Radio Station On Full Use Of New Transmitter

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1949, Page 4

Radio Station On Full Use Of New Transmitter

Announcing today, in a letter to Mr J. B. Kent M.P., that last week the Greymouth radio station 3YZ commenced to operate full time on its new powerful transmitter which was erected last year at Taramakau, the Minister of Broadcasting, Mr F. Jones, made the first official disclosure on the new broadcasting equipment since the news of its proposed establishment was published a year ago. The manner in which official “bulletins” on the progress of the erection of the new equipment have been refused has .been the subject of some comment recently, and led to some criticism by members of the Westland Progress League. It was in answer to recent representations by the league in regard to the new equipment that the Minister this morningadvised Mr Kent that the transmitter is how being operated full time. The new transmitter has actually been used each morning for some months past. “I am pleased to advise that radio station 3YZ proceeded to operate on full power on Monday, February 21,” stated the Minister’s letter. “The transmitter- has been experimentally operated from 7 a.m., to 12 noon each day from a temporary mast for some time now. For the remainder of the 15-2 hours broadcasting (10-J-hrs each day) the station has continued to use the old transmitter. Service’s Intention

“The National Broadcasting Service did not intend to operate the new transmitter for a full day until the permanent steel mast, which is 400 feet high, was erected,” he continued. “The 10.k.w. transmitter is now operating from a temporary aerial system and the service which West Coast residents receive from this mast is not as good as that which they will receive when the permanent steel mast is erected. “There has been some delay in the mast programme,” he went on. “The gang has masts to erect at more than five other centres, and it does not appear at present that the installation will be completed at Kumara until the end of August. Consequently, I am pleased to confirm that transmission for 15y hours daily from the temporary aerial system commenced on Monday last as a result of your representations. It should, however, be clearly understood by residents that the service from the temporary mast will be improved upon when a permanent mast is erected and the earth system laid.”

Improved Reception

Inquiries made today revealed that though the full benefit of the new equipment would not be obtained until the mast had been erected and the new studio equipment brought into use, the operation of the powerful Taramakau transmitter had already had a noticeable effect in districts in which indifferent reception was obtained previously. 'lmprovement had been reported from Reelton, Otira, and South Westland areas, and it is expected that reception in Westport will also be much better. The driver of a motor-car travelling recently from t Greymouth to Christchurch had clear, strong, and static-free reception from the Greymouth station all the way through Otira gorge to Porter’s Pass, where he arrived at noon, by which time the station had reverted to its old plant. While the new plant had been used, however, Greymouth had given better service than 3YA, Christchurch.

Studio Alterations

In the meantime, good progress is being made with the extension and modernisation of the present studios in Mackay street, Greymouth, and it is expected that the A.W.A. engineers will return to Greymouth next month to instal the new studio technical equipment. This equipment will be brought into use as soon as possible and some time before the actual construction work is finished at the studios. It is expected that alteration work will take from to three months to complete. The main work in the new part of the studios has been finished, and the completion of the sub-contracts for electrical and other equipment is .delaying the start of the final “finishing” work in this section. % -