THE WIRELESS WORLD

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 12

THE WIRELESS WORLD

NOTES FOR RADIO AMATEURS.

(By

“Oat’s Whisker’’)

Short-Wave Development: Great development of short waves, ultra-short waves, and television, with its problems and limitations, was foretold by the president of the New South Wales division of the Institution of Radio Engineers, Sir Ernest Fisk, recently. Much had yet to be found out about television, Sir Ernest Fisk said. For instance, it might be possible to have only six or seven stations in the whole of Australia Problems of the receiver, such as high voltages and the “shooting star’ effects caused by motor, car interfer ence had to be overcome. Colom television and large size cinema screen type of reproduction, mentioned recently in cables, were certainties o! the futur.e, but a future of probablj 25 years. The reason why it might not be possible to operate more thar six or seven television stations was the chance of interference between transmitters. Each transmitter requires 9 great deal of space in the frequency band, and six or seven are all that can be conveniently installed in one district. It had been thought that the ultra-short wave lengths used had only a restricted range and that because of this the six or seven could be repeated at suitable Intervals. It now seemed that reflected waves and like phenomena increased the inter ference, if not the effective range of transmitters of this type, and this may have a serious effect, in restricting the number of transmitters in any coun try. Until this and other matters wore settled, the future could not be determined. There was evidence that It would be some time before all the difficulties could be removed, in the fact that all over the world authorities responsible for broadcasting services were still spending large sums in the erection of new and more powerful stations. Sir Ernest Fisk was speaking at a dinner held at the Millions Club by the institution to celebrate the anniversary of the transmission on December 12, 1901, of the first message across the Atlantic by the late Marchesse Marconi and his colleagues A similar function was held by the dirvisions of the institution in the other States of the Commonwealth. Sir Ernest Fisk added that as well as celebrating the anniversary of the first long-distance wireless message, the gathering had to record the passing of Marconi and also another great pioneering scientist, Lord Rutherford, the work and spirit of both of whom would alw’ays be a guiding light for radio engineers and scientists. There was, he said, a difference between the academic scientific work and the practical application of its discoveries, which required the type of leader who could see beyond the laboratory. Marconi was a leader of that typ®, • ••••• International Understanding: The International Broadcasting Union has asked its members to tell it what they are doing towards the creation of a better understanding between peoples. It apparently feels that the growth of propaganda broadcasts. particularly in Europe, . requires some antidote, and is seeking a way to suggest to its members how they could improve matters. Its efforts, however, well meaning they may be, cannot meet with much success, as it has no means of disciplining its members. «<•••• Listeners’ Panel: No fewer than 47,000 listeners volunteered to serve on a panel that has been formed by the British Broadcasting Corporation to gauge the listenerresponse to light entertainment programmes. These offers were received within three days of the request made over the air by Mr. John Watt, director of variety for the British Broadcasting Corporation. As a result of this overwhelming response the corporation has decided to enrol 2,000 of the applicants by the expedient of accepting each twenty-third offer. Each listener on the panel is to be supplied with a form giving details of the light entertainment programmes to be broadcast over three months, and will be asked to answer zriefly just three questions:—(a) How much of the programme did you hear? (b) Did you start listening after this programme had begun? (c) Did you stop listening before this programme had finished? Though the most ambitious from the point of view of the size of the panel, this is not the first such inquiry on the part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, which goes to considerable lengths to ascertain the opinion of listeners of dissimilar metals being heated and the voltage thereby created producing a useful amount of current. Gas was used in the models shown, but there appears to be no reason why other fuel could not be applied. Where electricity is available there would be no call for this scheme, but there is a chance that it may, one day, be of some use to those who are remote from cheap sources of power. At this stage it would not be wise for' country listeners to imagine that their power supply difficulties are solved again. As mentioned in this column a few months ago, a kerosene operat ed hot air has been developed for battery charging in Germany. ' • ••••• I An Unusual, Ban: | A certain amount of commercial broadcasting by privately-owned stations is still permitted in Canada, but advertising of spirituous liquors, wine, and beer is forbidden. Such a ban would make a lot of difference to Australian B stations. Fortune-tell-ers, crystal-gazers, and “physics” are banned in Canada, but one Sydney station conducts regular sessions by “thought-reader.” ******* Call Signs on Dials: A Toulouse Court recently held that the buyer of a receiver could regard the sale as legally void if the set did not give normal reception even in daylight of every station that had its name or call sign on the tuning dial. The decision will not be allowed to stand without an appeal to the highest court. PLANS FOR 1938. THE EMPIRE SERVICE. A fortnight ago the 8.8. C. completed five years of Empire broadcasting. In an article in “8.8. C. Empire Broadcasting,” an official journal of the 8.8. C., the Empire Programme Director, Mr. J. C. S. MacGregor, discusses plans for 1938. What of the sixth year? he asks.

How will it differ from its predecessors? How can we at Broadcasting House improve the service? And how can you, in Auckland or Vancouver, in Lagos or Bombay, Port Stanley or Port Elizabeth, help in this further improvement? real secret of progress. Perhaps my last question itself suggests the answer, for we are convinced that closer co-operation between listeners and broadcasters is the real secret of progress. In all the changes we make in the lay-out of the programmes we are trying to meet the convenience of some at least of our audience —which is to say of you. And so it is vital that you should let us know what changes you want. Of course it may happen—it often does—that what is sauce for the goose is anything but sauce for the gander, because habits and tastes vary enormously. At the same time, the study we are always making of your needs and wishes sometimes reveals things jwhich would certainly make for general satisfaction. The problem then arises whether the change is practicable. If it is, it is put into effect. . If I have perhaps laboured this point of collaboration, I am frankly, unrepentant, because it really is of the utmost importance. A very good case in point arises now—in the closing of the gap between Transmissions 2 and 3. This is the biggest change we are making at the opening of the New Year. For a long time it has been recognised as desirable; it could not give offence to any section of our audience. But it is only now that it has become possible to bring it about. We ourselves share the satisfaction which will surely be felt in the Far East when Daventry is no longer forced to go off the air during those twenty minutes of popular listening time. On and after January 2 Transmission 2 will end, as at present, at 1.55 p.m. (G.M.T.), after the news, but Transmission 3 will follow without a break. A second change to take effect is in the timing of the news in Transmission 1. For some time past the bulletin has been placed so as to leave twenty-five minutes or half an hour of programme time after the end of the news. We are now reverting to the old plan of keeping the news till the end, because in that way we have greater flexibility of programme building and can make fuller use of longer features. In the spring and summer, when propagation conditions make earlier timing of Transmission 1 essential, we believe it will be found an advantage, to have the news as late as possible. Heat-Driven Receiver: A heat-operated battery charging Unit has been developed in England. It operates on the “Thermo-counle” principle, a number of junction points on the fare provided. ******* Landline System: Australian National programmes are built up by sections from the different capitals—Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart. This is made practicable by a comprehensive system of landlines, totalling considerably over 3.000 miles, specially installed by the Post Office, which controls the mechanical side of broadcasting for the A.B.C. When the special channel is not adequate, use is made of the ordinary telephone circuits. Line “losses” over long distances are made good by _ repeater stations, which restore signal strength. For example, between Sydney and the relay station, 2NR, at Grafton, there are three repeaters, which, in addition to boosting up the signals, correct the tendency for higher frequencies to loose balance with the lower ones. Servicing of the lines to keep insulators and other equipment in good condition is a big task, but a satisfactory job appears to be made of it. as without a programme it is not possible to detect from which city a particular session is being presented. With a revenue of over £300,000 per annum there seems no reason why the New Zealand National Service cannot install special relay lines.

Week-end Programmes

SATURDAY, February 12. IYA Auckland—6so k.c. 7.0: Breakfast session; 9.0: Close down; 10.0: Devotional; 10.15: Recordings; 12.0: Auckland T.C. meeting; 1.0; Week-end weather; 2.0: Recordings; 4.30: Sports results; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Official and Wireless news; 8.0; Concert programme. . Recordings: Eric Coates and Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Rhapsodies on “I Pitch My Lonely Caravan” and “Bird Songs at Eventide”; 8.22: Recording: Moriz Rosenthal (piano), “Carneval de Vienne” on Themes by Johann Strauss; 8.30: A short recital by Mr and Mrs Ramsay Howie. Duet, “Twilight.” Molly Howie “Sigh No More, Ladies.” “Still as the Night.” “Heart jof Gold”; Ramsay Howie (baritone). “The Devout Lover.” “Because I Were Shy”; 8.50: Recordings: Eric Coates and Symphony Orchestra “Song of Loyalty,” “A Song by the Way”; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: Recording: Light Opera Company, “Chocolate Soldier” Vocal Gems; 9.9: Primo Scala’s Accordion Band, “Six Hits of the Day”;-9.15: Gracie Fields, assist ed by her family, “Gracie at Home”; 9.23: Coleman Hawkins (saxophone), "Some of These Days," “After You’ve Gone”; 9.29: Humoresk Melodies, "Little English Dances,” “Raindrops”; 9.35: Herbert Kuster Piano Orchestra “Fountain”, “Do You Love Me?” 9.41! Ellaine Terris and Seymour Hicks, “A Reminiscent Medley”: 9,49: Reginald Dixon (organ) “Irish Medley”; 9.55: Light Opera Company, “Lilac Domino” Vocal Gems; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10: Dance music; 11.15: Close down.

2YA Wellington—s7o k.c. 6.50: Weather for aviators; 7.0: Breakfast session; 9.0: Close down; 10.0: Weather for aviators Devotional; 12.0: Lunch music; 1.0: Weather; 2.0: Light music; 3.0: Sports results; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Official and’ Wireless news; 8.0: Concert programme. The Masked Masqueraders and their Jesters present sketch es, sohgs. and jokes; 8.32: Ann Luciana (soprano), "Afraid to- Dream,” “If My Love Could Talk,” “I Wouldn’t Care”; 8.42Recordings: Larry Adler (mouth-or-gan virtuoso) "Japanese Sandman,”

“Somebody Stole My Gal”; 8.45: Ger•akio Orchestra “On the Avenue” Selection; 8.53: Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert present “Our Greatest Successes”; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: Old-time dance music; 10.0. Sports summary; 10.10; Dance programme; 11130: Close down.

3YA Christchurch —720 k.c. 7.0: Breakfast session; 9.0: Close down; 10.0. :Recordings; 10.30: Devotional; 12.0: Lunch music. Relay from Addington of Canterbury Park T.C meeting; 1.0: Weather; 2.0: Recordings; 3.30: Sports results 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Official and Wireless news; 8.0: Recordings. The London Palladium Orchestra, “Echoes from the Puszta”; 8.5: “Westward Ho!” Episode. 47; 8.18: Peter Dawson (bass-baritone), “The Fleet’s Not in Port Very Long," “Old Plantation”; 8.24: Tony Lowry (pianoforte) “A Bouquet of Serenades”; 8.30: Recordings. Comedy Harmonists (vocal quintet) "Congo Lullaby,” “When the Sun Says Goodnight to the Mountains,” “Love Me a Little To-day”; 8.39; Janet Lind and Webster Booth, “London Theatre Success, 1936”; 8.48: Kurt Engel (xylophone) “La Cinquantaine., 8.51: Richard Crooks (tenor) "Beautiful Dreamer,” “Ah! May the Red Rose Live Always,” “I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: 3YA Orchestra, “Gold Diggers of 1937” Selection; 9.13: Beatrice Simpson (soprano) in popular songs, "Water Under the Bridge,” “In Your Own Quiet Way”; 9 20’ 3YA Orchestra. Two novelties for piano and orchestra, “The Cobblers’ Boy,’ Vienna Kiss”; 9.26: Recording. Men About Town with Zora Lawman, “Hear Those Darkies Singing”; 9.35: 3YA Orchestra “My Life is a Love Song,, intermezzo, “Dance of the Clowns , 9.42: Beatrice Simpson in popular songs “Flower Girl,” “September in the Rain”; 9.50: 3YA Orchestra, "In Malaga” Spanish Suite, Spanish Lanies’ Tango, Serenade to Eulalie, Cachucha; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10: Dance music; 11.15: Close down. 4YA Dunedin —790 k.c.

7.0: Breakfast session; 9.0: Close down; 10.0: Recordings; 12.0: Lunch music; 12.-40: Dunedin J.C. meeting: 1.0: Weather; 2.0: Recordings; 3.30: Sports results; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Official and Wireless news; 8.0: A light orchestral and ballad concert. 4YA Concert Orchestra conducted by James Dixon, “A Country Girl” Selection; 8.10: Jean Macfarlane, N.Z. contralto “Yonder,” “Hills of Donegal,” “Jock o’ Hazeldean,” “Land of Hope and Glory”; 8.23: The Orchestra, “Paris" Suite, “Apache Life,” “In the Tuileries Garden,” “Mont Marte”; 8.37: Sydney Mac Ewan (Scottish tenor). “Morag Bheag,” “Song of the Seals,” “Mary Morison,” “The Short-cut to the Rosses,” "O, Men from the Fields,” “The Rose of Tralee”; 9.52: The Orchestra, “Sous le Balcon," "Moonlight Reverie," “Trot de Cavalerie”; 9.0: Weather. Station notices; 9.5: Dance music; 10.0: Sports summary; 10.10: Dance music; 11.15Close down.

Daventry, England: G. 5.0., 16.68 metres; G.S.D., 19.82 metres; G. 5.8., 31.55 metres. New Zealand standard time: 8.15 p.m.; Big Ben. “London Log”; 8.25: “The Symphonies of Brahms” (3). The BBC Empire Orchestra; 9.5: Talk, “Over the Farm Gate” (3); 9-20: The BBC Theatre organ; 9.40: Irish concert; 10.0: The news and announcements; 10.25: Close down.

VLR, Melbourne: 12.35 p.m.: Recorded music; 1.0: Victorian news; 1.15: Luncheon music; 1.30: Afternoon sporting programme—Descriptions of the Caulfield races and the Empire Games in Sydney; 5.30: Close; 6.30 Recorded music; 6.40: Sporting news and notes; 7.0.- New Zealand mail bag; 7.5: Musical interlude; 7.20: Overseas news service; 7.30: Queensland and North Australian news; 7.35: Sporting highlights of the week; 8.0: Programme by the A.B.C. Concert Orchestra; 8.50 Special recordings; 9.10: Recital by Dino Borgioli, famous lyric tenor, 10.0: Popular numbers by the Tasmanian Studio Orchestra; 10.30: Australasian news; 10.55: Australasian mail bag; 11.0: Dance music; 12.0: Close. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1938. IYA Auckland —650 k.c.: 9.0: Recordings; 11.0: Morning service. Epsom Methodist Church; 1.0 Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 3.30: “Thus Spake Zarathustra." A tone poem by Richard Strauss. Played by Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra; 4.6: Recordings, 4.30: Close down; 6.0: Children’s song service; 7.0: Evening service, from Baptist Tabernacle; 8.15: Recordings; 8.30: A recorded presentation of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera ‘lolanthe’ 10.0: Close down. 2YA Wellington—s7o k.c.: 9.0: Recordings; 10.0; Weather for aviators; 11.0: Morning service from the Salvation Army Citadel; 12.15 (approx.): Close down; 1.0: Weather for aviators. Dinner music; 2.0: Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (“Ths Moonlight”) by Beethoven, played bv Arthur Schnabel; 2.13: Recordings. 4.30: Close down; 6.0: Children’s son? service; 7.0: Evening service from St James’s Presbyterian Church; 8.15. Recordings; 8.30: Complete presentation of Smetana’s opera, “The Bartered Bride,” presented by soloists and chorus of the National Theatre, Prague; 10.30: Close down. 3YA Christchurch—72o k.c.:

9.0: Recordings; 11.0: Morning service from Rugby Street Methodisi Church; 1.0: Dinner music; 2.0: Re cordings; 3.0: “Falstaff.” A symphonic study by Elgar, played by the Lon don Symphony Orchestra; 3.34: Re cordings; 4.0: Recordings; 5.30: Children’s song service; 6.15: Recordings: 7.0: Evening service Christchurch Anglican Cathedral; 8.15: . Recordings; 8.30: Recording, Symphony Orchestra, “Hansel and Gretel” Overture (Humperdinck); 8.39: Rex Harrison (baritone recital), (a) Prologue to “Pagliacci,” (b) “Song of the Flea,” “Lend Me Your Aid”; 8.53: Recording, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski, (a> “March of the Smugglers,” (b) “Sol diers Changing the Guard”; 9.0'; Weather. Station notices; 9.0: Recital on the Civic organ, • “Shepherd’s Dance,” Tenor with organ, “Dolorosa," “Too Late To-morrow,” organ, "Liebeslied”; “Schon Rosmarin”; tenor with organ, “At Dawning,” “O, Lovely Night”; organ, “Torch Dance”; 9.36: Vera Martin (contralto), “Songs of Old London,” (a) “Buy My Strawberries,” (b) “Down Vauxhall Way,” (c) “The Nightingales of Lincoln’s Inn”; 9.48: Recording, The Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin, Ballet “Eayptien”; 10.0: Close down. 4YA Dunedin—79o k.c.: 9.0: Recordings; 11.0: Morning ser

vice, Hanover Street Baptist Church L 0: Dinner music; 2.0: Recordings; 2.30: “The Nutcracker Suite," by Tschaikowsky. Played by the Philadelphia Orchestra; 2.54: Recordings; 4.30: Close down; 5.30: Children’s song service; 6.30: Evening service, Moray Place Congregational Church; 7.45: Recordings; 8.30: An organ recital by Dr. V. E. Galway,’ Dunedin City Organist from Town Hall; 9.0; Weather, Station notices; 9.5: Studio recital by Sydney Mac Ewan, Scottish tenor, “The Three Mummers,”. “Christ in His Garden," “The Holy Child," “When the Children Say their Prayers,” “Just for To-day,” “Bless this House”; 9.20: Recordings, Joseph Szigeti (violin), “Piece En Form® d’Habanera,” “Study in Thirds,” “Roumanian Folk Dances”; 9.30: Studio recital by Jean Macfarlane, N.Z. contralto, “My Heart is Weary,” “O Divine Redeemer,” “Silent Moon,” ‘Arise O Sun’; 9 45: Recordings, the Boyd Neel String Orchestra, Slavonic Scherzo, Romance in C for Strings Op. 42 “Moto Perpetuo”; 10.0: Close down.

Daventry, England: G. 5.0., 16.68 metres; G.S.D., 19.82 metres; G. 5.8., 31.55 metres, N»w Zealand standard times; 9.15 p.m.: Big Ben. Ireland v. England. Commentary on the International Rugby Union football match from Dublin; 8.45: Orchestra" music; 8.55: Weekly newsletter, sports summary and Saturday sport; 9.25: Musical interlude: 9.30: Religious service (Roman Catholic) from the Studio; 10.5: Recital for two pianofortes. Alleyna and Leonhardt; 10.25: Close down. VLR Melbourne:

6.0 p.m.: “In Quires and Places Where They Sing,” presented by the A. Wireless Chorus; 6.30: Talk on International Affairs. By Mr. J. B. Brigden; 6.50: News Bulletin; 7.0; “Alice in Orchestralia”: 7.30: Recordings; 8.30: This Week’s Story; 8.45; The New Note Octet; 9.15: Radio Presentation of a recent Film Release; 10.15: News: 10.20: Epilogue; 10.30 Close.