RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 185, 1 May 1924, Page 11

RADIO NOTES

(By

“Aerial.”)

“Bus” asks: “Am about to build a three-valve set; which type do you recommended for best all-round purposes?” Under the circumstances “Bus” could not do better than by constructing a set with the Armstrong “feed-back,” or regenerative, circuit, using three coils for tuning, and two variable condensers, .0015 mfds. and .001 mfds. This outfit is of the type that is bringing in Australian and even American concerts. By plugging in larger or smaller coils any wave-length can be received-

Insteners-in residing in and around Wellington have not been able to enjoy much long-distance receiving during the past week owing to the iamrning by the warships in port at Wellington. The warships’ transmitting equipment makes a noise like a train rushing across a bridge. The racket completely blanketed all long-distance music. The Government wireless station, VLW, at Wellington, has also been unusually active, mainly owing to interference caused by' the warships, and VLW could be heard calling frequently for repetition of messages from ships at sea. Atmospheric conditions have also been abnormal. Last Saturday evening, in particular, was adverse for long-distance reception. The Auckland station. IYB, was transmitting an admirable programme but the music would fade Dom very to almost inaudibility, lhe Sydney concert station. 2BL, has not come in as well as usual since last Wednesday. On Thursday and I’ndav evenings the Auckland concert station, IYA, w r as excellent, despite lamming by the warships. The Oakland, California, concert station, was hoard only faintly in Wellington last Wednesday and Friday evenings. KGO, the Californian concert broadcast station, was greatly in evidence uv evening in Wellington. Aerial received news of the arrival of KGO about 7.45 p.m. from Mr. P. B. Billing, by telephone from his residence at Brooklyn. Air. Billing, using a three-coil regenerative threevalve set. with two stages of audio, was getting the visitor’s danee music splendidly. The writer trained his 3ft. indoor loop and eight-valve imported super-hetrodyne set in tho direction of the Californian station. At first KGO proved obstreperous, but soon he was heard on the loud-speaker all oyer the house. The orchestra £A s ,_ ric \ and full. 'Hie announcer at KGO, with deep, sunoious voice, gave forth that it was KGO transmitting,! and his customary statement regarding tho orehestrs Among those who wore present at this phenomenal feat on the indoor loop aerial were Messrs. J. D. Leicester, ot 133 Brougham ntTr’’ and George C. Phillips, of Carterton. In conversation with “Aerial,” Mr. Robertson, manager of Amalgamated Wireless (N.Z.), Limited, has expressed the opinion that the performance is probably a world’s record, and that New Zealand, being surrounded bv the sea is favourably situated for the establishment of world’s records. None can eclipse Mr. F. J. O’Neill, of Dunedin, for enthusiasm in concert broadcasting, his powerful station, 4YA affording delight to listeners-in for hundreds of miles around. Regret will therefore be felt if the report is true that he has recently burnt out some of his 250-watt transmitting valves. It is stated that owing to this accident he is compelled to transmit on reduced power until new valves arriv., “Aerial” extends his sympathy to Mr. O’Neill. '

A concert _ broadcasting station, 4YO, at Dunedin, which has been closed down for some months, is about to resume operations. The transmitter at 4.Y0 is being remodelled in preparation for starting up under the control and financial contributions of the listeners. Mr. Arundel has been in communication with the engineers at the loading New York station. Broadcast Central, incorporating WJZ and WJY, who have sent out a large amount of valuable information concerning the latest improvements incorporated in their plant. As a result an improvement of 30 per cent, in the transmitter at 4YO has already been obtained, and during the next few weeks the alterations and additions will be completed ready to hand over the station to the Management Committee. Although over 600 names of subscribers have teen sent in there are many listeners who have not yet sent in their names and addresses, and these are being asked to do so. Last- Tuesday evening the Dominion Radio Company transmitted an exceptionally enjoyable concert, which included the following items by the Wellington Technical College senior choir, of over thirty singers, under the conductorshin of Mr. V. Evans •— “Annie Laurie” (unaccompanied!. “When Spring Comes. to the Islands” ('pianoforte accompaniment by Mr. Kohn), “Bonnie Charlie’s Non ’Awn” ('unaccompanied).. “Shadows Over the Sea” (accompanied by Air. Kohn). Miss Eil«en Searle, of the choir, sang “Little Miss Melody,” “Good Morning Brother Sunshine”; Miss Kathleen McNab, of the choir, recited “Three Bells”; Miss lola Clarke, of the choir, sang “Mv Taste”; Mr. V. Evans recited “ ’Erbert. A. 8.” and “S’norkins,” and snng “Star of the South.” Air. Leigh Dew. sang “Waiata Poi.” Mr. Ko-lm plnvod the pianoforte solo, “Levitzski’s Voise.” Another southern station, that of the Invercargill Radio Club (4AP), lost all its valves. 5-watts each., through softening recently, and transmission has, consequently, been hehl-up pending arrival of n-w valves. Just prior to the mishap the outfit was radiating 11 amps. Very shortly, if is reported, the listen-ers-in in Anrcklnnd province should be enjoying Ixstter local broadcasting than they have yet experienced. A movement is now afoot to greatly improve the typo of programme from the Auckland concert station, nnd, if all goes smoothly, a bettor typo of programme, which will bo only a forerunner to the big Dominion scheme, should be on tho air in a little while. On Tuesday of last week tho Dominion Radio Company transmitted a concert of all selected gramophone ro-t'r-Ts from their station, 2YK. <4:i Thk Dominion newspaper buildings. Owing to the Ea.stor holidays difficulty was naturally experienced in obtaining the services of artists. The market reports and weather forecast were, as usual, announced. ■ On last Thursday the Dominion Company presented a most eniovablo programme, as follows: “Love. You Have Made n. Garden,” “T "Will Await Thee.” nnd “RnUam” (songs), bv Mrs. Herbert, of Nelson : “Marie, M-rioi” and “O Solo Mio” fsongs, in Italian) by Mr. A. Compa rini; “Abe Levi’s Wedding Dav” nnd “Coh"n on tho Telephone’ (elocutionary items) bv Mr. E. W. Biorro • “Solitude” (pianoforte solo!, by Air. Clive Drummond, and choice gramophone records. Mrs. Herbert plnyed all the pianoforte accompaniments. Mrs. Dore, who has proved such a good friend to listeners-in, organaeed the exceptionally fine concert which was transmitted bv the Dominion Radio Company last Sunday evening. The items were: “Marche FiinKjre” (Chonin) and “The Fountain’s Song” (concert study by Poldini), (pianoforte selections) by Mr.

L. D. Austin, conductor of the King ® Theatre orchestra; “How Many Hired Servants,” “The Snowy Pearl” (sung in Gaelic), and lhe Stars were Brightly Shining” (songs) by the Rev. Father Ryan, of St. latrick’s College, Wellington, ‘I D'd No. Know” (song) by Miss G. Harbroe, “Polonaise in A’ (Chopin) and Rhapsodic Mignoiuie” (pianoforte selections), by Mr. Kohn, who also playee the -accompaniments. Wellington Broadcasters, Limited, continue to maintain the excellence o their high-class gramophone concert transmissions. The programmes aie compiled with a due regard to We variety of tastes which are cateied for. - . From a correspondent residing at Woodstock. New South Wales, the Dominion Radio Co. have received news that he picked up a concert from the company’s station, 2YK, at a distance of about 1300 miles. The letter reads as follows Just a line to let you know that I had your station (2iK) coming in well here on the evening or Sunday, March 23. The transmission was very clear though static was modeiately strong and fading fairly pronounced. As doubts were expressed by some as to whether the music was coming from New Zealand, I decided to try again. Unfortunately, Q.R.N. was very bad, and my endeavours to get the names of some of your items were not successful, as announcements were drowned out by static. I therefore plugged in the loud speaker; the music and speech were very loud at times, though never quite true loud-speaker strength. Personally I have no doubt as the announcing voice was very clear, saying, ‘Hello, all radio land.’ The items sent consisted mainly of pianoforte and phonograph selections. Your modulation is very good indeed, and ’phono per cent rather extraordinarily high. The receiving spt here was a five vijjve Neutrodyne.” . The Kawau station, opened recently, marks the New Zealand Government’s first activity in radio telephony. The only complaint comes from a few who declare that this innovation will spoil one of tho charms of this holiday resort —its isolation. Residents of the Barrigr, though they now have roundabout telephone communication with Auckland, will doubtless soon agitate for a radio plant of the Kawau type. Mr. Keith Palmer,' of Richmond, Nelson reports phenomenal reception with ono valve. Ho writes: “I thought you might be interested to hear about some results I have been getting lately. I got a C 299 valve (my first) about a fortnight ago and wired up a standard 3-coil circuits with some basket coils I used in my crystal sets. I got all New Zealand stations straight away, and on Saturday last (April 12) got Sydney (2BL) from 10.30 p.m. to 11.30 p-m. quite fondly. Reading in the local paper that it was possible to receive KGO I tried on Sunday night (April 13). and at about 0.30 I got two-orchestra items from KGO, Oakland. California, also some jazz music from another station whose letters I did not get owing to spark QRM, but who finished ‘San Francisco.’ Every night since then I havo heard this same station, and on Monday night (April 14) my brother heard the hymn “The Ninntv and Nino” from this station. I tb ; "t if I had a vernier on my secondary condenser I might be able to tune his ‘carrier’ out better. On Wednesday (Anril 16) I got KGO again as well, first at 5.45 p.m. (quite daylight) and then just after 7-30 p.m. His modulation seems very good when announcing, but as soon as tjio music starts the- carrier breaks in, although his speech is very plain. He often just savs ‘KGO, Oakland, California,’ and does not Snv what his next item »s to be, but just starts an orchestral item. Last night (Thursday, April 17) the conditions seemed very good. Just after 6.30 there were about six ‘carriers.’ I heard speech, which I could not pick out, for about two minutes then the letters WJAC, then ‘now then,’ and then a song with three or four voices. To-night (April 18) I could only get one ‘carrier’ (KGO’s, I think). Mv apparatus is very rough. I have no valve socket, simply wires soldered to the studs- The three coils are laid on a wood base and the tickler swung on a flat strip of wood. The condensers also are pretty rough. I use three Leclanche cells on tho filament with a lead pencil for the auxiliary resistance. These, results seem to be better than any others got in Nelson on one valve, and I would like you to let mo know how this compares with what people in Wellington, etc., are getting.”

Mr. William Seaton, of Willow River, Kenepuru Road, Pelorus Sound, writes:—“Being an interested reader of your weekly notes and the articles contributed by the many enthusiastic wireless amateurs, I venture at last to say that I can now add myself to the growing number of radio enthusiasts who pick up KGO (the Californian station). Last Wednesday, April 16. I determined to give him a good trial, and at 6.15 p.m. New Zealand time, I picked un his ‘carrier’ quite loud. After trying my coils (honeycombs) in various position I eventually tuned him in with them in the following position Primary 50, secondary 35, tickler 75. I found the tuning very critical, especially with the tickler coil and primary condenser. However, I was rewarded for my patience when I heard tho following very plainly:— KGO calling. Hotel St. Francis, Oakland, California, transmission of music, conducted by Broadcasters. I then heard the items quite clear, though not loud, the violins being the leading instruments. I held KGO till 8 p.m., when I lost him, not hearing him sign off. Alongside other amateurs’ receptions this is not, of course, a wonderful feat, as I was using detector and two stages of low frequency, but might add that I am situated in a deep valley and completely surrounded on all sides with very high hills, causing what we can term a bad wireless shadow. I am glad to have heard KGO, and will be waiting again for' him when the ether takes possession of his wave.” Mrs. Dore is indefatigable in her efforts to still • further improve the standard of local wireless concerts. For next Sunday evening she has arranged an exceptional programme to ho trar emitted by tho Dominion Radio Company. Tho performers will bo the full King’s Theatre orchestra, under tho condvetorship of Mr. L. D. Austin, Mr. John Parker, tho noted cornet player, Miss Clare Solly, tho gifted Australian contralto vocalist from tho Tivoli Theatre, and Mr, Herbert F. Wood. Wellington’s popular tenor vocalist. The organising of a party of such attainments merits tho heartiest appreciation of Mrs. Dore’s work. Tho many subscribers to Mrs. Dore’s player-piano fund will be interested to know that her solicitors, Messrs. Mentesth. Ward and Macassey, have obtained tin return of the sum of £ll9 Bs. Id. Mrs. Dore has instructed her solicitors to toko proceedings to. recover an alleged balance of ten guineas so that whnt she claims was tlie original intention of ths subscribers mar be given effect to, namely, the purchasing of x Meltona player-piano.