Our New Tv Translator

About the middle of next year, the new NZBC TV translator on top of our highest local hill, Whakapunake (3198 ft), will be ready to beam WNTV1 into Gisborne, Wairoa, and East Coast homes. A trip up Kaiti Hill shows Whakapunake as a long, whale-backed mountain lying due west. The translator building is being erected on virtually the highest point of the mountain near the southern end.

There is no doubt, from a recent visit, that the NZBC is treating the district handsomely. The road alone, climbing over 2500 feet up the west side of the mountain, from near Te Reinga to the summit, has been a massive undertaking. It is the highest road for hundreds of miles around, and is now almost completed, all 6½ miles of it.

The new building has 4000 sq.ft. of floor space, and is about half finished. It has been built big enough for any future eventuality, including the possibility of two channels, will house a 10kw transmitter, plus a 1kw emergency transmitter, an emergency diesel generator, and other required equipment. There will be provision for living-in, although the station will not normally be manned.

Pictures on this page show two views of the building, one taken on the access road, and a sign over the mess-room door which suggests the builders require a sense of humour to put up with the problems of this "high-up" job. The road was constructed by N.S. Tong Ltd., of Wairoa, and the builders are Morris & Bailey Ltd., from the Wairarapa.

You Dont Have To Be Mad To Work Here It Just Helps.

This is a diagram of the Yagi 3-element aerial most likely to be used in Gisborne for the new station. It is horizontal to avoid interference with Te Aroha which uses the same frequency but vertical polarisation. It is larger than the present Channel 6 aerials, but has fewer elements. It was drawn for Photo News readers by the senior technician at 2ZG.