Mr. Noel Ashbridge on Empire Broadcasting.

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 42, 29 April 1932, Page 13

Mr. Noel Ashbridge on Empire Broadcasting.

" HE B.B.C. is not yet in a position to say very much about the two new Empire stations, as the building has only just commenced. Nevertheless some interesting information was given by Mr. Noel Ashbridge, the B.B.C. chief engineer, in a talk to the Royal Empire Society. He explained how Hmpire broadeasting would be possible by means of short waves in the light of experience gained since the establishment of G5SW. That station had not been able to give a satisfactory service over the whole territory which should normally be ecovered because it had only worked on one wavelength. The question of planning an Hmpire station had been explored along the lines of making use of directional effects, and for this purpose the Empire would be divided into five zones. Starting on this basis, the technical equipment would be designed to give the best possible reception facilities for each of these zones, particular stress be-

ing laid upon good reception between 6 pm. and midnight, local times. At the same time it is hoped.to provide facilities for satisfactory reception at other times of the day by the provision of "omni-directional" aerials. The aerial arrangements would permit of modication in order to allow advantage to be taken of experience as the service developed. Some months of careful testing will be necessary on completion of the station before it is possible to settle down to a fixed routine method of working. will be necessary to gain experience from these tests before a definite programme schedule could be completed. The Hmpire broadcasting station should be ready to radiate its initial programme before the end of this year.