Rás 1

Eiðar transmission site and medium wave transmissions

Also in 1938, the Eiðar transmission relay site serving the East Iceland was opened, initially at a power of 1 kW using two 25 m masts, at 614 kHz (488 m). In 1951 a taller mast was constructed, 75 m high, and a new 5 kW medium-wave transmitter was installed.[7] In 1966, a second 75 m mast was constructed, and the transmitter was converted to longwave, at a power of 20 kW with the same frequency as the main Vatnsendi site.[8]

Around a dozen small medium-wave relay transmitters were constructed in the 1950s to fill in coverage gaps of the longwave service from Reykjavík, including at Akureyri and Höfn.[9][10]

Transmission frequencies

Until the 1960s RÚV's transmission frequency went through many changes, due to interference with other stations in Europe. Below is a list of known frequencies RÚV transmitted at their main Vatnsendi site:

1991 Longwave tower collapse

On 3 February 1991, one of the original transmission masts at Vatnsendi collapsed during a winter storm.[19][22] They had been due for replacement since the late 1970s and were in a bad state of repair, however their replacement was never funded.[23] On 3 March 1991, the remaining tower was felled for safety reasons.

Two 70 m spare masts obtained from Iceland Telecom were erected and temporary longwave transmissions began again in November 1991, albeit with much reduced power with less coverage.[21] These temporary masts were demolished in 2021.[24]

The station adopted its present name on 1 December 1983 when RÚV began transmitting a second radio channel, which is known as Rás 2.

Longwave reintroduction

RÚV's responsibility as public broadcaster and emergency broadcasts were questioned without LW radio. In addition, much of the fishing fleet and rural areas were out of reach by FM radio.[25]

Some questioned the obsolescence and cost of LW radio compared to FM broadcasts which were of better quality and more popular.[26] RÚV took the decision to revamp its longwave service in the 1990s. On 9 September 1997, Hellissandur longwave transmitter began broadcasting at 300 kW at 189 kHz..[22] Later, in 1999 the reconstructed Eiðar mast was activated at a height of 220 m and its power increased to 100 kW, at 207 kHz. Broadcasts over the new longwave system were split between Rás 1 content and Rás 2 content by schedule since 1999.[27]

2023 Longwave retirement

RÚV announced the retirement of its longwave transmissions beginning in 2023, citing its inadequacy as an emergency broadcasting service as most vehicles and radios do not support longwave broadcasts anymore.[28][29]

In 2023, the Eiðar longwave transmitter was demolished, ceasing 207 kHz transmissions.[28][29]

The Hellissandur longwave radio mast went off the air on 5 September 2024, ending 189 kHz transmissions. Subsequently, on the 17 October 2024, RÚV officially announced that the transmitter would not be returning to service which marked the end of the RÚV longwave service. The Hellissandur mast remains in place.[30]

Shortwave and satellite broadcasting

Shortwave broadcasts were used for long distance transmission, mostly for seafarers and Icelanders abroad. They began in 1948 and were used intermittently for important broadcasts (e.g. election nights) and regular newscasts. They were sent from the Rjúpnahæð site (mainly used for HF ship-to-shore and air-to-ground communications), adjacent to the Vatnsendi site. Shortwave broadcasts ceased on 1 July 2007, after the introduction of satellite broadcasts.[31][8]

In May 2007, RÚV began direct satellite TV broadcasts, supplemented by Rás 1 and Rás 2 over satellite DTV radio, in order to service fishing fleets around Iceland and remote areas where the terrestrial network does not reach. Telenor ASA ran the service on Intelsat 10-02, later Thor 5 over DVB-S by contract until it ceased in mid-2025.[32][33]

FM broadcasting

FM broadcasting began in 1959 at its main Vatnsendi site, later expanding nationwide. Stereo transmissions began in 1980.[8] An expansion of the FM network was announced with the closure of the longwave service.[30]

Rás 1 is also broadcast over terrestrial DTV radio over DVB-T2, which has been available since the launch of digital television services in 2014.[2]