SHORTWAVE HIGHLIGHTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 404, 21 March 1947, Page 11

SHORTWAVE HIGHLIGHTS

Radio Australia’s Transmissions

HE overseas shortwave stations of Radio Australia are controlled by the Shortwave Division of the Department of Information and they broadcast programmes specially designed for and directed to overseas listeners in many parts of the world, including Great Britain, North America, Japan, the Far East and South Africa. Radio Australia began its overseas service in December, 1939, with a programme directed to Great Britain. From that small beginning programmes are now transmitted in six languages, English, Dutch, French, Siamese, Chinese, and Malay. (Japanese was included until September, 1946). During the war years the troopseven in the Middle East-listened to broadcasts from Radio Australia, and when Japan entered the war, the service not only brought news and Aalks. from home to the forces, but also played a leading part in the Allied propaganda campaign in _the Pacific and Asia. Even to-day there are four daily transmissions specially compiled for the Forces in the Far East and a special Saturday afternoon broadcast giving a very comprehensive coverage of the day’s sport. The aerial site, covering one square mile of country, has 14 masts, each 210 feet high, supporting 19 multi-element directional aerial arrays which radiate the programmes: from VLA and VLB (both 100 kw.), VLC (50 kw.), and VLG (10 kw.). Both VLA and VLB transmitters have two 100 kw. amplifiers to permit rapid frequency changing, which is essential when programmes are to be broadcast on different frequencies’ with only a short close-down between transmissions.

The following is the English schedule of Radio Australia’s transmissions between the hours of 9.15 a.m. and 12.0 midnight: Forces Programmes No. 1 (9.15-11.30 a.m.)-VLA4, 11.77 mc/s, 25.49 metres; VLB6, 15.20; 19.74; VLC4, 15.32, 19.59. Programme to North America and Canada (11.30 a.m.-12.45 p.m.).-VLAQ, 21.60 mc/s, 13.89 metres. Forces’ Programmes ‘No. 2 (2.0-4.0 p.m.).-VLAY, 21.60 mc/s, 13.89 metres; VLB5, 21:54, 13.93; VLC9, 17.84, 16.82; VLGS5, 11.88, 25.25. Sporting Programme (2.0-7.30 p.m., Saturday only)-VLG7, 15.16 m¢e/s, 19.79 metres; VLBS5, 21.54, 13.93. Programme to North America and South Africa (4.45-5.45 p.m.).-VLA6, 15.20 mc/s, 19.74 metres; VLB3, 11.77, 25.49; VLG6, 15.23, 19.69; VLC9, 17.84, 16.82. Programme to Great Britain (7.0-8.15 p.m.).-VLB6, 15.20 mc/s, 19.74 metres; VLAQY, 21.60, 13.89. Forces Programme No. 3 (8.30 p.m.12.0 midnight)-VLB8, 21.60 mce/s, 13.89 metres; VLA6, 15.20, 19.74 (8.45 p-mi-11.30 p.m.). Headlines in the Programmes: Australian Sporting Round-up (11.0 a.m., Sunday, VLB6); Magazine of the Week (7.15 p.m., Sunday, VLB6); Australia To-day (7.15 p.m., Monday, VLB6); Agricultural Bulletin (8.0 p.m., Monday, VLB6); Canberra Report (8.0 p-m., Tuesday, VLB6); Australian Women’s Newsletter (8.0. p.m., Thursday, VLB6); Racing Acceptances for Saturday (9.10 p.m., Thursday, VLA6); Australian Economic Review (8.0 p.m., Friday, VLB6); Australian Newsreel (7.15 p.m., Saturday," VLB6); Saturday Sporting Result (8.30 p.m., Saturday, VLA6). News Bulletins are broadcast at the following times:-9.15 a.m., 12.0 noon, 1.0, 3.15, 5.15, 7.30, 9.0, and 11.0 p.m.