Gartow-Höhbeck transmitter is a large facility for FM- and TV-transmission in Lower-Saxony, situated behalf of the community of Gartow and Höhbeck.
Gartow-Höhbeck transmitter had until 2009 two guyed antenna masts, one with a height of 327 metre, the other with a height of 344 metres. This made Gartow-Höhbeck transmitter the only transmission site in Europe with two supertall towers, that was exclusively used for transmissions in the VHF-/UHF-range. The meanwhile demolished 327 metres mast, which was situated on the area of Höhbeck community was built in 1963, the remaining 344 metre mast, which is situated on the site of Gartow community was completed in 1978. At time of completion it was together with the meanwhile demolished mast of Berlin-Frohnau radio relay station the tallest structure in former West Germany and served together with the 327 metres mast for a directional radio link to West Berlin. The terminals in Berlin were for the link starting from the 327 metres tower, Berlin Telecommunication Tower and for the link starting of the 344 metres tower the large mast of Berlin-Frohnau radio relay station, which was demolished on February 8, 2009. For these links both masts were equipped with directional radio antennas: on the smaller mast dipole antennas with reflectors were installed while on the larger mast conventional antennas for directional radio links mounted on platforms were used. Because structures used for carrying directional radio links have to withstand great wind forces, as such antennas cause high wind loads, both masts are of a very strong design and anchored by double guys. The larger mast, which is today used mainly for FM-broadcasting, meteorological measurements and carbon dioxide monitoring is equipped with several closed cabinets for technical equipments. The upmost of these cabinets is situated in a height of 325 metres, making it to the highest closed room on a man-made structure in European Union. The smaller mast carried a small cabinet on its lower section, too.
By using the large mast of Gartow-Höbeck transmitter and of Berlin-Frohnau radio relay station the first direct directional radio link between former West-Germany and Berlin could be realized. This link was in service until the German reunification in 1990.
Beside these two masts, there is also a free-standing directional radio tower much lower than the masts, which carried until 1990 huge disk antennas for the scattered directional radio link to former West-Berlin.
The 327 metres tall mast went after 1990 more and more obsolete and got after the digital switchover of TV broadcasting in 2008 completely out of use. As there is no requirement to keep two supertall masts at the site, it was demolished on August 20, 2009 by explosives.