MORE POWERFUL STATION FOR 2YA

Chronicle (Levin), 2 November 1946, Page 5

MORE POWERFUL STATION FOR 2YA

— Press Assoeiation

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The New Zealand .Government tiii.iveek placed iu Australia a £200,000 contraet for the buildinp in the DomniLon of a chain of radio stations required to replace wornout equipment. Provision is also made for a number ot new stations to give improved district coverage. Tenders were received oii very elaborate specilications from several firms iu Australia, from Fnglamt aud from America, 'but the order went to Ama-lgamated Wireless Limited ivhose temler complied most favourably with the requirements. This Australiuu firm built most of the original national radio stations in New Zealand. The new 2YA station to be eompletely rebuilt at Titahi Bay will be operating in 18 months. Preparations for the replacement of the preselit 60k.w. ti'ansmitter will begin immediatelv. Aleanwliile two small stations, eacli of 2k. w., at Palmerston Nortli and Nelson respectively, are actually under construction and will be "in serviee very soon. Provision is made for six lOk.w. stations but tlie deliverv of the equip ment for these may take eight or nine months. Alost of the work is being undertaken under a schedule of replaeements which had to be deferred during the war yearsbut. the building jirogramme does in clude the installation of stations in places which in the past have had unsatisfactOry serviee. The reason for sueh a powerful 2Y A station is that it is designed to give a national coverage. rts v.ange will be 110 greater than tlie present one. The Australian stations. which ojierate on tlie regionnl system, do not need. to be so nowerful.