THE WIRELESS WORLD

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1937, Page 11

THE WIRELESS WORLD

NOTES FOR RADIO AMATEURS.

(By

“Cat’s Whisker’’)

Ultra-Short Waves: The broadcasting of - programmes from a station occupies a band of wavelengths, not just one single wavelength as during a silent interval, and consequently only a limited number of stations can work witnin fixed limits of wavelength without overlapping. Stations on all oidinary wavebands are already so crowaed that unless the desired transmission iis overwhelmingly stronger than others adjacent to it in wavelength, it is necessary to reduce or cut off at the receiving end the highest audible frequencies, essential to life-like reproduction of sound. Ideally, frequencies up to 15,000 or even 20,000 cycles per second should be included acutally, broadcasting stations do not attempt' to go beyond about 8000; and except at very close range, the practical limit of reception without interference is about 4000. Some receivers are cutting off badly as low as 1000! The ultra-short waves are as yet wide open spaces, a television transmitter occupies several times as much frequency space as the whole •medium and long wavebands combined. and still leaves plenty. So a real ■‘high-fidelity” transmitter is entirely practicable ~ from this standpoint. Moreover, the interference that one must expect from stations working on an adjacent or even the same wavelength is negligible compared with that on the longer waves, although the approach within the next year or so of maximum sunspots activity makes it unwise to be too dogmatic about this aspect of the matter. Anyway, there are still plenty of well-

spaced wavelengths. Ultra-snort waves have the advantage of being free from most forms of noise interference, and atmospherics; with the important exceptions of motor ignition and certain types of electromedic?.] apparatus. Aerials offer far more scope for high efficiency, directional properties, and reduction of interference. No person ordinarily situated is able to put up anything that is more than a mere part of an aerial on medium and long waves Another programme can be picked up on an extraordinary simple and compact receiver, of pocket dimensions I using the super-regenerative prin- | ciple. I ******* I I Provision of Landlines: ! Many statements made by commer- ! cial station executives have to be accepted with a certain amount of caution (states an exchange). 3ZB announces that the Post and Telegraph Department is installing a special landline to enable it to broadcast descriptions of every game during the South African’s tour. What ; is more likely is that the Post and Telegraph Department is providing a telephone channel linking up to the playing fields. Even this is something more than is promised by the YA service, which so far has not progressed beyond the rebroadcasting stage. Lt is illuminating that some advertiser can be found to pay for facilities which in the past have not been provided by the immensely wealthy national service. i »*»*»» Huge Radio Salaries: A recent American Treasury report disclosed the salary incomes of all persons who earned more than 15,000 dollars during the calendar year, including the highest salaries that were earned in radio and allied-fields. Mr. W. Paley, president of the Columbia Broadcasting System, was disclosed as earning the biggest salary—namely, 169,067d01, while his colleague, Aylesworth, of the N.8.C., only earns 45,180dol: David Sarnoff of the Radio Corporation of America is listed for 54.000 dols; Owen D. Young, of the General Electric Company, tor 96,000 dol; the president of the Westinghouse for 91,000dol; John F. Royal, vice-president and programme director of the* N.8.C.. for 21,000 dol, while a salary of 75,000d0l went to G. B. Bingham, Station WHAS, and one of fOO.OOOdoI to Mr. M'Farlane, Station WGN, Chicago. The largest salary . went to Mr. H. T. Ewald, nead of the Campbell Ewald Co., who got 125,490 , dol; then came on the list 10 more ' happy people who were beyond the ( 100,000dol mark. Others not included in that category had Jo be quite ' content with only 50,000d01. ******* i Television Channels: ■ j To give, at the receiver, an ade- 1 quate moving picture, no less than 30 pictures must be depicted each sec- | ond, and each individual picture requires about 120,000 separate electric- j al impulses, arranged in a definite ; order, for its presentation. This is ‘ possible only by employing a channel ] about 600 times as broad as that used ( for voice transmission. It is for this t reason that television broadcasting is | carried out on the ultra short waves t around six metres, where there is elbow room for the waves. There is ' practical}' no static on these frequencies, and clear reception is possible even in the midst of a thunderstorm. ‘ There is no fading within the service < area, which to all intents and pur- 1 poses is limited by the optical hori- 1 zon. Day and night transmission is ] received at the same strength and clarity, but disturbances created by < domestic electrical apparatus and au- 1 lomobiles constitute one of the great- • est enemies of good television reception. 1

From the Arctic: Has anybody yet managed to pick up the short-wave transmission of the Russian exploring party who are spending a year at the North Pole? Moscow gave some details of its radio eauipment and intentions recently which may be of interest to shortwave enthusiasts. There are three transmitters, the biggest rated at 70 watts and the smallest at 10. These are to be used for sending weather reports and so on to the Soviet authorities. It was stated that the operators hoped before long to be able to establish contact with amateurs in various countries. The call-sign Io be used was given as RAEM, and the wave-lengths will be 20 metres and 40 metres. Probably Morse only will be used, and transmissions are not likely to be made in languages other than Russian. However, anyone who picks up that call-sign will know where it is coming from. When lhe history of the expedition comes Io be written it will be interesting to learn how they found short-wave reception when living at the top of the world. ****** Jottings: Short-wave enthusiasts who pick up strange stations may derive some

help from the following list of some of the more obscure stations: — JKJ, Jeloy, 6.12 mc/s. YTC, Beograd. 6.10 mc/s. SASH, Motala, 6.064 mc/s. SBG, Motala, 11.704 mc/s. OXY, Skamlebak, 6.062 mc/s. OXY, Skamblebak, 11.803 mc/s. OXY, Swamlebak, 9.52 mc/s. Three nationalities are represented in the famous Continental vocal ensemble, “The Comedian Harmonists,” who - have arrived in Perth, under’ special engagement to the A.B.C. They will open their Sydney season at the Town Hall on Saturday night, August 28, in association with Jim Davidson and the A.B.C. Dance Band. ****** Four are Germans, one a Pole, and the other a Bulgarian. Since their formation in 1928 their tours have been mainly confined to Berlin, Paris Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Vienna. When they have a' slack week-end, which is rather rare, they fly across to London to broadcast from the 8.8. C. In February this year they created a tremendous hit when they gave a special programme at the Aeolian Hall, London. * * * * * * * The Comedian Harmonists comprise three tenors, one baritone, and one bass, and a pianist, Erwin Blootz, who is responsible for the fascinating and delightful arrangements of their songs. Week-end Programmes

; IYA Auckland —650k.c. ’ 7.0: Breakfast session; 10.0: Devo- . tional; 10.15: Recordings; 12.0: Lunch . music; 1.0: Weather; 2.0: Recordings; . 2.15: Running commentary on the • Rugby football match, Springboks versus New ’Zealand, at Wellington; ■ 3.0: IYX Running commentary on - Rugby Football match, relayed from • Eden' Park; 3.15-4.30: Sports results; ' 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner ■ music; 6.45: Talk: Mr. Cliff Porter, ’ noted All Black captain, “My Impressions of the First Rugby Test Match”; . 7.0: News and reports; 7.45: Talk- ’ “Better Light—Better Sight”; 8.0: Concert programme; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: Recordings; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10 to 11.15: Dance music. 2YA Wellington—s7ok.c. 6.50: Weather; 7.0: Breakfast session; 9.0: Close down; 10.0: Weather; 10.30: Time signals; Devotional; 12.0: Lunch music; 1.0: Weather; 2.0: Recordings; 2.15: Running Commentary on the First Rugby Test, South Africa v. New Zealand; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 6.45: Talk Mr. Cliff Porter, (noted All Black captain); 7.0: News; 7.30: Time signals; 8.0: Recordings; 9.0: Weather; Station notices; 9.5: Old-time dance programme;. 10.0: .Sports.summary; 10.10 to 11.15: Old-time dance programme. 3YA Christchurch —720k.c... 7.0: Breakfast session; 10.0: Devotional; 10.15: Recordings; 10.30: Time signals; 10.32: Recordings; 12.0: Relay from Riccarton of Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting; 10.0: Weather; 2.0: Recordings; 2.15: 3YL: Rebroadcast of first Test match, Springboks versus New Zealand; 2.45: Commentary on representative Rugby fixture, Canterbury versus Otago, played at Lancaster Park; 4.30: Sports results; 5.0: hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 6.45: Rebroadcast. 2yA: Talk by Mr. C. Porter, ex-All Black captain; .7.0: News and reports; 7.30: Time signals; 8.0: Concert by the Christchurch Male Voice Choir; 9.0: Weather; Station notices; 9.5: 3YA Orchestra; 9.28: Recordings; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10 to 11.15: ’ Dance music. 4YA Dunedin—79ok.c. 7.0: Breakfast session; 10.0: Recordings; 12.0: Lunch music; 1.0: Weather; 2.0: Recordings; 2.15: The first Rugby Test match, South Africa versus New Zealand; 4.30: Weather; 1 Sports results; Recordings; 4.45: Sports results; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 6.45: A talk by Cliff Porter, e-All Black captain; 7.0: ‘ News and reports; 8.0: A light orchestral and ballad concert; 9.0: Weather. Station, notices; 9.5: Ringside I description of professional wrestling match; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10 to 11.15: Dance music. Daventry, England: G.S.D. 16.86 metres; G.S.O. 19.82 metres; G.S.B. 31.55 metres. New Zealand Standard Time; 4.0: Big Ben; “London Log”; 4.40: The Band of x H.M. Scots Guards; 5.25: Variety, including William Walker; 5.55: The news and announcements; Greenwich time signals at 6 p.m.; 6.15: “Put to the Test”; 6.45: Close down. 3LR M-elbourne: 1 12.45: Music; 1.0: Time signals; News; 1.5: Weather; 1.15: Music and J Sporting Programme; 6.30': Finance < and Commerce session; 6.45: Sporting ' News and Notes; 7.10: New Zealand 1 Mail Bag; 7.20: News; 7.30: Queens- ' land and North Australian news; 7.35: Sporting Highlights; 8.5: A con- i cert by the A.B.C. (Melbourne) Sym- i phony Orchestra; 9.0: A talk; 9.15: 1 A programme by the A.B.C. (Melbourne) Wirless Chorus; 9.30: Pro- ; gramme from the Melbourne Studios: 10.30: Australasian News; 10.50: Mail i Bag Session; 11.10: Dance music; , 11.30: Meditation music; 12.0: Close , down.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15. IYA Auckland—6sok.c. 9.0: Test match; New . Zealand v. England, The Oval; 9.5: Recordings; 10.0: Cricket; 10.5: Recordings: 11.0: Morning service; 1.0: Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 6.0: Children’s song service 7.0: Evening service; 8.15: Recordings; 8.30: to 10.0: Grand charity concert. 2YA Wellington—s7ok.c. 9.0: Third Test, New Zealand v. England, at the Oval; Recordings; 10.0: Cricket; Weather; 11.0: Morning service; 1.0: Weather; Dinner session; 3.30: Time signals; 6.0: Children’s song service; 7.0: Evening service; 8.15: Recordings; 8.30: Concert from Town Hall by Benno Molseiwitsch; 10.0: Close down, 3YA Christchurch—72ok.c. 9.0: Test match. New Zealand v. England at the Oval; 9.5: Recordings; 10.0: Cricket; 10.5: Recordings; 11.0: Morning service; 1.0: Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 3.30: Time signals; 3.32: Recordings; 5.30: .Children’s song service; 6J.5: Recordings; 7,0;

Evening service; 8.15: Recordings; 8.30: Recordings; 9.0: Weather station notices: Programme featuring Budapest String Quartet; 10.0: Close down. 4YA Dunedin—79ok.c. 9.0: Test match; New Zealand v. England at the Oval; 9.5: Recordings; 10.0: Cricket; 10.5: Recordings; 11.0: Relay of service; 1.0: Weather; Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 2.45: Recordings; 5.30: Children’s hour; 6.15: Recordings; 6.30: Relay of service; 7.45: Recordings; 8.30: to 10.30: Complete musical presentation of Smetana’s- famous Czech opera, “Prodana Nevesta" (“The Bartered Bride”). Daventry, England: G.S.D. 16.86 metres; G.S.O. 19.82 metres: G.S.B. 31.55 metres. New Zealand Standard time; 4.30: Big Ben. The* Karl Caylus Players; 5.5: Bells and an Empire service; 5.55 x Weekly newsletter, sports summary and announcements; Greenwich time signal at 6.0 p.m.; 6.15: Recitai by Maggie Teyte; (soprano); 6.45: Close down. 3LR Melbourne: 6.60: p.m. “In Quires and Places Where They Sing”; 6.30: “Random Pages”; 6.40: Talk; 7.0: A programme by the Comedy Harmonists: 7.20: Programme from the Melbourne Studios; 8.0: This Week’s Story; 8.15: Recital'by Jascha and Tossy Spivakovsky, piano and Violin; 8.50: Talk on International Affairs; 9.10: “It Happened Then”; 10.15: Epilogue; 10.30: Close down.