UAE The recent installation in Abu Dhabi is the third successful
implementation for Dhabayia, the radio arm of Emirates Media Incorporation
(EMI). Dhabayia 1 and Dhabayia 2 were implemented in May 2003 [1170 kHz]
and January 2005 [1575 kHz] respectively.
Thomson and its local partner Bin Jabr TRS Est won the multi-million
dollar contract to deliver, installand commission an 800 kW medium wave
transmitter [for 1539 kHz], a directional two-tower antenna, auxiliary
systems, the transmitter building and access roads. The latest generation
Thomson S7HP transmitter was selected because it is readily upgraded to
digital operation should Dhabayia decide to move to DRM.
Considering the amount of civil works required, the project was completed
in a remarkably short time. With the order placed in summer 2006, civil
works were still being completed when the transmitter itself was delivered
to site at the beginning of January. Test transmissions started on 20
February, with handover for operational services occuring on 25 February.
Perfect team work, creative solutions and flexible interface management
made this third record-breaking time scale possible.
The three new high power mediumave stations are situated only a kilometer
away from the Dhabayia short wave site, where four Thomson shortwave
transmitters and 48 Thomson shortwave antenna systems are still running
well after more than 20 years of service.
(Thomson Broadcast& Multimedia "Radio News", Spring 2007)
(Source: BCDX WWDXC Top News BC-DX #809)