RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 94, 16 January 1924, Page 13

RADIO NOTES

During his absence on a visit to Australia a number of letters addressed to’ “Aerial” have accumulated. Replies to theses are being forwarded with as little delay as possible. In reply to “Ground,” the “freak” performance of his crystal set may be attributed io various causes. One reason ny>y be that his aerial system (eiXprising aerial, lead-in, and ground) Ts too long; the elimination of the ground connection would bring the aerial system nearer to the fundamental wavedength desired. In the second “freak” mentioned by “Ground,” the bodies of the two persons referred to act as conductors of the high-fre-quency oscillations which emanate from tlie broadcast station.

Listening-in last Saturday night, the writer received the concerts from IYA, the big Auckland station, 3AC, the station of the Christchurch Radio Society, and 2AH. the Wanganui Amateur Radio Club’s station. Auckland came in loud and clear using three valves and a loud-speaker. A peculiarity about the concert from Christchurch was the instability of the car-rier-wave, which soared - up and down continuously. It would be interesting to know whether any ...others noticed this erratic action.

While in Sydney lately “Aerial” paid a visit to the broadcast studio of Farmers’ Ltd., which is located on the top of the company’s lofty , building in the heart of the city in Pitt Street. The management gave the visitor -a cordial reception, and showed him everything in connection with the studio and its equipment. Farmers, Ltd., had already- been transmitting concerts nightly during the past three weeks from 8 till 9 o’clock. . The power used was 350 watts, which, is to ,be increased in two months’ time to 5000 watts. The Wellington concerts are broadcast with a power of 15 watts, so some idea m£iy be gained of the proposed power of Sydney’s big station. This Sydney station operates on a wave-length of 1100 metres. The studio is most spacious, completely sound proof and heavily padded to prevent echoes. Double plat-glass panels enable the controller of the voice-ampli-fying equipment to see into the studio, without opening any door, and he is thus able, by means of. cards bearin various instructions, to' indicate to the studio director whether the singer s too close to the microphone or any other circumstances that requires rectifying. The actual- broadcast station iXe miles away at Northbridge, the ; highest point in the suburb of Willoughbv. The music, etc., from the studio'is amplified b Y a Wes.tem electric voice amplifier which passes it on to the . broadcast station. Large up to-date Western Electric microphones are used in the studio. The broadcast station will be officially known as “2FC.” Its twp steel latticed masts aie each 200 feet high. They are 570 feet anart The aerial is of the squirrel ca-e type, consisting of four wires spread 7n large brass I,o °P n s a , A„ ternoise is used for an earth, and i« erected 15 feet above the ground. A special steel tower set in. concrete £ erected close to the operating room Xg appliances, etc been put Western Electric Co.’s standard modula From S> Mr. m C. S Newtown, “Aerial” has received a copy of worth’s “Wireless Encyclopaedia, which is to be issued in twenty fortparte. The copy is of handy magaJnJ size, containing references from A to ALU. An article. “Wireless and Other Waves, is contributed by Sir Oliver Lodge, vho is consultative editor of the p ubhcatio . The various articles are abun Lindy | justrated and the work should be » valuable acquisition -to wireless men s llb The e Svdnev radio trade, .which recently established a broadcast station in the' New South Wales capital, is now providing an excellent service, though on low power. The following programme, which is typical, was broadcast while “Aerial” was in Sydney recently:— 12 Noon. —General news. 12.30. —News, market reports, weathir2._broadcasters’ No. 1 Orchestra played “Carolina in the Mo™ l ’ l ® > selection from “Mary” ; waltz, Tesora”; intermezzo, “Badinage ; reveries “Dream Castles”: violin Miss Ethel Holden; song, Pale Moon.” 2.30-3. —General news. 3.15. —Afternoon chats to women. 3'3o.—Weather reports ‘3.45-4.15. —Broadcasters’ No. 1 Orchestra played: Fox trot. “On the Guinev Shore” ; waltz, '“Wedding of the Winds”; selection from “Carmen ; intermezzo, “Princess Caprice ; cello &010, “Broken Melody’’; gavotte, “Two Sheep.” . 5-6.30. —News. • 6.45- —Bedtime stories. 7.45- Grand popular concert. Programme as follows. —Part 1. 7.458. Broadcasters’ No. 2 Orchestra; 8, “One Fino Dav” and ‘The Sweetest Flower Thai Blows,” Miss Dorothy Deering (soprano) ; 8.14, “King Charles,” Mt. . W: E. Lewis (bass); 8.22, “Yonder” and “Until,” Miss F. Pain’ (contralto); 8:30, 'election from “Il Trovatore,”.. “Songs of Araby,” and “Wodonga,” Mr. Ernest Lauri (formerly of the Tiro’i Theatres) ; 8.44, “At Dawning,” Miss Dorrie Ward (&oprano); 8.49, “My Sweetie Went Away” and “Broadcasting,” Miss Nada Conrad (revue artist) ; 8 56. solo from orchestra. Interval of three minutes. Part 2.—9, Broadcasters’ Orchestra; “Before You Came” and “Happy Song,” Mtes Dorothy Deering (soprano) ; 9.15, “When My Ships Come Sailing Home,” Mr. AV. E. Lewis (bass): 9.23, “Soul of Mine,’ Miss F. Pain (contralto); 9.30, “I Heard You Go By” and “Honey Girl,” Mr. Ernest Lauri (formerly of Tivoli theatres) ; 9.39, Miss Dorrie Ward (soprano) ; 9.44, “Who Did You Fool z.fter All” and “To My First Love,” Miss Nada Conrad (revnue artist); 9 53, duet, “None Shall Part Us,” Miss Dorrie Ward and Mr. IV. E. Lewis; 9.57, Broadcasters’ No. 2 Orchestra played a selection—and the Nationa’ Anthem. During last week Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd., transmitted enjoyable concerts from their station on the top of the Ford Building. Courtenay Place. On Wednesday evening the programme comprised “Catch Me” and “Tutu” (monologues), and a pianoforte selection by Miss Netta Hammond (of Sydney) ; “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms” (vocal duet), by Miss Netta Hammond and Air. McKeon (of Wellington) ; “Waiata. Poi” (song), and “Mountain Lovers” (song), by Mr. McKeon; “Flying Kate” (recitation), by Mr. McDonald (of Whangarei); “La Caprice de Nanette” and “Demands et Responde” (pianoforte solos) by Miss A. Rubenstein, who was also accompanist. News has been received in Wellington that difficulty is being experienced in operating the new giant broadcast station in California, which is to transmit with 5000 watts power. Radio engineers have found that many un-

expected difficulties have arisen in controlling the modulation with such high power. On Monday “Aerial” received a telegram from Mr. Kilkenny, motor agent at Westport, as follows: —“Got. splendid concert‘"from Oakland, California, last evening. Editor of Westport “Times” present. Reflex set used.” This is an extraordinary achievement, and one that is beyond parallel, considering the locality in which Mr. Kilkenny is located. Several sets, with reflex circuits are receiving Californian concerts in various parts of New Zealand. . . . Last Sunday evening the Dominion Radio Company transmitted a most artistic programme from their studio on the top of Tira Dominion Newspaper Company’s buildings. The items were as follow: — Pianoforte selection by Mr. McKie; “In the Cathedral” (song), by Mrs. Maries; “Il Trovatore” (violin solo), “Valse Triste” (violin solo), by Mr. Gandeil; “The Flight of Ages” (song), and “Bird of Love Divine” (song), by Madame Storey; “I Will Not Doubt” (song), by Air. Armstrong; “The Lord is My Light”, (song), and “Farewell to Summer” (song), by Mrs. Gandeil, with violin obbligato by Mr. Gandeil. The pianoforte ' accompaniments were by Mrs. Gandeil, Messrs. McKie, and Clement Howe. On the previous. Thursday evening the Dominion Radio Company’s usual concert was abandoned in order to permit of the broadcast equipment being overhauled.

Mr. F. J. O’Neill, proprietor of the broadcast station 4YA, left Dunedin on Boxing Day on a business trip to Sydney. AVhile there he will call on the two big stations—Farmers and the Broadcasters—and will visit a number of radio clubs. . Such a keen enthusiast as Mr. O’Neill will not be content until he has picked up whatever information is available which is likely to prove, of benefit to New Zealand amateurs. Before he left,. delegates from the Otago Radio Association interviewed Mr. O’Neill, and satisfactory arrangements were made for the broadcasting of concerts during Mr. O’Neill’s absence in Australia. The association agreed to pay 30s. per concert, which amount covers the wages of l two operators and a log-keeper. There are now concerts on two nights per week, on Wednesday and Saturday. This arrangement will continue until Mr. O’Neill returns to Dunedin.

Mr. Spencer Speedy, of “Pipi Bank,” Hunterville, writes: —“It may bo of interest to readers of your radio notes in 'Tin': Dominion that last, night (January 3) I picked up a station in East Oakland, California. On the whole it was not clear or strong, but threp times the words, ‘East Oakland, California,’ came out distinctly. This station’s code I could not get,, though at one time it seemed something like 6XK, followed by three fives. The Yankee, twang was very noticeable. Unfortunately I could not get the name of any of the items, but most of them seemed to bo piano only, and two songs that I could distinguish as such. One of the piano items was fairly good. I first picked up the wave after I had been listening to IYA (who were coming olut particularly well) at about 10 30. It suddenly out out after I had been listening .about twenty minutes. I picked it up again ai> about 11.10 p.m., and held it till 12.10 a.m. (one hour). As I was using only a two-valve set, I could not believe that it was California the first time I heard, it, but after getting it two or three times there was no doubt about it. The valves are both of low voltage. My aerial is a single wire, about 90ft. long, with a lead in of about 45ft.. Height of aerial, 40ft. Two earths directly under the aerial, tho first right against set, and the second about halfway under aerial. I was using three honeycomb coils —50, 35, 25. I should be glad to know if this station is often picked up in New Zealand, or any other particulars you might, be able to give me about it. I have picked up most of the New Zealand stations, hut cannot strike 4YA. I used to get 4YO splendidly on one valve, which makes it all the more puzzling that I cannot get 4YA. Can you explain this at all?” A

The code call mentioned by Mr. Speetly, which he believes came from East Oakland, California, would appear to.be that of an amateur transmitter, and not from a broadcast station.’ The American amateur calls commence with a number. The number 6 is allotted to all amateur stations on the western side of the United States. This includes, of course, any transmitter in Oakland. The lists of calls examined by “Aerial” have failed to disclose the identity of the owner of “6XK,” which would be a new call,, if bona fide. If Mr. Spcedv’s reception of an amateur concert from America can be established beyond doubt his feat is a record. Mr. Spcedv’s inability to pick up 4YA, Mr. O’Neill’s broadcast statio in Dunedin, mar be overcome by experimenting with various tuning coils. Different sizes and changes in positions of the coils should be tried. Many difficulties are overcome in wireless by experimenting. It is reported that Messrs. Charles Mncluican (2051) and Jack Davis (2DS), both of Sydney, are going for a trip to San Francisco, and back about the end of February in order to test the working of a low power and short wave length set under actual commercial conditions. A duplicate of 2CM’s present set will be installed and a sepiarate cage aerial will be erected from the main mast for use in conjunction with a tuned counterpoise. The call sign 2CSM will most probably be used. Testing will be carried out with experimenters in Australia, New Zealand, and America on a wave length of about 200 meters with a power of 10 watts. A continuous watch will be kept while ,in communication, and altogether the trip should result in. the compiling of some very valuable information. The tests will bo earned out on the Tahiti. Mr. D. Wilkinson, 2AB, Motueka, has helped to make a world’s record. On December 9,6 PL, an American amateur whose address is 4402 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, U.S.A., sent an urgent message for Nelson., New Zealand. This message was picked up at 7.40 p.m. N.Z.M.T. by 2AD (P. R. Stevens), Gisborne, who handed it.to 2AC (I. H. O’Meara) for transmission onwards. 2AC relayed it to 2AI (W. L. Harrison), Wellington, who in turn sent it to 2AB (D. WillkilnsonL Motueka. The latter eventually delivered it to the addressee. Two nights later 2AB, Motueka, received it direct from 6PL, who was sending it again in case it was not picked up before. On Friday evening the Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd., programme comprised “The First Rose of Summer, “I Love a Little Cottage by the Waters of Minnetonka,” “Lament of Isis,” and “Annie Laurie” (songs), bv Miss Florence Penney (ot Blenheim); “The Latest Theatrical Scandal” (recitation), “Three O’clock in the Morning” (pianoforte solo), “Moodcn Clothvs” (humorous monologue), by Mr. rsrank Andrews; “Joy °L'“ U ' tumn” aiK, “Selection from the Chocolate Soldier” - (pianoforte solos), by Mrs. McDonald <of Blenheim), who was also accompanist for the evening. At 10.30 p.m. Miss Gertrude Elliott and her talented company broadcasted an act from the play “Enter Madame” —a novelty which was greatly relished by all listeners-in.