{"id":58436,"date":"2023-12-13T16:00:33","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T20:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=58436"},"modified":"2023-12-13T07:59:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T11:59:47","slug":"rnz-shortwave-futureproofing-pacific-broadcasting-transmitter-replacement-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/rnz-shortwave-futureproofing-pacific-broadcasting-transmitter-replacement-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"RNZ Shortwave: “Futureproofing Pacific broadcasting \u2013 transmitter replacement underway”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following press release from Radio New Zealand<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Futureproofing Pacific broadcasting \u2013 transmitter replacement underway<\/a><\/h2>\n

Released at 2:34 pm on 12 December 2023<\/p>\n

RNZ has powered down for the last time its 34-year-old shortwave Thompson transmitter, known as \u201cTransmitter 1\u201d, one of two shortwave transmitters that deliver analogue and digital radio broadcasts to the Pacific.<\/p>\n

It is part of the preparation for the installation of a new Swiss-made Ampegon shortwave transmitter at its Rangitaiki site.<\/p>\n

This project is a milestone for RNZ. For the past 75 years, it has been using shortwave radio to broadcast to the vast Pacific region.\u00a0 Replacing the old transmitter marks a significant step in futureproofing of the service.<\/p>\n

Transmitter 1, the 100-kilowatt Thompson unit, was installed just outside of Taup? in 1989, just in time for the Commonweath Games held in Auckland in 1990. Only capable of transmitting in analogue, servicing Transmitter 1 has become an increasingly challenging task with many of the parts for the transmitter now obsolete.<\/p>\n

Its replacement, an Ampegon shortwave transmitter capable of both digital and analogue transmission is currently being shipped to New Zealand after being built in Ampegon\u2019s Switzerland factory. However, before the new transmitter can be installed, Transmitter 1 needs to be decommissioned with any useful parts kept as spares.<\/p>\n

RNZ\u2019s Transmission Engineer Specialist Steve White said the challenge for the switchover is having an existing transmission building that limits space.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will take around four weeks to completely dismantle Transmitter 1 which was built into the building so it’s not just a case of unplugging it and wheeling it out. We need to isolate the transmitter from the main switchboard as well as drain the fluids that help cool the transmitter before breaking it into parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new Ampegon transmitter will arrive in January and take an estimated six weeks to install, six weeks to commission and a further period of training. At this stage it is expected the transmitter will be operational from 1 May 2024.<\/p>\n

When Transmitter 1 is replaced, there will be two transmitters capable of both analogue and digital transmissions, ensuring a complete backup should one of the transmitters stop working.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, RNZ Pacific Manager Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor said they were making sure all of RNZ\u2019s Pacific partners were aware of the alternative ways to access RNZ content.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile digital transmissions will continue, the decommissioning of Transmitter 1 will mean the analogue service will be reduced during the transition period. However, RNZ can still be heard via satellite, and we will be working with our partners in the Pacific on the alternative options of downloading or livestreaming through our website. RNZ Pacific also has an important role during Cyclone season, delivering critical information to the region and this will be prioritised during this period of single transmitter operation.\u201d<\/p>\n

RNZ Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Paul Thompson said the importance of the service for the region cannot be underestimated in terms of the content provided.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur voice reaches and is welcomed in all parts of the Pacific. During the Tonga eruption, when the undersea cable was cut, RNZ Pacific short wave was a lifeline source of information,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

RNZ\u2019s Charter<\/a>\u00a0includes the provision of an international service to the South Pacific in both English and Pacific languages. As part of Budget 2022, the Government announced $4.4m dollars capital funding for a new transmitter for RNZ Pacific.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following press release from Radio New Zealand: Futureproofing Pacific broadcasting \u2013 transmitter replacement underway Released at 2:34 pm on 12 December 2023 RNZ has powered down for the last time its 34-year-old shortwave Thompson transmitter, known as \u201cTransmitter 1\u201d, one of two shortwave transmitters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43],"tags":[4895,259,2576],"class_list":["post-58436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-david-iurescia-lw4daf","tag-radio-new-zealand","tag-radio-new-zealand-international"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fcw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60313,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/rnz-inaugurates-new-analog-and-drm-ampegon-transmitter\/","url_meta":{"origin":58436,"position":0},"title":"RNZ Inaugurates New Analog and DRM Ampegon Transmitter","author":"Thomas","date":"August 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news release via the DRM Consortium:\u00a0 DRM RNZ Shortwave Transmitter For Pacific Inaugurated On August 1st the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister came to RNZ House in Wellington to mark the start of the use\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-02-at-08.55.35.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61851,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/radio-waves-35-years-of-rnz-and-bulgarian-national-radios-new-qsl-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":58436,"position":1},"title":"Radio Waves: 35 Years of RNZ and Bulgarian National Radio\u2019s New QSL cards","author":"Thomas","date":"January 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! 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Shortwave radio is radio transmission using shortwave (SW) radio frequencies.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-Left-Side-e1517329037265.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-Left-Side-e1517329037265.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-Left-Side-e1517329037265.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/CCrane-CC-Skywave-SSB-Left-Side-e1517329037265.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19655,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/rnzi-to-run-single-shortwave-transmitter-for-analog-and-drm\/","url_meta":{"origin":58436,"position":4},"title":"RNZI to run single shortwave transmitter for analog and DRM","author":"Thomas","date":"June 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rafman, who writes: Heard sad news this morning while listening to [RNZI's]\u00a09700 broadcast. It makes their future dimmer [IMHO]. RNZI will be running on a single transmitter for both analog & DRM.\u00a0So now you won't be able to try DRM on 9890 while 9700\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DRM"","block_context":{"text":"DRM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/drm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"New-Zealand","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/New-Zealand.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/New-Zealand.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/New-Zealand.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/New-Zealand.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32825,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/drm-feeds-rnz-pacific-relays\/","url_meta":{"origin":58436,"position":5},"title":"DRM feeds RNZ Pacific relays","author":"Thomas","date":"June 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Mike Hansgen) RANGITAIKI, New Zealand \u2014\u00a0Radio New Zealand Pacific, the official international arm of Radio New Zealand, is using\u00a0Digital Radio Mondiale\u00a0digital radio transmission\/reception equipment to feed studio-quality audio to some of its 20 relay stations in the Pacific Ocean region. 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