Delano, California

Delano is a city located in Kern County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 38,824. Delano was founded on July 14, 1873 as a railroad town. The name was officially given by the Southern Pacific Railroad in honor of Columbus Delano, at the time the Secretary of the Interior for the United States.

The most directive shortwave broadcasting antenna on earth?

The 2 x HRS 12/6/1 (one High-band, one Low-band) curtan array antennas are some of the most directive HF antennas in use today. During peak operation hours Delano Relay Station is off limits to the public because of RF energy issues.

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The Delano HRS 12/6/1 transmission system has been used in high power ionosphereic heating expriments funded by the DOD. These experiments were to see how RF saturation of the ionophere affects HF propagation over a region.

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HRS 12/6/1 antennas are capable of 23dbi to 32dbi (directive isotropic gain), but can in theory acheve 36dbi under ideal design conditions.

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Assuming 23dbi gain and 250kw transmitter power -- Delano's antennas have a Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of 49.9 Megawatts and an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 30.4 Megawatts.

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There is some residual contraversy about Delano's antennas being the most directive shortwave antennas in service. It has been postulated by stratigic analysists (but not proven) that the former USSR (now Russia) possesses more directive HF antennas.

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