SILICON CHIP
Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus.
Editor
Greg Swain , B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.{Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Advertising Manager
Paul Buchtmann (02) 982 9553
Regular Contributors
Bryan Maher, M.E. B.Sc.
Jim Yalden, VK2YGY
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Jim Lawler, MTETIA
John Hill
Jennifer Bonnitcha, B.A.
Bob Young
Photography
Bob Donaldson
Edltorlal Advisory Panel
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Norman Marks
Steve Payor, B.Sc., B.E.
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
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ISSN 1030-2662
2
SILICON CHIP
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
UHF translators
and environmentalists
One of the most radical changes to the Australian political scene in
recent years has been the great increase in the influence of environmentalists. And seeing how the electorate seems to be moving,
politicians of every party are jumping onto the environmental bandwagon. As this process goes on, it is becoming more and more difficult
to get worthwhile engineering projects underway because of the overriding concern for the effects on the environment.
Now some engineering projects have very large and deleterious effects on the environment. Under this heading come dam building projects, mines and mineral refining processes, and any operation which
requires large scale clearing of the natural landscape. All of these
need to be looked at carefully so that a balance is obtained between a
desirable engineering development and minimising any long term
damage to the landscape.
Few people could argue with such a thoughtful process but there is
little doubt that the trend is getting out of hand when there is vehement opposition to the installation of UHF TV translators. Right at this
moment, for example, a UHF translator is about to be installed on
Sydney's North Head. This is badly needed to improve the TV reception of tens of thousands of residents around Sydney's northern
beaches. But the well-intentioned local Manly Council is opposing this
development tooth and nail.
Now this is just plain silly. UHF translator masts are nothing like the
massive towers used by the TV stations in Sydney and Melbourne. By
contrast, UHF translator towers are almost invisible and require very
little land space. They don't cause pollution and have no known effect
on wildlife apart from possibly providing a convenient perch for the
odd bird or two. In other words, there is no logical reason to oppose
them, apart from wanting to appear " environmentally sound".
On the positive side, there are real benefits when UHF translators
are installed. Apart from the great improvement in TV reception,
there is also the visual benefit in the disappearance of all those large
and unsightly TV antennas from every home, to be replaced by small
and insignificant UHF antennas. A visit to the Gosford district, north
of Sydney, really emphasises this improvement.
So far from opposing UHF translators, loca.1 councils should support
and call for their installation. There are very few parts of Australia
which don't have at least one or two localitiEJs, large or small, which
could benefit from a UHF TV translator.
Leo Simpson
