WIRELESS NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19002, 25 July 1925, Page 24

WIRELESS NOTES

BROADCASTING

[By, Euecthox.]

Listeners throughout New Zealand will be pleased to learn that the end of the present most unsatisfactory arrangement for conducting the broadcasting service is in sight. For nearly two years wo have had nothing but vague promises to maintain our drooping spirits, and now we have an example of what can be done when the right man gets busy. In this column a °fow weeks ago I had occasion _to mention Mr A. R. Harris, of Christchurch, the president oi the New Zealand Radio Institute, and those of you who road this paragraph will remember > that I described him as a gentleman | in whom the listeners could have every (.ni.ridnoco as their ropi esc uta live. Events have moved swittly. and wo now find Mr Harris assocatcd with Mr Gcodfellow, of Hamilton, as guarantors in an agreement with the Government to establish modern broadcasting stations of 500 watts output in Christchurch and Auckland. I am particularly pleased to hear. tins, lor wo have felt the imed of a modern station very much since Sydnev and Melbourne have been heard over here witli tlmir excellent programmes and service, while we have jn operation sets winch arc very far fromsporlect, built up_ on a,n experimental basis from improvised apparatus. During my last ‘Visit to Christchurch, in September, Mr Hams showed me complete specifications and description of the latest Western Electric broadcasting plant, complete with studio equipment and all essential apparatus. as well as illustrations; and asked if I thought that typo of transmitter the host obtainable. I replied that there was no doubt whatever that tin’s, tvpe of set had proved itself superior to others, and had been adopted by every country of importance with broadcasting stations. If this is tho type of set he has ordered Go he in operation within six months) we can look forwaid to somegood, and the sooner we can persuade him' to install a similar plant here tho better. The present agreement provides for ordy two stations. Christchurch and Auckland, and^ it may be found that these are suffisient to provide entertainment for valve-set owners; hut there still remains the difficulty of crystal receivers, and since all pav the same license fee (30s), the latter' arc entitled to as much, consideration as the former. Thus it may bo found necessary to have two further stations at Wellington and Dunedin, and though, from the point of view adopted bv many valve-set owners, this ; may interfere with reception of distant stations, the needs of tho majority will have to bo considered. The imported sots will bo more sharply tuned th<iu the present sets, and ther" may bo loss trouble than anticipated : but in any case, by the use of radio frequency amplification on tho neutrodyno principle, it is possible to entirely eliminate a local station, oven of high power. It may seem inconsistent to recommend a local high-power station and at the : same time'discuss means of eliminating | this station; hut the fact remains that 1 there arc hound to bo many occasions i when we desire to listen to special programmes or important events from distant stations. Further, it is hardly likely that the local programme will meet every requirement of the listener, since it is necessary to cater for the individual tastes of hundreds, and what is appreciated by one may ho quite distasteful to another.

2BL, SYDNEY. Listeners tuning in to 2BL this week have had a variety of entertainment that would be difficult to surpass. Every night has brought something new to interest. Particularly interesting has been tho transmission in connection with the visit of the American (feet. First we heard the radio welcome to the fleet while they were still well out at sea; and again, on Thursday ai<d.it, wo had the privilege of being present at the reception dinner when the officers and men were welcomed personally. A novel feature of this transmission was the location of a microphone in such a position that the remarks of tho audience were clearly heard, and creating tho impression that tho listener was actually seated in the hall. When the speakers _ commenced this microphone was switched off, and another nearer the speaker used to pick up the speeches and announcements. Through this microphone tho remarks of the audience could not be distinguished, except when an interjection was shouted; but the speakers came through clearly and loudly. Another excellent transmission was a recital from Carlyon Concert Hall, while tho jazz items from the United Distributors’ Jazz Band are always well appreciated. The children’s hour, when the kiddies are entertained by Undo Jack and Undo George, puts all our New Zealand efforts well in the shade, and provides excellent listening from 8 to 9 p.m. (New Zealand time). A novel feature is the ending of a “ star” to tho kiddies on their birthdays, and I am sure that any listener that experiences the thrill of hearing the “ star ” hurtling through space can readily imagine tho excitement of the happy recipient when it lands safely after its journey, through space and the shrieks of delight that accompany its discovery. AMATEUR RECORDS. It is with great pleasure that I record the achievements of a very keen local amateur, who has, after many months of toil and effort, succeeded in establishing some very fine records. Mr A. Grubb (Radio 4AL) has worked American amateurs in Nos. 1,2, 4, 5,6, 8, and 9 districts, which embraces practically the whole of the United States of America except the Atlantic coast. This is only a mild accomplishment compared with tho following record of stations worked on 38 metres:— 2KF (England), 4.53 to 5.45 p.m. ; BBV (France), 5.20 to 6.40 p.m.. BCT (France), 5.25 to 6.10 p.m.: BER (Bermuda). 8.5 to 8.50 p.m.; and FXI (Hawaii), 12.20 to 12.55 p.m. Tho input used was 500 volts, rectified A.C. 85 milli-ainperes, with two fivewatters and four-coil (Meissner circuit. 'The wave length used throughout was 38 metres, and tho above stations wore all worked between July 7 and July 19. The effort of 4AL is the more creditable since lie has had to construct moat of his apparatus himself at a modest outlay, and I congratulate him on Ids success.