RADIO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 7

RADIO NOTES

(By

"Aerial.”)

The Wellington Radio Exhibition proved an unq.ualiiied success f . ro ‘ u o ~*;y i ®| r t y, standpoint. The attendances of the public exceeded even the most sanguine anticipatioiis of the committee. The exhibits were thoroughly representative of the wares or all the reading dealers iu Wellington. Many of the exhibitors did a considerable amount of business at the Exhibition, lhe public evidenced a keen interest in the various exhibits, and the demonstrations always drew a crowd around. The most convincing proof of the “arrival of the all-electric a.c. radio set was given, tor this type of set overshadowed the battery set. The ease of control of the a.c. set and the elimination of all worry about batteries captivated the public Judging by the remarks heard among the spectators. Loudspeakers, too, were shown to have reached a stage of perfection almost undreamt of a few years ago. The electrodynamic loudspeakers reproduced music and speech with arresting naturalness, and the highest-class cone speakers of other than the electro-dynamic type showed a vast improvement in reproduction. lhe combined electric-motor electric pick-up gramophone and a.c. radio set combined is also here to stay. Gramophone records heard from these sets would dispel any aversion that may have existed towards gramophones. “Aerial" must also pay a tribute to the exhibitors for the taste they showed in arranging their displays. A useful type of receiving set was shown to “Aerial” at the Radio Exhibition, which has made quite a hit. This set is for local reception only, and being fitted for a.c. valves can be plugged, into a heating-point socket. It is small enough to be carried iu a brief bag, and as the price is low. It has made an instant appeal. “Aerial” saw and heard some superb electro-dynamic loudspeakers at the Radio Exhibition which were energised through a dry metallic rectifier, doing away with valve rectifiers and consequent cost of replacements in time. These loudspeakers yielded superb tone of all types of music—vocal or Instrumental. Those who looked around them at the Wellington Radio Exhibition could have seen some excellent “B” eliminators, some embodying provisions for also applying grid bias. These eliminators have shown marked improvement in design, and also possess freedom from hum. The writer was shown an up-to-date eliminator which is guaranteed to operate In. conjunction with a shortwave set without interfering with reception, The Wellington branch of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters staged a highly meritorious display at the Wellington Radio Exhibition. The transmitters on view appeared more like the finished products of factories than merely the work of amateurs. The portable morse transmitter, operated by batteries, and requiring only a thirty-feet aerial should be a most useful outfit for emergency work, particularly as It has successfully "worked” Australia. The public lingered around the amateur transmitters’ stall, gazing with wonder at equipment which had exchanged i messages on short-waves with some of the most distant countries in the world. The Wellington Radio Society had an office at the exhibition where Mr. Laws, the honorary secretary, officiated for the purpose of receiving subscriptions. Although the public were well canvassed for membership subscriptions the response was not up to anticipations. The relay of the description by 2ME, Sydney, of the All Blacks v. Australia football match last Saturday was a most creditable feat by 2YA, Wellington, although atmospheric conditions were far from perfect. The cries of the barrackers on the Sydney Cricket Ground were continuously audible, and the announcer's description was heard throughout despite frequent surging of the transmission by 2ME due to atmospheric causes. As on | previous occasions the announcements and , music from the studio In Sydney were extraordinarily clear. The owners of crystal sets In and around Wellington were treated to the rare experience of hearing the description of the football match played In Sydney about 1250 miles away. It was a happy thought to have "Aunt Gwen” at the Wellington Radio Exhibition during the afternoons so that children listeners and their mothers could meet and talk to that clevr entertainer during the children’s sessions. “Aerial" saw her surrounded bv numbers of tiny tots and their mothers waiting their turn to exchange greetings with “Aunt Gwen.” Some of the kiddies gazed almost with awe at the tall, genial, young lady with the expressive, kindly voice. Mr. Drummond, the announcer, whose voice is so well known to listeners, was under notice a good deal while he sat on the stage announcing the various concert items to the box-like microphone on the table In front of him. .When he gave his characteristic “Go-o-d night call, several people in the auditorium, on one evening, chorused with him, ..much to the amusement of all. “Well, what is the next development going to be?" was a question heatd during the Radio Exhibition. So far one would have thought that the elrtro-dynamic loudspeaker was the last word on the subject, but it was reported to the writer at the Exhibition that a new cone speaker embodying the condenser principle will shortly be on the market here. Whether it will be better or even as good as the latest electro-dynamic speakers remains to be Position counts a lot so far as an aerial is located if long-distance reception is desired. "Aerial” met a listener at the Radio Exhibition who has a 50ft. aerial on a hill ! near Melrose, and who frequently hears I two or three American stations on his | loudspeaker. He operates, however, a I home-built four-valve Browning-Drake, I and this goes to prove “Aerial’s’ often-re-peated contention that the B-D circuit is phenomenally efficient. It should be borne in mind, nevertheless, that to obtain the best results with this or any other circuit the best valves should be employed, ana all biassing should be cornet. Much depends upon the radio-frequency amplifying yalve in the Browning-Drake circuit. A

power valve should be employed in the dual audio stage, with a plate potential or at least 135 volts if transformer coupling is employed. The first stage audio valve should have a plate potential of about JU The outstanding feature of last week’s long-distance reception was the volume of the Japanese station JOHK, which is on a wavelength a little shorter than that or 4QG, Brisbane. The Eastern station on some nights rivalled the best Australian stations. The Japanese music consisted of vocal solos, duets and trios, and the accompaniments were frequently played on an instrument which sounded like a guitar. There is a good deal of talk from the Japanese stations, probably consisting or news items* Another Japanese station which has also been coining in very well is J OAK, Tokio. The musical items are all thoroughly Japanese, like tl;ose of JOHK. If one night was not as favourable as others for long-distance reception it vras last Friday evening. The Japanese station JOHK was louder at times than any of the Australian stations. ‘ Aerial would grade volume of reception from the Australian stations as follow, with 2BL, Sydney, as the maximum with 10 points:-— 2FC, Sydney, 9; 3LO, Melbourne, 8; 3A.K, Melbourne, 7. Of the others, 2GB, Sydney, has been prominent. One of the best lesser lights has been 3UZ, Melbourne. Static was lively on one or two nights last week, but on the whole it has not been severe. Last Sunday evening stations 2BL, Sydney, and 3LO, Melbourne, were linked together by land lines, and a brilliant programme was broadcast simultaneously from the two stations. The artistry of the performers was exceptional, and, desp’te a fair amount of static, proved thoroughly, enjoyable. The Japanese stations were rather weaker than usual on Sunday evening, JOHK and JOAK being about equal In volume. The New Plymouth station was loudly audible In Wellington. 2FC, Sydney, constantly ebbed and flowed from loud to unusually weak.

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES Following are the broadcast programmes for to-day (Wednesday, July 31):— IYA, AUCKLAND (900 Kilocycles).— 12.30 p.m.: Relay of community singing from Town Hall. 1.30: Close down. 3.0: Afternoon sess l on—Selected studio items. 4.0: Literary selection by the announcer. 4.8: Studio items. 4.25: Sports results to hand. 4.30: Close down. 6.0: Childrens session, conducted by Uncle Tom. <-0: News session and market reports. 7.40: Talk—Dr. H. Belshaw, “Waste in Indus; try” (under tho auspices of the Workers Educational Association). 8.0: Chimes. 8.1: Overture —Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra, “Pique Dame" (Suppe) (Record). 8.9: Presentation of the three-act comedy, “Ariadne” (Milne), under the directing. °f Mr. J. M. Clark. Act. 1. Entr’acte—lnternational Concert Orchestra, “<’yP, s y i Lo ’® (Lehar) (Record). Act. 2. Entr’acte-In-ternational Concert Orchestra, ® w . ee V heart” Waltz (Strauss) (Record). Act. 3. March—National Military Band, El Capitan" (Sousa) (Record). 10.0: Close down. 2YA, WELLINGTON (720 Kilocycles).— SI 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (306 Metres).3 p.m.: Afternoon session —Selected’ gramophone items. 4.25: Sports results to hand. 4.30: Close down. 6.0: Children’s session, conducted by Mother Hubbard and Uncle Frank. 7.0: News session. 7.30: Addington stock market reports. 8.0: Chimes. 8.1: Presentation of the opera Carmen (Bizet)—3rd. Instalment (Records)—introductory remarks by Mr. W. H. D**uU' Professor of Singing. 8.50: OrchestralStudio Orchestra under the conductorship of Mr. Harold Beck, “Blue Danube Waltz (Strauss). 9.0: Weather report. 9.5: Vocal quartet—Salon Quartet, “Drink to Me Only” (arrgd. David Stephens). 9.9: Soprano solo and scena —Miss Corrie Ashn, “Romanza and Scene” (“Cavalleria Rusticanna”) )Mascagnl). 9.14: Pianoforte solos—Miss Olive Cooper, (a) * On Wings of Song” (Mendelssohn-Liszt): (b) “Humoresque” (York-Bowen). .9.21: Tenor solo—Mr. W. Blakeley, “Achal by the Sea (Rosada-Lawrence). 9.25: OvertureStudio Orchestra, “Marriage of Figaro (Mozart). 9.30: Contralto solo—Miss Dulcie Mitchell, “Fair Spring is Returning (“Samson et Delllah fi ) (Saint-Saens). 9.34: Pianoforte solo—Miss Olive Cooper, Hymu to the Sun” (Rimsky-Korsakov). 9138: Baritone solo—Mr. J. Graham Young, The Lute Player” (Allitsen). 9/2: Soprano and tenor duet—Salome Duo,/‘Dear Love of Mine” (Nadeschda” (Thomas). 9.46 . Orchestral— Studio Orchestra, H.M.S. Pinafore" Selection (Sullivan). 10.1: Soprano solo—Miss Corrie Aslin, “Here s to Love (“Sunshine Girl”) (Rubens). 10.5: Vocal quartet —Solan Quartet, Because (D’Hardelot) (arrgd. Lucas). 10-10- Belay from “The Winter Garden" of Dance music by the Bailey-Marston Dance Orchestra, on the occasion of the D.I.C. annual ball. 12.0: Close down. 4YA, DUNEDIN (650 Kilocycles).—Special Transmissions from the Radio Exhibition Buildings. 2.30: Opening remarks by Mr. J. T. Cooper, President Otago Radio Association. 2.40: Official opening of the Dunedin Radio Exhibition by Hlb Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr. R. S. Black. 2.50: Remarks by the Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Post and Telegraphs, and Hon W B. Taverner, Minister of Railways (relayed by telephone from Wellington). 3.0: Selected studio Items. 4.0: Rebroadcast of Station KGO (Oaklands, California) (conditions permitting). 5.0: Resume “cwtrnt of representative hockey fixture —-Australia versus Otago. 5.10: Selected studio Items. 6.0: Children's session, conducted by Aunt Anita. 7.0: News session. 8.0: Town Hall chimes. 8.1: Overture— Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. “Rienzi" (Wagner) (Records). 8.12: Negro spiritual—Layton and Johnstone, "Every Time I Feel the Spirit (Record). 8.15: Selections by the St. Hilda Band, under the conductorship of Mr. James Dixon, and items by assisting artists, broadcast from 4YA Studio at the • Exhibition Buildings. (1) March, band,

"Dunedin) (Alford). (2) Baritone solos Mr. Les Stubbs, (a) "Yeoman of England (German); (b) “Little Irish Girl” (Lohr). (3) Hymns, band, (a) “Fierce Raged the Tempest”; (b) “Abide With Me. 8.3 o: Orchestra and chorus —Paul Whiteman s Concert Orchestra, selections from The Show Boat" (Kern) (Record). 8.43: Selection—London Theatre Orchestra, Lilac Time” (Schubert-Clutsam) (Record). 8.51: Male choir—Don Cossacks. "Serenade (Abt) (Record). 8.55: Weather report. 8.57: Further selections by St. Kilda Band, and items by assisting artists from 4YA Studio at the Exhibition Buildings. (1) Overture, band, “Raymond" (Thomas). (2) Contralto solos, Miss Irene Horntblow, (a) “Sapphic Ode” (Brahms); (b) "Mantle of Blues" (Bridge). (3) Selection, band, "William Tell” (Rossini). 9.24: ChorusVocal Gem Chorus, “No, No, Nanette, (Youmans) (Record). 9.32: Wurlltzer organ solos —Reginald Foort, (a) "By the Blue Hawaiian Waters” (Ketelbey); (b) “Leave Me Alone” (Dvorak); (c) “bongs My Mother Taught Me” (Dvorak) (Record). 9.40: Novelty—Klrlloff’s Balalaika Orchestra, (a) “Shining Moon”; <b) “Song of the Volga Boatmen” (Ruslan folk-song) (Record). 9.45: Selections by St. Kilda Band and items by assisting artists from 4YA Studio at Exhibition Buildings. (1) Chorus, band. “Pilgrims’ Chorus” (“Tannhauser”) (Wagner). (2) Baritone solo, Mr. Les. Stubbs, “The Lute Player” (Allitsen). (3) Euphonium solo with band accompaniment, “Simple Aven” (Thorne). (4) Contralto solo, Miss Irene Horniblow, “Silver (Gibbs). (5) Mareh, band, “Senlac Abbey” (Brady). 16.13: Male voices—Minstrels, “A Minstrel Show” (Record). 10.21: Saxophone Solos—Andy Sanella, (a) “Aileen” (Sanella); (b) “Jack and Jill” (Sanella). 10.27: Orchestral—New Light Symphony Orchestra, “Malaguena' (Spanish dance) (Moszkowski) (Record). 10.30: Close down. ‘ 2FC, SYDNEY (442 metres).—B p.m. till 10.30 p.m. , „ 2BL, SYDNEY (349 metres).—B p.m. till 11 2GB, 1 'SYDNEY (316 metres).— 7 p.m. till 10 p.m. 3LO, MELBOURNE (371 metres).—B p.m. till midnight. v . 3AR, MELBOURNE (484 metres).—B p.m. till 11 p.m. (Note. —New Zealand time Is an hour and a-half ahaed' of Eastern Australian time.)