WEST COAST RADIO

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1932, Page 6

WEST COAST RADIO

RECEPTION QUESTION Local Listeners Meet Board Representatives There was a large gathering of radio listeners from Hokitika, Greymouth and the surrounding districts at the Town Hall last evening, Mr 11. R. Barrett. President of the West Coast Radio Society, occupying the chair. Mr A. Gibbs (Chief Telegraph Engineer for New Zealand), Dr. M. A. F Barnett (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research), and Mr J. C. Fairburn (Telegraph Engineer for the Christchurch district), were present as representatives appointed by the New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Board to enquire into the technical development of wireless broadcasting, with the object of submitting a. report as to the reception of the YA Stations all over the Dominion.

The Chairman introduced the Board’s representatives, outlining their mission.

Mr Gibbs spoke, giving details as to their visit, and stating the idea was. for a better broadcast coverage. They were all aware that the Government had appointed a Broadcasting Board io control the YA Stations, having bought out the company that previously cotducted those stations. Tt was an administrative Board. Upon the stations being taken over it was found that, contrary to expectations, in a very great number of places in New Zealand, radio listeners were receiving a poor broadcasting service. They had received numerous suggestions from more or less able critics, but their resources were not so great. He hoped that the information as to local conditions would be helpful in bringing the service up to a satisfactory point, and that the stations would progress and the revenue be far in excess of what it was at the present time. They had been appointed by the Scientific and Industrial Research Committee to develop wireless on the technical side, and that was the reason they wore visiting the various points of the Dominion. Before attempting to lay down any tangible scheme, they wore trying to find out what the reception was like in the different areas. It was found that in Southland, Canterbury and the West Coast, conditions differed greatly. They were trying to get information as to conditions obtaining in the different districts, and would welcome any information on the point. It had been thought that they were concerned with B class stations, and as to whether they should be subsidised by the Government; but that, as a matter of fact, was not what concerned them. He, however, understood the Government were going into the question of whether B Mass stations should bo subsidised. Tie suggested that Dr. Barnett should ask a few questions upon the points they wished to clear up and this procedure was adopted.

Tt was pointed out by the Chairman that in daylight, local listeners were unable to pick up Station IYA, Auckland. At night, also, it was poor, weak and unreliable, and not worthy of con sideration to the average listener. There were nights when they could get the station. They could not get Station 2YA, Wellington, very clearly in daylight. Mr T. TT. Jones said that approaching winter there a as more clarity towards late afternoon.

The Chairman said that the reception at nights was mainly spoiled by distortion, the fade-out being very

Mr Jones said the dinner music at fi o’clock was very good, but there was a fading out at about 6.30 o’clock. Station 2YA was the loudest of the YA stations at night. Station 3YA was a lt washout ” altogether here, being unreliable and worse than Station IY’A. 4YA, Dunedin, was locally a long way better. Station 3YA Was occasionally strong in daylight, but it faded out at night. IYA was passable, and somewhat better than 3YA, but was unsatisfactory in the daylight. Tt

was fairly steady at night, but weak, with occasional distortion. With regard to the B stations, other than their local station, 3ZR, they only could get 2ZW until 7.30 p.m. On occasions, but rarely, the Invercargill station an me through loudly.

The Chairman said that the YA Stations were inferior to 2FC, Sydney, and 2BL, Sydney, which were better on the average, vrith less distortion

and fading than the YA stations ar their best.

Mr A. J. MeDov/ftll (jokingly): “I consider we should pay our license fees to Australia!” (Laughter). The Chairman said that many listen ers sat up to get the Sydney stations after 9.30 o’clock because of the poor reception from the YA stations generally. 2YA was decidedly the best station of the four YA stations. It was a fairly strong station, and it could be toned down to cut out static, but there was distortion and fading. Mr McDowall said that when 3YA was audible, it was the toniest of the lot, before dark, after the children’s session.

Mr Jones said that on a lovely moonlight night there was much static, whilst on a misty night there was practically no static. There were heaps of local interference, whilst “howlers” were always with them. Three Hokitika listeners, who arrived late, gave the same opinions of the various stations.

Tt was pointed out. that in Hokitika more local interference from power was experienced, whilst “howlers” were also bad. Static was also bad there.

Mr M. Spiers said that in the daylight Auckland was picked up at Otira much stronger than at night. Mr F. Freitas said that there was the same reception with both battery and electric, power sets. If the reception were better at Hokitika than at, Greymouth, as a radio listener here

had stated, then the reception at Greymouth was very bad. He asked what was being done to stop ‘ 1 howlers.”

Mr Gibbs said it was far better for local societies to endeavour to assist listeners, who did not know how w work their sets successfully. There wa sa regulation that gave the Post master-General power to cancel the license when a listener deliberately caused “howling,” but with those people who were ignorant of the interruptions caused to other listeners, they could be warned of the consequences and given another chance. Mr W. Heinz said that many radio enthusiasts had bought, sets because they could get the local station. Thathowever, had now closed down.

Mr Jones said that four people in his locality had bought sets on account of there being a local station.

Mr Freitas said it was quite evident that a station was required on the West Coast, as far as daylight reception was concerned, at any rate. Mr Heinz said that, to have a local station would be far better as far ns licenses were concerned.

Mr McDowall said that if there were no local station, there would be many who would not bother with a radio, but with good music provided by the local station they would be only too pleased to have sets. Mr Jones moved a hearty vote of thanks to the visitors, and expressed the hope that the local reception would be improved upon the lodging of their report on return to Wellington. The vote was carried by acclamation.

Tt was decided to keep in touch with the representatives in regard to recep tion conditions on the West Coast.

Dr. Barnett, in reply, said that it was, a well-known fact that, the conditions were not. ideal. All they could do was return thanks for the information im parted to them, which he hoped would prove beneficial when their report was discussed by the Board.

After the meeting the visitors “listened in” on Mr J. R. Leitch’s low wave set. To-day, prior to leaving for Reefton and Westport, the experts will inspect Station 3ZR, Cobden.