RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 87, 11 January 1928, Page 13

RADIO NOTES

(By

“Aerial.”)

The aerial described by ' Coppei (L , tahuna) is known as a T type.. It }' 011 11 be preferable to use a long inverteii u type aerial, and. considering the distance from the nearest broadcast station. the aerial should measure about 14b icct in length, including the lead-in. If "Minimum" (Ki!birniei . finds dead spots” in the condenser of his sliqrt-waic set lie should place a small variable condenser in series with his aerial. B.V tne manipulation of the condenser when ueau spots” occur they can be eliminated. As “Cube” (Newtown) finds it difficult to maintain a good spot on his crystal owing to vibration caused ■ by , people walking about the room he should purchase a seir.i-permanent crystal detector. There are some first-rate types of tuc latter now on the market. “ ’Phones” (Mount Victoria) should obtain good reception of 2YA. Wellington, with t.vo pair of headphones. The. laitor should be of the same resistance., and it is advisable to connect them in ’ series. One ’phone tip of each pair of phones should be inserted into the ’phone terminale, and the other ’phone tips must then be connected together. “Tuner” (Petone) asks: “What would be the effect of inserting a variable condenser in series with my aerial?’ Inis would render it possible to shorten the wave-length of the aerial and would afford finer tuning of the aerial circuit. In reply to "D.X.” (Ngaio) a gneiss crystal is exceptionally sensitive, and providing the tuning equipment of the set is good and the aerial-earth system is first-class very excellent reception ol 21 A. Wellington, should be obtained. “Is it good practice to bring the leadin. if it is rubber-insulated, about 25 feet into a house.” Loes of signal strength would result. The receiving set should he as close as possible to the point where tho lead-in enters the house. . "Should my earth wire be insulated, queries "Crystal” (Oriental Bay). . lhe earth wire would do quite well without beihg insulated, provided it is not more than ten feet in length, and is soldered to a water-pipe or other good “earth.” lhe tendency of the radio frequency oscillations created in the aerial system is to take the shortest course to earth, and if a lengthy, uninsulated earth wire is employed the tendency is for the electrical flow to leak off the earth wire to earth at the nearest point to the ground, and if there is high resistance in its path reception is noticeably weakened. This will happen even if there is a first-rate “earth,” to which the earth wire is fastened if the wire is not insulated.

“Crow-eater” (Dunedin) writes: “Am an ex-South Australian, and occasionally I listen imAhe small hours to SCL, Adelaide, which conies tn faintly but with good tone. What power does the SCL transmitter use?’’ The transmitter actually consists of a double-wave three-phase rectifier. with a capacity of approximately 25 kilowatts, which supplies a group of apparatus consisting of a master oscillator with two one-kilo valves, the main oscillator of 5 kilowatts, the modulator valyes (seven) of 5 kilowatts, and speech and line amplifiers. The normal power consumption of 5CL’s transmitter exclusive of several kilos for filament lighting alone, is in the neighbourhood of 12 to 14 kilowatts.

The unreliability of the Australian stations has been manifest during the past week. The chief disability of tho Australian stations l has been their weakness up till after 11 p.m., and, in fact, 3LO. Melbourne, is not worth tuning in until after midnight. The Brisbane station, 4QG. continues to be badly distorted most of the time, although it is heard with considerable volume after 11 p.m. 'I he ■Theosophical station. 2GB, Sydney, has been heard fairly well at a kite hour, but city electrical leakages appear to prefer a wavelength from about 350 metres to about 200 metres, and interfere with reception. Those who are fortunate enough to own short-wave receiving sets will find the Russian station, RFN, a constant and generally satisfactory performer every evening in the week. At a little after last Saturday midnight RFN changed over to a theatre and broadcast what seemed to be Russian grand opera, with a full operatic orchestra. 'The music had a distinct Slavonic atmosphere. The vocalists were uncommonly talented, and particularly gifted were the leading soprano and baritone. The number of licensed listeners in the Russian Soviet Union, says an official announcement, has increased from 30,000 to 200,000 in the past two years. There arc now 47 broaalcast stations in Russia and Siberia. •

Beginners are sometimes prevailed upon to buy the cheaper American "bootleg” valves which perform most efficiently for a while. Experience, however, shows that these cheaper valves lack the staying power of the better brands of valves, and in a few months are 'practically exhausted.

New Zealand listeners will have another long-distance broadcast station to seek out as soon as the days get somewhat shorter. The Chinese Government have established a broadcast station at Tientsin, near Peking, which uses the call XOL. and operates on a wavelength of 480 metres, with a power of SCO watts. Mr. Hugo Gernsback, editor of the New York “Radio News,” writes:—“Every radio man knows striking instances of the ‘freak’ actions of radio waves. There are certain localities where it is easy to receive radio signals-that cannot be heard in other localities, even nearby. For instance, not far from New York City there is an amateur station where one of the editors of 'Radio News’ has actually heard the broadcasts from Australian stations on a three-valve receiver. They are received, not once in a while, but as a matter of routine; and by the way, in New York, reception from Australia is about as far as you can reach out on this planet. It is nearly half-way around the earth, and farther than that you cannot go. There is nothing mysterious about this apparatus: it is a common, everyday receiver. Whether it has a favoured location, influenced by the magnetic field of the earth or something, we do not know, and can only guess. The fact remains, that there arc spots of this kind all over the earth that favour radio teception from great distances; while other spots, although apparently of equal advantages. are not so favoured. Onre we know more, about such things, the whole art of radio may change. Then, of course, we have the mj'sterious action of ‘fading. You are listening to a certain station that, comes in' loud; when suddenly it will lade away to practically nothing only to come up in volume again, periodically. We have learned much about this . mysterious fading action during the past few years, and we are continuously learning more about it. While it seems almost impossible at the present time to assure that this condition Can be done away with, still radio engineers are hopeful that the jltoblem is not insoluble. There may be a remedy applicable, once we know more about the actions of the waves in free space,” • z The question is frequently asked by those unacquainted with radio why shortwave broadcasting is not carried out in New Zealand, seeing that short-wave transmission from England. Holland and America is clearly heard in the Dominion. A peculiar feature of short-wave broadcasting is the phenomenon of skipping distances; that is to say. it leaves silent zones around the transmitting station, while it is heard thousands of miles away. Observation of scientists in various parts of the world are in general agreement as to the phenomenon of the so-called “skip effect” of signals. That is to say, short-wave signals, after being heard over a short distance—loo miles or iess—from the transmitting station, depending on the wavelength, become inaudible over considerable distances, and tl en at greater distances are again heard with great intensity. This and similar discoveries in the realm of short-waves, made by Dr. A. Hoyt Taylor, superintendent of radio at the Bellevue Naval Research Laboratory, U.S.A., were largely responsible for the awary of the 1927 Liebermann prize to this United States Government physicist. In the Lambeth Hospital, Kensington, London, has been recently installed a radio receiver which is entirelj' automatic in operation. This has been installed so that the patients can enjoy the broadcasting; and. as this has a certain curative effect, two birds are killed with the same stone. Physicians, to a great, extent', have agreed that if the minds ,ot patients are kept occupied on something other than their ailments, their recovery is almost certain to be more rapid, flic hospital’s officials can address the 14UU inmates simultaneously by the use of a microphone in the hosnital office: and all sorts of programmes can be received by all the patients, for there are 400 pairs of 'phones and 67 loud speakers. Several times as many could be operated, if so desired. Wellington radio traders report an increasing interest, upon the part of listeners, in short-wave reception of programmes from distant, countries. Referring to short-wave broadcast reception. London “Popular Wireless” says:—“One thine is certain, and that is that with a shortwave receiver and a. little perseverance, it does not take one long to become, so interested in the work and to build up such a circle of "acquaintances" all over the world that one will never give up this branch of reception." In arranging the lead-in from your aerial sec that it is kept as far as possible away from the wall and not run close to rain-water pines. lienee inhouse end of the aerial should be clear of any lend roofing and. if circumstances permit, should run transverse to the guttering. This would obviously reduce any losses introduced through eddy currentbeing induced in the metallic, conductors. For the same reason, metal stay wiies must bo kept outside the “field of ,tn<. aerial, and insulators introduced into their length at each end It is not necessary to incorporate several large insulators in the aerial, for. after all. the voltages dealt with are quite small,, atm tno provision of three egg-shaped insulatots

at. each end of the horizontal wire should prove quite satisfactory. They siiould preferably be of good quality porcelain, with the outside surface smooth-glazed and free from Haws; and, of course, it is necessary lo bear in mind that these insulators should be in a state of compression when in position, or results will bo disappointing from the point of view of mechanical strength. When circumstances permit, make the nerial ami down-load one continuous length, fcr soldered or braided joints are a souice of loss. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES. ' Following are to-day’s broadcast programmes IYA. AUCKLAND (333 metrcs).-3 p.m.: Afternoon session, selected studio items. 8: Chimes. 8.1: Relay of overture from Rialto . Theatre (Henry C. Engel, conductor). 8.11: Quartet, the Waiata Quartet, "O, Hush Thee, My Baby.” 8.15: Instrumental. Ingall’s Hawaiians, popular melodies. 8.24: Soprano solo. Miss Lola Solomon, ve Maria” (Tuzzi). 8.28: Sketch. Griffiths Duo. a little humour. 8.35: Instrumental trio, the Bosworth-llemus-Towsey Trio, (a.) "Trio, 6p. 56. Finale” (Reissiger), (b) “Canzonetta from Trio” (Strebski). 8.45: Bass solo, Mr. Frank Sutherland, "The Two Grenadiers" (Schumann). 8.50: Violin solo. Miss Ina Bosworth, "Liebcsfreud” (Kreisler). 8.55: Contralto solo. Miss Jessie Smith, "O, Lovely Spring” (Colne.ss). 9: Evening forecast. 9.12: Tenor solo. Mr. James Simpson, “The English Rose" (German). 9.16: Instrumental, Ingall’s Hawaiians. folk songs. 9.25: Sketch. Griffiths Duo, more fun. 9.31: Soprano solo. Miss L. Solomon, "La Serenata’’ (Tosti). 9.35: Instrumental trio, the Bosworth-Hemus-Towsey Trio. "Trio No. 3, Op 23. Allegro con Spirito” (A. Fesca). 9.45: Bass solo, Mr. F. Sutherland. “Homing” (Del Riego). 9.49: Contralt.6 solo, Miss J. Smith, “Cradle Me Low” (Brahe). 9.53: Relay of orchestral entr’acte from Rialto Theatre. 9.58: Tenor solo, Mr. J. Simpson, "Take a I’air of Sparkling Eyes” iSullivan). 10.2: Quartet. Waiata Quartet. "Oh, Who Will O'er the Downs?” 10.6: A thought. 10.8: “God Save the King.” 2YA. WELLINGTON (420 metrcs).-Silent. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (3C6 metres)-3 p.m.: Afternoon session, selected studio items. 4.30: Close down. 6: Children’s hour—. Uncle Sam and Aunt May; Uncle Peter and Mother Hubbard being away on holidays. .Uncle Sam will carry on with bed-time stories, songs, and birthday greetings. 7.15: Addington stock market report. 7.30: News and reports. 8: Chimes; relay of orchestral selections from Grand Picture Theatre Orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Black. 8.15: Baritone solos. Mr. Fred Penfold, (a.) “Give a Man a Horse He Can Ride” (Head), (b) "Because” (d’Hardelot). 8.19: Recital. Mr. J. J. Fle.vellyn, “The Model Police Court” (Evans). 8.24: Sonrano solos. Miss Lilian Ilanham, (a) "I Wish, I Wish" (Peterkin), 7b) “I Love You” (Beethoven'. 8.32: Talk, Rev. B. Dudlev. F.U.A.S.. “The Moon. Our Nearest Neighbour.” 8.46: Instrumental trios. Christchurch Broadcasting 'Trio, "Allegro Agitato” from “Trio in E Flat Major” (Hummel). 8.53: Tenor solos. Mr. Douglas Suckling, (a) "God Touched the Rose’’ (Brown), (h) "O. Garden of Roses (Sanderson). 9: Weather forecast. 9.1: Relay of orchestral i selections . from Grand Theatre 9.15:\ Contralto solos, Miss Mary Taylor, (a) ''ln Sweet Content (Trotere). (b) "0, Lovely Night” (Ronald). 9.21- ’Cello solo, Mr. Harold Beck. “Turn Ye to Me” (traditional). 9.26: _ Baritone solo. Mr. Fred. Penfold, “Spanish Gold (Fisher). 9.30: Instrumental trios. Christchurch Broadcasting Trio. (:•.) “Prelude (Pachulski), (b) “Spanish Dance (Moskowski). 9.38: Sonrano solo. Miss Lilian Ilanham. "Tacea La Notte Plaoitla.” from “H Trovatoro" (Verdi). 9.42: Recital. Mr. J. J. Flewellvn. "No Noos.” 9.47: Tenor solos, Mr. Douglas Suckling, (a) “Yes. Tis True, (b) “Roado,” ".Madame Angot” (Lccoco). 0.5: ’Cello solo. Mr. Harold Beck, “Orientale” (Cui). 9.56: Contralto solos, Miss Me ry Taylor, (a) “Husheen (Needham). (b) “The Sweetest Flower . that Blows” (Hawley). 10:“God Save the King.” . . 4YA, DUNEDIN (463 metres)—Silent. 2FO. SYDNEY (442 metres).—7.22 P.m.: Weather and shipping news. 7.26:: “Evening News” late news service. 7.4 Q: Programme announcements. 7.45: Overseas topics by Captain Fred Aarons. 7.55: Muriel O’Malley, contralto. 8: ‘Big Ben ; from the Haymarket Theatre. George Street. .Sydney, items b.v the orchestra, conducted by Mr. Stanley Porter. 8.25. From the studio. ■ Hubert Carter, wel known tenor, makes his second broadcast appearance in Australia. 8.34: Coltman and Harris, instrumentalists. 8.40: Muriel O'Malley, contralto. 8.44: From the Haymarket Theatre, George Street, Sydney, items by the orchestra conducted by Mr. Stanley Porter. 8.54: From the studio, Hubert Carter, tenor 9.4: Weather forecast 9.5: Muriel O'Malley, contralto. 9.9; Coltman and Harris. instrumentalists. 9.18- H. W. Varna and company will present on the air. for the first time m Australia. Henry Arthur Jones famous comedv. “The Liars. 9.48: 14’om the Hay market Theatre. George ‘ st , ree . t ’i w? items by the orchestra, conducted by Mr. Stanley Porter. 9.53: From the studio H. W Varna, and company will present pair two of I lie comedy. “The Liars. Act Til: Laclv Rosamund’s d ’; a y u T 'v’ roo «'i,: Cadogan Gardens. London. Act IV: su Christopher Deering’s Flat. The Albans--10 23 • The 2FC Dance Trio, conducted by Mr Cec Morrison. 10.30: Late weather forecast. 10.31: The 2FO Dance li'io. com &ES).--8 P.m.: GPO clock and chimes; Broadcasters Thpic.il Chorus. 5.3: Rectal b™-" from the Strnnbe Piano Salon 0.0 G.I O. clock and chimes. V audcville h ( > ur - . ; Tlcvos Banjo Troupe. 0.11: Mr. Harn Cash .(comedian). 0.1 S: Mr George Welch (entertainer). 0.25: The Ahad Duo (steel "uitars). 0 32: Miss Peggy Mack (soprano). 9.30: Tlcycs Banjo Troupe. .040. Mr Il.irry Cash. 9.50: Air. George 10 3- Tho Ahad Duo. 10.10: Miss I eg,.J Mack 1017: Broadcasters’ all sports expert will talk on General Sporting. 10..1.. Resume of following day s ■ Weather report and forecast, courtisy of Mr C. J. Mares. Govt. Meteorologist. 10 35- Roniano’s Dance Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Mcrv. Lyons, broadcast from Romano’s. During ’n fdrva Mances “Sun’’ news will be broadcast 11.30: G.P.O. clock and chimes. National A 2GB?' SYDNEY (31(1 METRES).-6.30 : Music 70: Announcements, news, market rinoris. 7.20: Music. 7.30: A<l dross 7 45: Music. S.O: Violin solos by Dan Scttllv, B.S: Songs by Ethel Jones. S.l->: Address S3O: Cornet so’os by I. Couchman 910: Talk. 9.30: 2GB Vocal Quartet—'Ethel Jones. Eva Casimir. Ihomns Hall, Clement Hosktng. 9.37: Serial story. 9 47’ Son"S bv Clement Hosking. J.el. Good night, talk. 10J): Close 'iQvvn. 3LO. MELBOURNE (371 MET RES).— S 15* Transmission from tho Tivoli Theatie, Melbourne, by permission J. C. Williamson Vaudeville Pty., Ltd. 9.17: Pr.ahr.an Clty Band-March. “71st Infantry (Code waltz. “Amelia.” 0.25: One-Act Play- rhe Bailiff’s Man.” He. Maurice Dudley; She. Mrs Mnnricc Dudley. 0.4 o: Prahran City Band—“ Reminiscences of Tseliaikowsky (nrr Douglas). 9.55: Mrs. Loo. bisher (so prnno)—“My T,ore’s Grey Eyes (Daisy McGooch): “There’s a Rainbow Shining Somewhere” (lleihery) . 10.2: A r P.“* nows service. Meteorological information, British Official Wireless news from KysW. Island shipping movements. 10J0: wallet Cornock (comedian) —“With a rear mid n Laugh.” 10.17: Mrs. Leo I-isher (sonrano) —“Sometimes in My Dreams (Guy D’Hardelot) : “Baby o’ Aline” (J. Lunisdaine) 10.24: Lynch Bellringers on the Glasso'phones— “Nearer, My God. to >■ ,ie< ’ : “Lav Ale Down to Slecn.” 10.29: Prahran Citv' Band—Overture. “La Coquette’ (Latlsent). 10.39: Lynch Bellringers .on the Afarii'nha Resonators —"That Certain Partv"- “Horsev”; “Following You Around. 1'0.43: Joe Aronson and his S.vneo-Sym phonists—“Joy Bells” (Fripnil) : Just the Same” (Donaldson): Go Wash an Elephant” (Terker) : "Nevada ’ (Nicholson), “The’ Birth of tho Blues” (Henderson) , “The Wind Blew Through His Whiskers Just the Same” (Conrad). 11.0: Our Gi’ent Thoivht—-"Dignitv consists not in possess ing honours, but in deserving them” (Aristotle) 111: Joe Aronson and his SyncoSvmphonlsts—“l Never See .Maggie Alone (Rodermich): “Hot Notes’ (Lewis) ; “Cheerio. Boerie Bee, from Sunny Italy (Lewis) ’ "Black Horse Stomp” (Tiirto) : “Miss Annabelle Lee” (Clare): “Whipped Cream,” piano solo (Gauge); “My Tumble Down Cottage of Dreams’. (Leslie); I Walked Back from the Buggy Ride (Adams) ; “Cliertiza” (Ribo): Aly Sunday Girl” (Ruby): “Lazy Weather De Rose) ; “Honey" • (Swift) : “Go. Joe, Go (Krctzmer) ‘1140: “God Save the King. 4OG, BRISBANE (385 AIETRES).—B.O pm : From the Studio-—A programme of ilancc music b.v Alf. Featherstone mid Ins Studio Syneopators. including: Qricnt.il Fox Trots—(a) “Sahara’ (Nicholls); (b) "Moonlight on the Ganges (.Myers). I’.ix Trots— (a) “Bouquet’ (Nicholls); b) “Shepherd of the Hills’ (Nicholls). Rhythmic Paraphrase—(a) ".lime (nrr . bv Large). Introilucing 't’Amlmite Cantabilc (Tselmikowsky); (b) "Fleur D’Amoiir (Padilla). Fox Trots—(a) It All Depends on A'ou” (Do Sylva); (b) Just an Ivy-Covered Shuck” (Davids-on) I’ox trots —“You Need Someone to Love (Olson) • (b) “If You See Sally” (Kahn). Between dances the following will be broadcast: Tenor solos—(a) “The. Sergeant-Majors or. Parade”: (b) “What tlie Colonel Told tho Adjutant!* (Signor Corti) Humorous item—" Sandy” teaches “Perey the alphabet A description of the mam motor cvcling event from the Davies I ark Speedway. 10.0 p.m.: “The Daily Mail news: weather news. Close down. NOTE—New Zealand time is two ana a half liours ahead of Eastern Australian time.