Radio Rhema tests upset radio hams

Press, 10 November 1978, Page 1

Radio Rhema tests

upset radio hams

Two complaints have been made to Post Office radio inspectors in Christchurch about tests on the Radio Rhema aerial in Hills Road, Mairehau, on Wednesday evening. Radio Rhema will be officially opened by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) on Saturday at 11 a.m. and the aerial is being tested in preparation. One of the complainants — Mr Lloyd Coles, a radio technician who lives in Hills Road, and uses a sophisticated Eddystone communications receiver from his address — said that the testing went on for two hours. “That whole time, I could not get a thing on my receiver — not even the YC programmes,” he said yesterday. “I am looking up the Broadcasting Act to see what sort of redress I’ve got,” he said. “If this is going to continue, I am going to see if 1 can take out a private prosecution, if at all possible.” Mr Coles said that several other radio operators would be affected — probably even more than he had been, as he lived about quarter of a mile away. He knew of other operators who lived much closer to the aerial. A spokesman for the radio inspectors said yesterday that the complaints would be investigated. The Post Office would check the Radio Rhema aerial before Saturday, when it was due to go to air, he said.

Mr R. M. Cummings, the general secretary at Radio Rhema, said yesterday that the interference complained of should pass fairly soon, and should not be permanent. He suggested that anyone having problems with radio reception near the Hills Road aerial site should get in touch with Radio Rhema’s technical staff, who would oe only too happy to try to solve any problems.

Post Office staff were checking the aerial al! day. he said, so that it could be cleared for uans-

mission on Saturday morning. Radio Rhema will broadcast on 1575 kHz on a 3XG call sign. The "gospel" radio station was granted a licence to broadcast from 6 a.m. to noon on week-days and from 6 a.m. to midnight a: week-ends. The station

will begin broadcasting soon as Mr Muldoon begins speaking at 11 a m. on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. There will be 32 fulltime staff and about 18 part-time workers, under the leadership of Mr D. Scantlebury, who is station manager.