Licences For 3 Mini-Translators

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 1

Licences For 3 Mini-Translators

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 27. Mini-translators for television have been licensed for operation in the Blue Mountain area, Fairlie, at Lincoln, to serve Gebbie’s and Queen’s valleys, and at Hanmer Springs.

An application is being considered by the N.Z.B.C. and the Post Office for a mini-translator in the Sherry river area, Nelson, and there has been a report of interest, but no application, for a translator near Greymouth.

These translators operate on the Channel 6 v.h.f. Ten other channels on u.h.f. are available for minitranslators but there appears to be no frequencies.

If these ultra high frequencies could be used, many of the difficulties of interference would be eliminated.

Although acceptable images from mini-translators may only be received over two or three miles in some cases, an interference signal can go much further. There is a further application from the Fairlie area which is sponsored by the same people as the first installation. Another application has been made from Waimate. A mini-translator application has come from Ashburton and is still under consideration. Kurow Plan A society at Kurow has applied for a high-powered translator licence (up to 25 watts) to reproduce the television signal from Dunedin

This would go out on Channel 5. Channels 4, 5 and 6 are available for these larger translators. A society at Akaroa wants a large translator which would serve Akaroa, Little River and the hilltop. An application from Okains bay is for a minitranslator. There are applications for translators from Waikari, Waiau and Cheviot. Viewers in these areas have formed the North Canterbury Television Viewers’ Association. It is likely a large translator will be set up on Mount Alexander. This could produce' a good signal for the three : areas, but it would be a matiter of testing reception When it is established. Shadow Areas It it did not prove satisfactory, shadow areas could be served by mini-translators. Two applications were received for Waikari, and as the corporation does not arbitrate between applicants it gives priority to the first applicant. (The applicant for Waiau was also the second applicant for Waikari.)

Blenheim and Timaru already have large translators backed by societies. Translators at Picton and Havelock have been given licences but it is believed these are still under the test period of one month before a full licence is issued

Societies at Nelson, Takaka and Motueka already have translators reproducing channel 1 signals. A spokesman for the corporation said the corporation’s stated policy was to promulgate the television signals as far and as quickly as possible. As corporation plans go ahead, translators could become superfluous, but even then, there could be shadow areas requiring translators. 50 Apply More than 50 applications have been received from various individuals and societies. Twenty-three have been approved and the corporation holds the licences for them. Where licences have been issued, there is no guarantee that the translators are operating. The Hanmer Springs translator—a mini-translator—-is reported to be out of action at present. The corporation has no information on this.