ON THE AIR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 3 December 1927, Page 16

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. Why does Wellington still persist, despite the criticism that has been heard from all over the Dominion, in putting on gramophone records without prior announcement that they are such? (asks the Palmerston North “Standard”). To hear it stated that “Jimmy Johnston’s Orchestra will now present ‘ Wottle You Have With Me?’/’ or something similar, and then after several more items to hear the announcer broadcast the information that the station’s audience has been listening to gramophone records, does not meet favour with many listeners. It is not always necessary to wait for the announcement. The gramophone runs down now and then and‘gives the show a wav.

Many people are refraining from purchasing a wireless set for fear that in a very snort time their money will have been spent on an out-of-date article. This is entirely misleading, for, providing the radio reproduces what is broadcast as near the original aApossible the set of the future can do no more. To the writer’s mind far too many vocal solas arc broadcast, but this, of course, is just a matter of opinion.

When fine wires have to be . soldered in a rather inaccessible position, it is often difficult to get the tip of a solder-ing-iron of ordinary size down into position. A useiul method of overcoming this difficulty is to bind a few turns of really stout copper wire round the head of the iron, leaving a projecting tip. This can be tinned, and then makes quite a good “iron” for soldering fine wires in grooves where the iron itself it too big to enter.

The Secretary of the General Post Office states that, the number of wireless licenses issued in each district up to November was:— Wellington 12,973 Auckland 12,944 Canterbury 7,520 Otago 2,031 Total 35,4458 On the same date the number of radio dealers’ licenses was as follows: Wellington district .... 735 Auckland district 481 Canterbury district .... 285 Otago district 171 The number of transmitting licenses was .129. Perhaps by January 1 we may have somewhere near the 40,000 mark, the position certainly looks hopeful. A by-law is under consideration by the Upper Uutt relating solely to masts or towers which owing to their height and position might, if they carried away, fall upon the street or other wise cause public danger. The Borough Council has no need to interfere with what a householder does on his own premises so long as the public are not endangered. The by-law requires that if a mast is erected within its own length of the street boundary of a property a permit must bo obtained, by means of an application, accompanied, if the committee considers it necessary, by drawings and description. This, of course, is to enable the borough engineer to ascertain if the mast is structurally reliable. The provision for a ' fee has been withdrawn. If an existing mast is considered by (he' borough engineer or building inspector to be a menace to public safety the council may require it to be made to comply with the by-law. The need for regulation df masts close to public places is obvious. The writer has seen one tall and heavy mast which is carefully and fully guyed on the street side, but is hardly supported against falling into the street except by the aerial itself. If that broke the mast would probably fall upon a group of power and telephone lines and all sorts of nasty things might happen. The aerial should not be used as a support for the mast. Usually it is not strong enough; and in any case it should be so rigged that it can be taken down for inspection or renewal.

‘‘Opposition to the broadcasting of racing was expressed the other week by the secretary of one of the leading racing clubs in South Australia on the ground that it encourages the. gambling spirit in its worst form, interferes with attendances at the racecourses, and encourages the ‘hanger-on. and armchair’ type of sportsman to the detriment of true sport, ’ ’ says an Adelaide paper. Pacing is beginning to feel the effect of broadcast, and it is also exercising a detrimental influence on other sports.

In some of the country centres of South Australia those who control football and 'Other athletics have become alarmed at the enthusiasm displayed in the wirelessed descriptions and results of races and the effect it has had in lessening the attendances at other sports. From Port Pirie comes such a story. Each Saturday afternoon followers of horse racing in that town gather round the loud speakers and listen to the description and results of races held in Adelaide and other centres. Such is the interest s displayed in this latest form of non-participation in the sport that their non-attendance at. football matches and other athletic fixtures is having an increasingly detrimental effect on the gate receipts. “The loud speaker,’’ “The Recorder” comments, “is developing from a handicap to a menace to the local sporting bodies.” A remarkable story comes from another country town where, it is said, difficulty was experienced during the season iii getting a full football team to take the field because some of the players showed a preference to listening to the broadcast of racing events on which they bet, to taking their place on the football field.

With the cheaper brands of multivalve sets the accompanying accessories will equal the valve of the receiver, a ltd may, in many eases, exceed it. Of course, as the valve of the receiver increases' although the accompanying parts should increase somewhat also, the proportion is less, and, in the case of the six-valve set mentioned before, which was valued at £4O •or £SO here, the accessories would be as low as 50 per cent, of this figure. It is to be specially noted that as much attention should be paid to the purchase of a loudspeaker as to the receiver itself.