Linjesender
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Linjesender was a low power longwave transmitter used for broadcasting in Norway. It consisted of a PLC-system, which fed the radio programme on a frequency in the longwave broadcasting range into an overhead electric power transmission line. Because Norway is a country with many mountains, there are many large spans of power lines. Often, they are quite high above the ground. In such regions, the power line served as antenna for the Linjesender. The typical powers used by Linjesenders were between 250 watts and 2000 watts.
Similar systems were used in Germany, where it was called "Drahtfunk" and in Switzerland, where it was called "Telefonrundspruch" and used telephone lines.
In the 1930's some towns in Great Britain used wire broadcasting (either over dedicated cables or on power lines) experimentally. However as the coverage of conventional broadcast stations improved the popularity of these "radio relay" systems waned.
The last Linjesender in Norway was shut down in 1987.