OVER the AERIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 49, 27 February 1931, Page 15

OVER the AERIAL

(By "PHONOS.")

WIRELESS NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR.

To-night ,2YA will broadcast the civic i reception tendered by the citizens of Wellington to Lord Baden-Powell.-The church relay on Sunday evening will be from St. Matthew's. It will be followed by a programme from the studio. A complete overhaul of the plant at 2YA has just been completed by the Broadcasting Company's engineer, Mr. J. M. Bingham. Welsh airs will be featured from IYA on Saturday evening, Sunday being the anniversary of the patron saint of the principality. —:— Two new humorous entertainers, "The Tollys," will be heard' from IYA on Friday of next week. More humour is always welcome. Those who care to tune in, 2FC on Sunday night will have the opportunity of hearing one of the 8.8.C.'s prominent vocalists, Miss Maud Nelson, who has had regular London broadcasting engagements for the past five years. IYA promises something special in the way of entertainment next Tuesday. A historic drama, "Joan of Arc," will be presented by the Auckland Dramatic Students, under the direction of Mr. J. F. Montague.

IZR finds no dearth of "uncles" and "aunts." Quite a big body of able and willing helpers are coming forward to brighten the children's hour at the Queen Street studio.

Harry Bolton and his Apache Dance Orchestra will play from IYA on Wednesday evening. Vocal contributors to the programme will be Miss Joan Laird and Mr. Arthur Ripley.

The first of a series of talks upon New Zealand Manufactures will be given from IYA by Mr. G. Finn at 7.40 on Thursday. In the concert programme following will appear Miss Cicely Audibert, a Christchurch soprano.

Broadcasting in Australia is at last feeling the effect of financial conditions there. During December the Commonwealth maintained its regular increase in radio licenses, but during January saw a drop of 1752. The number in force at the end of that month was 327,713. In Australia a license is issued for a period of twelve months from its date of issue. There is no fixed date when it is compulsory for all to register.

4YA carried out some unusual broadcasts during the week, descriptions of the Sanders Cup races in Dunedin harbour being put on the air. The "reporter" knew his yachting, and gave a running account of the sailing. The ether was full of' port, and starboard, jibs and spinnaker's, sheets and stays, weathering and boarding, jibing and footing, windward and loo'ward, standing in and going about, and other nautical lingo. The only criticism that was forthcoming was that practically a whole afternoon session was occupied, and this did not please those listeners who are not interested in sport. There are not so many yachting enthusiasts in Dunedin as in Auckland. LOCAL "PIRATES" CAUGHT. It is generally surmised that there are quite a number of broadcast listeners who have not the conscience to regard their financial obligations to Government and Broadcasting Company. It comes as a surprise, however, to hear that radio piracy extends to the realms of amateur transmitters. No fewer than four of these, who have been operating without licenses in Auckland, were caught in the radio inspector's net this week, and will make appearances before a local magistrate next month.

A NEW ERA—ITS ADVANTAGES,

In view of the excellent reception accorded to the first recorded programmes for radio transmission now being used by 2YA, the following American newspaper comment will bo of interest. A writer in the New York "Herald-Tribune" says: —More, stations are turning to that form of rccord broadcasting known as electrical transcription, and it is expected that 1931 will see this type of entertainment well rooted. When a physical broadcast is on the air many things can vary it. The announcer may have a cold, the singer a frog in his throat, the speaker may have microphone fright, or any one of numerous difficulties may arise. When a programme is recorded, "play-backs" and "test pressing" disclose any faults. Errors, as in the filming of a motion picture, are eliminated by redoing the piece until perfection is attained. "Playback" is the technical name for hearing the reproduction from the preliminary impression made in soft .wax. It is not accepted until it meets every requirement. When acceptable it is sent to the "pressing plant," where a "master" is made from which a "test pressing" is obtained and played as a further check on quality. If th 6 "test pressing" is approved the "mother" is made from'i he "master," then the "stamper," from which thousands of duplicate finished

records can be made. The testing process can be kept up indefinitely until a perfect "master" is obtained, because the recording generally takes place several weeks before the broadcast is scheduled. Needle scratch or "surface noice" has been reduced to a point where it has become negligible.. Pick-ups and turntables for broadcasting stations have been so perfected that an impeccable reproduction results. A "fader" allows the operator to make an instantaneous change from one record to another without the slightest interruption. WILL IT BE REVOLUTIONARY? A radio receiver equipped with "cold" tubes that will not burn out because they have 110 filament, forms the subject matter of a United States patent, which provides for the use of photoelectric cells in place of the standard tubes that now utilise a hot filament. The inventor- is Adolpli A. Thomas, of New York. "In this principle," said Mr. Thomas, in discussing the patent, "there are no filaments to be heated. There is no hum or line 'noise caused by filament circuits, and, therefore, radio reception is improved. A single lamp illuminates all of the photo-tubes, and lessens the cost of operation. Another advantage is greater simplicity and compactness. No 'A' battery is required. "According to my present invention, I provide a filamentless vacuum tube in which an electronic stream is produced by a photoelectric element under the influence, of light. A second element in the tube is spaced from the photoelectric element, and these two elements are connected in a circuit of substantially constant potential. Between this pair of spaced elements is interposed a third element adapted to be connected in a circuit of variable electric impulses. "This third element acts like the grid in the old type tubes in that it controls the electronic, flow between the two spaced elements in accordance with potential variations impressed upon it. "As far as I know," said Mr. Thomas, "this is the first radio tube adapted to operate cold. There being 110 filament or other electrode to be heated, it is impossible for the tube to burn out. Even if the electrodes should be accidentally connected to the wronsr battery terminals, no harm would ifTe done. Electrically speaking, therefore, the life of the tube is practically indefinite, it being subject only to mechanical breakage."