ON ALL WAVELENGTHS

Evening Star, Issue 23717, 26 October 1940, Page 4

ON ALL WAVELENGTHS

GIL DECK AND ORCHESTRA RECORDED BAND CONCERT INTERESTING TALK AND INTERVIEW Programmes for 4YA next week are both varied and interesting, catering for all tastes.. On Tuesday there will be a recorded band concert; on Wednesday an interesting interview; Thursday will bring back Gil Dech and the 4YA Orchestra; on Friday a talk on the making of talking pictures will be given, while a miscellaneous programme will be presented on Saturday night. Details from the programmes of the week are as follows: Monday. 10.50 a.m.: Talk to women by Margaret. 11: ‘From the Talkies.’ 11.38; Favourite ballads. 2 p.m.: Operetta. 4.30: ‘Music in a Cafe.’ 7.30: F.vening programme. 9: N.B.S. newsreel. 9.25: ‘Twelve Labours of Hercules.! an N.B.S. production, 10; ‘Night Club’. Tuesday. 10.50 a.m.: ‘ Ships and Shoes and Sealing Wax,’ by Nelle Scanlan. 11; ‘Medley.’ 2 p.m.; ‘Humour and Harmony.’ 4.30: ‘Music in a Cafe.’ 7.13: Recorded talk. 7.40; Winter course talk. 8: Recorded band concert. 9: Newsreel. 9.25: ‘ Coronets of England.’ 9.51: ‘ The Theatre Box.’ 10.5: Music, mirth, and melody. Wednesday. 10.50 a.m.: Talk to women by Margaret--11.15: ‘Musical Silhouettes.’ ‘Tunes of the Times.’ 2 p.m.: ‘ Rambling in Rhythm.’ 3.15: Talk by A.C.E. home science section. 4.30: ‘Music in a Cafe.’ 7.10; Interview. 7.40: ‘Bold, Bad Buccaneers.’ 7.53: ‘Hunchback of Ben Ali.‘ 8.31: ‘The Fourth Form at St. Percy’s.’ 8.43: ‘Love, Live,, and Laugh.’ 9; Newsreel. 9.33: ' Soldier of Fortune.’ 10.10: Modern dance music. Thursday. 10.50 a.m.; 4 Spring and Summer Fashions.’ 11: ‘Pot-pourri.’ 2.30 p.m.: Musical comedy. 7.10: Gardening talk. / 7.30: Gil Dech and 4YA Orchestra. 9: Newsreel. 10.30: Music, mirth,- and melody. Friday. 10.50 a.m.: ‘ Ships and Shoes and Sealing Wax.’ 11: ‘Cooking by Gas.’ 11.15; ‘Bits and Pieces.’ 11.30: ‘ln My Garden.’ 2 p.m.: Musical hour. 3.15: A.C.E. talk. 4.30: ‘ Music in a Cafe.’ 7.10: Talk on the ‘Talkies.’ 7.40: ‘Dad and Dave.’ 8.8: ‘Do You Know Why?’ 8.44: ‘The Circle of Shiva.’ 9; Newsreel. 9.30: Readings by Professor T. D. Adams. 10: Dance music by Dick Colvin’s Orchestra.

Saturday. 10.10 a.m.: ‘Random Ramblings.' 10.50: ‘Mary Makes a Career.’ 11: ‘Novelty and Humour.’ 2 p.m.; ‘ Vaudeville Matinee.’ 3.45; ‘Music in a Cafe.’ 7.15: Topical war v talks from U.B.C. 7,50:.' Evening programme. 9: Newsreel. 9.20: Dance music.

At the annual meeting; of the ‘ Argus ’ newspaper proprietary in Melbourne it was stated that the subsidiary radio service—which operates 3YB, Warrnambool, 3SR, Shepparton, and 3VL, Warragul—had made a profit of £2,629 for the year.

News and Comments

By ’ HENRY'

ALWAYS A PROBLEM THE INTERFERENCE QUESTION SOME SUGGESTIONS BY 8.8. C. Atmospherics, one of the most frequent causes of interference, is generally due to electrical discharges in the earth’s atmosphere. In the most severe form they are, of course, visible as flashes of lightning. Unfortunately, such electrical discharges need not be local in order to cause static, or atmospherics, ns storms which occur at great distances from the listener can give rise to this type of interference. Despite considerable research into the problem, there is as yet no complete »

cure. Nevertheless, the position is not entirely hopeless, as it has been found that the effect of this type of interference is reduced as the frequency used by , the transmitter increases. Consequently, in those countries where the static level is high—and it is usually highest during the summer months in any part .of the world—listeners should tune to the highest frequency available. Incidentally, this is a further reason for using receivers which cover the 21mc broadcasting band. ' , In the case of interference from electrical machinery—which can affect all short wave broadcasting frequencies—there is only one absolute cure, and that is to stop the interference where it starts—at the machine itself. Methods of doing this are explained in detail in

a pamphlet which the 8.8. C. has prepared. Another variety of electrical interference which is becoming more and more troublesome is that generated by the electrical ignition systems of internal combustion engines, of which the most common is the motor ear. Here, again, the only complete cure is in tho car itself, by fitting suppressors to tho ignition systetm ami in certain cases by the use of screened ignition' wiring., Jhe cost is not very great, and the 8.8. C. and many large radio manufacturers in England have made arrangements for the cars belonging to their staffs to bo fitted with suitable suppressors. All their official cars are, of course, so fitted.

Incidentally, the next time you hear this type of interference in your receiver, ask yourself the question: “ Is my own car fitted with suppressors?” The suppressors usually consist of 1-watt resisters to about 5,000 or 10,000 ohms fitted between each sparking plug and the ignition cable to the plug. ANTI-NOISE AERIALS. It is, however, possible for the listener to reduce the effect of this type of interference by several means. The first way is by the use of one of the various anti-noise aerials which are now available. It is essential, however, if this type of aerial is to bo completely effective—in reducing either ignition interference or electrical interference from machines—for the active part of the arerial, usually the horizontal part, to be erected at such a height that it is above the interference field. This, unfortunately, means aerial ■ heights of 100 ft or more.

i If, however, the aerial is erected as high as possible, a marked improvement will generally be obtained, as the interference level is usually most severe nearer the ground and the shielded down lead between the active part of the aerial and the set will not pick up any of this stronger field, and will thus reduce the interference.

Another method of reducing this type of interference is the use of a “ noise limiter circuit in the receiver. This is generally built into the receiver itself, and is not normally available as a separate unit. It operates by momentarily “ backing off ” or “ paralysing ” one of the I.F. variable-mu valves in the receiver by means of the voltage developed across a separate rectifier circuit by the instantaneous peak of tho interfering signal. Although it momentarily suppresses the wanted signal at the same time, the effect is so short that the ear does not notice the loss of programme, but the noise from the car ignition system—or other interference due to a spark—is not hoard by the listener. ■ Therefore, a marked reduction in car ignition interference can be obtained by the use of this circuit. Used in conjunction with an anti-noise aerial, erected as high as possible, the background noise can be considerably reduced, with a consequent increase in the pleasure of listening.

Amateur transmitters are allowed to operate in the United States, but they are forbidden to communicate with foreign countries. No foreigner is allowed to act as a news commentator from any station, and they are not permitted to own or operate a transmitter. Scripts are closely scrutinised before any “ speaker ” is allowed to go on the air, and elaborate precautions are taken to ensure that no “ fifth columnist ” or person holding subsersive views is able to “ crash the mike ” and put over anything in the nature of sedition.