The first stage of LOFAR project will build the stations within a compact area with a diameter of 2 Km length called "The Core" and the installation of 32 remote stations. Every remote station will be equipped with about 100 antennas operating in the low band (30-80 MHz) and about 100 in high band (120-240 MHz). Furthermore 13 three-axis vibration sensors (geophones) will be placed 10m below the surface to get below the ground-water level; three microbarometers (for infrasound detection) and several auxiliary systems, e.g. for weather monitoring and GPS time/position measurements, will be installed too.

On the whole, for radio astronomical applications, in the 'Core' area about 3200 antennas will be operative in both the low and high LOFAR bands. Some selected stations will be provided also with sensors for agricolture applications.

The remote stations will have an effective area of about 1600 m2 at 30 MHz and 260 m2 at 75 MHz as regards the low band antennas, whereas there will be about 1600 m2 at 120 MHz and 600 m2 at 200 MHz for the high band antennas.