OVER THE AERIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 245, 15 October 1926, Page 14

OVER THE AERIAL

WIRELESS NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR

By "PHONOS."

formers of low ratio have proved advantages, a three-to-one ratio being high enough for sufficient amplification, and low enough to prevent distortion on the high frequencies. New type transformers are of greater size, and may be used with various makes of tubes that differ in plate to filament and grid to filament impedance, thus avoiding the necessity for matching tubes. Most of the latest receivers are partially or totally shielded, this shielding J aiding materially in minimising various types of local interference. Finally, the consensus of opinion in the American radio trade is that for equal efficiency, prices are lower than heretofore. PROGRAMME QUALITY. There is a growing discontent at the J quality of the local broadcast fare' Complaint comes' from the, country of I frequent and poor relaying of items, and of the monotony of the type of programme sent out from the studio. Certainly the best talent in Auckland is not being heard per radio, and listeners who pay for it' are entitled to know why. A policy of parsimony will react upon the revenue of a station, and unless those in charge are wise enough to pay more than 10/6- per performer, people will rapidly tire of listening to what is transmitted from IYA. Artists who have appeared before the microphone in Australia are astonished at the fees paid locally. It seems strange, too, that our local station should be run from Christchurch. and that programmes for this centre should be arranged there. This procedure allows no freedom for the utilisation of our best talent, and gives no scope for local initiative that might do much to improve the quality of broadcast entertainments. It is evident that unless a modification of the present policy is adopted the Broadcasting Company will become very unpopular with the majority of listeners in the North. RADIO BROADCASTS. , TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMME. Details of programmes to be sent out, by New Zealand and Australian broad-, casting stations this evening are as follow: Auckland I.YA (420 metres).—6.3o p.m. to " p.m., children's session; 7-15 p.m. to 7.45 pm, information service; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., concert. Selections by the Novelty Dance Orchestra, "Hawaiiian Echoes," ""Hilo Waltz/ "Palakeko Blues" and other selections; Mr. W. McMillan in the songs "Mira, Dye" and "Bird of Love Divine"; Mr. J. Clarke j in the songs "Fairings' and "Londonderry"; Mr. H. Cranston, cornet selections; the Keefe Instrumental Trio in selections; Mr. R. Watson in the songs "Simple Aveu" and "Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go?"' Dunedin 4YTA (380 metres). —Farmers' session; "Timely Hints to Farmers," by members of the Fields' Division ot the Department of Agriculture; talk on 'Bees on the Farm," by Mr. S. Rhodes; vocal and instrumental numbers; relay of dance music by the Savoy Novelty Band. Wellington 2YK (295 metres).—Relay of health week entertainment from the Town Hall. Christchurch 3YA (400 metres).— Studio concert. Sydney 2FC (442 metres).—Talks to children by the "Hello Man": a talk to elder children; news service; broadcast of musical prologue to the picture "College Days" from the Prince Edward Theatre; items by the Sydney Instrumental Trio; a talk on "Great Snakes'' by the Rev. F. H. Raward; a number of vocal and instrumental items; broadcast of dance music from the Wentworth Hotel. Sydney 2BL (353 metres). —Entertainment for the children by the pupils of Miss Monica Seiilly; selections by the Pavilion Dinner Orchestra; news service; selections by the Ambassadors Dance Band; a numbpr of vocal and instrumental items. Melbourne 3LO (371 metres). —Stories for the children by "Billy Bunny"; news service; a talk under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture: a talk by the manager of Santrey"s Band: items by the Collingwood Citizens' Band: a talk, "School Life and School Sport" by Mr. E. C. H. Taylor: items by Len Gibson's Neapolitan Sextet; gardening notes by Mr Leslie Brunning; dance muiic by the Monte Carlo Band; a number of vocal and instrumental numbers. Brisbane 4QG (355 metres).—Stories for the children by "The Sandman"; farmers' session, including a lecturette, "Among Scottish Herds." by Mr. J. F. F. Reid, editor of the Queensland Agricultural Journal: a talk on "The Mercantile Marine in War Time," by Mr. F. W. Stevens; selections by the Federal Band: selections by the Savoy Orchestra; a number of vocal and instrumental numbers. j Dust between condenser plates is one of the causes of poor reception. It is not a bad idea to use a pipe cleaner between the plates occasionally. There are now over 150,000 listeners in Australia. During the month of August alone, 14,000 new licenses were issued. The Wellington Amateur Radio Society, like others, seems to have been affected by lack of interest of late. The Auckland body, it would appear, has passed existence altogether. In regard to both piracy and interference, it is time the P. and T. Department bestirred itself with increased staff, for which there must now be revenue available. An energetic campaign will discover many unlicensed listeners who could be ljrought to book with exemplary fines (the maximum is £500). In reference to interference, one ; listener who was among the early band in Auckland, informs "Phonos' , that he has abandoned using his set until the • increasing band of his neighbours who ; have erected aerials gain either experi- ; ence or radio manners. I To-night's programme from 3LO, Mcl- ! bourne, will provide particularly fine ■ entertainment. On Wednesday this station celebrated its second birthday. s A feature of the new studio which it 7 has just opened is the accommodation - for visitors. Those interested in broadcasting are welcomed and enabled to see, a before the microphone, the performers r whom they usually hear over the aerial. j Overseas papers give prominence to the statement that a receiving valve has i been produced that will operate direct t from the A.C. electric light mains with- - cut producing any hum.

DISTANCE RECEPTION. Patience is one of the extreme virtues or successful distance work (or DX, as t is known, to the radio "fan"). The lining , dials must be rotated slowly, for listant stations are much sharper to une, than the local ones. If using regenerative sets, and often, 00, with timed radio-frequency sets, a vhistling or squealing sound in the tele>hone receivers is a warning that you iave the dials close to the proper setings for a station. In such a case idjust as quickly as possible away from lie '"squeal" so that any interference .vith your neighbour is very'short. Static, which comes in the form of spluttering and grinding noises, is gene•ally least noticeable at 1.30 a.m. ; On ie-count of the absence of static, the jest time to try for DX is between 12 nidnight and 2 o'clock in the morning. Winter is much more favourable for DX Lhan summer, for the heat of the sun's rays decreases the strength of radio signals, although the extent of this also depends upon the location. The experienced amateur, and likewise the operator, does not attempt any special distance work in the summer, because results are likely to be unsatisfactory and battery current consumed in vain. Probably the best type of night for favourable DX work is the clear, cold night, just following a cloudy day, and especially after a storm has cleared the atmosphere. Radio sigirals are generally weakened by fog because dampness makes the air and objects better conductors of electricity and so causes nearby objects to absorb much of the radio energy that would otherwise be caught by the aerial. Fine tuning adjustment is absolutely essential for good DX' work, and the vernier types of dials and condensers now available make this easier. USE OF A "C" BATTERY. Although satisfactory reception can be obtained without the use of a "C" battery, yet it has its advantages. It can usually bo used to advantage on a set employing audio-frequency amplification. Its chief duty is to clarify signals and eliminate distortion without decreasing the volume. Its use, however, lias a material effect on the cost of upkeep of your set. By using a "C" battery you will decrease the current taken out of your "B" batteries to quite a considerable degree, and thus increase the length of service that they will render you. Thio sometimes means as much as 2o to .50 per cent life. The voltages used depend upon the type of valve user! in the set. and the voitage* used on the plate of the valve. The manufacturers usually supply a data sheet with each valve sold, giving the particulars of the necessary grid bias, or "C" battery voltage, to be used depending upon the "B" battery voltage supply. As a general rule,"for 90 volts on the plate of the valve, the "C"' bias will be 4J volts, negative. Properly installed, a "C" battery should last a full twelvemonth. SIMPLE EARTH CONNECTION. The method to be described will be found quite effective with the added advantage of simplicity, where the water pipe is used for the earth. First, procure a piece of square brass rod about 4in long by a Jin square, drill a hole lin from each end and tap for a 2 8.A.! screw. Two 2 B.A. screws about Jin long will be required. Where the con-, nection is to be made, clean the pipe thoroughly so that it is nice and bright. Now, with the two screws in the bar, place the latter on the pipe and over the whole, keeping between the screws, wind a piece of Xo. 12 or 14 bare copper wire and twist the ends together. This wire is only wound on tightly enough to keep it in place. Now, by the use of a screw driver the two screws can be tightened up. TUis will not only cause the wire to tighten on the pipe, thus making a secure connection, but the screws will also have a tendency to

"bite" into the pipe itself, this* also tending towards a good contact. If one of the screws is provided with an extra nut it can be used as a terminal

for the ground lead to the set. or otherwise the latter lead will be soldered to the twisted ends of the copper wire wound round the pipe. Finally, it will do no harm if the entire connection is covered over with black insulating tape. The rough sketch herewith explains the idea.

WHAT'S NEW IN RADIO? ( .Just four weeks ago there, opened in J New York the third annual Radio j World's Fair, a show that has become the Mecca of all technically or commercially interested in wireless development. When it is borne in mind that the annual output of radio goods in U.S.A. exceeds twenty millions sterling, and that 90 per cent of this output is required to supply the States market, some idea of the magnitude of this annual display may be obtained. This year's show produces nothing new or revolutionary in the way of circuits, but mucli thought .has been given to details that will give fidelity of reproduction, and manufacturers have con- i centrated on quality of reception rather than on capacity for DX .work. Among the multitude of sets displayed there is an all-round marked improvement in appearance, designers recognising that its attractiveness as a piece of furniture is quite a feature in the marketing of a receiver. Another important point is the increased development of single control, which so appeals to , the tyro. Very many of the big American manufacturers are embodying this in their latest i models, types of which should soon be on the local market. Speakers embodied in the set itself, and others upon stands of artistic design mark further developments. Another step in radio progress is marked by the frequent use of battery eliminators, and dependence on the ordinary alternating current lighting system. Eliminators, also, in many cases, are included in the cabinet, but designed for American conditions, they are generally for a 110 volt circuit. The most noteworthy improvement in design is seen in the transformers that are being placefl on tne market. Trana-