WIRELESS IN THE HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18189, 7 September 1922, Page 8

WIRELESS IN THE HOME

BROADCASTING SCHEME. GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. LOCATION OF STATIONS. [BY TKUSOBAPK. —SPECIAL BKPOETEfi.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The Postal Department has been considering suggented proposals in connection with radio telephone broadcasting. The Postmaster-General, Hon. J- G. Goates, states that full consideration has now been given to the subject of the broadcasting of radio telephone concerts, lectures, etc. A schemo has been evolved which it is believed will result in avoiding the chaotio condition that has been brought about in America an,d elsewheifjp ' for want of proper regulation of this recent development of modern science.

In determining the location of the broadcasting (stations and the technical conditions und<a* which they 6hall operate a careful study has been made of such features as distribution of _ population, topography of country, isolation of areas from other means of*communication, etc. The main object has been to render the "benefits of the scheme as widely available au possible, both to thickly _ populated areas and to scattered communities and at the same time 'to reduce to a minimum the objectionable features which have marred the success of radiophone broadcasting in other countries.

The broadcasting programme will be limited to items of entertainment, lectures, and information generally, but will not include direct advertising. One of the qualifications for a broadcasting license at places where no Government coast station is located will, be the ability to receive the Morse code at the rate of ten words a minute, either by the licensee or by a certified assistant. This requirement is necessary in order to ensure that the cessation of broadcasting may be brought about by instructions from a Government radio coast station when interference with the conduct of important radio traffic, such as distress signals, is being experienced. At Auckland and Wellington a telephone subscribers' connection will suffice.

In the immediate vicinity of a Government coast station a condition of the issue of a broadcasting license will be the ability to operate the set without interfering with the work of the station. In all easeß a knowledge of the operation and adjustment of the set will be required.

Wave Lengths and Time-tables. The following places have been chosen as ifooio telephone broadcasting centres, the figures following the name of the plaoe indicating the transmitting wavelength in metres: —Whangarei, 330; Auckland, 260; Hamilton, 360; New Plymouth, 385; Gisborne, 335; Napier, 380; Pa'merston North, 340; Wellington, 275; Nelson, 335; Greymouth, 265; Christchurch, 380; Timaru, 330; Dunedin, 370; lhvercargil, 270.

At all of the above mentioned centrcß time-tables will be arranged by th« department, which will ensure that only one broadcasting stiatiou will be operating at any one centre at the same time, and where applications may be in excess of the number of permissible stations at any one centre, priority will bo given to apph cants best qualified to cater for the public interests

At the following smaller centres, broadcasting will be permitted to approved stations with power up to J-k.w-. on the wave-lentrths indicated by the figure following the name of the centre : —Kaitai, 220: Dar'-avill*?, 190; Thames, 195; Tauranga, 225; Rotorua, 190: Whakatafte, ?50; Te Kuiti. 240; TaumarunuJ, 210; Hawera, 190; Hastings. 195: Wanganui. ??0: Dnnnevirke, 250; Marterton, 195; Westport, .190; Kaikoura, Z*D; Oaroaru, 225: Queenstown, 190; RoxDurgh, 250; 'and Gore. 195. Whole Dominion Covered. By means of the above distribution of stations and allocations of power"an*d wavelengths, practically every part of New Zea land should be able, bv the use of a simple tyDO of receiver, to obtain clear ieception of broadcasted matfer from the local radio centre and be free from interference from other sources. At the same time clear reception from other centres will be practicable and be within the reach of all who care to employ the more sensitive receiving apparatus repuired to compass the longer distances. To cover the whole range of broadcasting wave-length's receiving station** should be tunable from 180 to *00 metres, and to cover reception from amateur stations in addition tho range of the receiving set should extend down to 120 metres. The compactness of the broadcasting wave-length band ensures that a comparatively simple and inexpensive receiver can be designed to efficiently cover the whole range.