RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 83, 2 January 1929, Page 7

RADIO NOTES

(By

“Aerial.”)

“Aerial" returns thanks to the numerous correspondents who have forwarded the season's greetings, and sends best wishes to all listeners, for the New Year. ■■ “C.T.H.” (Martinborough) asks: "What is the electrode of a valve?” The electrodes arp the filament, plate and grid which perform separate functions within the valve. The fact that volume decrease:: after “Volt” (Hataltai) has operated his set for twenty minutes would indicate that his dry A battery, cells are exhausted, and should be discarded. When dry cells are run down they recover slightly when not in use, but soon drop in voltage when put into operation again. The use of a series condenser applied to the aerial has the effect of making it possible to receive waves the length of which is shorter than the natural wavelength of the aerial system. Therefore “Plate” (Ngaio) will find it. an advantage to insert a condenser in series with his aerial to shorten its wavelength. Unless “Audio” (Hamilton) states what make and type of valve he is lisjng in his last stage of audio amplification it is impossible to give the correct voltage necessary fop grid bias. Instructions generally accompany each valve regarding the amount ' of grid bias to apply. a The blue glow in his detector valve mentioned by “Positive” (Berhampore) is a definite indication that he is applying too high a voltage from this B battery. This is apt to shorten the life of the valve through' heavy ionisation. The B battery should be reduced immediately and tests made to obtain the correct voltage, judging by results. "Theory” (Kelburn). writes that he has read somewhere, that 'fading of longdistance stations “is due in some degree to the movement in a billowing fashion of what is known as the Heaviside layer.” This theory certainly has been urged by a number of scientific observers. "I have been advised to purchase 'harddrawn copper wire’ for an aerial I am contemplating ere'ctlng. What is the difference between this wire and ordinary copper wire?”, asks “Hello’,’-',(Newtown). In the process of - manufacture “harddrawn” copper wire is given a much greater tensile strength . than ordinary “soft-drawn” copper wire because of the latter’s propensity for stretching. "Contradictory statements have been published with respect .to the directional effects of aerials. Please .tell me whether my lead-in end of my aerial should be nearer ■to Australia than the further end of the aerial if I ‘desire to get the best results from Australia,” writes “In- > verted L” (Lyall Bay). The lead-in end of an aerial, which Is directional, should be nearer the broadcasting station for the best results. “Do you favour the earth wire being Insulated?” queries “Efficiency” (city). "Please state reasons.” The writer advocates the use of an insulated earth wire because radio frequency currents after passing through a receiving set have a distinct tendency to take the shortest path to earth even If a better path is offered though a little longer. Thus in damp Weather the radio frequency current may run off the earth wire down the outside of the bouse forming an indifferent connection, but a shorter path to earth, instead of taking the path offered by a good water-pipe connection. This has the effect of weakening the strength of reception. “Dry Cell” (Palmerston North) writes: “Which' is the positive terminal of a dry - cell for use as an ‘A’ battery? I have not seen this stated in any publications.” The terminal in the centre of the cell is the plus (or positive). Long-distance reception during the latter half of last week was again more or less a fiasco. On last Thursday and Friday evenings 2BL, Sydney, could be obtained with fair loudspeaker volume at a late hour, when the majority of listeners prefer to be in bed. From 11.30 o’clock until midnight on Saturday, 4QG, Brisbane, came In with a surprising burst of volume, but not to be compared with its normal strength In the winter months. 2FC, Sydney, has proved almost quite inaudible until shortly before midnight. 3LO, Melbourne. has been a mere whisper even at midnight. 3AR, Melbourne could not be picked up at all. 2(1B, Sydney, has on occasions comes'through with more volume than even 2BL, .‘Sydney.- JOHK, Japan, on a wave-length slightly shorter than that of 4QG, Brisbane, was heard louder than th? Queensland ’station. Altogether, the conditions have been most disappointing so far as reception from Australia has been concerned. Not long since a “missing person” urgent request for publicity was telephoned to 2YA, .Wellington. The message was so badly given over the telephone that neither the person’s name' or telephone number was correctly received, and therefore the broadcast announcement was incorrect In both particulars? “Aerial” had occasion to investigate the matter. In telephoning to a broadcast station any such information the greatest cafe should be exercised In pronunciation and clarity of speech. Jfessrs. W. A. Waters, president, and I. N. Leet, hon, secretary, of the Manawatu Radio Club, advise that the club’s (broadcast station. 2ZF, Palmerston North, will transmit only from 7 p.in. till 9 p.in. on Wednesdays and Sundays, during the holiday period. The bed-time sessions on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons transmissions will therefore be omitted for a f«w weeks. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES. Following are the broadcast programmes for t6-day. (Wednesday, January 2): — I)’A, AUCKLAND, (333 metres)—3 p.m.: Afternoon session—selected studio items. 4.0: Literary selection by the Announcer. 4.5: Studio, items. 4.25: Sports results to hand. 4.30: Close down. 0.0: Children's session, conducted by Uncle Tom. 7.15: News and market reports, 7.45: Talk on “Physical Culture” by Mr. Norman Kerr. 8.0: Chimes. Vocal programme presented by “Savoy Octette." 8.1: Military Band— Royal Italian Band, (a) “Marcia Reale” (Italian Royal March); (b) “Inni Di Garubaldl” (Garabaldi’s Hymnj (Columbia record 01182). 8.9: Chorus — "Hunting Chorus” (from “Dorothy”) (Cellier). 8.14: Vocal solo—" Silent Woods” (Tully). 8.18: Recital—Miss Maisie Carte-Lloyd, “Patience of Job.” 8.23: Solo and eliorusr-“The Toy Monkey” (from "The Geisha”) (Jones). 8.28: Orchestral—Columbia Symphony Orchestra. "March of the Toys” (Herbert) (Columbia record 02651). 8.32: Chorus--“The. Lost Chord” (Sullivan). . 8.37,;. Ro-, . lay of orchestral entr’acte from ’tlfe'iMajes-'■' tic Theatre Orchestra, under the conductorShlp of Mr. J. Whlfeford Waugh. • 8.45 : Chdrus—“Blue Danube Waltz” (Strauss). 8.50: Violin solo—Sascha Jacobsen,, “Pale Moon” (Logan) (Columbia record 01146). J ' 8.54: Solo—" Queen jot My Heart” (Cellier).

8.58: Weather forecast. 9.0: Relay of vocal interlude from the Majestic Theatre. 9.6: Orchestral —Ketelbey’s Concert, Orchestra, “Sanctuary of the Heart’ (Ivelelbey) (Columbia record 02690). 9.14: Chorus—“ Song of Minnetonka” (Lieurance Chorus—“ Song of Minnetonka” (Lieurance). 9.18: Pianoforte solo—Mr. Cyril Towsey, “Last Movement —Moonlight Sonata” (Beethoven). 9.22: Solo—“ Beautiful Beatrice” (Malliuson). 9.26: Recitals —Miss Maisie Carte-Lloyd, (a) “Pennarby Mine”; (b) “The Funny Story.” 9.34: Chorus—“ Waltz Song” (from “Faust ) (Gounod). 9.39: Organ solo—G. ,T. Pullman, “In a Monastery Garden” (Ketelbey), (Columbia record 02683). 9.43: Solo—- “ Monarch of the Storm” (Mullen). 9.47: Chorus—" Song of Old England” (Curwen). 9.51: Solo and chorus—”O Soldier, Soldier” (Traditional). 9.55: Selection—National Military Band, "The Bells of St. Malo” (Rimmer) (Zonophone record 5102). 9.58: Solo and chorus—“My Hero” (from “The Chocolate Soldier”) (Strauss). 10.2: i Finale —“Land of Hope and Glory” (Elgar). 10.6 :God Save the King. 2YA, WELLINGTON (420 metres)— Silent. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (306 metres)— 11.30 a.m.: Results of Canterbury Jockey i-Club’s race meeting at Addington. 3.0: Selected studio items. 4.25: Sports results) 4.30: Close down. 6.0: Children’s session. 7.0: News session. 7.30: Addington stock - market reports. 8.0:, Chimes. 8.1: Grand Opera—Special presentation of "The Valkyrie”. (Waguer), (3rd. instalment (H.M.V. records D 1328, D 1329, and D1327j, Soprano and tenor—- " Siegmund Challenges Hunding.” Quartet with orchestra —"The Combat: Siegmund is Slain.” Orchestra and chorus—- . .“The Ride of . the Valkyries” (Prelude to Act 3). Soprano with orchestra and chorus —“Brunnhllde Gives Sieglinde the Broken Sword.” 8.21: Baritone solo—Mr. A. G. Thompson, "Over the Desert” (Kellie). 8.25: Violin solo—Miss Joan Carter, "Moment Musical”'(Schubert). 8.30: Duet —Dulcet Duo, “Awake” (Pellissier). 8.32: Orchestral—Royal Opera Orchestra, "Faust Ballet Music” (lst..ahd 2nd Movements — Allegretto aji(j Adagio)'. (Gojtno.d), . (H.M.V. record Q 1462): . 8.37: f Contralto solo —Miss Nellie Lowe. “The Storm” (Hullah). 8.41: Instrumental trios—Carter Sisters Instrumental Trio’, (a) “Allegretto” .(from “OrI pheus in the Underworld”). (Offenbach); (b) “The Bohemian ..Girl” (Balfe). 8.51: Weather forecast. 8.54: Orchestral—Royal Opera Orchestra, “Faust Ballet Music” (Gounad), 3rd and 4th. sth, and 6th Movements—(Allegretto, Maestoso, Moderate con Moto and Allegretto) (H.M.V. records C 1462 and C 1463). 9.2: Quartet—Dulcet Quartet, “Come to the Fair” (Martin). 9.5: Recital—Mr. Sidney Comfort, "Toasts” (Bread and Buttered) (MS). 9.11: Soprano solo —Miss Margaret. Lorimer, "Ring, Bells, Ring” (Day). 9.15: Violin solo—Miss Joan Cartet, “Song of India” (RimskyKorsakov). 9.20: Baritone solo —Mr. A. G. Thompson, “Serenade in Summer” (Denza). 9.24: Instrumental trios—Carter Sisters Instrumental Trio, (a) “CavaHeria Rusticana” (Mascagni); • (b) “Barcarolle” (from “Tales of Hoffman”) (Offenbach). 9.32: Contralto solo—Miss Nellie Lowe, “Now’s the Time to Love” (Gounod). 9.36: Humour—Mr. Sydney Comfort, “Having an Argument” (MS). 9.41: Tenor solos—Mr. T. G. Rogers, (a) “A Legend” (Tschalkowsky); (b) “Solent Moon” (Williams). 9.47: Orchestral —Royal Opera Orchestra, “Faust Ballet Music” (Gounod), 7th Movement (Vivo) (H.M.V. record C 1463). 9.51: Quartet —Dulcet Quartet, “Old Folks at Home” (Cornwall). Close down. 4YA, DUNEDIN (463 metres) —12 noon: Town Hall chimes. Mid-day session. 2.0: Close down. 7.0: Town Hall chimes. 7.1: Request gramophone recital. 7.40: News session. 8.0: Town Hall chimes. 8.1: Orchestral —Columbia Symphony Orchestra, "Marltana” Overture (Wallace) (Columbia Record 02682). 8.9: Recital—Miss Madge Yates, “The Barrel Organ” (Noyes). 8.14: Violin solo —Miss Eva Judd, “Nocturne in E Flat” (Chopin). 8.17: Song cycle—“ The Daisy Chain,” presented by the 4YA Harmonists, with instrumental accompaniment by the 4YA Broadcasting Trio: Soprano, Miss Mae Matheson; mezzo-soprano, Miss Mollie Andrews: tenor, Mr. H. A. Johnston; baritone, Mr. A. Bicknell. Quartet — “Foreign .Children” (Liza Lehmann); mez-zo-soprano solo —“Fairies” (Liza Lehmann) ; baritone solo—“ Keepsake Mill” (Liza Lehmann); soprano solo—“If no one ever Marries Me” (Liza Lehmann): tenor solo—“ Stars” (Liza Lehmann); quartet—- “ Seeing the World” (Liza Lehmann) ; mez-zo-soprano solo—" The Ships That Sailed Into the Sun”- (Liza Lehmann) ; soprano solo—“ The Swing” (Liza Lehmann); baritone solo—“ Mustard and Cress” (Liza Lehmann) ; tenor solo—“ The Moon” (Liza Lehmann) : quartet—“ Thank You Very Mueli Indeed" (Liza Lehmann); quartet—“ Blind Man’s Bluff” (Liza Lehmann). 8.56: Orchestral—London Theatre Orchestra, “Lilac Time” (Schubert-Clutsam) (Columbia Record 02699). 9.4:\Weathcr forecast. 9.0: Male quartets—Shannon Male Quartet, (a) “The Sidewalks of New York"; (b) “On The Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” (Regal Record G 20295). 9.14: ’Cello solo— Mr. P. J. Palmer, “Humoresque” (Dolb). 8.18: Foxtrot—Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra, “Till We Meet Again” (Egan) (H.M.V. Record EA4I2), 8.22: Bass solo—Mr. F. A. Millar, “Phrenology” (Stuart). 8.26: Instrumental trios—Carter Sisters Instrumental Trio, (a) “Indian Love Call,” from “Rose Marie” (Friml): (b) “A Shady Tree” (Donaldson). 8.32: Humour—Mr. George Titchener, “The Modest Curate” (Reynolds). 8.37: Military Band —National Military Band, .“Christchurch Chimes” (Arr. Hare) (Zonophone Record' 5119). B.4l—Tenor solo—Mr. W. Bradshaw, “The Shade of the Palm” (Stuart). 8.45: Violin and cinema organ—Elsie Southgate. “I Hear You Calling Me” (Marshall) (Zonophone Record 5109). B.49:‘Contralto solo— Miss Anita Graham, “Tact” (Stuart), quartet—Valencia quartet, “Tell Me, Pretty Maiden” (Stuart).. 9.0: Weather report and announcements. 9.3: Orchestral—London Theatre Orchestra, “Lilac Time” (Schu-bert-Clutsain (Columbia Record 02000). 2ZF, PALMERSTON NORTH (285 metres)—7 p.m. till 9 p.m. 2FC, SYDNEY (442 metres) —8 p.m. till 11.40 ,p.m. 2BL, SYDNEY' (349 metres) —8 p.m. till 11.30 p.m. 2GB, SYDNEY (316 metres)—7 p.m. till 10 p.m. ’ ■ 3LO, MELBOURNE (371 metres)—B p.m. till 11.-iO p.m. 3AR, MELBOURNE (484 metres)—B p.m. • till 11 p.m. 4QG, BRISBANE . (385 metres)—B p.m. till 10 p.m. Note. — ; N6w Zeliaiid“timb'is two’ hours ahead of eastern Australian time. 1 ' '