THE WIRELESS WORLD

Grey River Argus, 17 October 1936, Page 4

THE WIRELESS WORLD

NOTES FOR RADIO AMATEURS.

(By

“Cat’s Whisker”)

2YA’S Mast: At Titahi Bay, Wellington last week work was started on the 730-foot mast for the newest and most powerful broadcasting station in this part of the world. Foundations are being laid and the steel fabric will soon begin to show against the skyline. The mast is being erected by Australian experts, the same men who built the big 4YA mast on the Otago Peninsula JYA’s mast will be the tallest in the southern lienr.sphere. Auckland’s mast at Henderson is 508 ft high. When completed Wellington’s mast will be just 250 ft shorter than the Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s highest structures. Interference in Fiji: Owing to continual and’ seemingly uu don trolled interference with iad,o reception in Buva, a largely attended meeting convened by Air. 1). AV. Amos manager of the .Hacilicl Insurance Company, held in Suva lecentlj decided ’to form a Listeners’ Association, 'to endeavour to get rid wholly or in part of the interference which has become a nghtmare to local radio fans. Mr. Amos was elected chairman Air. F .V. Miller secretary, and Air. K. Brabant treasurer. Later the committee drew up a letter of protest to the Postmaster-General, who controls radio transmission, pointing out some of the alleged sources of interference. »»»***♦ German 'Television: The German Post Office has ordered two new sight-aml-sound ultra-short .wave television transmitters (according to ‘World Radio’). One of these I will be installed on the summit of the I Brocken, the highest mountain in Northern Germany. The second is on the summit of the Grosse Feldberg, in the Tatinus Mountains, north-west of Frankfort-on-Ala:n. It is hoped to complete the transmitters by next year. “This announcement shows that the German Post Office is well on the way to the realisation of a television service which will cover the whole country,’’ the periodical comments. “It will be remembered that a mobile television unit, containing lOkw ultrashort wave sighl-and-sound transmitter was driven up to the Brocken last summer and kept up there for a considerable period of time. Tests proved that a. permanent, 'transmitter there would cover such iniportiimt centres as Hanover, Aladgeburg, and possibly Halle. The second series of tests was then arranged from the Grosse Feldberg z in the Taunus. Evening S.W. Reception: Evening is decidedly not the best time for short-wave reception in this country, but there tire tt good many stations that can be heard most nights and at good volume. On the 31-metres ■band there is 3AIE, ZiBW, VPD2, DJA and 3Y.R bunched closely together, the Javanese, and Japanese occasionally, on slightly higher frequencies. The 25metres band is usually quiet after GSD shuts down, but on 20 metres there is a good deal of chatter from Australian, American and foreign amateur phones. There is another group of broadcasting stations on the Id-metres band, but only two of these, and in particular, the German DJE, comes in t sufficient volume for realy worthwhile reception, but the British station GSG, which starts at 11 p.m. is disappointing. There is still another regular Empire station in GSD on 13.97 metres, but few except the most modern receivers will tune to such <t low wave-length.

******* Jottings: In its announcement the 8.8. C. stresses the experimental nature of its television programmes. The equipment operated’ at Alexandra Palace includes three plants, the first, an ultra shortwave sound transmiter on a frequency of 41.5 megacycles, or 7.23 metres, and the other two television transmitters operating on 45 megacycles, or 6.67 metres. The television plants feed an aerial erected on a lattice mast 221' teet above the tower of the Palace, the aerial for the sound transmitter being erected lower down. The intention of the P,.L>.('. is to provide, in the words of the Television Committee, “an extended tr'al of the two systems, under comparable conditions, bv installing them side by side at a station in Loudon. where they should be used alternately and not simultaneously.” To secure ample scope the 8.8. C. is taking over the Alexandra Theatre, and has eompletedf arrangements for outdoor television in the adjacent grounds. “Purest,” a tone poem' for orchestra, composed by Douglas G. Lilburn, has been awarded first, prize in the Percv Grainger competition for New Zealand compositions. The author, a 20-year-old musician, is resident in Christchurch, where he is studying under Dr. ■I. C. Bradshaw. In his report the judge stated that he had no hesitation in placing the entries in order of merit and' that the winning entry outshone all others, both in matter and mode of piesentaiion. The author sketched out his composition during an Jl-day holid<i.\ at the Peel Forest, South Canterbury. and has said that he is by no means satisfied with the composition as yet, a most modest attitude in view of the high praise bestowed upofi it by the overseas judge. **»•**♦ One of the most interesting attempts ever made to overcome atmospherics is that of .Major Edwin 11. Armstrong ,"/lessor of Electrical Engineering Columbia University, U.S.A. It now appears for over a year he has had re••eivers scattered about New York State iistemng t 0 hi s experimental radio stasituated on the top of a humble Htie shack known as the Empire State uilding Tins is a skyscraper right ■'"O'lg the clouds, and yet Major ArmOi'ong has got an X-free programme hrough to a receiver 85 miles awav bt a thunderstorm' was ia full cry. I'erfeedv 01 S - J ? ro » ranini e was recorded peilectly, without a blemish.

SPRING CLEAN YOUR RADIO. Spring will soon be here (writes “Spark Gap,” in the October issue of “The Australian Journal”), and with 't the necessity for giving a real overhaul to the radio receiver. Let us begin with the power supply. If this is drawn from the mains, it may soon be disposed of. Cheek the flexible cord for breaks or partial breaks; even broken pieces of the fine wire that go

to make up the flexible cable tend to cause noises in the receiver. Alake sure tihat the adapter makes, firm' contact with its socket. Au indifferent contact at this point is' a sure noisemaker.

Now for the battery-operated' receiver. The “A” battery should be in good condition. The majority of batteryoperated sets these days are powered by an accumulator. The top of the battery should be well cleaned. Maybe some sulphation is noticeable here. Probably, also, the terminals have been corroded to some extent. Strong ammonia water should be used for cleaning the tops of batteries and the terminal screws. It may be necessary to use a knife to scrape off some of the corrosion in order to get anywhere near the raw metal. Where the connection wire is jammed' under a nut the metal should be thoroughly cleaned. The “B” battery should now receive attention. Cheek the voltage whilst the receiver is working. A 45-volt bat tery will operate the receiver with a reading as low' as 30 volts, but it is a good plan to discard a battery when its voltage drops below 35, as a par-tially-exhausted battery tends to introduce noises in the receiver.

The “G"’ battery should now be checked. This also is probably of the dry type. Normally, the readings for a “C” battery should’ be 3 and 41, or 11, 3, 41, 6 and 71, depending on the make of the battery. If a test, after several hours work, shows that a 4-volt battery has dropped to-31 or lower, the battery should be discarded. Now test the valves. If any valve is suspected of not donig its full work, it should be replaced by another and the result noted’. With a nail file, touch up either the bottoms or sides of the pins on the valves, depending on the type of socket springs provided. Now proceed to clean up the sockets, especially the flat portions of the bases between the terminals. AB dust should be wiped from these flat 'surfaces, in order to prevent any unwanted leakage. Tighten up the nuts on all four or more terminals of each sockets (if the connections are not soldered), and see that each nut makes good, even contact with the wire joined to it.

It is now time to examine the variable condensers. The plates of the condenser should be turned out of mesh and the dust between the plates removed by means of an ordinary pipe cleaner. All dust and d'-i’t should be cleaned /'rom the small bars -.hat bold the stator plates, as it is here that leakage and noises etui become very pronounced. With a soft brush, clean every particle of dust from the chassis and the various other instruments. Alake sure that every connection is mechanically perfect, and that no two bare wires are making contact in unwanted places. ].f you .are using a superheterodyne type of receiver, be careful not to alter the small trimming condensers, as once these have been (.hanged it is very difficult to return them to the correct, position without ‘an elaborate set of instruments.

Perhaps at this stage it would be wise to examine the aerial and earth. Make .sure that the aerial is taut and is not swinging against tiny meta! work. Test the earth connection to see that the joint between the earthlead and the metal plate is not corroded. A couple of buckets of water thrown on the earth plate will ensure a good contact with the ground. It will be found that the few minutes spent on your receiver will have made a wonderful difference to the reception. p will be clear anil minus the nasty crackles and' sera tidies that previously had been noticed, probably the volume will be greatly improved; and maybe that distant station, previously barely audible, will romp in in great style.

Week-end Programmes SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th. IYA Auckland—6sok.c. 7.0: to 9.0. Breakfast; 10.0: Devotional; 10.15: Recordings; 11.15: And at intervals throughout the day, running commentaries on events at the Dargaville Racing Club’s meeting; 4.0: Weather; 4.30: Sports results; 5.0 ; Children's hour; (i.O: Dinner music; 7.0; News mid reports; 7.30: Talk, the Gardening expert; 8.0: Concert programme; 9.<1; Weather. Station notices; 9.5; Recordings; 10.0; Sports summary; 10.10 to 11.15: Dance music. 2YA Wellington—s7ok.c. 7.0 to 9.0: Breakfast; 10.0: Recordings; 10.30: Devotional; 11.0: Time signals: 11.15: Talk: “Invisible Eating”; 12.0; Lunch music; 1.0: Weekend weather; 2.0: Light music; 3.0: imports results; 3.30: Week-end weather; 4.0: Time signals; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0 r News land reports; 7.30: Time, signals; 8.0: A 8.8. C. recorded' programme; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 0.5: Oldtime Dance music; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10 to 11.30: Old-time dance music. 3YA Christchimnch —720k,c. 7.0 to 9.0: Breakfast; 10.0: Devotional; 10.15: Recordings; 11.0: Time signals; 12.0: Lunch music; 2.0: Relay from the Showground of Provincial Band Contest; 4.30: Sports results; 5.0: Children's hour; 6.0; Dinner music; 7.0: News and reports; 7.30: Time signals; 8.0: Recordings; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5 to 11.30: Dance programme. 4YA Dunedin —790k.c. 7.0 to 9.0: Breakfast; 10.0: Recordings; 12.0: Lunch music; 1.0: Weekend weather; 2.0: Recordings; 3.30: Sports results; 4.0: Weather; 4.45: Sports results; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: News and reports; 8.0: A light orchestral and balled concert; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: Dance music; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10 to 11.5: Dance music. Daventry, England: G.S.D. 31.55 metres G.S.F. 19.82 metres New Zealand standard time. 7.15: Big Ben; The 8.8. C. Dance Orchestra; 7.45: “Sea Power”; 8.5: A recital; 8.25: “Nautical Nonsense”; 8.55: The news and announcements; 9.15: Close down. Moscow .Radio: Saturday October 17th. J2mdt.—12.30 o.nt. RAN 31.25 metres. ■ ■ ' • ■ ; . SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th. IVA Auckland—6sok. c. 9.0: Recordings; 11.0: Morning ser-

vice; 12.15; Close down; 1.0: Dinnermusic; 2.0: Recordings; 3.30: Recordings; 4.30: Close down; 6.0: Children’s song service; 7.0: Evening service; 8.30: Concert by the Auckland Alunieipal Band; 10.0: Close down.

2YA Wellington—-570k.c. 9.0:' Recording; 11.0; Morning service; 12.15: Close down; 1.0: Dinner music; 2.0: Half-hour of Scottish recordings; 2.30: Recordings; 4.0: Time signals; 4.30: Close down; 6.0: Child- 1 ten’s song service; 7.0: Evening service; 8.15: Recordings; 8.30: A Aliscellaneou.s operatic programme; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: Recordings; 10.0: Close down. 3YA Christphurch.—72ok.c. 9.0: Recording; 11.0: Aforning service; 12.15: Close down; 1.0: Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 4.0: Time signals; 4.30: Close down; 5-30: Children's song service; 6.15: Recordings; 9.30: Weather. Station notices; 9.35 to 10.0: Recordings. 4YA Dunedin —790k.c. 9.0: Recording; 11.0: Alorning service; 12.15: Close down; 1.0: Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 4.30: Close down; 5.30: Children’s song service; 6.15: Recordings; 6.30: Evening service; 7.45: Recordings; 8.30: Concert programme; 9.0: Weather. Station not’.iees; 9.5: From the Film; “Show Boat”; 9.45: Light opera company “The D’eserf Song”; 10.0; Close down. Daventry,i England: G.S.D. 31.55 metres. G.S.F. 19.82 metres New Zealand standard times; 7.15: Big Ben; Empire service; 5.5: ■Callenders’ Second Band; 8.55: Weekly newsletter, sports summary and >an(tiouncements; Greenwich time signal at 9.(1; 9.20: Close down. Moscow Radio: Sunday October 18th: 11 a.m.—l2 noon RNE 25 metres 3 p. nl _4 p.m. R.KI & RNE 19.81 & 25 metres, 6.30 p.m. —7 p.m. RV96 10.7(1 metres, 9 p.m —10 p.m. Com. RNE 1744 & 25 metres, 12 mdt—l2,3o a.m. RAN 31.25 metres. Answers by radio to listeners’ questions. Life and Work ’n the U.S.'S.R. There are 165 different nationalities in the Soviet Union and we shall describe their history, their lives and| occupations on our trip with you through the vast territory of the U.S.S.R. Special Moscow (Broadcasts: Each Wednesday and Sunday night between 11 o’clock and midnight, RNE Aloscow, on 25 metres (or 12 megacyles) has a special session in English which will, in future, be made more interesting. At 11.40 p.m'. on Wednesdays the station passes over for rebroadcasts of the Aloscow Radio station of their weekly talk: “Soviet Opinion and World Affairs”.

Listeners arc specially invited' to send in a report. The only adresscs required is: “Radio Centre, Aloscow. U.S.S.R.” and each new listener who requests same will be posted either a book, postage stamps, Soviet music or a construction magazine. Postage to the U..S.S.IR. is 2Ad.