>Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 11:34:13 CST
>Subject: Radio New Zealand vs Radio Australia
> During the summer months, I had good reception from Radio
> New Zealand and poor reception from Radio Australia.
> Now that we are in the winter months, Radio New Zealand has
> gone to poor. My two questions are:
> 1. Why would I get better reception from New Zealand and
> not from Australia? They are neighbors? Does this have
> anything to do with relay stations. I really miss the
> broadcasts from Radio New Zealand. I miss their news and
> view points. I hope they see this. I think they are great
> and really appreciate their broadcasts.
> 2. Could the poor reception I'm experiencing now have
> anything to do with the winter months in North America?
> I live outside of Chicago, IL.
> Any insight would be great.
Part of it is RNZ did a frequency change. You're right, in the US summer,
RNZ comes in well on 11900, but they now stay on 15115 until 2am Central
Time and it's nearly impossible to pick them up. The one time I was up
late, 9700 (the frequency change at that time) came in ok.
As for RA, I spent six weeks last summer in South Bend (just east of Chicago
for non-US types) and got RA very strong at about 15365 about midnight.
Even though I'm several hundred miles closer now that I'm back in Missouri,
I can't get RA until 1:30 am on 9580, but it does stay in until about 8 am.
You might try the 15365 (or thereabouts for RA next summer).
I'm sure RNZ's frequency change is designed to serve their main audience in
the Pacific and the changes are necessary with the change in seasons. I
also miss RNZ's news programming, especially Checkpoint, and have resigned
myself to having to wait until next spring. I wouldn't be surprised if
Adrain Salisbury from RNZ doesn't offer a more technically satisfactory
reason.
Chip
by