Full TV Power Gives Great Improvement

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30861, 21 September 1965, Page 1

Full TV Power Gives Great Improvement

When the Christchurch television transmitter on Sugarloaf hill went on full power of 100 kw last evening a further great improvement in reception was reported from many parts of Canterbury.

Districts 120 miles north and south had “a perfect picture” absence of “snow,” and no interference troubles for the first time. Troubles in the Port Hills valleys round the new transmitter also seem to have been reduced, particularly with aerial adjustments.

The regional engineer of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (Mr R G. Tulloch) said full power would increase field strength slightly in all directions. Field tests would continue, particularly in areas which had had a “noisy picture." “Perfect” In South

Timaru, Fairlie, and Waimate viewers said reception was “absolutely perfect.” The only complaint at all three centres was the appearance of slight interference from passing cars which ap-

pea-ed as “morse code without the dots” for a few seconds However, most agreed that they had probably not noticed this before amid the “snow” of the earlier, indif-fe-ent reception. The licensee of the Criterion Hotel, Waimate (Mr J. S. Laing), said: “You can even see the screw in Herman Munster’s neck ” Ashburton “Bonus”

Television viewers in the Ashburton borough and county, already highly satisfied with the big improvement in the reception with the operation of the Sugarloaf transmitter from August 28. were “completely” happy with the added bonus of the double power transmission which began last evening. Ashburton and South Canterbury are the largest districts to receive appreciable benefit from the improved transmission. Two out of every seven families in the Ashburton borough and county own television sets, there being more than 1600 registered. There have been

continued steady sales this month.

Reception has improved “tremendously" compared with the old transmission from the Gloucester street mast. The distortions, fading, and “white outs.” which had become an accepted part of television viewing h. Ashburton under adverse reception conditions, have gone. Viewers last evening said reception was “absolutely marvellous” and “very easy on the eyes,” with a clear image and no flickering Streets which formerly suffered interference from factories and passing traffic -2ported ail signs of interference eliminated. Many Ashburton viewers claim that the operation of the Sugarloaf transmitter has made television in Ashburton even clearer than in Christchurch.

Reactions In North North Canterbury reactions varied: — Kaikoura: “Absolutely firstclass. Formerly we took television from Wellington, but now Christchurch is better We may be able to work two channels.” Oxford: “Reception has been very good since the Sugarloaf transmissions began but on full power we notice no appreciable difference, except that interference is reduced.” Waikairi: “We are in a blind spot and use the translator, known as Channel 4. At the outset tonight one man had a tumbling image but after slight adjustment definition was very good." Lyttelton residents said that reception was 30 to 40 per cent better. When the Sugarloaf station started some had better reception than before, while some had worse. In some Port Hills valleys recent troubles seemed to be reduced. Viewers using “rabbits ears” aerials achieved improvements by altering their orientation. Some thought they got best result by “taking the bounce” or reflected signals. In Christchurch itself neople questioned said they thought their “already excellent picture” was even sharper and steadier, but some agreed that this might be imagination.