Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Radio Heritage program update


Marconi v Telefunken and pre WWII Pacific Airwaves

On July 9 2007, Radio New Zealand International features a new Radio Heritage documentary during the Mailbox program and it's then available as a podcast for two weeks at http://www.rnzi.com/ .

In 1894, New Zealander Ernest Rutherford carried out radio
transmissions around the same time as Marconi in Italy, and just over
a decade later, the German Telefunken company built the first wireless
stations in New Zealand.

There was another Pacific battle involving Marconi, and this one also
included Telefunken too. By capturing the German station in Western
Samoa, New Zealand even inherited a colony and the results are
reflected today in the changing demographics of Auckland and other New
Zealand urban centers.

>From the world's longest two-way direct radio link in 1924, again
featuring New Zealand, to a Vila based amateur radio enthusiast in
1928 whose detailed listener card sent to Queensland features in the
program, the isolation of the Pacific was evaporating into the
airwaves.

Learn of the Hawaiian radio station that included New Zealand Times in
its program schedules, how many Europeans tuned to VPD in Suva, and
how Charles Gaveaux, owner of Radio Noumea, was able to keep his tiny
station on the air.

Gongs from KFI Los Angeles reached New Zealand every night and you'll
hear other examples of how Pacific radio developed close links during
the brief two decades before WWII reached the region in December 1941.

Mailbox is broadcast via shortwave by RNZI [full program schedules and
times at www.rnzi.com and is also available by on demand podcast.
Look for 'more audio' and click on Mailbox for July 9.

For entertaining stories and photos about Pacific radio before WWII,
including the New Zealand Radio Dial 1931, Early Australian Radio and
much more, make sure you visit http://www.radioheritage.net/ today.

Membership costs nothing, and you'll also get regular newsletters
about Pacific wide radio heritage activities so sign up whilst at
www.radioheritage.net! Volunteers welcome! The Radio Heritage
Foundation is a registered non-profit organization with members and
supporters worldwide.
(Source: Radio Heritage)