Operation Retune underway in remote corners of New Zealand

by Sail-World.com on 4 Oct 2016 Radio technicians have been working at sites for the Maritime VHF channel changes

The scenery is spectacular but getting to transmitters sites in New Zealand can be a challenge for radio technicians working on the Maritime VHF change over.

Warren Masters Operations Manager for Broadcast Services Ltd, part of The Broadtech Group, says most of the transmitters are on remote and elevated sites so a lot of planning has gone into co-ordinating the switch over.

“To get to most sites requires a 4 wheel drive, and a small number can only be accessed by helicopter or boat. Over the past year technicians have been visiting locations across the country to access what’s needed for the transition.

“In mountainous terrain like Mt Clerke in Southwest Fiordland, native keas will take a keen interest in the helicopters and try to chew the rubber caps on the rotors. Replacing a rotor rubber cap is very expensive so the pilot has to spend most of the day chasing keas off the helicopter till the technicians have finished the job.

“You can’t just hit a switch and make it all happen at once. We’ve staggered work across 70 different sites to ensure that there is enough time to make the changes. You also have to take into account the weather before doing anything. Rain, wind and cloud are major barriers to accessing many of the transmitters.”

Warren Masters says everyone involved from the landowners to the local technicians have gone the extra mile to get the right information and help the project take place.

The Maritime VHF channel changes were necessary to make way for international ship tracking and data services and ensure that New Zealand’s maritime radio services are compatible with the rest of the world.

For more information go to retune.co.nz for more on the maritime radio spectrum change in NZ click here