ON THE AIR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 January 1927, Page 18

ON THE AIR

(By “Wave Length.")

“Now that the holidays are over the majority of wireless enthusiasts will be busy dial-twisting again and pleased to be back once more with their old friend radio. Many good programmes have been broadcast, and doubtless many of the conn try listeners, whilst on holiday, have had a chance to listen in. “Wavelength" learns that many lis-teners-in are dissatisfied with results front station IYA Auckland. While it ibias plenty of volume and the pi ogramines broadcast are of a. very high standard, clearness in tone i.s far from good. If only this fault could be remedied we would have a fine- station, indeed, as “Undo .Jack" (..vlr, .J. M. Pi entice) has made things move where he is concerned. 3YA; (OhrfetHiiii'ih) exeells 1Y A (Auckland) in reproduction alone. Ihe Latter ha*- hut chiritv air.l, of course, that is the most essential feature in radio. It <■>oolll* we must live in hopes. Anyhow, .cheer up the time is near win n we must part uit h our {ilk and then perhaps our wisnes will be granted. A leading tadio magazine smw up as follows: “-Now the novelty has worn off many B.C.L. s in this district ate expressing dissatisfaction with the power used bv the New Sealant! stations. It is a pity enough power is not used to give perfect reeept'on 111 mugh ordinary static. General satisfaction will bo felt a> the cabled news that Ait. tPates h;i» inspected Wellington's new .Vs id- wait broadcasting set at the Standard Gable Works, England. It 13 also good news that the set will be .shipped for Wellington this month, The claim that the set is the most powerful made in England excepting that ol ! Given try is quite correct. The cabled report that the new Wellington set will have an •aerial power of 5000 watts has- -since been, officially confirmed, says an exchange. The Daventry .station has an aerial power of 16,000 watts. Ihe world-famed 21.0, London, has an aerial power of 2000 watts. SNO, -Newcastle, 51T. Birmingham, 2ZY, Manchester, SWA. Cardiff, 0B AI, Bournemouth, 2BD. Aberdeen. SSC, Glasgow, and 2BE, Belfast, each have an -aerial power of 1000 watts. In Australia there are five broadcast -stations with an aerial power of 5000 watts each, namely: 2FO, Sydney; 2BL. Sydney; JQG. Brisbane; 3LO, Melbourne; and S>OL, Adelaide. it is reported now that -some of those Australian stations arc to have their power considerably increased in the near future. The writer has always contended that the existing 50Uwatt stations at Auckland and Christchurch were of insufficient power _to cover tlie more remote districts of New Zealand where broadcast reception would be a great boon for the lonely settlers. The new Wellington -station, with a power ten times greater than the new Auckland -and Christchurch stations, if efficiently operated, -should sweep the whole of the Dominion with satisfactory results.

Splendid progress is being made mi erecting the 5000-watt broadcast station, 7ZL, Hobart. The new station is being built on Keen's Hill, near Hobart, anti r . overlooks the city. r l he “earth” ,-y.stem of the station will comprise miles ol copper wire crossing recrossing and .soldered at the joints to make it efficient. The installation of the power -supply equipment is (depleted and the erecting of the 200 ft. aerial mast will .soon be proceeded with. It is hoped that 7ZL will be in operation on its rated power of -1 kilowatts very shortly. Radio MAR- (’Melbourne) hopes to he on its full power before very long. When lid! power is used. .Mr, M-aoolhi-ald .intends to in-stal crystal con trot, this having the effect of keeping lhe , station on its- assigned wavelength and preventing any blanketing effect which the use of high power might produce. The studios at Leonard House are now in commission, -and not a little of the improvement in the transmission is due to the use of these scientifically eon- ’ st meted rooms. Taken all round, a 1 - fairs at 3AR are very bright, and indications are that that station will soon take its place as one of the premier Australian hrnadciust pis. A good instance of how radio is still in its infancy and unknown to many people was given when one of an interested party inquired "il wireless had rolls such as pianolas have!” What's the matter with New Zealand broadcasting? asks a correspondent to an exchange. On Christmas night all the Australian stations were on the air with appropriate programmes, but what do we find in New Zealand? All our stations were silent. Surely it is time our listeners rose in a body and protested vigorously to the responsible person. “Wave Length” quite agrees with this writer. Tt was too bad to have nothing but distant broadcasts to listen to. Appropriate Christmas programmes from our New Zealand stations would have been very welcome. Mr Orliell recently introduced an idea- into the transmission of 3YA that has been in vogue for u long time in the Australian stations, namely, dual transmission. ‘ While the announcer is advising listeners that they are going to switch over to an orchestra in a

certain place, the orchestra itself can be heard slowly coming on to the air while the announcer is speakirig. and by the time ho has finished his advice the orchestra is going at full strength. This gives a novel effect, and is an improvement over the old method of coming on to a theatre with a burst. The Australian stations are still very hard to rereive at good loud talker strength, and some nights it has been practically impossible to hear them al all. even with large multivalve sets.

After continued use the engraved lettering of eon denser dials, etc., is" liable to become dirty and indistinct. This can be remedied with very little trouble. Obtain little fine white enamel, rather thick, and naint it over the portion of the dial bearing the egraving. Then take an oily rag and wipe over the dial sharply. If this is done prooerly the enamel on the surface of the dial will be removed, leaving untouched that lodged in the degressions formed by the lettering. Allow the enamel to dry before replacing the dial on the set.