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"Wavescan" is a weekly program for long distance radio hobbyists produced by Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Coordinator of International Relations for Adventist World Radio. AWR carries the program over many of its stations (including shortwave). Adrian Peterson is a highly regarded DXer and radio historian, and often includes features on radio history in his program. We are reproducing those features below, with Dr. Peterson's permission and assistance.
Wavescan N527, March 31, 2019
The story of the large double shortwave station located near Meyerton in South Africa which is due to close today
According to the latest available information, the huge double shortwave station located near the small town of Meyerton in South Africa is due to close today, Sunday, March 31 (2019). The stated reason for the termination of this massive shortwave station, one of the largest in the world, is due to insufficient clientele choosing to broadcast to Africa and beyond from its bevy of shortwave transmitters and antenna systems. Apparently the withdrawal of the BBC London from its use of Meyerton as one of its African relay stations was the proverbial last straw that broke this African camel's financial back.
Back in 1964, SABC, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, procured a tract of land containing 1250 acres south of Johannesburg in a hilly country area due east of the town of Meyerton for the construction of a new shortwave broadcasting station. In reality, two shortwave stations were constructed on this large property on Marlin Road; one at the northern end, and the other at the southern end.
The northern location was planned as the high power station with transmitters rated at 250 kW and 500 kW for international coverage, almost worldwide; and the southern station was planned for domestic coverage in South Africa, as well as for regional coverage of other nearby African countries, with transmitters rated at 100 kW.
During the following year, on October 27 (1965), Prime Minister Dr. H. F. Verwoerd, officially opened this new double shortwave station, which was named in his honor, as the H. F. Verwoerd Shortwave Station. At the time of the opening ceremony, just one transmitter at 250 kW was ready for active service, though three more similar units were installed and taken into service during the following months.
Over a period of the next 15 years, a total of 17 shortwave transmitters were progressively installed at the two locations, together with a total of 49 antenna systems. At the height of its capability, the high powered northern shortwave station contained 15 active transmitters at 250 kW and 500 kW, together with 40 antenna systems, mainly curtain antennas. Likewise, the lower powered southern site contained 8 active transmitters at 100 kW and 9 antenna systems, mainly log periodics. Two transmitters, one at each sub-location, were kept in standby mode.
The feeder lines running from the transmitters at the northern station exit the transmitter building via two tunnels, each 8 feet square. In this way, the feeder lines are protected from harsh weather patterns. The feeder lines are made up of half-inch copper tubing, and 40 miles of this tubing are used in total at the two stations. This powerful shortwave station consumes a massive 6 megawatts of electricity.
The studios and offices for the external services of SABC, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, are housed in an office building in central Johannesburg, some 40 miles north of the transmitting stations. Under the management of Radio South Africa, RSA, a total of 50 international radio listeners in different parts of the world served as regular monitors on behalf of this shortwave service.
Radio South Africa transferred the double shortwave station at Meyerton to a commercial radio organization, Sentech, in November 1996. Since then, Sentech has operated the station as a commercial venture, with many international radio organizations reaching their international audiences via this shortwave station at Meyerton.
Over the intervening years, many international radio organizations have taken out a relay of their programming via this double Meyerton shortwave station, such as, for example: the BBC in London, Voice of America in Washington DC, Radio Canada International in Montreal, Radio Netherlands in Hilversum, Holland, and Radio France International in Paris. Other stations that have also utilized the Meyerton station have included Trans World Radio and Adventist World Radio, as well as Channel Africa and Radio Sonder Grense in South Africa itself.
In earlier times, RSA in Johannesburg issued colorful QSL cards that featured animal life and country scenes in South Africa. Radio monitors worldwide would describe these QSL cards as some of the most beautiful QSL cards in their collection. After the shortwave station was sold off to Sentech, they also issued a set of colorful QSL cards, eight in number, from their corporate office in Honeydew, a suburb of the large regional city Johannesburg.
The QSL cards from Sentech were signed by Kathy Otto, who was very cooperative with the international radio audience, and each card identified the organization that was on the air via the Sentech shortwave station. Thus, it was possible in earlier times to receive two QSL cards for the one reception report, the origination program studio and the Sentech shortwave station itself.
So what will happen to this major double shortwave station at Meyerton in South Africa? It is too early yet to know for sure. Perhaps the land will be bought by local farmers, but what will happen to the major but now aging items of electronic equipment? Only time will tell.