SPANNING THE PACIFIC

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 47, 27 March 1930, Page 12

SPANNING THE PACIFIC

TWO-WAY CONVERSATION. SHORT-WAVE STATION NEEDED. The successful two-way conversation between 4YA, Dunedin, and W2XAF, Schenectady, New York, which was carried out last week, was an outstanding radio acliievement, and demonstrated the immense possibilities of wireless. Greetings were exchanged between Rear-Admiral Byrd, Mr Russell Owen and members of the Byrd Antarctic expedition and Mr Adolph S-. Ochs, pnblisher of the New York Times, and other Americans associated with the expedition. The two-way conversations were rebroadcast by 3YA, Christchurch, and 1YA, Auckland. The atmospheric conditions in New Zealand, although not so good as when the preliminary test was' made tlie preceding morning, were very favourable. Static was again fche cliief squrce of interference. After 1.30 a.m., however, when the broadcast had conclnded, the air was free from static and addresses given by RearAdmiral Byrd and Mr H. L. Tapley at 4YA, Dunedin, were received in Auckland almost word perfect. Ameriea repoi-ted tbat her reception of the ' New Zealand transmission was fairly good and was much better than the preceding day. The conversation from Dunedin was relayed over 500 miles of telephone lines and submarine cable to 2YA, Wellington. The rebroadcast from Wellington was picked up by the experimental short-wave station, 2ME, Svdney, a distance of •. approximately 1200 miles, and transmitted to the General Ele'ctric Company's short-wave station at Schenectady, a distance of between 8000 and 9000 miles. From W2XAF the broadcast was sent 15y a network of stations throughout Ameriea, the corresponding time in that country being about 8.30 a.m. to'' 9 a.m., Tuesday. In all probability the broadcast was distributed by a chain of stations throughout Canada, while it conld be readily picked up in England and other conntries.A feature of the arrangements for the two-way broadcast was the ready co-operation of all the parties concerned. The four New _ Zealand YA stations were connected with' relay lines . by the Post and Telegraph Departjfient. Amalgamated Wireless, Limited (Australasia), made the broadcast possihle by making its experimental shortWave station,. 2ME, Svdney, the •inedium for tlie- cohversations. The .American' station, wliich, although anxious for its. own -Mnterests for the broadcast, fell in line with New Zealand's proposals. _ The aehievement raises the question — should New Zealand possess her own short-wave station ? Radio in New Zealand is still to a large extent in its Cinderella stages and the Radio Broadcasting Company, witb'but 50,000 licenses. is not in a position to instal one. The subject is one vyhich should be_ considered hy the- eommittee appointed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to study wireless problems a'nd communications in NeW Zealand. >