RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 63, 8 December 1926, Page 7

RADIO NOTES

(By

"Aerial.”)

Die strength of the transmission by the Auckland and Christchurch stations has been proved to be insufficient for New Zealand conditions. The 500-watt outfit stations should never have been installed. "Aerial' has ixrged this on previous occasions, but officials have asked listeners to “wait and judge' 1 before condemning. The October number of tlie "Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers," U.S.A., contains a statement respecting the strength of broadcast transmission, by Mr. Alfred N. Goldsmith, chief broadcast engineer for the Radio Corporation of America Mr. Goldsmith states that as the result of exhaustive tests he has found that in order that a listener with an average multivalve set may receive the broadcasting without any more extraneous interference noise than would be caused bv the gramophone needle when a record is being nlayed. the amount of antenna power required by an efficient broadcast station and its range would be as follows:—s watts, 1 mile; 50 watts 3 miles; 500 watts. 10 miles; 5000 watts, 30 miles; 50,000 watts, 100 miles. The above was referred bv "Aerial" to Mr. P- G Wyles, of Wellington, the leading broadcast authority in New Zealand, having had some five years' practical experience in the empiov of Amalgamated Wireless. I.td. (Australasia), and Broadcasters, Ltd., Sydney. Mr. Wyles was most emphatic in ’ his declaration that the power of the new stations at Auckland and (Airistchurch is 'insufficient. He feared that Mr., Goldsmith is looked upon ns one of the greatest broadcasting authorities in the: world, and .his figures may be accepted unhesitatingly. "The ™ T at t stations in Auckland and Christchurch should never have been purchased for the purpose they are supposed to serve.” said Mr. Wyles. "To overcome the average amount of static and to receive broadcasting without unpleasant extraneous noises vastly increased power is needed to reach'those who reside more than, say, twenty or thirty miles from Auckland and Christchurch. There are areas of, say, from 100 to 200 miles from those stations which can never hope to enjoy immunity Ironi atmospheric interference sufficient to mar reception." Mr. Wvles expressed the opinion that nothing less than 5000 watts power should have been used at Auckland and Christchurch for a start, and that less powerful relay stations could bd distributed for serving remote areas. It is realised that Now Zealand is a long narrow strip of land, and that a good deal of energy goes to waste in being propagated over the ocean instead of serving populated areas. The Broadcasting Company is therefore de-erving of sympathy in this direction, because they have sothewhat novo! conditions to meet as compared with the laying down of a service to feed flic same population in a concentrated area like the city of Sydney, for instance. Nevertheless, the fact has to lie faced that experience even at the time the New Zealand service was being designed showed that 50110 watts had become practically a standard power throughout the world for a first-class broadcasting service over distances which the New ZoalaiKf stations bad to cope with. , . Replies are being forwarded to Ampere" (Hastings), "Hard-drawn'' (Wanganui), "Plug” (Featherston), "Low Loss” (Newtown), “Evergreen (Nelson), and "Bus Bar" (Lower Hutt). Mr. B. McDonagh (Westport) recently communicated with Mr. M- Oyama, of the Broadcasting Corporation of Japan, Tokyo Division, concerning the transmission bv the famous station JOAN, Tokyo, frequently heard in New Zealand. Mr McDonagh has just received the following reply:—"Mr. Ben McDonagh, Westport, N.Z., Australia — Gentleman, We wish to thank you for vour information of receiving our station (by wireless). Everything you detailed seems to check all right except that .vou nicked up our program at 1.5 a.m., heine only one hour difference between New" Zealand and Japan, and our evening program begins at fi p.m. and closes at 10 p.m. It seems there is some discrepancy. We will be ploa-ed to hear further information from yon—Al. M. Oyama adds: “We are giving you a copy of our broadcasting schedule for vour reference.” As others may be interested. the schedule is Tokyo Broadcasting Station (JOAK). Program (daily, except Sunday). Mtnelength 375 metre. Frequency, 800 kilocycle. Forenoon: 9. weather forecast, 9 5. market reports; 9.30, market reports; 9 45 cookery and daily menu; 10, ,n p rke ' prices; 10.30. market reports; 10.45, home service talk; 11.30. time report and foreign market reports; 11.35, marketreports; 11-55. market reports X s 12.10 music and amusement 1-45,.news bulletin; 1.30, market reports;' 1' 45 -,,™ men’s hour; 2.30, market report; -.45, local weather forecast; 3.30, market re ports; 3.45, market reports; 5, market r ports. Evening. 6- c '”' ( ' ren 1 S ii's;n • 7‘>s L,.,, : s |. lessen: 7.10. news bullet n. 7.-5-MO. scientific keture music, and anrasemanf. qqa time report and weathoi Tope ™t ' Simdny and holidays: Forenoon--9 weather forecast ; 10-12 cultural talk, or . memorial speech A special foreign market reports; J 2.10-4. specia rZ B rt' »"«. " !K= 6 timT e The mitm AK tW °closes r down at 10 'p.m.. sharp, the time will then be 12.30 a.m. in New Zealand. One night last week Aerial could heat- the Japanese station loudly, but lamming with '3LO, Melbourne. It is to' be hoped that when the Australians re-allot their wavelengths they will give JOAK a little more elbow room, especially as the Japanese station is goin" tin on to super-power next year. The distance between Wellington and Tokvo is approximately fiOOO miles. On nearly even- night anyone in New Zealand listening to 3LQ. Melbourne, can hear a tinv persistent high-pitched winstlo which is the Japanese station overlapping with 3LO. Some nights the Jap comes through loudly. Mr. McDonagh also reports: I have often picked up a station in Newcastle— A 2HD. I wrote to them and received the following particulars rf that station: Power, 100 watts; wavelength, 288 metres (slightly above SKY); aerial. 125 feet long, 50 feet high; transmitter, Meisner circuit. On the air every evening from 10 till 11.30 o’clock, Australian time.”

Next Wednesday Is expected to be a red-letter night for all radio ic«M» in and around Wellington. Hie Ainatou Radio Society has issued an invitation to all (members or unattached) to attend a special conference at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute with the object of starting a combined move, ment to obtain better broadcasting and a general improvement in broadcast listening conditions. Any outsider who has not received an invitation to attend by next Saturday may obtain an invitation by presenting his actual license certificate at the secretary’s office, Mr. 11. L. Jones, second floor, Mandel s Buildings, 101 Willis Street Invitations must be presented on the evening of the conference. One night last week IYA, Auckland, broadcasted the much-discussed ‘J 0 ® 5 gramophone record. It is a delightfully amusing item, possessing a fund of humour, which will be relished by broadcast listeners in particular. One of its mirth-provoking features is an attempt to broadcast the song or a nightingale in. its native moods. Instead of the sweet notes of the feathered minstrel one hears the lowing of a cow and the braying of an ass. lhe broadcast announcer apologises for the non-success of the attempt. It is now in order to broadcast a burlesque on the machine which “sings through its nose.” - , Abnormal weather conditions have continued to play havoc with longdistance reception. Since last Wednesday the atmosphere has on several nights been so charged with electrical noises as to render reception from Australia anything but enjoyable. On one night 2GB, the Sydney . Theosophical station, was heard with splendid strength. . , A census was conducted recently in the United States to ascertain the number of listeners. It was conducted in a very thorough manner by the American Telephone and Telegraph Co., which operates eighteen of the principal stations in the Eastern and Middle West of the States. A questionnaire was sent out and the answers were very interesting. Over 3,750J)C0 people answered the questions, and it was estimated that tho listeners numbered over 15.009.000. (A more recent return gives the number of sets in use ns 5.500,000; and as it was estimated from the replies to the former questionnaire that five persons listened at each set. the radio audience in the United States is set down at over 27.000,000 people.) Following are programmes to be transmitted to-day :— tYA. Auckland.-3 P-m. to 4.30 P.m.: Concert. 715 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.: News ami reports, etc.; talk bv Mr. Champ,taloup on “Motoring in the National 1 ark. 8 p.m.: Chimes; relay of orchestral selections from Prince Edward theatre (Mr. Geo. Poore, conductor). 8.15: Contralto solo, “Three Fishers” (Mullah). Miss B. Smith. 8.20: Comet solo. 'O Drv Those Tears." Mr. J. Duncan. B.J>: Pianoforte solo. “Whims'’ (Schubert), studio pianist. 8.30: string band. "Bstrablatt.” Corrara String Band. 8.35: Baritone solo 'The Wanderer" Schubert), Mr, F. Woods. 8.40: Cornet solo "Violetta’ 1 (Huelani), Mr. J. Duncan. 8.45: String band. “Farewell'' (Mascagni), Cor, rara String Band. 8.50: Flute solo, “Selected," Mr. Geo. Poore. 8.55: Baritone solo, "Kashmiri Song” Finden), Mr. F. Woods. Interval. 9.5: Relay of orchestral selections from Prince Edward Theatre (Mr. Geo. Poore, conductor). 9.15: Contralto solo. "Softly Awakes” (SaintSaens). Miss R. Smith. 9.20: String band, "Cradle Song" (Maritti). Corrara String Band. 9.28: Pianoforte solo, "African Tone Poem" (Orr). studio pianist 9.34: Contralto solo, selected. Miss B. Smith. 9.39: Baritone solo, "Less than the Dust" (Finden). Mr. F. Woods. 9.45: Cornet solo, selected. Mr. J. Duncan. 9.50: String band, "Torna a Surriento" (Di Capua), Corrara String Band. 9.55: String band. “Exercito Glorioso” (Angiologi), Corrara String Band. 3YA, Christchurch.—3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.: Concert. 6.50 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Children’s session; Uncle jack. 7 5 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.: News and reports, etc. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Studio concert by Mr. 8. Kirk and party, and relay of orchestral selections by the Crystal Palace Theatre Orchestra (Mr. Alfred J. Bunz. conductor).

4YA and 2YK, Wellington.—Silent. 3LO, Melbourne.—s.4s p.m.. Children’s hour. "Bobby Bluegum." will answer letters and give birthday greetings. 6: Musical hour for children, arranged by Dr. A. E. Floyd, assisted by his choristers: songs, duets, and-trios, etc. 6.40; "Argus" and “Herald” news service; Reuters and Australia Press Association cablegrams: shipping news, river reports, oversea shipping, weather reports. 7: Stock Exchange information; fish, market reports; Victorian Producers’ Cooperative Co., Ltd., etc. 8: 1 niversity Conservatorium concert from the auditorium (during the interval); Captain Peters will speak on "Books, Wise and Otherwise." 11: Our great thought for to-night. 11.1: 3LO Melody Masters. 11.40: "God Save the King." Close down. 2FO, Sydney.—s.4j p.m.: The chimes of 2FC. 5.50: The "Hello Man ’ talks to the children, assisted by “Jerry." 6.30: A serial story for the older children—" The Little Blaok Princess." 6.45: From the Hotel Australia, Sydney, items by the orchestra, under the direction, of Miss A. J. Egan. 7.15: From >he studio; "Evening News" news service, weather information. 7.30. Dalgety’a market reports (wool, wheat, stock), fruit and vegetable markets. 7.40: A talk, by Miss V. A. Roche, on 'lmpressions of a tour through N.S.W. and Victoria.” 7.50: Close down. 7.55: Annouu emeuts. 8: "Big Ben," broadcast from the Lyric Winter Garden Theatre, terns by the orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Alfred Moulton. 8.15: From the studio, Mr. Ernest Archer, tenor. 8.22: Miss Virginia Bassetti, contralto. 8.30: Lynn Smith’s Jazz Orchestra will disport themselves. 8.42: Miss Kitty Elliott, . «oubrette, ia some frothy trifles. 8.50: Lynn Smith in some instrumental gymnastics 9: Mr. Lawrence Halbert.' baritone. 9.8: Mr Ernest Archer, tenor. 9.16: The jazz band. 9.22: Miss Virginia Bassetti. tralto. 9.30: The Village Concert, a bur lesque conducted by Mr. Rupert Haze. English comedian. t 0.15: From the Lyric Winter Garden Theatre, further items b.v the theatre orchestra. 10.30: From tlie Wentworth Hotel, items by the Wentworth dance orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Sydney Simpson. 11: "Big Ben." 11.5; The Wentworth New Symphonic Dance Orchestra, until midnight. 12: National Anthem. Close down