VOA Bethany, OHIO
- skylarkcolo
- Dec 29, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 26
Below I have added a lot of photos and info about the the 1944 VOA site north of Cincinnati, OH and next to Crosley's WLW broadcast location. "This place was built to take a direct hit from a bomb," said Jack Dominic, the museum's executive director. The industrial building, decommissioned in 1994, had no heat, which would have been superfluous because its interior was baked by its six quarter-million-watt VOA radio transmitters. Designed to be indestructible, the Station easily survived into the 21st century, but its interior 18-inch-thick blast-proof concrete walls made it hard to modify into a civilian-friendly attraction.
.The Rhombic is the antenna that won WW2 for the west , and used by both the VOA, DOD, and Wire services
The 1940s site layout below
Let’s rewind to the mid-20th century. The Voice of America (VOA) was established during World War II as a way to broadcast news and information to people around the world, especially in places where free press was limited or censored. The Bethany Ohio site became one of the key transmission points for VOA’s powerful shortwave broadcasts.
What’s really cool about this site is how it evolved alongside the technology of the times. Initially, it was all about big, bulky transmitters and massive antennas that looked like they belonged in a sci-fi movie. Over the decades, the site grew into a sprawling complex with some of the most advanced radio transmission equipment available. It wasn’t just about sending signals; it was about pushing the boundaries of what radio communication could achieve.
I remember reading about the engineers who worked there—people who were passionate about perfecting the art of broadcasting. They experimented with antenna designs, power outputs, and signal clarity. This place was a playground for innovation, and it still inspires those of us who tinker with antennas and radios today.
The Role of VOA Bethany Ohio in Global Communication
Now, you might wonder why a site in Ohio was so important for global broadcasting. The answer lies in its strategic location and technical capabilities. The Bethany site was equipped with 200,000 watt high-power transmitters and 24 antennas that could send signals across continents, reaching listeners in Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond.
This was crucial during the Cold War era when information was a powerful weapon. VOA broadcasts from Bethany provided news, cultural programs, and educational content to millions who otherwise had limited access to unbiased information. The site’s ability to reach remote and politically sensitive areas made it a beacon of free speech and reliable news.
For those of us who love the technical side, the Bethany site was also a test-bed for antenna designs that could maximize signal strength and minimize interference. The engineers there worked closely with ham radio operators and broadcasters to refine these technologies. It’s no exaggeration to say that some of the antenna concepts developed at Bethany influenced modern high-frequency communication systems worldwide.
The Technical Marvels Behind the VOA Bethany Ohio Site
If you’re into antennas and radio tech, this part is going to be a treat. The Bethany site was home to some of the most impressive antenna farms ever built. Picture acres of rhombic antennas, curtain arrays, and massive towers designed to send signals thousands of miles away.
One of the standout features was the use of rhombic antennas, which are known for their directional capabilities and efficiency at high frequencies. These antennas allowed VOA to target specific regions with precision, reducing signal loss and interference. The site also incorporated curtain arrays, which provided even greater gain and directivity.
The engineers didn’t stop there. They continuously refined transmitter power levels, experimented with frequency bands, and optimized antenna heights. This relentless pursuit of perfection made the Bethany site a benchmark for radio communication excellence.
For anyone involved in ham radio or high-frequency trading communications, understanding the innovations that came out of Bethany is invaluable. The site’s legacy lives on in modern antenna design and signal propagation techniques.
The Antenna layout at the site
WW2 Station
It can be truthfully be said, that "a Rhombic antenna occupies more space per db of gain than any other antenna" The Rhombic is a very high-gain antenna however it requires a lot of acres, and the efficiency when terminated is only about 50%. An alternate impedance-termination system, which was only used for a at the VOA Bethany site broadcast site, where input powers were above 50 kw, is called the re-entrant line termination. Clyde Haehnlen SK, developed the specifications for the Voice of America antenna system at the Bethany, OH Relay Station. That re-entrant Rhombic was 90% efficient by re-phasing the power instead of heating up termination resistors, in this system, the Rhombic is terminated in a transmission line, which in turn is coupled back to the input through the proper voltage-matching and phasing networks. Thus, the energy in the dissipation line is fed back to the antenna, so that considerably less than 50 percent of the energy is wasted. The old VOA Bethany site in Ohio had efficiency up to over 90%. This feeds-backs the wasted RF energy "In-Phase", back into the feeder end of the antenna. For any variation from the stubs frequency, the stub must be returned.
Re-entrant line termination equipment, which is re-phasing the power instead of heating up termination resistors. I am now the only station (K0UO) (at the Rhombic Antenna Farm in Kansas) using the Re-entrant Rhombic, which is 90% efficient, by re-phasing the power back in the antenna, instead of heating up termination resistors.
Clyde Haehnle, the VOA engineer provided me with design information for re-phasing a few years ago before his passing.
Below the main antenna switch station
Above the main antenna switch station
See the YouTube below with Clyde Haehnle, Remembering WLW 500 KW Super Power and Building VOA Bethany Relay Station. Recorded May 17, 2014 at the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting. Clyde was the last surviving engineer from the WLW 500 KW era. His stories recount some of the major achievements in broadcasting during it's heyday. The rhombic antenna design requiring extensive mathematical calculations fell to Mr. Haehnle. His work accomplished with pencil, paper and a slide rule resulted in some of the most efficient antenna arrays ever built
Why the VOA Bethany Ohio Site Still Matters Today
You might think that with the rise of the internet and satellite communications, shortwave broadcasting sites like Bethany are relics of the past. But here’s the thing—there’s still a lot to learn from these sites, especially for those of us pushing the limits of radio technology.
The VOA Bethany Ohio site represents a treasure trove of knowledge about antenna design, signal propagation, and broadcast engineering. Its history is a reminder that even in a digital age, radio waves remain a powerful tool for communication.
Moreover, the site’s legacy influences modern facilities like my K0UO Rhombic Farm and antenna test range in Kansas, which is the world’s biggest facility for advanced ham radio HF Wire antenna design, testing, and operation. The spirit of innovation and technical excellence that defined Bethany lives on in these cutting-edge projects.
If you’re serious about ham radio, contesting, or high-frequency communications, studying the VOA Bethany Ohio site’s history and technology can give you a leg up. It’s like having a masterclass in radio engineering from the pioneers themselves.
And if you ever get the chance to visit the site or study the site’s history in detail, take it! There’s something magical about standing where so much radio history was made. It’s a reminder that every signal you send or receive is part of a much bigger story.
In the end, the VOA Bethany Ohio site is more than just a place on the map. It’s a symbol of human ingenuity, the power of communication, and the endless quest to connect with others across the globe. And that, is a legacy worth celebrating.
Thanks for sticking with me through this deep dive into the VOA Bethany Ohio site. If you’re as passionate about radio as I am, I hope you found some nuggets of inspiration here. Keep those antennas tuned and those signals strong!
SEE this film below about the building of this site in the 1940s The VOA OHIO site was decommissioned in 1994.
Virtual Tour
TO SEE the complete Blog list check @ https://www.k0uo.com/k0uo
The KØUO Rhombic Antenna Farm and Antenna Test Range: Home to the World's Largest amateur radio (ham), High Frequency (HF) Wire Arrays, miles of wire in the air and on the air daily.
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