An Unqualified Success

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 42, 3 May 1929, Page 7

An Unqualified Success

450-Mile Relay Accomplished A Difficult Problema Solved

FrACED with the problem of supplying listeners to 1YA with band music the Radio Broadcasting Company Sunday last undertook the stupendous task of relaying 2YA by landline to 1¥A. Previous to this the longest relay had been from Wanganui to Wellington, a distance of 125 miles. To relay over 450 miles was a big undertaking-its success was questiontd. But doubts cleared when at approximately 8.30 p.m. Sunday the long relay commenced. In tuning in to 1YA at about 8.40 it was evident that the venture would be a success. 2YA was being relayed perfectly. In fact were it not for an occasional burst of static there was no telling 1YA from the local, and then the signals had travelled 450 miles by landline and returned 450 by the air. The quality was perfect, and the even timbre of the announcer’s voice lost nothing after its long journey. Noises usual to landlines were conspicuous by their absence-it seemed as though a- specially- laid line and weeks of preparation had made possible this re-sult-but no, the whole of the arrangements were completed on the shortest: notice. A try-out was impossible but the result was a wonderful success and a great tribute to the efficiency of the Department’s equipment and to the engineers responsible. The result spoke for itself, and Auckland listeners heard the band concert as though relayed from their own Town Hall. Now that the trial concert has been successful Auckland listeners can look forward to these weekly relays. Application of Relay System. "THE purpose of the Sunday evening rebroadcast by 1YA is, according to Mr. A. R. Harris, general manager of the Radio Broadcasting Company, to test out the possibilities of long distance relays in New Zealand. He visualises the connecting up of all the New Zealand broadcasting stations in this way. As 1YA broadcasts 8YA, 4YA will occasionally relay 3YA pyrogrammes, and 8YA will relay 4YA in order to provide extra variety in entertainment, or when the necessary local talent is not available. Mr. Harris states that whenever possible he prefers to encourage local talent, but no doubt the future will see the occasional use of long relay lines. in order that the Broadcasting Compuny can avail itself of talent chosen from New Zealand as a whole. . It is probable that on some future occasion the whole of the four stations will be sending out a Wellington or an Auckland concert-1YA by relay from: Wellington (or vice versa), 3YA by rebroadcast of 2YA, and 4YA by relay from 3YA. ‘The rebroadcast of 2YA by 38YA is necessary because there is at present no telephonic connection available for relaying purposes. Mr: Harris points out that while rebroadcasts are at times satisfactory they are technically unreliable. owing to ad-

verse atmospheric conditions and that the most efficient and reliable method is by telephonic connection, when such lines are suitable and available for broadcasting purposes.