THE SHORT-WAVE ERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 18

THE SHORT-WAVE ERA.

EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT. WORK. OF RANGIORA STATION. BY THERMION. An extensive system of short-wave broadcasting stations all over the world would seem to be approaching rapidly. Some of the stations, such as 2XAF, Schenectady, New York, and PCJJ, Holland, already provide regular entertainment for New Zealand listeners, while new stations are appearing frequently. Among the latter a New Zealand broadcasting station, 3AU, Rangiora, transmitting with a power input of 40 watts on a wave-length of 54 metres was heard by the writer on a loud-speaker last Sunday afternoon. Presumably 3AU will carry out regular transmissions. The announcer at the station read many letters from all parts of Australia, indicating that previous transmissions had been clearly heard there. In Australia the Melbourne broadcasting station, 3LO, is now conducting experiments with a short-wave transmitter, and probably simultaneous broadcasting will be conducted in the future on the normal and short wave-lengths. Last Saturday evening it was announced that a high-powered short-wave transmitter had been erected at- Pennant Hills for 2FC, Sydney, and that a special . broadcast would talce place early on Monday morning. It was stated that arrangements had been made'for the relaying of the Sydney transmission by 2LO, London, and prominent European and American stations. A special address was to be given by the Minister, who would speak from his home in Melbourne, his speech being conveyed by a trunk line 600 miles to Sydney to be broadcast. Other speakers and a musical "programme were to complete the broadcast. At 3.30 a.m. on Monday the writer picked up 2FC's carrier wave, but the result was disappointing. The signal strength was so weak that. only a very few portions of the broadcast were audible during the duration of two hours. The wavelength was about 32 metres. An Australian short-wave station, 6AG, Perth, conducting a special transmission on about 34 metres for the purpose of obtaining reports from distant listeners, was heard very clearly when tuned in at odd times between 3.30 and 4.30 a.m. The announcer was calling Great Britain, South Africa and India for reports. An unsuccessful endeavour was made to hear the transmission from London by Mr. G, Marcuse. It was announced in Tuesday's Hekald that Wellington listeners heard his transmissions, but only poorly.