RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 246, 18 July 1928, Page 7

RADIO NOTES

(By

"Aerial.")

"Distortion” (Hataitai) writes a lengthy letter complaining about the frequent interference lie and his neighbouring listeners experience from power line leakages. Tie reports that scarcely a night goes past without prolonged roaring from ■ that source of interference. "Distortion” says: "It would be more advantageous to listeners generally if the Wellington Radio Society were to devote their attention to this serious matter instead of broadcasting a birthday party, real or imaginary. The co-operation of all listeners should be obtained, and a large deputation wait upon tlie-Postmaster-General. Now is the psychological time for a move on the part of tlie Radio Society." If "Distortion” is a member of the society he should have attended the last general meeting and brought the matter up. If he is not a member he should join the society forthwith. There are many hundreds, of listeners in and around Wellington who have not contributed a farthing to the funds of the society, but are content to let a handful of members of that body do all the work towards the betterment of radio conditions and yet are quick to criticise them. The general meetings of the society are advertised in .the daily Press, and it behoves all listeners to endeavour to attend these meetngs. It is understood that Mr. J. JI. Bingham, chief radio engineer for the Radio Broadcasting Company, who has been in* Wellington lately, has just equipped station 2YA Wellington with "crystal control.” This is the most up-to-date method of making it impossible for a broadcast station to vary from its exact official wavelength. Nearly every station “swings" more or less from its correct wavelength several times within a few minutes, and unless distant listeners continually readjust the tuning of their sets to maintain correct tuning, distortion as a result of the "swinging” will occur, quite apart from distortion due to . fading. 2YA Wellington is the second broadcast station in this quarter of the globe to be equipped with crystal'control, 2GB Sydney being ■the first. On the whole, long-distance reception during last week was abnormally poor, especially for mid-winter. The unusual wildness of the season may have had something to do with it. Listeners were, in many cases brought under the waiter’s notice, inclined to blame their sets for the weakness of the Australian stations. The complaint regarding poor reception was too general to leave any doubt as to the actual conditions. Power-line interference was intense and frequent in large areas around Wellington. This interference has been so bad- that reception of even 3YA, Christchurch, and IYA, Auckland, has been completely marred at times. During intermittent spasms of its greatest severity this leakage has even distorted 2YA, Wellington, in certain localities apparently close to the source of leakage. One listener informs "Aerial” that on two evenings 'of last week he found the tone of 2YA, Wellington, badly “frayed” while the electric leakage was at its worst. The moment the leakage ceased 2YA came in with beautiful tone and complete freedom from distortion. To remedy this serious menace to broadcast listening drastic steps will have to be taken in the near future. There is a proposal to petition Parliament for relief if all other steps fail. In Christchurch successful plans were put into execution to locate and stop these power-line leakages, but, so far, in Wellington only spasmodic attempts have been made to combat the trouble. It would appear that the radio inspector's department is inadequately staffed to permit of continued systematic work to locate the sources of leakage, although radio licences are bringing in something like £lO,OOO a year to the P.. and T. Department.' These line leakages are having a deterrent effect upon the popularity of broadcast listening, as is evident from reports received by “Aerial” of sales being lost by members of the radio trade owing to prospective buyers being disinclined to listen! to a nerveracking roar when attempts' were made to tune in 3YA, Christchurch, or IYA, Auckland. \ Last Saturday night between outburst of power-line leakages both 3YA, Christchurch, and IYA, Auckland, came in with good volume and tone. 2YA, Wellington, put on a capital variety entertainment given by the_Petone Black and White En-

tertainers. The members of the party displayed considerable talent In some individual Instances. The male voices, on the whole, however, were better than those of the ladies. The Australian stations, owing to unfavourable atmospheric conditions, were exceedingly weak, and although they fluctuated to a considerable degree did not offer much entertainment on account of their weakness. Power-line leakages were prolonged, with occasional Intermissions of a few minutes' duration. This disturbance was still rampanj: at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday. The whistle heard on top of 3YA, Christchurch, by “Multi" (Kelburn) Is the wave from 2GB, Sydney, which seems to have (dropped in its wavelength. This week commenced poorly for longdistance reception. "Aerial" has received reports from many places that reception of the Australian stations has been weaker than during the worst summer-time conditions. The Wellington traders are boosting both broadcast receiving sets and short-wave sets by window notices advising the public to get ready for the Heeney-Tunney tight broadcast. The orchestra at. present performing at 2FC, Sydney, is announced as “The New South Wales Broadcasting Company’s Orchestra.” The company referred to has been formed by the amalgamation of 2FC and 2BL, Sydney. “Base" (Palmerston North) should use a C battery of 9 volts when 135 volts plate voltage is applied to his UX-112 valve. Austria now claims to be the most progressive country in the broadcasting field, so far as percentage of registered listeners is concerned, 300,000 out of its' 6,500,000 population are'registered radio listeners. Radio manufacturing is also developing rapidly, exports being four times greater than imports. The subject of transmitting moving pictures and actual happenings by radio is being given a vast amount of space in the American radio journals, but there is a wide divergence of opinion whether television, as it is called, is yet practicable from a public standpoint. Dr. Herbert E. Ives, of the Bell Laboratories, who demonstrated the first television apparatus between; Washington and New York in

April, 1927, staled recently that bringing into the home by radio an actual spectacle like a great athletic event is unthinkable because its cost would be simply enormous. Television is most effectively accomplished through wire lines and displayed in theatres and auditoriums so that large numbers of people will divide the cost of the presentation. An American station which should soon be heard by. a large number of New Zealand listeners, if present plans frultify, is KFI, Los Angeles, which has applied to the United States Government Radio Commissioners for a wavelength upon which to operate witli an increased power of 50,000 watts. It this station can operate at anything like efficiency on such high power it should be plainly audible from loudspeakers with ■ multivalve sets throughout New Zealand. A few stations in the United States have been operating with a power of 50,000 watts for some time past, but they are located too far from the Pacific Coast to be easily picked up in New Zealand. A new broadcasting station of the “B” class is being erected at Lismore, New South Wales, under the direction of Mr. G. W. Exton. The station is planned to have a power of 2500 watts, and to broadcast on 225 metres, the cost of the installation being £2OOO. The Commonwealth chief wireless inspector (Mr. Janies .Malone), however. lias advised that Mr. Exton's application, with others, for “B” class licenses, has been held up, pending a settlement of policy. “Not Yet” (Seatoun) writes: “The efforts of the Broadcasting Company to diminish the howling valve nuisance, by the ‘advice- to listeners’ announcements,! are thoroughly laudable, excepting that the text of the announcements Shows a lack of appreciation of the position. Imagine advising the numerous owners of one, two, and three-valve sets to sit by the fireside Instead of endeavouring to tune-in distant stations. Obviously, the thing is ridiculous, It would be infinitely more useful to explain to these listeners how to detect whether their valves are unduly energising their aerials, and how to prevent this happening. The gentleman who composed those announcements is not alive to the situation. In my business I am frequently asked by well-intentioned DX listeners how to ascertain whether they arc creating interference. It a simple instruction were broadcast some good would accrue.” ' The proprietor of a Willis Street tearoom and sweets shop has installed a radio set and loudspeaker for the entertainment of his customers. The idea has proved an attraction, and as the . radio equipment is of a high standard, the results are eminently satisfactory. It is remarkable that more city tea shops do not follow the same plan. Confirmation of the statement in last week’s notes that the short-wave station REN is nt Moscow is furnished by a correspondent. Chas. Walton, of Fresno, California, writing in the July issue of the New York “Radio News” of July. He says the wave-length of RFN is about 70 metres. New South Wales Is catching up in the number of licensed listeners. At the end of May the number of licenses iu New South Wales had increased to 79,260, whilst the figures for that State at the end of ! April were 77,010. Victoria still leads with-I a total of 156,712 license.,. but they are 1

gradually falling off. Other States stand as follows:—Queensland. 25,072: South Australia. 19,605; Western Australia, 3756; Tasmania, 2912. The increase for the month of Maj* in New South Wales was .1141. whereas in Victoria the increase was onlj--231. TO-DAYS I’ROGRAMMES. Following are tb-day’s broadcast programmes : — IYA AUCKLAND (333 metres).—3 p.m.: Afternoon session—selected studio items. •1: Literarj’ selection by the announcer. •18: Further studio items. 4.25: Sports results. 4.30: Close down. 6: Children's hour—Coducted b.v Uncle Tom. Story for tiny tots; song, Uncle Tom; letters and birthdays; recitation, Cousin Bert, “Mr. Nobody”; laughing record: story-time. 7.15: News and market reports. 7.45: Talk bj- Mr. Norman Kerr on “Physical Culture.” 8: Chimes. 8.1: Overture, “Zampa” (Heroldl. 8.7: Presentation of the brilliant four-act comedy, "Mary, Mary, Quite. Contrary,” by St. .lohn Ervine. Cast: Mrs. Considine, Miss Eva Andrews; Sheila, her niece, Miss Una Norwood; Geoffrey, her son, Mr. .Jack Gordon; Sir Henrj- Considine, K.C.M.G., her brother-in-law, Mr. J. F. Montague; Rev.^Canon Peter Considine, M.A., Vicar of’ Hinton; St. Henry, her husband, Mr. Cyril Seaward; Mary Westlake (Mrs. James Westlake), Miss Myrtle Walford: Mr. Hobbs, her manager. Mr. Alan McElwain: Jenny, a maid, Miss Bettj’ Hardy: Miss Minims, Miss A. Venne); Mr. Bceby. a playwright, Mr. Zante Wood. Act J: Entr'acte, instrumental march and chorus, (a) “Procession of Bacchus,” from "Sylvia” (Delibes); (b) “Song of Ireland." Act II: Entr'acte, “Hungarian 'Rhapsody, No. 6" (Liszt). Act HI: Entr’acte, (a) “Harmonious Blacksmith” (Handel); (b) "Songs of Scotland." Act IV. 10: God .Save the King. ' 2YA WELLINGTON (420 metres).— Silent. Provided that conditions are favourable, 2YA.WIII be on the air this afternoon, Wednesday, July 18, to rebroadcast 3YA’s description of the Ranfurly Shield match, Canterbury v. Wairarapa. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (306 metres).— 2.45 p.m.: Description of Rugby football (Ranfurly Shield match) from Lancaster Park (Canterbury v. Wairarapa). 4.45: Close down. 6.0: Children’s session—Uncle Peter, birthday greetings; stories bj- Uncle Peter; banjo solos bj’ Cousin Ken; pianoforte solos bj 1 Cousin Molly; songs by Mother Hubbard. 7.15: Addington stock market reports. 7.30: News session. 8.0: Chimes. 8.1: Overture. 8.9: Mezzo-soprano solo, Mrs. G. L. Bull, “O Lovely Night” (Ronald). 8.13: Pianoforte solo, Miss Aileen Warren, "Nocturne No. 12” (Chopin). 8.18: Baritone solo, Mr. A. G. Thompson, “Simon the Cellarer” (Hatton). 8.22: Flugel horn solo, Mr. E. N. Trenberth, "Because” (d’Hardelot). 8.27: Contralto solo. Miss Nellie Low, “The Hills of Donegal” (Reilly). 8.31: Instrumental trio— Christchurch Broadcasting Trio. "Allegro and Moderate” (Arensky). 8.39: Jazz songs (with banjo, mandolin, and piano accompaniment), Birch Trio Entertainers, (a) “My Palm Leaf Zulu” (Jerome), (b) “My Creole Belle" (Lampe). 8.45: Contralto and baritone duet, Miss Nellie Lowe and Mr. A. G. Thompson, "Grey Days” (Chappell). 8.48: Mouth-organ solos, Mr. Harry Rowe, (a) “Poor Old Joe” (MS), (b) “The Regiment Passes By” (MS). 8.54: Humorous recital, Mr. L. T. J. Ryan, "My Wedding Anniversary” (MS). 9.0: Weather forecast. 9.1: Overture. 9.8: Soprano solos, Mrs. G. L. Bull (a) “A Garden of Afterwards” (Cleaver), (b) “Cuckoo” (S'naw). 9.14: Pianoforte solo, Miss Aileen Warren, “Dance of the Geisha” (from piano cycle, “Japan”) (Niemann). 9.18: Baritone solos, Mr. A. G. Thompson, (a) “Trooper Johnnj’ Ludlow” (Temple), (b) “To My First Love” (Lohr). 9.22: Flugel horn solo, Mr. E. N. Trenberth, "Der Lieberstraum” (Hock). 9.26: Contralto solo, Miss Nellie Lowe, (a) “When You're Away” (Sanderson), (b) "Absent” (Metcalf). 9.33: Instrumental trios, Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, (a) “Serendade” (Schubert), (b) “Bolero”

(Moszkdwski). 9.42: Dramatic recitals (piano accompaniment), Mr. L. T. J. Ryan, (a) “Earthenware” (Weston and Lee Lemont), (b) “The Kid” (Clarke and Kilfoy). ' 9.49: Mouth-organ solos, Mr. Harry Rowe, (a) “Yes, Sir! That’s My Baby” (MS), (b) “Darkle Dances” (MS). 9.56: Jazz songs, with steel guitar and piano accompaniment. Birch Trio Entertainers, (a) “Moonbeams" (Jerome), (b) “Put Your Arms Around Me" (Von Tllzer). God Save the King. • 4YA, DUNEDIN (463 metres).—7 p.m.: Town Hall chimes. 7.1: Request gramophone concert. 7.40: News session. 8.0: Town Hall chimes. 8.1:. Relay of orchestral music from the Octagon Theatre orchestra, under the conductorship of Monsieur Herl de Rose (Mus.-Bac.). 8.15: Humorous recitals, Mr. J. B. McConnell, (al “I’m Excited" (Foy); (b) “The Country J.P.” (Biascheck). 8.23: Saxophone deletions, McCaw’s Saxophone Band. “Cliildhood Memories" (Somers). 8.27: Light vocal solo. Miss Bettj’ Roberts, “Charmalne” (Rupee and Pollock). 8.30: Hawaiian guitar duets, Messrs. Sheehj- and Campbell, (a) “My Hawaiian Evenin’ Star" (Sheridan); (b) “Waiting for the Moon” (Lerner). 8.36: Monologue, Miss Hilda Scurr, “My Financial Career” (Leacock) 8.41: Popular song hits, Dunedin Banjo Trio, (a) “Let It Rain, Let It Pour” (Donaldson); (b) "Colorado” (Dellon); (c) “Let Me be the First to Kiss You Good-morn-ing” (Robinson); (d) “Red Lips” (Wendling). 8.57: Light mezzo-soprano solo, Miss Thelma Blackman, (a) “In the Middle of

the Night” (Donaldson); (b) “Three Roses” (Arden). 9.3: Weather forecast. 9.6: Relay of orchestral selections from the Octagon Theatre. 9.21: Humorous recital, Mr. J. B. McConnell, “The Clown” (McKeoch). 9.26: Saxophone Selections, McCaw's Saxophone Band, (a) “Savoy Scottish Medley” (Somers); (b) “My Blue Heaven” (Donaldson). 9.34: Light vocal solos, Miss Betty Roberts, (a) “The World is Walting for the, Sunrise” (Seity); (b) “Will You Remember Me” (Hall). 9.40: Hawaiian guitar duet, Messrs. Sheehy and Campbell, “Am I Wasting My Time on You” (Johnson). 9.43: Humorous monologues, Miss Hilda Scurr, (a) “Singers and Talkers.” (b) “Knitting.” 9.50: Mezzo-soprano solo, Miss Thelma Blackman, selected. 9.53: Popular song hits, Dunedin Banjo Band, (al “My Sweetie's Turned Me Down” (Donaldson); (b) "When Lights are Low" (Florite); (c) “Miss Annabelle Lee” (Lichman). 10.5: Close down. 2ZF, PALMERSTON NORTH (285 metres). —6.15 p.m. till 7 p.m.: Children’s session. 7 till 9 p.m.: Musical programme. 3ZC, CHRISTCHURCH (250 metres).— Noon till 1 p.m. News and concert session. 2FC, SYDNEY (442 metres). —Programme not to hand. 2BL, SYDNEY (349 metres). —Programme not to hand.

2GB, SYDNEY (316 metres).—7.ls p.m.: Music. ' 8.0: Opening eliorus. 8.2: Pianoforte solos by Miss Ruth Pearce Jones. 8:8: Mr. Lockwood Brown, entertainer. 8.15: Address by Mr. Wood. 8.30: Violin solos by Miss Phyllis Campbell. 8.38: Humorous, recital by Mr. Heath Burdock. 8.53: Songs by Miss Jeanetter Rooney. 9.0: Tolk. 9.20: Pianoforte solos by Miss Rudi Pearce Jones. 9.27: Mr. H. Lockwood Brown, entertainer. 9.34: Violin solos by Miss Phyllis Campbell. 9.42: A reading. 9.50: Songs by Miss Jeanetter Rooney. 10.0: Close down. 3LO. MELBOURNE (371 metres).—Programme not to hand. 4QG, BRISBANE (385 metres).—-8 p.m.: From the Radio and Electrical Exhibi-tion-Overture, “Light Cavalry” (Suppe). The Brisbane Excelsior Band (conductor, Mr. G. Holmes). 8.8: Choral numbers, (a) “The Banners Wave” (Kucken): (b) “The Blue Lagoon” (Nicholls). The Studio Orphcans (conductor, Mr. Tom Muller). 8.15: Valse, “The Kingdom of Flowers” (Ringleben), the Studio Orchestra (conductor, Mr. A. R. Featherstone). 8.22: Contralto solos, (a) “‘Lilacs" (Cadman); (b) “.Mary” (Richardson), .Miss Irene Elphinstone. 8.30: Ernest Lauri (from tlie principal theatres), the versatile entertainer and monologuist, in an “act that is different.” 8.45: Selection, "The Merry-go-Round” (Rimmer), the Excelsior Band. 8.54: Soprano solos, (a) “Wake Up" (Phillips)’; (b) “The Market” (Molly Carew), Miss Jean McDougall. 9.0: Overture, "Cleopatra" (Luscombe), the Studio Orchestra. 0.8: Choral numbers, (a) “Don't Tickle Me I Pray” (Martini); (b) "Down by Dat. Bibber” (Catty), the Studio Orpheans. 9.15: Fantasia. "A Musical Switch' (Alford), the Excelsior Band. 9.23: Tenor solos, (a) “Because” (d’Hardelot): (b) “RequWin" (Homer). Mr. Geo. Williamson. 9.30: Billy Maloney and Co., in a quarter of an hour's fun. ' 9.45: March, “The Avenger” (King), the Studio Orchestra. 9.50: Fox-trots, (a) “Hanky Panky” (Roberts); (b) "High Up in the Hills" (Lewis), the Excelsior Band. 9.55: Fantasia, “A Sailor's Life” (Cope), the Excelsior Band. 10.0: From the studio, “The Daily Mall” news; weather - news; close down. Note.—New Zealand time is an hour and a half ahead of eastern Australian time. |