Television Bands For N.Z. Radio Amateurs

Chronicle (Levin), 21 April 1949, Page 6

Television Bands For N.Z. Radio Amateurs

WELLINGTON, April 20. Band space has been alloeated for experiinental television by radio ama teurs in New Zeaiand. Even the circle of amateurs, however, is not expected to be -televising themselves on to screens of radio contacts for a long time yet. The Post and Tejegrapk Department, as the licensing authority, has alloeated space at the request of New Zeaiand amateur radio transmitters. The frequencies are regarded as those most suitable for television work. They are fromN430 to 442 megacyeles and 1250, to 1280 megacyeles. But it is understood that only a few amateurs are still toying with the idea of using the new space for working television. It is the belief of the secretary of the New Zeaiand Amateur Radio Transmitters' Association, Mr. W. D. Gorman, Wellington, that it will.be a 'long time before television reaches even the experiinental stage in New Zeaiand. The biggest drawback was the cost of television gear, he said. It was more thar. the purses of amateurs would eater. for Mr. Gorman says that many people question the commercial value of tele vision in the Dominion. They say that the first essential is to biiild up localpresented radio programmes. While television experiments are stili nebulous considerations, some amateurs are turning their attention to remoticontrol work. For this the Post and Telegraph Department has alloeated more space, specially for model aenn plane and hydroplane driving by radio Oue Wellington amateur is reported t,o be operating a toy tank by radio control.