Australia's Problem

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 9, 14 September 1928, Page 5

Australia's Problem

New Relay Stations HILE general satisfaction has been given by the recent announcement of the Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce) that the change in the broadcasting control policy of the Federal Ministry will be accompanied by the provision of an elective relaying service for country districts, it is disquieting to note (says the Melbourne "Argus") that the proposal that relaying stations should be connected with the main broadcasting stations by short-wave wireless services is still being considered favourably. Complete failure to provide .dequately for country districts and provincial cities is undoubtedly the weakest feature of the existing Australian broadcasting system. This failure can be corrected easily and effectively by the installation of relay stations, but if those stations are to depend on a wireless, instead of a land line, service to obtain Ly

----eEV-=--o-eoroeroooerereoereror or oor the programmes they will relay, it is to be feared that the position of country Isteners will be little better than it is now. The use of short-wave wireless stations as a substitute for telephone lines for the purpose of transmitting programmes to relaying stations is so obvious an economy that it has been subject to full investigation both in Europe and the United States. In every trial the wireless service has been found much inferior, even uncer the best possible conditions, to an efiicient land line. While few doubt that short-wave wireless cireuits will undoubtedly play an important part in the future in supplementing, and probably even replacing, trunk telephone lines, they will require to be greatly improved before they can compete with land lines. At present no impartial

envineer understanding the problems to be faced, would recommiend the use of short-wave wireless stations for relaying purposes. It is to be hoped that the proposal will be abandoned by the postal authorities, and that they will concentrate on the preparation of land lines for the relay stations.