RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 15

RADIO NOTES

(By

"Aerial.”)

“Does it matter whether a neighbour’s aerial is connected to one of my radio masts?” queries “Interference” (Hataitai). It would make no difference to the correspondent’s reception providing that the neighbour's aerial were uot at an angle of less than 90 degrees (a right-angle) to the former’s aerial. i The Sunday afternoon sessions by 2YA, Wellington, continue to draw letters of appreciation. “8.R.T.” (Newtown) writes commending the judgment in the selection of the items broadcast on Sunday afternoons by 2YA. "Wire” (Thorndon) writes: "Last Sunday afternoon, with its continuous rain, would indeed have been intolerably dull but for the concert from 2YA, Wellington. We feel indebted to the Broadcasting Company for the excellence of the items transmitted.” . A friend complained to file writer that his reception had fallen off considerably during the past few months, but his set' performed as well as ever on a neighbour's aerial. The writer examined his friend’s aerial and found the aerial insulators encrusted with. rust stains from the wires connecting them. A vigorous application of sandsoap and kerosene on an old rag soon removed the rust stains and that evening the receiving set recovered its former distance-getting proclivities. It should be added that the rusted wire was replaced with new galvanised iron clothesline wire. Some doubt'still seems to linger among listeners as to the number of blocks of wet T. batteries that can be charged simultaneously at home ■■ with a colloid rectifier. A listener lately mentioned this matter to “Aerial,” although he had been a radio enthusiast for some years. Only about 18 volts can be charged simultaneously with a colloid, irrespective of the size of the wet B batteries. Therefore if one operates a 96-volt wet B battery it is necessary to charge each block of 48 volts separately in two distinct operations. There was a considerable amount of discussion a few months ago as to whether the short-wave Russian station heard in New Zealand employed the call "REM” or "REN.” “Screen” (Kilblrnic) 'Writes asking which is correct. According to a prominent . Australian short-wave enthusiast, RFM is located at Khabarovska (in the south-eastern corner of Siberia) and RFN is at Moscow. Russia. This would explain how “Aerial” some time back reported receiving the Russian station on different wave-lengths, and on one occasion in the early hours of the morning picked up a relay of the grand opera "Faust” from a theatre. The noise of tlie audience moving about during the intervals was distinctly audible from the writer's loudspeaker. Possibly the station heard on that occasion was RFN, Moscow, and not RFM, Khabarovska, because grand opera by a high-class company was less likely to.be staged in the remote Siberian town. Reception during last week was extremely patchy, and generally the Aus, tralian stations varied considerably In volume until after 11 p.m., when they increased greatly in volume. The most consistent performer lias been 4QG, Brisbane, which station has completely thrown off its former blurring. 4QG has now capital volume and tone, and the programmes are much improved lately. 2FC, Sydney, is u favourite with the writer for its general excellence in transmission and nature of its programmes. It is notable, however, that despite the new policy of co-ordination among the Australian stations we have lately had two relays of the . Humphrey Bishop entertainers within a few nights of each other; and the items on the second evening were merely a re?, petition of the first. Nevertheless, . thd items were of a. high order of merit whether humorous or serious. 2BL, Sydney, as usual, has been beset by howling valves, though 2FC, Sydney, has enjoyed almost complete immunity from this objectionable form of interference. 2GB, Sydney, the Theosophical Society’s station on 316 metres, has come well to the front of late, and is available on Wellington loudspeakers after 10 p.m'. 3LO, Melbourne, has been good in fits and starts, and 3AR, Melbourne, has been . particularly .weak. SCL, Adelaide, is available only at a late hour. The Japanese stations' could ' Hot be found by “Aerial” during the latter part of last week. The stormy conditions in the Tasman sea would account for th® atmospheric vagaries towards the ehd Of last week. The • other, night 2FC, Sydney, broadcast a message to a gentleman, in New York announcing the death of:,his’ mother that day. Possibly some listener bn the

Pacific Coast of the United /States v.ho would pick up the message would tele,graph it on to the gentleman in New York. “Aerial” has been requested by an official of the Amateur Radio' Society to correct a previous statement that .the entertainment to be broadcast by 2YA, Wellington, under the auspices of the society, on August 2 is t,o be an imaginary birthday party and that only male performers will contribute. In publishing previous reference to the.' entertainment, “Aerial" stated that ft was an imaginary birthday party. The director of 2YA, on being approached upon th? subject, has stated that while listeners may as- ' stinie that the event is being broadcast ■ on relay from the promoter’s home, three miles from the studio, the company will not claim credit for a. relay when tho ' event is actually taking pljce in the, ; studio, and it will make this quite clear. There, is no 'harm in the listeners assum- ' Ing that it is a relay io obtain the ncces- ' sary "atmosphere,” but the station direc- 1

tor says', that ’he will not be a party to any pretence, no matter how harmless it may appear, that the entertainment is staged and performed anywhere , hut in ’the station studio. In pointing out that- there ' were to be no lady performers. “Aerial" was guided by the statement of the promoter whose own published announcement made no reference to lady performers other than a housemaid who, the promoter . informed the , writer; had only a few spoken words in her part. However, the promoter has had a goo’d deal to do •with musical matters, • and as he reports he has obtained the services of a number of talented performers (ladies and gentlemen), listeners can look' forward to a

most entertaining evening on August 2. Wellington listeners received a surprise last Sunday night when they endeavoured to tune in the Australian stations, for owing to an atmospheric phenomenon, all long-distance stations were completely blanketed oyt. From 9.30 p.m. till 10 p.m. “Aerial" essayed to pick up the Australians, but not a trace of them could be discovered. Several other listeners were called up by telephone, and they reported having failed to raise any of the stations across the Tasman. The Aurora Australis seen In Melbourne, Sydney, and Christchurch on • Sunday night no doubt accounted for the blanketing effect upon radio.

In reply to “Petone,” tho trouble .Is possibly due to tho high-tension lines. The aerial should be placed at right-angles to the lines. His airship wrecked in .the ice-bound regions of the North, General Nobile was able to keep In contact with the world by wireless. Since he commenced his venture he has used Phillips T. 1501/10 transmitting valves. It is a remarkable tribute to the durability of Philips’ valves that they have ’Withstood the concussion

to which -they must hare been subjected when the airship was wrecked, and that they further have stood the severe test of such extreme climatic conditions.

I’O-DAY’S PROGRAMMES Following are to-day's broadcast programmes :—

2YA, WELLINGTON (420 METRES). 11.25 a.m.: Relay description ot Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting at Trantham Racecourse. 4.45 p.m.: Close down. IYA, AUCKLAND (333 metres).—3 p.m.: Afternoon session, selected studio items. 4.0: Literary' selection by the announcer. 4.8: Further selected studio items. 4.25: Sports results. 4.30: Close down. 6.0:

Children's session, conducted by Uncle Tom. 7.0: Close down. 7.15: News and market reports. 7.45: Close down. 8.0:

Chimes. 8.1: Relay, Auckland Municipal Band, under Mr. Christopher Smith, military band selections, assisted by the Hazeli-Sutherland Duo, who will perform the following items from the studio:— Contralto, Miss Phyllis Ilazell, “Angus McDonald” (Roeekel); (b) “Down in the Forest”.- (Ronald). Baritone, Mr. Frank Sutherland, “Chorus, Gentlemen” (Ball); “Till tho Sands of the Desert Grow Cold” (Ball). Duet, Hazeli-Sutherland Duo, “Violets” (Wright); “When the Wiud Blows in from the Sea" (Smart). 10.0: Close down.

3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (306 metres).— 3 p.m.: Afternoon session, selected studio items. 4.25: Sports results. 4.30: Close down. 0.0: Children’s hour, stories and greetings by Uncle Peter; songs by Mother Hubbard; choir singing by scholars from Mr. Channel's School. Vocal duets and piano solos by cousins. 7.15: Addington stock market reports and news. 8.0: Chimes. 8.1: Relay of orchestral selections from Strand Theatre. 8.9: Vocal quartet, Dulcet Quartet, "Comrades In Arms” (Adam). 8.J?: Highland wgr pipes, Mr. Angus Macintosh, (a) “The Athol Highlanders' March” (Henderson); (b) "The Barren Rocks' of Aden” (Logan). 8.17: Soprano solo, Miss Hilda Hutt, “The Lass with the Delicate Air” (Arne). 8.21: 'Cello solo. Mr. Harold Beck. "L’Agree*

able” (Marias). 8.25’: Baritone solo, Mr. A. G. Thompson, “I Gave You Roses” (Aylward). 8.29: Humour, Mr. A. H. Todd, (a) “The Family Lullaby” (Gardner); (b) “His First Long Trousers" (Guest). .8.34: Contralto solo, Miss Nellie Lowe, "Two Roses” (Gilbert). .8.37: Instrumental quintets, The Bohemian Quintet, (a) “Esquisse” (Aubert); (b) “Country Dance” (Foulds). 8.44: Tenor solo, Mr. T. G. Rogers, “The Garden I Fashioned tor You”’ (Oliver). 8.48: Highland war pipes. Mr. Angus Macintosh, (a) slow march, "The Crusaders’ March”; (b) quick-step. “The Cock of the North.” 8.53: Weather report and forecast. 8.56: Overture. 9.5: Soprano and contralto duet, Misses Hilda Hutt and Nellie Lowe, “Where ' the Chestnuts” (Newton). 9.9: ’Cello solo, Mr. Harold Beck. “Mazurka” (Popper). 9.13: Baritone solo, Mr. A. G. Thompson, “The Windmill” (Nelson). 9.17: Bass solo. Mr. C. S. Hansen, “The Bellringer” (Wallace). 9.22: Contralto solos,. Miss Nellie Lowe, (a) “Ma Curly-headed Babby” (Clutsam); (b) “Hindu Sting” (Bemherg). 9.29: Instrumental quintet. The Bohemian Quintet, (a) "Andantino’ 1 (Lemare); (l>) .“Bouree” (Bach). 9.37: Tenor solo, Mr. T. G. Rogers, "The Trumpeter” (Dix). 9.41: Recitation, Mr. A. H. Todd, “A Clean Sweep” (Newman). 9.4 G: Soprano solo, Miss Hilda Hutt, "Sleep and the Roses” (Tate). 9.50: Bass solo, Mr. C. S. Hansen; "In Cellar Cool" (traditional). 9.55: VOcal quartet, the Dulcet Quartet, “At Eventide” (Raff). God Save the King. 4YA. DUNEDIN • (463 metres).—7 p.m.: Town Hall chimes. 7.1: Request gramophone concert. 7.30: News session. BurnSide stock sales report. 7.40: Relay ot Students’ capping concert from His Majesty’s, Theatre. 8.0: Town Hall chimes. .Studio concert, with relays at Intervals from His Majesty's Theatre. 8.1: Orchestral music fyorii the Octagon Theatre, under the' direction of Mons. Henri de Rose, Mus.-Bac. 8.10: Light soprano solos, Miss Jacqueline .Burke, (a) “Love's Cigarette” (Simnson). (b) “Song of Sleep” (Somerset). ' 8.17: Piano-accordion solo, Mr. E. Heeney, “The Invercargill March” (Lithgow). 8.20: Light soprano solo. Miss Vanda Duncan, “Miss Annabelle Lee” (Claire). 8.25: Relay from His Majesty's Theatre, "The Capping Sextet.” $.45: Marimba solo, Mr. H. Dalziel, (a) “Let ’er Go, March” (Wood), (b) “Humoresque” , (Dvorak). 8.51: Popular song. Miss Billie Lorraine, “My Regular Girl" (Warren). 8.55: Humorous sketch, Miss Billie Lorraine and Major F. H. Lampen, “Spring Onions;” 9.4: Weather report, forecast, and announcements. o;5: Relay from His Majesty’s Theatre, "Capping Choruses.” 9.15: Light soprano solo, Miss Jacqueline Burke, “When You Look iln the Heart of a Rose” (Methven). 9.19: Humorous recital, Major F. H. Lampen. 9.24: Pianoaccordion solo, Mr. E. Heeney, “Honolulu Moon” (Lawrence). 0.27: Popular songs, Miss Vanda Duncan, (a) “Breeze” (Hanley), (b) “It All Depends on You” (Henderson). 9.35: Plano-accordlon and marimba duet,. Messrs. Heeney and Dalziel, “Stars and. Stripes March” (SonSa). 9.40: Relay from His Majesty’s Theatre of the following items, (a) “Capping Sextet”, (b) farce’ “The Stinger,” (c) “Capping Choruses.” 10.30: Close down. 3ZC, CHRISTCHURCH (250 metres).— Noon till 1 p.m.: News and concert session. 2FC, SYDNEY (442 metres).—6.2s p.m.: Children’s music. 0.30: Dinner music, from the Hotel Australia. 7.15: Studio music. 7.30: "Evening News” late news service. 7.38: Programme announcements. 7.40: Carl Budden Morris. First appearance after an absence in England of fifteen years; pianoforte recital. 8.0.: From the Union Hall, Sydney University, international University debate between the members Of the Sydney University debating team and members of the Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.A. Subject, “That Efficiency has Become a Deplorable Fetish in Modern Life.” Speakers in support: H. G. Godsall (Sydney), W. S. Sheldon (Sydney), G. B. Thomas (Sydney).. Speakers in opposition: Charles H. Guptell (Bates). Mervin L. Ames (Bates), John F. Davis (Bates). Chairman, Professor R. S. Wallace (Vice-Chancellor, Sydney University). Platform support: Hon. E. M. Lawton, Con-sul-General for the U.S.A. 10 (approx.): Big Ben. From the studio, Lionel Lawson, violinist. 10.10: Fred Moore, baritone, (a) “Plenty Of Sunshine” (Henderson), (b) "Are YOu Lonesome To-night?” (Hand- ’ man). 10.18: Carlton and Shaw, in a tnusiCal act. 10.28: Lionel Lawson, violinist; 10.36: Late weather forecast. 10.44:, Fred Moore, baritone, (a) “My Irish Home In Old Athlone” (Kelso), (b) .“Yonder where the Blackbird Wend” (Maurice). 10.57: From the studio, to-morrow’s programme and late news. 11,0: Big Ben, the Ambassadors’ Dance Orchestra, conductor Manuel Hyman. 11.45: National Anthem, Close’ down.

2BL, SYDNEY (349 metres). —8 p.m.: G. clock and chimes; Rose Bay Winter Garden Theatre Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Lionel Hart, broadcast from the Rose Bay Theatre. 8.15: Talk on “Notable Personages of the WoMd,” by Mr. W. S. Reay. 8.35: The Ashfield .District Band (conductor, Mr. J. H. Herron). 8.55: Miss Molly de -Gunst (soprano). 9.2: Rose Bay Winter Garden Theatre Symphony Orchestra. 9.12: Mr. Claude Corbett, the Sporting Editor .ot the “Sun,”' will talk on General Sporting. 9.27: Madame Erna. Lenebach (pianist). 9.34: The Ashfield District Band. 9.54: Miss Molly De Gunst. 10.1: Madame Erna Lenebach. 10.8: Rose Bay Winter Garden Theatre Symphony Orchestra. 10.18: Resume of following day’s programme. 10.23: Romano’s Restaurant Dance Orchestra, under the direction ot Mr. Mcrv. Lyons; during intervals between dances "Sun” news will be broadcast. 11.30: G.P.O. clock arid chimes; National Ant'hem. 2GB, SYDNEY (316 mOtres).—7.ls p.m.: Music. 8.0: Opening Chorus. 8.2: 2GB Instrumental Trio. 8.15: Address by Mr. Wood. 8 30: Songs by Miss Elsie Brown. 8.37: Humorous recital by Mr. Heath Burdock. 8.52: 'Cello solo by Miss Marjorie Kennedy. 9.0: Talk. 9.20: Soflgs by Mr. Cecil Houghton. 9.27: 2GB Instrumental Trio. 9.35: Songs, by Miss Elsie' Brown. 9.42: Violin solos by Mr. Cecil Berry. 9.50: Song? by Mr. Cecil Houghton. 10.0: Close down'., 3LO, MELBOURNE (371 metres).—B p.m.:’ Studio programme. 9.0: Stories of the operas, by William G. James. 9.30: Station Orchestra, selections from ''LucreZia Borgia.” - ,

4QG, BRISBANE (355 metros)'.—B.o p.m.: The Catholic Charity Ball will be relayed from Smellle’s Buildings, Edward Street, Brisbane. .During tho evening dance music is to be relayed, and the function of the presentation of the debutantes will be described. Between-Items the following will be broadcast from the Studio:—Soprano solos, (a) “As a Drcam” (Ronald), (b) “Una voco Poco Fa” (Rossini), Miss Jill Manners: baritone solos, (a) “Route Mnrchih’” (Stock), (b) "I Like You in Velvet,” Mr. C. B. Astley; monologues, selected, Miss Noth Cross; pianoforte solos, Selected, Miss Enith Clarke; ten minutes of humour by Mr. E. Kenyon. 11.0: From file Studio—" Daily Mail” news; weather information. Close dowrt.