RADIO RECEPTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18526, 12 October 1934, Page 6

RADIO RECEPTION

GISBORNE'S TROUBLES

IMPROVEMENT COMING

STRONGER YA STATIONS

A marked improvement' in Gisborne folio reeeption should eommenee from lie end of (his year.

The raising of the power of YA stations anil also the efforts to reduce noise levels have not had any very great effect yet, but as the policy of the Broadcasting Board is proceeded with much better results can be expected. In view of the prospects, the Gisborne Radio Dealers’ Association has not taken any further steps to press its claim for extended hours for local broadcasts to overcome the very high noise level which makes it impossible for many listeners to secure a reasonaide daylight reception, while at night reception is frequently marred by motor interference. Conditions were so bad in some localities that the Radio Dealers’ Association made out a strong case for an extension of local broadcast hours. A previous request for some relief to local listeners was hold in abeyance, because it was thought that the improvement of 3YA would have been of sufficient benefit to take the. place of any expenditure here, but although reception from Christchurch was improved the difficulty of receiving with sufficient strength to overcome the noise level was not overcome. MORE POWERFUL THAN AUSTRALIAN

No prospects of immediate relief were given when the association made its recent request for extended hours, and members feel that it should have been given some inkling of what was going to occur, for had they known they might have been content to await developments. If the policy of endeavoring to reduce the noise level is undertaken, in conjunction with the raising of the power of tlio YA stations, then it is reasonable to hope that most of Gisborne’s difficulties will be overcome. Even stronger signal strength, without any reduction in interference, would: help a great deal in some localities towards better daylight reception.

According to a recent announcement, IYA will be tlio most powerful station in New Zealand or Australia when it conics on the air from, its new site at the end of the year. Its power will be increased from 509 watts, as it is at present, to 10,000 watts. Provision lias been made also in ihe equipment of 3YA for increasing its power to 10.000 watts, whereas it is 2500 watts at present. The effect, of this, it is explained, is that speech and music received from 3YA will lie doubled in strength. This will be of very material advantage to Gisborne, particularly in the daytime. At present- the signal strength of 3YA is strong enough in the daylight hours to provide good reception in norse-freo areas, but it is not sufficient to rise above motor noises where these aro bad. IMPROVED SETS For Dunedin, also, a 10,000 watts station is contemplated, and .tenders are being; called for the. construction of a new station on Otago Peninsula. So, when these stations aro completed, Gisborne listeners should have a choice in the daytime from four main stations, as well as the subsidiary ones in other parts of the country. This, to some extent, will obviate "the necessity of tne extension of hours for the local broadcasts, although it is claimed that the local stations always will be desirable, particularly in tlio, event of atmospheric conditions intevforrng with reception. Another point which is helping listeners is that radio receivers now coming on to the market are a big improvement on the old ones. It is only a few years ago that to secure a receiving set of any efficiency it was necessary to expend about £6O. About two or three years ago good broadcast sets could he ereared for £3O. Now, all-wave sets are costing the same money, and even less, while ordinary broadcast sets can he procured for under half that money. The efficiency of the sets has been improved with the reduction in prices, and a fivevalve set now can do the work of a much stronger machine of a few years ago.