Acknowledgments The material used in this history has come from scrapbooks and transmitter logs held by 2KO, photos and documents provided by the families of Jim Cowan, Ken Greenhalgh,Max Spitzkowsky, Harold Whyte and previous staff members Rob Cornwell, Ron, Dorothy and Len Daley, Reg and Judy Davis, Ron Hurst, Roy Nielson, Russell Thornton and Allan Whyte. In addition Steven Smith, GM of 2KO-FM provided access to the material held by the station Allan Bourne provided access to an assortment of equipment used by the station and information about its use. Bill Hall donated the station’s first CRO and the front panel of the station built Noise and Distortion meter. Lou Albert donated modules and circuits of the stations first AWA transmitter. Reg Motion of the NZVRS provided the description of the GeneralRadio Primary Frequency Standard Paul Schafer confirmed details of the transmitter remote control and programme automation systems used. Len Daley made available the station’s first Soundscriber. Jim Dangerfield supplied the recordings he made of Ken Greenhalgh recalling the early days. There are two CDs attached. The first contains this document anda number of supporting documents in Adobe PDF format. The second is an audio CD contain the recordings of Ken Greenhalgh. Compiled by Athol Greenhalgh <atholgr@optusnet.com.au> Vsn 8 March 2010Overview When 2KO changed transmission mode from AM to FM, the AM transmitter site at Sandgate was handed over to the Department of Transport and Communication. Prior to leaving the site, all the transmitter logs which could be found were collected and have been held at the current 2KO-FM studios in Charlestown. The site was also cleaned up and unfortunately most of the obsolete hardware held there discarded. In the move of the studios from the CML Building in Hunter St tothe present 2KO/2NX studio site Charlestown, other records were accidentally destroyed. Of the 39 transmitter log books retained by 2KO, 30 cover the period 2-Aug-1933 to 23-Apr-65. The books were custom printed, two at a time with columns to suit the transmitters in use and the transmission hours. Log #1 is missing, it waretained by the station founder. Also missing is the log covering the period 17-Aug-1941 to 20- Aug-1943. The logs were used to record transmitter meter readings (they were required hourly), transmission hours, any problems experienced and repairs made. While they have helped to confirm dates of some events, they concentrate on the transmitter site and provide little information about studio equipment Where appropriate, dated extracts from the logs (in capitals) orimages of log pages have been included.This was produced by Jim Cowan, apparently from entries in the transmitter log books and started the projectThe station founder, (Sir) Allen Fairhall had been broadcasting programs from his home in Sturdee St, New Lambton since 1930 using his amateur call sign VK2KB. It was illegal to broadcast advertising under this class of licence but many amateurs generated simple programs to entertain their neighboursand to expand their hobby. He had previously built an electric gramophone and with it adapted to serve as the modulator, converted his amateur transmitter to broadcast sound rather than Morse Code. Power out was less than 10W, transmission time was 9-10am Sunday mornings. Commercial licence were offered in 1931 at a cost of £5/0/0, $10 in decimal currency. Most hams thought it too expensive and didn’t bother This article was printed in Amateur Radio in January 1974 and describes some of the trials in obtaining a licence and getting 2KO to air.The original licence, #26 is held by 2KO and was presented to the station by Sir Allen Fairhall when the new studios in Charlestown were opened It was issued on the 9th of March, 1931 to Newcastle Broadcasting Company Limited for a period of 2 years. The transmitter site was nominated as Sandgate, the “unmodulated aerial power”was 200 watts and the operating frequency was ”1415 Kc (212.01m) tentative” A inspection of the station was required before transmission could start. The initial installation was in the Fairhallhome in SturdeeSt, New Lambton using converted amateur radio equipment and a borrowed microphone. Output power was approx 10 watts. The studio was the dining room, the transmitter was in the “wash house”. Though somewhat shocked by the location and size of the installation, it was judged to be “technically sound”by the Radio Inspectors responsible and approval to begin commercial operation was given. The mayor of Newcastle officially opened the station on the 1- Aug-1931 PeterPickhoverjoined the station as Announcer, Salesman and chief record scrounger. He and AlanFairhall took no pay for the first 12 months, after that each was paid £2/0/0 a week. Commercials were sold at 4 shillings each, in the first month 34 were broadcast. Transmission times were 6-9am and 5-10.30pm Program material was always in short supply and it was necessaryfor the station to take advantage of any opportunities that presented themselves. Many listeners visited the station and were doubly welcome if they brought records. A schoolboy on his way home carrying his trumpet quickly became a one hour program. It was terminated by the arrival of a rather irate father who know where his son was “because I could hear him on the radio” A woman with a Pianola roll was co-opted to play it in front of the microphone and carefully instructed on the need for silence . She must have thought that she had done a good job andproudly announced to the live microphone at the end of the piece “Jeez, that was bloody lovely” Ken Greenhalgh joined the station as Chief Engineer in May 1932,the workload had increased and the Post Master Generals Dept was becoming insistent that the station comply with transmission site and power requirements of the licence. By then the salary for the original two employees had been increased to £3/0/0 per week. With a third employee, rates were revised to 3 x £2/0/0 so running costs didn’t increase. The station moved studios from New Lambton in June 1932 to the first floor of the Civic Centre building in the city, initially a single room. No records of the installation have been found. Thebuilding also contained the Wintergarden Theatre and Fairless Bros library. 2HD’s studios were on the opposite side of the passage. This gave enterprising announcers or salesmen the opportunity to highjack guests or advertisers as they headed for 2HD which no doubt caused some harsh words to be said. 2HD subsequently moved to their new building at Sandgate and 2KOmoved into the vacated premises, giving them a Control Room and StudioOn the 1-Jul-1932 the transmission site was transferred to Iron Bark Hill, Sandgate.. This is the original transmitter building. Unattended operation of a transmitter was out of the question. Ken Greenhalgh batchedat the site for the first 10 months of its operation, walking to Sandgate railway station for a weekly shopping trip to Mayfield on Sundays when transmission hours were lowest.Next >