ON THE AIR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 August 1927, Page 8

ON THE AIR

(By “Wave Length.’’)

“Wavelength" invites readers to forward short accounts of their experiences In reception, and items of interest on any subject likely to interest their fellow radio enthusiasts.

NEWS AND NOTES.

“Wave-length’s” opinion of last Sunday afternoon’s broadcast from 2YA, \Vellington is not of A very flattering nature. Nothing other than the dull, monotonous tone of some reverend gentleman came over the air. Band or instrumental items would be far more entertaining to the writer’s point of view. It would be interesting to know- what other iisteners-in think, fetation KGO, San Eraacisco, was tuned in with fair volume the 'same evening, when Saturday night’s dance programme .was on the air. * * * * *

The power supply to the receiving set may-come from batteries or from an attachment to the electric lighting circuit. The -latter device is less likely to get out of order. Au inspection of the rectifier tubes (in case alternating current is employed) to see that they are making proper contact in the sockets and that they are not burned out, and an examination of all external connecting wires are about all that can be done in the home service plant. This failing to disclose the trouble, the device may then be referred to the service station, provided the subsequent examination of the set discloses no further difficulty. The battery supply for the receiving set may be storage batteries or dry cells. Examine the wires leading from the batteries to the receiving set to ascertain that there are no loose connections or mispiaced wires. Storage batteries should be tested witlf a hydrometer for condition of charge. If the charging operation requires disconnecting the wires leading to the receiving set, be sure that these connections are not reversed. Diry cell A batteries are rather limited in their length of service. Without having recourse to an ammeter, an idea of their condition may be obtained by noting the settings of the rheostats on the receiving set, assuming that the set is capable of receiving a local station. If the signals do not increase in volume as the rheostats are turned all the way round to the right the dry cells should be discarded and be replaced with new ones. B batteries should, if possible, be tested with a voltmeter, and if the voltage of the B battery unit normally registering 22.5 drops below 17 or 18, the- battery should be thrown away. The term ‘“noisy,” is applied to a B battery, is a misnomer. The battery itself can produce no noise hut it may be in such a condition that.it delivers an unsteady current. Touch the tips of the phone cords to the B battery terminals, being careful to secure firm contact, and listen for ’ any sounds other than those by the operation of making connections, This test will, incidentally, serve to indicate a break in the circuit of the phones or loud speaker. Do not allow the phones to be connected for a great length of time.

The tests which have been discussed may disclose the fact that noise in the radio circuit is due to internal causes or thev may indicate that the source of trouble is in the antenna, ground, or power* supply. In the latter event, if the trouble cannot he located and corrected, it will be necessary to call upon a service station.

Though of only 500 watts, IYA is frequently heard in Canada and in America. One correspondent expresses his impressions in the following manner :

“I have often thought that your announcers little knew who or how many were listening to you. I am probably 8000 or 9000 miles away from you, living on a farm engaged in raising wheat on the great prairies 185 miles east of Calgary, Alberta, which is may nearest city by rail.”

Broadcasting in Japan is rapidly being modernised and developed to a high point of efficiency through the efforts of the Japanese Broadcasting Association, which was formed last August through the merger of three independent associations. The initial building programme calls for six liigh-power stations and the Nippon Electric Company, Ltd., Tokio, has received an order for t-liree sfa— Lions to be manufa/Ctiired by the Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd., London, who constructed the transmitter at . 2Y r A. Wellington. The plans of erection call for spare machinery and apparatus, so arranged as, to be* rapidly, interchangeable with the primary* installation. The Nippon Elestric Company and 1 the International Telephone and Telegraph Ltd., are associated companies of the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation of New York.

Interest has recently been caused by a revival of the discussion on the choice of the most suitable wavelengths for conducting broadcasting services, and the use of wave-lengths of between 1009 and 20'00 metres (says the Melbourne “Argus”) is once more being advocated. The subject is so many-sided that the sharp differences of opinion which have occurred on the matter can be readily understood, but the weight of opinion seems to justify the action of the Australian broadcasting authorities who have afcondoned the long waves for waves betvtf&fen 200 metres and 500 metres. There is no doubt that in some respects long wave-lengths for broadcasting are eminently suited to Australian conditions. *****

Complaints of poor reception of the New Zealand stations have been definitely traced to novices partially disabling their receiving sets bv meddling with them. They change their valves around, tinker with the condenser nuts, change the battery connections, applying a different plate voltage to their detector valves, “short” their batteries', and so on. They communicate with the broadcasting company and say reception is “rotten.*’ Then a close by neighbour lets a little light in by telling the novice that he had obtained good reception, and cannot understand what the novice had to grumble about. The fact then dawns upon the novice that possibly there is something amiss with his apparatus. He summons the dealer or his assistant to inspect, his set, and then dicovers that he, himself, has put something out of geax through meddling with his equipment. He then eooly objects to paying for the servicing. An American dealer puts the matter fairly as follows Does anyone get free service on his shoes clothing, plumbing, or anything else? Wily should radio have free service? Of course, I am presuming he wishes a radio expert to do his servicing ; one who has usually paid out good money, spent long weary hours in study, to beoome efficient as a radiotrician.