CESTRON announces acquisition of Ampegon and AM Broadcast

CESTRON announces acquisition of strategic assets from Ampegon and AM Broadcast

News Release
Berlin, 14 August 2019

The company CESTRON International GmbH announces takeover of strategic assets from the shareholders of the following companies:

Ampegon Antenna Systems based in Ludwigshafen (former Thomson Broadcast) and AM Broadcast GmbH (former Transradio and Telefunken SenderSysteme AG) based in Berlin.

The acquisition is an asset deal and allows CESTRON to strengthen its worldwide market leadership in broadcast transmission and antenna systems. In co-operation with its new founded partner company ELSYSCOM, CESTRON provides spare parts and services to support products, systems and installations of Ampegon Antenna Systems and AM Broadcast.

CESTRON is an independent and leading system integrator providing turnkey radio solutions and systems. Today CESTRON is one of a few companies worldwide that plans and builds turnkey transmission and antenna systems in the ranges of high frequency (HF), medium frequency (MF), low frequency (LF) and very low frequency (VLF).

ELSYSCOM manufactures, designs, installs and commissions modern AM, VHF/FM and DRM transmitter systems as well as customized solutions for radio and data broadcasting systems.

For further information, please contact:
At CESTRON International GmbH:           
Milan Popovic, Sales and Project Director 
E-mail: popovic@cestron.de               

At ELSYSCOM GmbH:

Michael Wittling, Technical Director

E-Mail: wittling@elsyscom.de

WMLK orders new shortwave transmitter

Shortwave Transmitter with a Simple to Handle UCS Control Systems

Turgi, Switzerland, November 30, 2017. Ampegon has received a new contract from WLMK Radio, based in Pennsylvania, United States, for development and installation of a new 300 kW high power Shortwave Transmitter with test load, matrix switch and remote control system.

In spring 2017, WMLK Radio's transmitter building caught fire and the previous Ampegon transmitter (originally built in 1975 under our heritage BBC brand, and working reliably until the fire) was completely destroyed. Ampegon is now pleased to be working with WMLK to provide a replacement transmitter as quickly as possible and get their radio station back on-air.

Ampegon will provide our latest transmitter model featuring a high performance PSM power supply, the latest filter technology and Ampegon’s intuitive UCS control system. This allows the entire transmitter to be operated from a single touch screen, or even remotely over the internet. These features provide significant benefits over the heritage generation BBC transmitter, including greater electrical efficiency, significant reliability improvements, and the ability to retune rapidly.

Ampegon’s Radio Transmitter Construction Group aims to give WMLK a high priority in order to have the station back on-air by October 2018.
(http://ampegon.com/news/?id=91)
(photo/WMLK)

Radio Kuwait returns to shortwave after two-year absence

(Gayle Van Horn QSL Collection) 

Radio hobbyist are once again hearing Radio Kuwait on shortwave. During the winter, Radio Kuwait released news that Ampegon would be updating the station's transmitters in Al Kabd. The Swiss-based company Ampegon accepted a contract from Al Rashed to handle the upgrade of five analog shortwave transmitters, that are more than 20 years old for the Kuwait Ministry of Information in Al Kabd transmitter station. The five transmitters were originally installed between 1992-1995. Ampegon planned to refurbish all of the transmitters and in addition upgrade three of them to full digital DRM integration and converted to the new transmitter control system UCS, which will include; new motor drives within the tuning circuits.

Recent monitoring on April 10, 2017, has been observed on 15540 kHz from 1800-2100 UTC using KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to western Europe.

At this time, a definite summer schedule has not been released and DX Bulgaria has predicted the  station may use the schedule from summer 2015. Additional schedule information will be posted at Shortwave Central as it is received

All times UTC

0200-0900 on  5960 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
0500-0900 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic General Service
0800-1000 on  7250 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to WeAs Farsi
1000-1200 on 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino
1015-1600 on 11630 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Arabic Holy Qur'an Sce
1100-1600 on  9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg to NEAf Arabic General Service
1215-1545 on 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service
1600-1800 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu
1615-2100 on  6050 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
1700-2000 on 13650 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to NoAm Arabic General Service
1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
2015-2400 on 17550 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to NoAm Arabic General Service
(GVH 13 April 2017)

"Ampegon" to update shortwave transmitters of Radio Kuwait in Al Kabd

Swiss based company "Ampegon" has accepted a contract from Al Rashed to handle the upgrade of five analog shortwave transmitters, that are more than 20 years old for the Kuwait Ministry of Information in Al Kabd transmitter station. The five transmitters were originally installed between 1992 - 1995. "Ampegon" will refurbish all of the transmitters and in addition upgrade three of them to full digital DRM integration and converted to the new transmitter control system UCS this will include: new motor drives within the tuning circuits. Work in Al Kabd transmitter station is expected to start in January 2017.

Shortwave programs of Radio Kuwait was stopped around the end of May 2015. Former schedule from 2015 Winter schedule 

All times UTC

0200-0745 on  5960 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
0500-0900 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic General Service
0800-1000 on  7250 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to WeAs Persian
1000-1200 on 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino
1015-1600 on 11630 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Arabic Holy Qur'an Sce
1100-1600 on  9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg to NEAf Arabic General Service
1215-1545 on 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service
1600-1800 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu
1615-2100 on  6050 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
1700-2000 on 13650 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service
1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
2015-2400 on 17550 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service
(Ivo 24 Dec 2016)

Telediffusion d'Algerie to upgrade their transmitters

Ampegon transmitters

Algerian broadcaster Telediffusion d'Algerie has enlisted Switzerland-based company Ampegon to install shortwave transmission systems at two sites in Bechar and Ouargla. These new transmitters will enable TDA to broadcast shortwave without utilizing third-party vendors, says the company.

Ampegon will develop turnkey solutions at both sites including two 300 kW shortwave transmitters, two shortwave antenna systems and civil works. The project is estimated to be completed at the end of 2016.

Ampegon, in cooperation with Transradio, previously installed a 1.5 MW longwave transmission system in Algeria near Tipaza, and is presently modernizing two medium-wave transmitter stations in Bechar and Oulet Fayed.
- See more at:http://www.radioworld.com/article/t%C3%A9l%C3%A9diffusion-
d%E2%80%99alg%C3%A9rie-opts-for-ampegon-/276944#sthash.aNek4HVu.dpuf
(via Jose Miguel Romero-ESP, bclnews.it Aug 27)

Ampegon delivers new systems to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Ampegon delivers Shortwave Transmitters and Antenna Systems to Saudi Broadcast Corporation.

Turgi, Switzerland, Sept 12, 2014.
Saudi Broadcast Corporation (SBC), Saudi's National Broadcaster, has contracted Ampegon through undisputed Saudi market leader First Gulf Company (FGC) for the renewal of their radio transmission site in Riyadh.

Ampegon will deliver four 500 kW shortwave transmitters, four shortwave antennas HRS 4/4/0.5 and the BroadMaster broadcast control system. The new systems will replace existing analog transmitters with four tubes by modern analog/digital transmitters having single high power tube amplification and hence a much better overall efficiency.

Saudi Broadcast Corporation has selected FGC proposal with Ampegon because of the capability of FGC to handle large projects along with Ampegon's expertise and the reliability of their systems well known since decades. Ampegon had supplied several antenna and transmission systems in the past
and feels honored to once again show presence in Saudi Arabia.

The transmitters will be manufactured in Turgi, Switzerland. Factory tests together with SBC engineers are planned for autumn and shipments before end of 2014. Commissioning by an Ampegon engineer will start afterwards and the new systems are expected to be on air within summer 2015.

Engineer Saleh A. Almeghaileeth, Vice-President for Engineering Affairs at SBC, is extremely pleased to work together with Ampegon: "Ampegon offers a complete solution approach including transmitters, antennas, broadcast control systems and DRM integration. We trust on Ampegon's and FGC's experience as they had delivered shortwave transmitters in the past that still work to our full satisfaction."
(info@ampegon.com/Alokesh Gupta-IND, DX SoAsia Sept 12)

New transmitters for All India Radio

Press Release

Turgi, Switzerland, August 8, 2013. All India Radio (AIR), India’s National Broadcaster and the premier Public Service Broadcaster of the subcontinent, has ordered two 100 kW shortwave transmitters from Ampegon. The new systems will replace existing analogue transmitters with four tubes by modern analogue/digital transmitters having single tube and hence a much better overall efficiency. The transmitters will operate with the new Ampegon control system to optimize DRM performance, an important factor in the growing Indian DRM market.

 

All India Radio has selected Ampegon as supplier because of the expertise and the reliability of their transmitters well known since decades. AIR is already using many different Ampegon AM/DRM radio transmitters which have been delivered between 1983 and 2012.

 

The transmitters will be manufactured in Turgi, Switzerland. Factory tests together with AIR engineers are planned for January and shipment for February 2014. Thereafter AIR will install the transmitters at a site near New Delhi. Commissioning together with an Ampegon engineer will start in August 2014. The new transmitters are expected to be on air in October 2014.

 

They will be partially used for DRM digital broadcasting and partially for analogue transmission. Furthermore AIR has plans to upgrade 36 of the existing AM mediumwave and 4 of the existing AM shortwave transmitters for DRM digital broadcasting. 

 

AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 146 dialects. AIR operates 244 FM transmitters for coverage of 29.4% surface area and 41.6% of the population. AIR also operates mediumwave transmitters which cover 92% surface area and 99% of the population. Further AIR operates 48 shortwave transmitters. 21 of them are 500 kW or 250 kW shortwave transmitters and are used for external international services. 27 of them are 50 or 100 kW shortwave transmitters and are used for local services and for  coverage of neighboring countries.

(Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi)