom (on-air broadcast of standards)
– Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Radio station named after Popova. By the way. Today it is one of the surviving radio centers in Russia that can operate on short waves. DRM equipment was brought here from all over the country after the dismantling of high-power radio broadcasting facilities began. Periodic digital Q-tests are carried out here. On medium waves, the radio station broadcasts the program “East of
Russia” at a frequency of 765 kHz (simultaneous broadcasting network). Employees of the Far Eastern branch of FSUE RTRS maintain, as far as possible, the necessary broadcasting infrastructure.
– Let’s continue the Far Eastern theme in Khabarovsk. In the radio broadcasting and radio communication workshop, the possibility of on-air broadcasts on medium waves is maintained. An example of this is “East of Russia” on 765 kHz. Unfortunately, there is no information about the condition of the shortwave site.
In a word, the Far Eastern branch of RTRS, in terms of powerful radio equipment, retains its potential.
– Irkutsk. Radio center No. 7 – Angarsk. Whopper. Mahina. I can’t find the exact word. A scattering of antennas, three technical buildings. The longest “Big Dawn” in Russia – 37 towers. Alas, this is all with an eye to the past. The radio center infrastructure is currently being gradually dismantled.
– Novosibirsk. Radio center in the village of Raduga. There were two sites. On one: long-wave and medium-wave equipment. On the second: shortwave technology. The radio center has been dismantled. The land has been transferred to the municipality.
– Samara. The radio center was dismantled in preparation for the World Cup. Had great potential due to its good location.
– Saint Petersburg. Another pain of loss. Radio center No. 11 “Krasny Bor”. The equipment has been dismantled. The land is up for sale.
– Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This refers to the Radio Center near Elizovo. Dismantling.
– Chita. Radio center near the village of Novokruchinsky. Dismantling has been carried out. The land has been transferred to the municipality.
– Kaliningrad. This means Bolshakovo. During the Soviet years, the radio center was engaged in jamming Western radio stations. After the collapse of the USSR, the transmitters were adapted for on-air operation. True…broadcasting towards the Caucasus is doubtful. Most likely a typo.
At the moment, SW transmitters in Bolshakovo have been dismantled. But the antenna remains. It was specially built by order of the Voice of Russia.
– Ekaterinburg. The condition of the object is unknown. But from online publications from those who like to “climb” antennas, I can conclude that they will be dismantled.
Please note that powers (kW) in some cases are indicated approximately. For example, in Krasny Bor there was no 400-kW transmission equipment. And in general – a completely unusable figure. There are other inaccuracies as well.
However, it is worth understanding that in the years when these schedules were compiled (the beginning of the century), there was no publicly available information as there is now. Radio enthusiasts collected various technical information bit by bit.
What can we say in the end? Powerful radio broadcasting centers that can broadcast something far away are located in the Western Part of Russia (Bolshakovo, Kubansky) and in the Far East (Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur)
The radio station near Yakutsk (Tulagino) is in a mothballed state. The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
In principle – that’s all.
Perhaps you managed to catch one of the objects alive.
P.S. The Pridnestrovian Radio and Television Center is the flagship of Russian powerful radio broadcasting. It belongs to the Federal State Unitary Enterprise RTRS, but is not located in Russia.
RUS-DX Items via WOR iog (2024-01-21)