RADIO SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 9

RADIO SERVICE.

NEW IYA STATION.

TESTS FOR SUITABLE SITE

OPERATIONS NEXT WEEK,

A reminder that Auckland is to have a new radio station is the announcement made in Wellington by the New Zealand Broadcasting Board yesterday that tests to determine the most suitable site for the new IYA station will be commenced next week. The first test will be mad:; on Monday, and the operations will, do continued for several weeks. Mr. W. L. Harrison, one of the Broadcasting Board's engineers, accompanied by an assistant, arrived from the South yesterday, and lias already carried out preliminary operations. The selection of the site for the new station will not be made until the results of the tests have been analysed and reports submitted by the technical experts. Several sites are under offer, but as yet no hint has been given as to which locality is most likely to be decided upon. It is known that the new station will be established well away from the city, and in some quarters it is considered likely that it will be near the sea, as it lias' been proved that the best position for a transmitter is one bordered extensively by water, owing to the small absorption of radio signal strength over water as compared with signals crossing the land. Transmitter in Motor Van. Tests to And the most suitable site for the new station will be made by means of a portable transmitter, carried in a motor van. Transmissions, principally of recordings, will be made from various localities, and the quality of reception from the selected points will be compared. It is likely that the wave lengths will be varied until the most suitable length is ascertained. In addition to the new station, a larger and more up-to-date studio is to be jirovided*at Auckland. Officials of the Broadcasting Board have already inspected a number of buildings, but no announcement as to the location of the new studio has made. The new studio will probably be in a position equally as central as the present studio in France Street, Newton, which for a considerable time has been considered inadequate. New Christchurch Station. The erection of a new station at Auckland is in accordance with the Broadcasting Board's policy of equipping the national system with the most up-to-date plant. The ne'w IYA station will give the South Island a much better link with Auckland, for its counterpart, the new 3YA station at Gebbie's Pass, Banks Peninsula, about 15 miles from Christcliurcli, is \cxpeeted to give good daylight receptions of Christchurch at Auckland, which is at present impossible. It is assumed that the contract for the supply of the actual plant for the new IYA station will not be let until the new Christchurch station, which its expected to be on the air about October or November, has been tried out and its efficiency proved. The Christchurch station is being manufactured in Australia.