History of Radio Budapest
by Christos Rigas
(This article first appeared in the June 1991 issue of DX Chicago)
Radio Broadcasting in Hungary began on December 1, 1925. Although that was the beginning of regular broadcasting, experimental work had been going on for quite some time. Hungary first used the Telephonograph in 1894. It was invented by Tivadar Puskas, who later collaborated with Thomas Edison on the improvement of the telephone. Puskas helped to put the first telephone exchange in the world into operation in Boston. Tivadar Puskas' brother, Ferenc, the representative of the Edison Society in Hungary, set up a similar telephone exchange in Budapest in 1881. After his return from the United States, Tivadar Puskas put the Telephonograph into operation, which was used for the transmission of news to subscribers on a local telephone-like line. Music programs were transmitted from the fourth floor of an apartment house at 22 Rakoczi Street, which later became the first studio of Radio Budapest. Wireless programs began in 1923, when the engineers of the Hungarian Experimental Post Institute first began radio telephonic experiments at the MTI (Hungarian Telegraphic Service) located in the heart of Budapest. In 1924, the experimental institute began the reception of foreign broadcasts with a one tube regenerative set. Meanwhile the radio amateur movement had begun to develop. In the beginning the amateurs were occupied with getting the relevant specialized literature and the reception of foreign stations. The first Hungarian radio amateurs built their receivers at home, based on receiver circuit diagrams that appeared in foreign magazines. In 1925 the construction of PKI, a 2 kilowatt transmitter began on Csepel Island in Budapest. When it first started broadcasting, Radio Budapest had 15,000 subscribers. The majority of them were radio enthusiasts who had built their own receivers and even made the parts themselves. Later, many of them became specialists of the Hungarian radio industry. Within a year, the number of subscribers increased to 50,000.
In 1927 a new, 3 kilowatt Telefunken transmitter was built at Csepel and at the same time the daily broadcasts were lengthened from 4 to 10 hours. That same year the Post Office began building a 20 kilowatt transmitter at Lakihegy, which was also located on the Csepel Island. The Csepel Island has thus become the broadcasting center of Hungary for many years to come. The Telefunken transmitter was assembled under the direction of a technician from the Telefunken firm. The new transmitter began operating on April 7, 1928. It was of three stages: a coling system of 2.5 kw producing the base frequency, a modulator stage and a final stage, which functioned with a water cooling tube of 200 kw. The antenna was built on two 150 metre high steel towers. The construction of another transmitter, which was described by the press at that time as "The Giant of Lakihegy", began in 1933 with a transmitter of 120 kilowatt. It was entirely manufactured and constructed by the Hungarian Standard Radio and Electric Company. This new transmitter began operating in December 1933, and was officially named Budapest One. It had seven stages: a modified Heising system modulation with 120 kilowatt tubes, driven into a push-pull through system of stages to the final amplifier stage. In its proportions and method, the new antenna system was far ahead of countries, which were richer and more developed than Hungary. At that time it was also the highest steel construction on earth, reaching the height of 314 meters. The weight of the steel tower was 480 tons.
The antenna was very good from electrical and broadcasting points of view, because its height surpassed half the transmitted wavelength. This ensured transmission without fading to the entire country day and night. The 20-kilowatt equipment began transmitting the programs of Budapest Two. All of the above-mentioned transmitters operated on medium wave. The first experimental broadcasts on short wave started at Szkesfehervar in the beginning of the 1930s. Regular short wave transmissions started on December 23, 1934 in Hungarian and English languages with two 5 kilowatt transmitters. The output was later increased to 20 kilowatt.
Unfortunately, during World War II, the equipment of Radio Budapest was completely destroyed. The withdrawing Nazi troops not only blew up the installations, but also dismantled most of the equipment. The result was that by the end of the war, Hungary was without any radio transmitter whatsoever. The Post Office staff carried out heroic work in reconstructing the transmitters. On May 1, 1945, Radio Budapest was back on the air. By the end of 1948, the Hungarian Standard Factory had built a new 135 kilowatt transmitter, which has been functioning without interruption ever since. It presently carries Petofi Radio (second program) on 1188 kHz. The 314 meter antenna tower was also rebuilt and Budapest Two was also reconstructed at its new location at Szolnok, also with 135 kilowatt. In April 1950 a new 100 kilowatt transmitter began experimental broadcasts on short wave, and soon after that the transmissions became regular.
Today, the domestic service of Radio Budapest transmits three programs: the first program - RADIO KOSSUTH - is aired from a transmitter at Solt with 2 megawatt output on 540 kHz. Regional FM transmitters are also used to carry the program. This program is also relayed on the short wave frequency of 6025 kHz during certain times of the day. This program tends to specialize in issues of national interest, talk features, drama programs and classical music. The second program - RADIO PETOFI - is aired by ten medium wave transmitters along with regional FM transmitters. It features "light programs". The third program - RADIO BARTOK - is aired only over FM transmitters and it specializes classical, jazz and pop music. It is in stereo.
The foreign service of Radio Budapest is transmitted daily on six shortwave transmitters located at three transmitters sites: SZEKESFEHERVAR - 2x20 kw, dipole antennas; DIOSD - 2x100 kw, rotary log periodical antennas (put into operation in 1983); JASZBERENY - 2x250 kw, directional dipole antennas. At present Radio Budapest broadcasts in six languages: Hungarian, English, German, Italian, Spanish and Turkish. The broadcasts are directed to Europe and the Americas.
Radio Budapest has a DX program, which is transmitted in English, German, Italian and Spanish. In 1965, the Radio Budapest Short Wave Club was set up. At present it has over 12,000 members.