Amateur Aids In Test Broadcast

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1949, Page 5

Amateur Aids In Test Broadcast

DUNEDIN, Mon. (P.A.)—The Now Zealand Broadcasting Service explored every avenue and welcomed any advice in its endeavours to ensure favourable reception of the test-match commentary. To make assurance doubly sure, if possible, the offer of a “D.X-er” with equipment at Long Beach to place his facilities at the disposal of the service was accepted, and technicians from 4ZB set up their equipment there on Saturday night. They listened in to Wellington’s relay and also took a complete, recording of the commentary on a wire re'corder, using a frequency which D.Xers had preferred to relay from Perth. The value of this measure was evident when the relsy through Perth failed in the second half of the game. The tape recorder was brought straight into Dunedin and shortly after 5 a.m. yesterday the broadcast was played over by 4YA and picked up on a recording apparatus at Wellington. This was' used during commentaries later yesterday and enabled the broadcasting service to cover the game, despite conditions which made earlier arrangements unsatisfactory. Long Beach, just over 10 miles from Dunedin, is well removed from sources of electrical interference and has previously proved eminently satisfactory for difficult receptions. It is also thought that the fact of Dunedin being about 400 miles nearer South Africa than Wellington would help largely to overcome difficulties presented by the auroral zone, which was responsible for the relay being made through Perth.