OVER THE AERIAL

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 17

OVER THE AERIAL

WIRELESS NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR

By "PHONOS."

LISTENING-IN. Programmes at IYA have shown decided improvement during the past two weeks. It is pleasing to note the increased attention that is being given to relays, and to relays of better thing 3 than very ordinary jazz orchestras. The broadcastings of the "Messiah" were first class, and were particularly appreciated Jn the country. For this period of the year, Australian reception wae quite good on Sunday evening, even 3LO, which has been hard to get of late, coming in with fair strength. The story of the opera "Martlja," and excerpts from the opera itself, were heard well from Farmer's. The writer had the unusual experience of in the "Hallelujah Chorus" no less t.han°fiv e times on Sunday—twice from Auckland, and three times from Australia. What is thought to be the largest radio set in the world has been installed at the North Evington Infirmary, Leicester. In the wards there are 652 plu°_ for headphones and 20 for loud speakers. The set has 14 valves, mostly of the power type. A brass band contest, open to the northern counties . in England, was recently featured at the Newcastle station. The judge in this contest did not see the bands at all, the music beinorelayed to the studio, where the adjudication took place. There is apparently still a "growl" against the 8.8.C. that a vast army of listeners must content themselves with "inferior" talent while officialdom sits on "surplus" license money. So some people are not satisfied with the best broadcasting! Radio this year will probably be used more than in any other previous season as a means of entertainment on the holiday cruise, motor boat, or in the camp. Although most of the sets in use are not exactly "portable," the enjoyment secured during the evenings when time may be inclined to "lag a little" should compensate for a little trouble. The writer knows of at least one boat that is having a transmitter installed. While on ' broadcasting, the writer would like to voice the opinion of a good many listeners with whom he has conversed of late. Touching the Saturday evening programmes. With one exception, the Saturday evenings from 9 p.m: until 11 p.m. have been occupied with the broadcasting of dance music. To say the least, this becomes oppressively monotonous. The. general opinion is that this could be reduced to -alterimte Saturdays, and other more interesting items rendered. There should hardly be any difficulty in arranging suitable programmes. . AUCKLAND HEARD AFAR. Mr. T. S. Webster, organist and choirmaster at Pitt Street Methodist Church, was broadcasted from IYA on Armisti c evening. He has now received a 1-t'cr from a radio fan living at Albert Bay, Canada, about 7000 miles away, compli- . menting him. The gentleman at Alert Bay says he heard the organ playing and .the choir singing very clearly, their numbers including "Soldiers of the King," "The Minstrel Boy to the War is Gone,'" and "Kule Britannia." He switched off at 2.55 a.m. Mr. Webster also received a letter from a wireless fiend at Fanning Island. A PLEASING INNOVATION. On the last two occasions on which the organ recitals from the Town Hall were relayed by IYA, the music was palpably unsuitable for broadcasting. In fact, it is an open secret that the officials at IYA feel there is a lack of co-operation on the part of the City Organist in the selection of numbers for the relayed programmes. One can naturally understand that the organist arranges his programmes for his assembled audience, not for his vastly greater invisible one, while the broadcasting authorities are concerned with the latter, and with what can be capably transmitted and received. Last Sunday night the organ relay was cut out, and there was substituted an innovation which has brought much favourable comment. The musical items presented by Messrs. Oscar Beck, Gregory Ivanoff, and Roland Stafford, and the brief address on music by Mr. Prentice, were an unexpected treat, particularly the fine violin solos of Gregory Ivanoff, who, by the way, is a brother of the world-famous violinist Zacharewitsch. THE MICROPHONE. Since the inception of radio broadcasting, the "mike" has become rather well known, not only to the listener-in,, but also the performers. It is not a particularly conspicuous portion of the apparatus, in size at any rate, but it is one of the most important. Perhaps it is the knowledge of the latter that so many feel "mike-fright" when rendering items, and especially for the first time. Naturally for broadcasting work the microphone must be sensitive, and yet reasonably robust. Carbon Microphones. This is the most common type. Granules of carbon are usually used, placed in such a position so that they are loosely packed between the diaphragm and the contact block. The result is that, when speech, etc., is impressed on the diaphragm, the latter vibrates and causes an increase or decrease of pressure on the carbon granules. This in turn causes them to increase or decrease their electrical resistance according to the pressure, with a consequent variation of the electrical current which is applied for the working of the same. This variation is amplified until sufficient strength is available to effectively operate transmission. The type is liable to what is known as "packing" of the granules, and occasional shaking may be necessary to keep it properly active. In past years listeners may have noted this from the broadcasting stations. Heavy notes may sometimes cause this "packing," and produce a "blasting" effect in the receiver. Condenser Microphone. Another type, used for broadcasting, consists of a high natural-period diaphragm, forming one plate of a condenser, air-damped, the other plate being a solid insulated metal piece spaced a few mils from the diaphragm. The amplification required is large. Magnetic Microphone. Various types have been constructed. About the best of this type for broadcasting is one which uses an annular ring of aluminium foil or wire suspended in a magnetic field. Although the response with frequency is not nearly co correct as the electro-static type, this cut largely be corrected in the amplifier.

FIVE MINUTES "WITH YOUR -RHEOSTATS. Switch on your set in the usual way and run it for five minutes. Note strength and clarity of reception. Now turn back the first rheostat, no matter whether it controls an H.l. or detector valve, till reception deteriorates. Now readjust till signals are quite clear and volume maximum. Proceed in a like manner with any remaining rheostats, and when you have finished you will doubtless find your set is louder and reception altogether better. This is because you have so arranged things that each filament is working at its correct temperature and giving the required emission. 6 Now adjust the H.T., wander plugs till results are as good as you think they can be, and then go back to your rheostats and repeat the process first detailed. Your set will now be working better than ever. PENETRATION OF RADIO WAVES. Wireless waves can, in theory, penetrate anything, although certain obstructive materials tend to weaken them. Steel is one of the most decisive barriers and porcelain is another. Ten feet of damp soil will weaken transmitting energy to an extent which will make it almost impossible to handle such debilitated impulses as may struggle through—so, ii you want to make your house radio-proof, all you need do is to cover it with clay! Wireless waves are weakened more by absorption than anything else. If an aerial is slung over a lead roof, or near a steel structure its efficiency is reduced, because waves are weakened before the aerial functions. A similar result occurs when a mass of foliage surrounds a receiving station. To make receptive conditions as favourable as possible, care should be taken to prevent absorption and to prevent obstruction as well. An indoor aerial gives weaker signals because radie waves have first to penetrate the walls of a house before they operate, and in penetrating they weaken. RADIO BURGLAR ALARM. The radio burglar alarm -has been introduced in America. This, of course, is as it should be! Bill Sykes breaks into an "apartment" and is greeted with advice to "quit" or a demand to put his hands up. How is it done? The proprietor of a block of apart, ments, the rental of which may amount to a million dollars a year, instals a transmitter in or near his property tuned to a known wave length.. All night long a repeating ' gramophone worked by an electric motor transmits warnings, demands, or advice suitable for the purpose, and- a set to which, a loud speaker is attached is switched into operation when "Bill" steps on a loose floor board, opens a door, or raises a window. - - The scheme sounds aU right, and will doubtless prove effectual till the American ■-burglar recognises the difference betwjsejjyjfche real and unreal. A loud- ] speaker -so perfect as to sound exactly I human cannot-be conceived, even making allowance for the American twang. WIRELESS PROGRAMMES. Following are the programmes to be broadcasted from the New Zealand and Australian stations to-day and to-morrow: Auckland, IYA (420 metres).—7.ls p.m. to 7.45 pjn., news service; 8- pjn. to 10 pjn., concert. Selections by Salvation Army Band; Miss M. Walker, mezzosoprano, songs, "One Morning," "Little Twilight Song," and "When the Roses Bloom"; Mr. R. Davies, cornet selections; Miss K. O'Leary, piano selections; relay of orchestral music from Rialto Theatre. Wellington, 2YK.—Silent night. Christchurch, 3YA (400 metres) .—7.15 pjn. to 7.45 pjn., news service; 8 p.m. to 10 pjn., concert. Relay of concert by Derry's M-itary Band; relay of orchestral music from Liberty Picture Theatre. Dunedin, 4YA (380 metres).—7 p.m. to 7.30 pjn., farmers' session, including -imply hints to farmers and talk to farmers' wives; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., concert. Selections by Waihali Orchestra; vocal and instrumental items; relay of orchestral music from Empire Picture Theatre. Sydney, 2FC (442 metres).—Talks to children by "Hello Man"; serial story for elder children; relay orchestral music; vocal and instrumental items; relay of dance music. Sydney, 2BL (353 metres) .—Talks to children by "Uncle George"; selections by orchestra; news service; talk, "The Development of Motion Pictures Within the Empire," by Mr. J. O'Donoghue; selections by Broadcasters' Topical Chorus; selections by Ambassadors Instrumental Salon Quartet; news service; vocal and instrumental items; relay of dance music. To-morrow's Broadcasts. Auckland, IYA.—3 pjn. to 4.30 p.m., afternoon concert; 6.30 pjn. to 7 p.m., children's session; 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 p.m., news and reports, etc.; Mr. Geo. Campbell, "Motor Notes"; 8 p.m. to 10 pjn., concert. Orchestral relay; contralto solo, Miss D. D'Authreau; 'cello solo, Mr. V. R. Thorn; humorous, Mrs. A. J. Dreaver; soprano solo, Mrs. T. S. Webster; 'cello solo, Mr. V. R. Thorn; contralto solo, Miss D. D'Authreau; humorous, Mrs. A. J. Dreaver; soprano solo, Mrs. T. S. Webster; 'cello solo, Mr. V. R. Thorn; humorous, Mrs. A. J. Dreaver; grand organ recital of Christmas music. Christchurch, 3YA.—3 pjn. to 4.30 pjn., afternoon concert; 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 pjn., news and reports, etc.; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., relay of orchestral selections by the Liberty Theatre Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Ernest Jamieson; pianoforte solo, Miss M. Alexander; vocal solo, Miss Winifred Walton; violin solo, Miss Thelma Cusack; vocal solo, Miss W. Shand; guitar solo, Mr. Munro; pianoforte solo, Miss M. Alexander; vocal solo, Miss Winifred Walton; violin solo, Miss Thelma Cusack; vocal solo, Miss W. Shand; guitar solo, Sir. Munro; relay of orchestral selections by the Liberty Theatre Orchestra. The combined choirs of the Linwood and Sydenham Methodist Churches, under the direction of Mr. H. Harrington, will render Christmas carols. Dunedin, 4YA.—3 pjn. to 4.30 pjn., afternoon concert; 7 p.m., children's session; 7.30 pjn., news session and reports, etc.; 8 pjn. to 10 p.m., Scotch night. Vocal solos, Mr. Alex. Snell; recitation, Miss D. Dagg; vocal solos, Miss M. Ashton; pianoforte solo, Mr. W. A. Jones; vocal solos, Mr. J. W. Rogers; recitation, Miss D. Dagg; vocal solos, Mrs. Matthewson; pianoforte solo, Mr. W. A. Jones. Relay of dance programme from the Savoy by the Savoy Dance Orchestra (direction Mr. E. Beecham). Wellington, 2YK.—3 pjn. to 4.30 pjn., afternoon concert, including relay of dance selections from the New Adelphi Cabaret by Manuel Hyman's Exhibition Band; 7 p.m., children's session, "Aunt Jo" and "Uncles JErnest" and "Bill"; 8 pjn. to 10 pjn., studio concert of latest Bristol rolls and records.