AUSTRALIAN WAVELENGTHS

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 34, 9 March 1928, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN WAVELENGTHS

MOOTED ALTERATIONS. An Australian writer says:"The recent Australian Press references to the expressed intention of the Commonwealth Postmaster-General to alter the broadcasting stations’ wavelengths suggests a topic for discussion. It is a very important topic, and was frequently mentioncd last year by various witnesses before the Royal Conimussion on Wireless. The unsatisfactory arrangement of the wavelengths opcrating to-day is a hindrance to the best enjosiment of the services; and it is reallv surprisine that the

authoritics have not made seme simple and very desirable changes before thus. Apparently they are now preparing to sive us a change-let us hope it will be a teasonable and permanent change. "Broadcasting in Australia has suffered more than one setback owing to wavelength changes, The first wpset in 1923 and 1924 was due perhaps more to the ‘scaled set’? idea of reception than to the wavelength. But then the sealed set scheme was based on parlicular wavelengths. Later on in 1924 and 1925 those wavelengths, known as the long wavelengths were abandoned. Such wavelengths as 1720 metres and. 1100 metres were found to be giving. but little satisfaction, and when 3L0 changed from 1720 to 371 metres the real boom in broadcasting began. HOW ARE THE WAVELENGTHS STIPULATED ? "Tt seemingly never has been clearly shown why the long wavelengths were given to the Australian stations. One suggestion is that the long wavelengths would be better for country reception; bunt the failurc of broadcasting to progress in Western Australia, where the long wavelength of 1250 metres is still in use, does not support that theory. There is room for an interesting discussion of the relative efficiency of long and short wavelengths, but that is not my purpose here. "She broadcasting companies canuot select their own wavelength: thev are given by the Postmaster-General’s Department, which is tle authoritv that controls all wireless matters. And as the indiscriminate use of wavelengths would lead to obvious confusion, some such central authority is essential. Apparently the stations now operating were given wavelengths so arranged as to guarantee some dexree of frecdom from interference by themselyes and by stations on ships which communicate with shore stations."