MOBILE RADIO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1939, Page 6

MOBILE RADIO

FEATURES OF SZB STATION-

TRANSMISSION HEARD RECENTLY IN QUEENSLAND. Although station SZB, at present operating in Masterton, has only a 250 watt output, it was heard two weeks ago, in daylight, in Queensland. The station was then transmitting from Wanganui. Fully equipped with everything required for a three months’ tour of the North Island, SZB requires no feeding from headquarters or other stations along the route. Altogether there are about 4000 records and £3OO worth of fixture transcriptions on board. When the station arrives at any town the power and telephone are immediately connected. The station has its own lighting supply while travelling, but it is not possible to transmit while on the move, on account of vibration. The car is an old carriage used by the general manager of railways converted into a radio station. The studio contains two microphones, a “mini grand” piano and several easy chairs. As many as 30 performers have been accommodated in the studio at one time. At each stop an endeavour to present local talent is made. “Masterton’s talent will be on the air at 9.15 tonight.” In some towns talent of quite a high order has been discovered and broadcast.

The transmitting room houses the transmitter, the control panel and three turntables for records and feature transcriptions. The equipment in the control room was built by the station’s own engineers in Wellington, assisted by Mr D. Joseph, sZB’s engineer. Sleeping quarters, shower room and kitchen are also provided for the crew of two who operate the mobile station.

The station engineer, Mr D. Joseph, has recently returned from Edinburgh, where he spent two years at the Marconi Radio College. Mr D. Laurenson, the advance-manager, is an ex-R.A.F. war pilot and is well-known as an announcer at IZB. He has also had considerable executive experience at stations I.ZB and 2ZR. The station director, Mr I. Mackay, has had a varied career. He started work as a mill hand in his father’s mill. He then went to clerical work. He has won two literary awards and has been in the radio industry for a number of years. At present he is production manager at 2ZB.