THE MAGIC SPARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1925, Page 10

THE MAGIC SPARK.

AUSTRALIAN GOSSIP. GENERAL NEWS ITEMS. IMPROVED LOCAL TRANSMISSION. ANSWERS TO QUERIES. Fly PHONOS.) Sex oral lorn', roreptionists have complained of the difficulty of picking up 31,.0„ mc recently erected Melbourne station. Very fexv indeed have yet beard the bip' Victoria station xvhich should conic in here ouile as poxverfully X Farmer's The reason for nonreception has been the invariable difficulty xxith a nexv plant—the necessity for experiment and adjustment ere successful results can be. achieved. This difficulty has at last been overcome for on Wednesday evening 3L.0. came in with remarkable strength and xvith excellent modulation. A first-class programme xvas the reward of those who tuned in.

IY.B. AGAIN. After some months of trials and testings the Knrangahapc Road station is apain on the air in pood form, for xvhich the efforts of Mr. Shipherrl are in the main responsible. From IY.B. commencing to-morrow and continuing once a fortnight "Undo .Sam" will broadcast, bedtime stories with local colour. These storii-. xvhich have been specially xvrittcn |,y Mr. Carlisle, have been woven round Maori myths and legends, and in addition to being entertaining, should prove particularly educative to young New Zealand, which is inclined to neplect a treasure house of story and adventure that is bequeathed from our country's natives. RECEPTION REPORTS. Mr. C. M. Walls, of Epsom, was one of the fortunate ones to hear 3L.0. on Wednesday. He states that every item came in perfectly and details of the folloxving night's programme xvere also received. Mr. H. R. 'Hobday, xvho has also become an enthusiastic radion, mentions that using a five valve set, of three coil type, he heard xvithin a few hours. Perth (6W.F.), CThiea-go, Sydney (both. 2F.C. and 28.L.1. Oakland (K.G.0.1. another unindentificd U.S.A. station, and Wellington and Dunedin. General comment on the resumption of 4Y.A., Dunedin, are that since resumption, neither his modulation nor his reception strength are as good as formerly. Those who have enjoyed Dunedin programmes in the past feel certain, hoxvexer, of an early improxement.

A LOOP AERIAL QUERY. A correspondent writes as folloxvs: — 'Kindly advise the writer of the number of turn 3 required for a loop aerial in a room twelve feet by fifteen feet. Also state the size and type of wire to use." Although the term "loop aerial" is used, no doubt the writer means an indoor aerial around the moulding. A "loop" aerial of that type, in viexv of the fact that it is non-adjustable, xvould gix-e very poor results. Use an aerial around the moulding, utilising only one end of winding for the aerial connection. With the dimensions a-s gixen nbox'O one and a half times round xvill be sufficient. The xvire should be xvell insulated, both from the wall and nearby objeots. -No. 14 or Xo. If, DOC xx-ire can be used. After the erection of the inrloor.'aerial is completed, experiment xvith ilic end used as the aerial connection. Tn some instances very different results bave been obtained when, tho lead-in connection wa-s reversed.

RADIO IN AUSTRALIA. To appreciate to the full the manner in xvhich broadcasting has gripped Australia one has actually to visit Sydney and to see there the results of the recent boom. Right through the suburbs the aerial is everywhere. According to statistics there are over 25,000 registered sets in N.S.W., but to the casual observer there, appear to be more than that number in Sydney alone. Those interested in wireless there make no secret of the fact that there are more unregistered listeners than registered ones, and there is heavy work ahead for radio inspectors to colect the strays i into the fold. Despite Australia's newest regulations there still appears dissatisfaction, both on the part of the broadcasters from the view-point of maintenance and on the part of listeners, who complain of the license fees charged. New Zealanders, though, would be quite xvilling to pay as much for such a service as Sydneyites are now getting. Both Farmer's and Sydney Broadcasters are supplying first-class entertainment. Tn a city of a million there is no difficulty in securing talent —there is more; difficulty in selecting it. One of the j most popular features from 2FC is the I children's half hour, xvhich is excellently conducted every evening. Even a number of young New Zealanders write regular I appreciation of it and become duly en-1 rolled among tho vast band of nephews j and nieces whom "Uncle" greets after \ each evening meal. The Australian! natural history stories, which are now being transmitted for the young folk p'ove fascinating even for adults. During a recent visit to Sydn»y "Phonos" was shown over the very up-to-date studio which Farmer's have on top of their big Pitt Street building. Here no detail for successful achievement is missing, and the stand of "chimes" which provide the nightly) assistance for tuning in is a prominent! feature. The manager, iir. Horton, is a; very busy man, with his multitude of; daily intcrviexvs. '

BRISBANE ENTERING THE FIELD. Little development in broadcasting i has yet been made in the Northern State, but a. new era is about to dawn there, and the Queensland Broadcasting station, when completed, will eclipse its competitors in both Sydney and Mel-' bourne. It is claimed, in fact that it; will bo the highest poxvered telephone I station in the world. The. State seema ; also, to possess some of the highest powered "static," so the duel, especially for those in Townsville and the far north, will be. interesting. i