RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 5

RADIO NOTES

(By

“Aerial.”)

"Socket” (Napier) nsks: "On which evenings will 2FC (Messrs. Farmer and Co.), Sydney, be broadcasting the band contest?” The band contest items will be transmitted nightly from January 21 to January 2? inclusive.

In reply to "C.H.R." (Otaki), the Palmerston North Radio Club’s call is now 2YF (in place of 2GI). The wavelength is 200 metres and the power employed is reported to bo 50 watts. Transmissions are on Mondays and Fridays from 7.30 till 9.30 p.m. In addition to gramophone records, there are instrumental and vocal numbers.

“Why on earth did the broadcasting company erect its transmitting station and aerial at the Dunedin Exhibition site, which is so badly screened by surrounding hills?" writes "Oscillator" (Dunedin). "There was no necessity to select such an unfavourable locality. We all know that the transmitting station need not be close to the studio. Where, oh where, are the alleged experts ?" "Lead-in” (Kelburn) asks: "What is the amount paid for licenses bv listen-ers-in in Great Britain, and how much does the British Broadcasting Company receive out of each?” Listeners’ licenses eost 10s. per annum in Great Britain; the Broadcasting Company receives 7s. 6d. out of each fee, Iho remaining 2s. 6d. going to the Government. A small royalty is charged on each receiving set and radio component purchased.

Mr. W. McLean, of Milton, Otago, writes: "I was talking to a man in the exhibition who bad been listening to Air. Simmonds, of London, broadeasting music and speech to Mr. Maclurcan, of Sydney, on about 20 metres.” A general meeting of the Amateur Radio Society of Wellington was held at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, Mr. W. J. Roche occupied the chair and there were about forty present. A number of new members were enrolled. The honorary secretary was instructed to write a letter to the manager of the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand conveying appreciation of the transmission from the Wellington broadcast station 2YK, and expressing the hope that the regular broadcasting of concert items by other than mechanical instruments would not be long deferred. The executive were instructed to draw up certain representations to be sent to Mr. G. Mcß. Salt for placing before the meeting of the Broadcasting Advisory Board. M. P. Billing gave, .an interesting demonstration with one of the latest five-valve imported ncutrodyne sets in conjunction with a cabinet-shaped loudspeaker. Mr. Billing illustrated his remarks with blackboard drawings The evening concluded with a. hearty vote of thanks to .Mr. Billing and Air. Cobald, who kindly lent bis receiving set and batteries. The society will meet again next week.

The advent; of the warmer weather Inst week brought with it real summer-time static. Those in Wellington who tried long-distance reception found themselves overwhelmed with atmospherics. This was regrettable as the Australian stations were in splendid form. The Melbourne station, 3LO, was well to th: fore, and, notwithstanding p tumult oi static, the write- received some enjr..able items by the Collingwood Citizens' Brass Band on Friday night. Fading, however, was considerable at times. The Sydney station. 2BL. is a consistently good performer and was able fn get through the static on some eitilings. This station, unfortunately, i-

sending out rather too much talk—lectures, etc. Mr. Arthur P. Lucas, of Nelson, reports frightful static last week which, lie says, reached a climax on Thursday night. “Phonos,” writer of radio notes foi the Auckland "Star,” says: "Atmospheric conditions during the Inst weekhave been the worst experienced for months. Tuesday was a particularly bad night, and on Wednesday, when there was no local transmission of gramophone records, attempts to reach out for Australia were in most ca,<o£ rendered abortive by static of particular intensity. Even that wil!-o’-the wisp. Dunedin Exhibition station, was unattainable through the continuity of crashes and crackles.”

Mr. Morton Courts (2AQ), Taihape, sheds new light on the reason yny ne has ceased broadcasting. Ho writes: “About December 1 last I received a message per telephone from the radio inspector for this district. He said he had received word from headquarters that someone was broadcasting in laihape and he was to stop immediately. Ho said this evidently referred to me. Several days after I received a letter from the district radio inspector, which ■ read: 'ln. reference to our recent conversation in connection with broadcasting, please note, that your license is an amateur license only. Amateurs are not debarred from transmitting class of matter in connection with their experimental work provided the transmissions are in accordance with the regulations. It is, nowever. not intended that amateurs should neglect their experimental work and usurp the functions of a broadcasting station. Please advise me to what extent you have been broadcasting.* "I have replied to this, and also inquired if my present license of -50 meters was still valid, and have so tar had no reply. With regards to my short-wave license for telephony this was received over four months ago, and telephone communication has already been established with England from 2AQ. With regard to your report re the Department drawing my attention to the fact that I did not have a broadcasting license, etc., I obtained permission to use a wave-length of 250 meters in 1921, and except for the letter stated above I have received no correspondence from the P. and T. Department. All tho work I was carrying out on 250 meters was of an experimental nature, and can be done just as well on 37 meters. As I gave out per the microphone just before closing down, I was stopping broadcasting on account of trouble I was having with the P. and T. Department regarding my license. "■

It is reported that in tho south a movement is definitely spreading to draw public attention to the general dissatisfaction existing among radio licensees. General action on the following lines is contemplated. When the licenses expire on March 31 next, tho whole body o( listeners will be urged to refuse to renew them, and, at the same time, to continue using their sets. A direct challenge to prosecute users of unlicensed sets will then he thrown down to the Government, and a court of law will bo asked Io decide whether the latter has fulfilled the obligations which it undertook when it collected the thirty shilling license fee for the support of "one of the best broadcasting svstems in tho world.”

Mr. H. It. Maddaford (AVaipukurau), who adopted the addition of one stage of radio frequency to an ordinary threecoil regenerative circuit (according to a diagiani supplied by “Aerial”), writes enthusiastically. lie says: “To date (Monday last) I have had tho following stations at full strength on the loud speaker:—2BL, Sydney; 3LO, -Melbourne; VLDN, Dunedin; 2YK. Wellington. Last night’s concert from 2YI< was very good. It was clearly audible 50ft. from the loud' speaker. VLDN was also in good form on Saturday night, being clearly audible above the terrible static. I have not picked up any Yankee stations yet, but expect to do bettor in the winter. I am using three earths. My aerial is 55ft. high al the far end, failing to 351'1. at the lead-in point. Us total length, including lead-in, is 135 ft.” A wireless installation on White Island provides useful means of communication with Opotiki (says a Press Association message from that town). While Major Mercer wps on tho island on Sunday a message was dispatched from Opotiki requesting that the launch Wnihnii should bo allowed to proceed from the island to Rankokorc, eastward of Opotiki, to bring a shepherd who was dangerously ill to the. hospital. Tho request was granted, and the man was brought io Opotiki, and found to be suffering from appendicitis, requiring a prompt operation. As .no launch was available at Opoliki at 110- time. the tiso of tho wireless apparatus probably saved the man’s life.