RADIO NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 491, 19 November 1948, Page 5

RADIO NEW ZEALAND

Sir,-I was interested to read G, F. Holibar’s letter, in qa recent issue of The Listener, about the Shortwave Division. I, too, agree that this is a great step in wa Re in New Zealand, and it will be most interesting to learn just how far afield Radio New Zealand is being heard regularly. Unfortunately, I have not had the good luck to listen on @ night when the 31-metre outlet has been used, but I have been agreeably surprised at the reception from the 25-metre outlet. I should be interested to know frém the NZBS whether we would be receiving a ground wave here in Marton or whether; we are receiving a reflected wave-which seems more likely from the amount of surge accompanying the signal. On the other hand it seems rather unlikely that we should be picking up a reflected wave so relatively close to the transmitter. The account of the trials and tribulations of the technical staff when they made the recordings of the tui for the identification’ signal wére also most in‘teresting. However, when I heard the signal broadcast, I was rather disappointed. Those of us who have been

fortunate enough to hear the tui frequently may feel that this récording scarcely does the pder bird justice, Perhaps, too, the bell-bird would have. made a rather more characteristic recording for the purpose, one that would be more easily distinguished overseas when locating the ZL’s. It is no doubt too late to do anything about it now, but ‘should at any time a change be made; I suggest that the bell-bird be .considered. Now that we are on the air so much further afield, is.it not high, time something was done with the old Wellington Post Office clock to provide some alternative to the monotonous "pips". which have had to replace the once’ familiar chimes? Could not this clock be mounted in the Botanical Gardens, so that its characteristic notes can again: be heard and also broadcast at home and abroad? Wanganui seem to have been successful with their chimes from Cook's Gardens, so why not the capital city? When I hear the Melbourne clock from Radio Australia, I look back with fegret on past days when New Zealand had (I think) a much superior set of chimes to broadcast. All the same, I am sure that any New Zealanders overseas must get a thrill to hear "Now is the Hour’ when Radio New Zealand closes down!

M. F.

GRAY

(Marton).

(According to the’ Engineering Section ‘of the NZBS, you are almost certainly receiving a reflected sky wave. A ground wave on 11 megacycles would become too attenuated to be received as far away as Marton.-Ed.)