BETTER RADIO COVERAGE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 385, 8 November 1946, Page 14

BETTER RADIO COVERAGE

Minister’s Announcement N ahnouncement about the , steps being taken to provide first-grade radio reception in areas where it is now not at its best, and to establish subsidiary local. coverage stations in cities and some of the larger towns, was made last week by the Minister of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones). When tenders were let recently for replacing technical equipment at 1YA, 2YA, 3YA, and 4YA, the Government decided_that, as manufacturers were in a positidn to supply small_transmitting stations, contracts should be let for purchasing four 2 Kw. transmitters for North Auckland, Hamilton, Wanganui, and Timaru. At the same time, Mr. Jones said, the power of Stations 1ZB, 2ZB, 3ZB, and 4ZB would be increased by ordering new 10 Kw. stations as replacements as soon as equipment from overseas was available. And at 2ZA (Palmerston North), and 2YN (Nelson) power would be 2 Kw. each to over-ride interference. The NZBS, said the Minister, was now extending its coverage in the Bay of Plenty (Rotorua and Tauranga), and the West Coast of the South Island. The expansion plan included stations at such centres as Hastings and Masterton, and reorganisation of the present stations 2ZJ Gisborne and 2YB New Plymouth was also being considered. Future plans for the NZBS network included small stations at Hawera, Taumarunui, Thames, Dannevirke, Blenheim, Ashburton, Oamaru, Gore, and Westport. In addition to the replacements and expansion mentioned, the Service was installing two short-wave transmitters at Titahi Bay to serve the Pacific area. ' Tests, expected to take some weeks, are already being made with a mobile unit to find the best site for the proposed new transmitter for the West Coast of the South Island.