Topband: mystery low band antenna between Chevrol and Goujon, France (near St Emilion)

[K9AY]

de K3NA

>    I am curious about the use and design of an unusual high
> power, low band antenna which I saw recently while cycling
> in France.  I wonder if anyone knows anything about it.
>

It's probably France Info on 1206 kHz (300 kW).  Open-wire coax is common 
for power at this level, as is stub matching.  Slant-wire reflectors are 
used to make broad directional patterns, usually with about 3 dB gain and 
several dB F/B.  With the slant wire NE of the tower, it would beam into the 
city of Bordeaux, and on to the coast.  This station is an easy one for US 
BCB DXers to hear, since it is high power, beamed more-or-less our way, and 
on a frequency that lies mid-way between the 10 kHz US channels.

73, Gary
K9AY