THE WIRELESS WORLD

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1938, Page 10

THE WIRELESS WORLD

NOTES FOR RADIO AMATEURS.

BY

“CAT’S WHISKER"

A Stitch in Time: Once a set gets the least bit oft colour and particularly if background noises, however slight, devel p, then have it attended to at once. it not, the breakdown of one inexpensive component may bring ruin on other parts. ' Even a valve replacement is hot so simple as it might seem, t ere being over 150 different types of receiver valves, many, although totally different, fitting identical sockets. Expert attention is cheapest, and immediate attention necessary.*

“Voice appeal is one of the biggest myths of radio. The voice is an instrument only. It isn’t worth a row of beans unless the grey matter is the l®| declares an Australian announcer. Th gentleman happens to have a v P voice, and almost croons his advertise ments! All the grey matter m the worM is not worth halt a. row ol beans if poorly presented, as New Zea landers who listen to talks know to their cost. * • • •

Cost of Broadcasting: The licence, fee in Australia is one guinea per year. Of this 9s § oes the Post Office, which provides and operates the transmitting stations; and 12s to the Broadcasting Commission. Out of this the commission has to pay for all national programmes (this absorbs 8s 6d), Is 3d for copyright fees Is 4d for rent and depreciation, and 8d for administration costs. The commercial stations (over 80 in number) are controlled by private organisations, and receive nothing from .licence payers. < » •

Effect of Sunspots: Overseas listeners to Daventry, the Greenwich Observatory, and the British Broadcasting Corporation, are co.operating in the proving of new theories relating to the effect of sunspots on short-wave transmissions, and as a result, it is hoped to be possible in future to warn Daventry listeners that one of the long-term fade-outs for which solar activity is responsible n due. Investigations have shown thai the fade-outs are preceded some* hours by a bright hydrogen eruptior from an active sunspot crossing the meridian of the sun. It is believet that the delayed eruption effect te the short-wave broadcasts is causec

by the emission of vast quantities ot charged particles from the vicinity of the sunspot, and these travel at a much' slower speed than light. _Asthey penetrate the ionised layers they considerably reduce the ionisation l ev " els by collision with the electrons and give rise to poor propagation conditions, resulting in a more-, or less complete failure of signals. The British Broadcasting Corporation receives weekly cabled reports from groups ot overseas listeners as aids to the investigation of the phenomena. • « ■ • * * • •

Cheap Sets: Sets priced as low as £5 were exhibited at the Radio Olympia just held in London but they would cost nearly double that before they could be retailed in this country, and would not be adequate for New Zealand requirements. ,■ ■ ■«• • • - • • French S.W. Stations: The Paris-Mondial group of shortwave broadcasting stations operated by the French Government has again changed schedules. Eight distinct transmissions now take place daily, each programme beginning and ending with “La Marseillaise.” In the fob lowing list the' times given are New Zealand summer time, which is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich mean time: TPB-3, 16.84 metres, 2.30 a.m. to 4 a.m.; TPB-6, 25.60 metres, noon to 2.15 p.m.;' TPB-7 25.24 metres, 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; TPB-11, 19.83 metres, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m._; TPB-11, 31,41 metres, 4.15 p.m. to 11.a.m.; TPA-2, 19.68 metres,'ll p.m. to 4 a.m.; TPA-3,

25.24 metres, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 4.15 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and TPA-4, 25.60 metres, noon to 2.15 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will be noticed that at mo.st periods of the 24 hours, at least two transmitters are : on the air. ■ -' Americanised Programmes: ’ The number of Americdn-rriade features on New. Zealand radio programmes continues to increase; indeed, the two branches appear, to vie with each other in. their efforts to nasalise their schedules. The position is aggravated by the fact that a handful of people employed in one record factory are cast for the main roles in these productions, and we find, for instance, the ineffable Mr. Hippiewater fairyheavyfooting through, a children’s

pantomime, his “dotter,” Cynthia, and Mr. Scudder wheezing his way through “Eb and'Zeb,’’ and even the Little Church at Hollywood; It cart be conceded that many of the American recordings included in commercial programmes are provided by advertisers, but that does not make them any less objectionable to scores of ‘thousands of listeners. American discs, are cheap, and quite freqtfently nasty. w » < *'« • » Empire Stations: • As the Empire . short-wave transmitters have to work on several frequencies they are constructed on one of two systems, which permit of quick changing of the various coils. For the ’ lower-powered units this is effected by ; mounting a series of coils on a turntable, whiph enables, by a partial revolution of the table, .the selection of ! the appropriate - set of coils... _ With, transmitters above a certain power, however, this type of wave-changing is difficult to use arid in the latest plants there has been a reversion to. the plugin coils, which were a feature of the

: earliest all-wave receivers. Daventry uses what is probably the largest coil unit in the world... It is so large that it is run into places oh rails. 'The largest units are for Use in the final , stages and the trucks carrying these huge coils have also the feeder coupling coils and the associated tuning condenser. Experiments are proceeding with a continuously variable inductance to cover all bands from 30 to 50 metres. ’ ' ’ ' ’ , » ♦ » ♦ • ■ • • For N.Z. Listeners: For the first time in many years, the 31-metre broadcast in the No. 1 Transmission of the Empire station was discontinued on November 17, when the t following frequencies- became effec-:

tive: GSP, 60 metres; GSO, 19.76 metres; GSF, 19.82 metres, GSE, 25.29 ™ res and CSD. « these stations; GSP, GSF and GSE are specially directed toward New Zealand.

Swedish Botanist: During the visit of Professor Carl Skottsberg, the eminent Swedish botanist, the National vice obtained two recorded talks from him which will be heard shortly. Ihe title of the first is “Paradise Lost: A Chapter in the History of the Antarctic ” which derives a special interest from the fact that Professor Skottsberg visited the Antarctic, and indeed was the second botanist to set foot on Antarctic soil; Sir Joseph Hooker was the first. In this talk, Professor Skottsberg’s second talk will be about the mystery of Easter Island, which he has visited.

Television Pictures: The comparatively small size of pic ture produced by the average receiver! is often held to be one of the factors) retarding the more rapid progress of; television. The Radio Manufacturers’ Association in Great Britain does not agree, and has made an analysis to show that in home reception from a. distance of six to eight feet a picture 10 inches by eight inches will give results comparable in apparent size and definition td those of a film seen from a good seat. The association does [not deny that an increase m size would I not be desirable, but it pdirits out that larger pictures’ would iitean larger receivers. It also emphasises the fact

that larger pictures are hard to obtain with satisfactory brightness without corresponding expense, whereas small pictures usually have sufficient illumination to be visible in normal room lighting. In arriving at its conclusions, the association' considers a picture as a collection of dots set out in rows. On this basis a picture 10 inches wide by eight inches high is considered to have 400 rows each of ,500 dots —that I is, changes of. light , and shade—per row. In a picture pf this type—for example, a newspaper?. “half-tone” illustration—it is obvious that if the observer is too close he will see the in-

dividual units and faults'of the picture and that if he is .too far 'away he will lose tile' detail- thdt it contains. Actually the'distance' that is most suitable' depends upon tjhe individual, and also on the contrast between the individual units. A fair average is stated to be a distance of five feet for an Object one-fiftieth of, an inch in size. If a series of objects of this size is observed at a closer distance -the individual members ‘of the collection will be seen. At distance the individuals will ' 'merge into a composite whole, but the distaWe must not be too great forobvipus reasons. A modern television receiver builds up' its pictures in a series of ‘‘(lots’* about onefiitieth of an inch in size when they are thrown on to a screen 10 inches by eight inches. If-such’ a picture without any alterationin the number of lines and variations 1 of light and shade were thrown on to a larger screen the individual parts would become correspondingly. larger, ‘ and, therefore, if such parts were not to become visible as distinct ’ units, the observer would have to. move-further- away. Therefore, if the picture height was increased to two feet, the observer would have to stand off the scene from 15 to 20 feet, Which; .the .association points out, is. not afweasy. matter in a house. Ih other words, unless, the number of lines, etc., per picture, is increased (it is important to .note this proviso), no great advantage is likely to accrue from increase of size of picture. In those' circumstances the position would become rather'like looking at a newspaper picture through a magnifying glass,' dn oil painting from a short distance*,' an ovdr-enlargad photograph dr'a. kihema 'film from a front/seat; The Radio .Manufacturers’ Association claims that at present television ajtjts best should give- definition equals fa that of,the home kinema. Whether that is so or not cannot yet be judged (says & writer-'ih an« Australian paper) but whatever. may be the best size for existing television standards it is quite obvious that ah increase of this optimum size r would achieve little In the; absence of .an advance' ih-tfie 4 transmission standards.

A Serial For Children:

•'.in addition, tq tile serials which c.,e N.B.S. has recently (purchased for its children’s sessions, 'another new serial that Should prove extremely popular ambrig young listeners\has also /just been acquired. /This fs ,a dramatisation of Anna Sewell’s famous novel “Black Beauty,a rioVel that has had a sustained appear for yoiing readers ever since it; published jh 1877. This fasciitatirig,if sentimental, “autobiography’’ of. a,. horse . makes gfbpd radio iriaterial with .several distinct marks of The serial ~1s to be produced by the N.B,S. and will be heard in the children’s sessions early-next year. ; r

To-day’s Programmes

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER .30, 1938.

IYA Auckland—6so fc.c.: t 7.0: Bfeakfast; 9.6: Qlose down; 10.6: ■ Devotional; 10,15:, Recordings; 11.0: Talk to Women; 12,0: Lunch music; ! 2.0: Recordings; 2.30: Classical hour; 3.15: Spotts results;/3,30; Light musip; ,4.0: Weather; 4,30: Sports results; 5.0: 'Children’s session.;. 6.0: Dinner music; 7’o: Government and overseas news; 7.40: ‘'Occupational Opportunities Today’—Mr. G. W. C. Drake, Vocational Guidance Officer, Government Youth Centre, Auckland; 8.0: Ina Bos; Worth' (violin) and Leo Wfiittakhr piano); 8.22: (R) Lore Fischer (contralto); 8.28: (R) Lener, Roth, Hartmann, Hobday, .Draper, Hinchcliffe apd Brain; 8.36: (R) Heiririch ReKkemper (baritone); 8.44: Elly Ney Trio; 9.6: Weather, report and stapban notices; 9.5: (R) “Coronets of England—The Life of Mary Queen of Scots”; 9.35: (R) Dennis Noble .(baritone) with chorus; and orchestra; .9.43: f (R) Otto Dobrindt and his Piano Symphonists; 9.49: (R) Jessie Matthews (light/ vocal); 9.55: (R) London Theatre Orchestra; 10.0: Music,- mirth and melody; 11.0: Close down. . ■ O :

2YA Wellington—S/Ok'c.: , 6.50: Weather;, ,7.0:. . Breakfast;; session;- 9.0.- 'Close’ d'diva; ;10.0 : W'eatjier.;

10.10:' Devotional; 10.25: Recording; 10.45: A talk to women; 12.0: Lunen music,;-4.0: Weather; 2.0: Classical hour; 3.6; Sports results; 3.28: Weather ; 4.0: Sports results; 5.0: Children s session; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Government and overseas news; 7.28: Talk by Gardening Expert: “For the Home Gardener” j 8-0: A St. Andrew’s Day Ptcigramrite by:the St. Andrew’s Musical Society; 9.0: Weather report and station notices; 9.5: “Into the Light (serial romance of the Middle Ages) ; 9.33: “Soldier :or Fortune”| (Chapter 8), presented by James Raglan and Co.; 16.6: Dance music; 11.0: Close down. ■

3YA Christchurch—72o k.c.: 7.0: Breakfast; 9.0: Close down; 10.0: Recordings; 10.30: Devotional; 10.45: Recordings; 11.0: A Talk to Women; 11.10: Women’s session; 11.30: Recordings; 12.0; Lunch music; 2.0: Recordings; 3..0:, Classical music; 4.0: Weather; light music; 4.30: Sports results; 5.0: Children’s hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Government and overseas news; 7.10: News and reports; 7.20: Addington Stock Market reports; 7.30: “The Whirligig of Time." Talk by Mr. Ernest Jenner, “Cesar Franck”; 8.0: Concert by t hexßoyal Christchurch Musical Society; 9,15: Weather forecast and station notices; 9.20: Readings by Mr. O. L. Simmance, with music; 9.56: (R) Grand Symphony Orchestra; 10.0: Music, mirth and melody; 110: Close down. . i•

4YA Dunedin —790 k.c.: 7.0: Breakfast session; 9.0: Close down; 10.0: 10.15: Devotional; 10.50: A talk to women; 11.0: A talk, “Cooking by Electricity”; 12.0: Lupch music; 1.0; Weather report; 2.0: Recordings; 3.15: A talk by the A.C.E., “Getting the Best From Your Refrigerator”; 3.30: Sports results. Classical music; 4.0: Weather; 4.45: Sports results; 5.0: Children's Hour; 6.0: Dinner music; 7.0: Government and overseas news; 7.30: Motor Expert, “Helpful Hints to ■ Motorists”; 8.0: ;(R) “Mittens;” presented "by George Edwards and Company; 8.15: “The Bold, Bad Buccaneers” (humour and harmony); 8.28: “The Fourth Form at St. Per8.40: A talk by the Rev 1 . W. Allen Steveley, "Sons of St. Andrew”; 9.0: Weather report and station notices; 9.5: Carsori Robison and his Buckaroos; 9.18:. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame”--a George Edwards serial; production; 9.31: “The Masked MaSqueradersT; (harmony and hilarity); 10.0: Ari, hour of dance music; 11.0: Close down- i