NEW RADIO PLANT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 10

NEW RADIO PLANT

HIGH-POWERED STATIONS

ARRIVAL OF IYA'S MAST

By the middle of next year, New Zealand will have in commission three radio stations of 10 kilowatts power, double that of 2FC or 2BL, Sydney. The new 10 kilowatt transxnitter for IYA, Auckland, the building for which is nearing completion near Henderson, will be on the air by the end of the year, and the tender has ajready been let for the new plant of similar power for 4YA, Dunedin. The power of the new transmitter of 3YA, Christchurch, which was opened last year, is to be raised from 2i to 10 kilowatts. The next development must then be the erection of a new transmitter for 2YA, Wellington, for it is known that the New Zealand Broadcasting Board intends this to be the Dominion's "national" station. Its present power is 5 kilowatts, but it is believed that it may be increased ultimately to about 10 times that strength.

Good progress is still being made with the new IYA studio premises at the top of Shortland Street. The exterior work is practically finished, and the interior of the building is now a scene of great activity. The inside work includes the installation of heating and air conditioning plants, electrical installation and sgnalling system. The building to house the transmitting plant near Henderson also is proceeding apace. The 60-ton latticed steel mast has arrived from Australia, and is ready for assembly. Only one mast will be used. It will be 500 ft. high, and will pivot on a large insulator, being securely stayed by four groups of wires. One of the existing 100 ft. masts at Karangahapp Road will be erected on the roof of the new studio premises, but no decision has yet been made regarding the second one. It will probably be dismantled until use is found for it.