ON THE AIR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 8

ON THE AIR

(By "Wave Length.")

“Wavelength 1 * invites readers to forward short accounts qf their experiences In reception, and Items of Interest on any subject likely to Interest their fellow radio enthusiasts. NEWS AND NOTES. Now that the good old summer time is over, doubtless many listeners in will favour the Australians again for their programmes. The time for tuningin will be 9.30, as against 10.30 (Sicley time). Signor Marconi says that recent experiments prove it is possible to have two-way conversation, as well as twoway telegraphic signals, carried on one beam. He will shortly proceed to the Mediterranean aboard his yacht, Electra, to carry out further tests between beam stations.

The German postal authorities have raised the “recompense” paid to all furnishing information which will lead to' the l detection and persecution of a wireless “pirate,” from 3/- to' 10/and, as a further incentive, assure the “informants” that their name will on no account be made public.

A; revenue of over £50,000 a year .should now be due- to the Radio Broadcasting Company, according to the total number of listeners in force at present. Australian broadcasting stations were apportioned the following revenue for the year ended June 30, 1927: 2FO, Sydney, £50,910; 2BL, Sydney, £21,818; 3LO. Melbourne, £98,308; 3AR Melbourne, £42,132 ; 4QG, Brisbane, £27,421; SQL, Adelaide, £24.808 ; 6WF, Perth, £4,747; 7ZL, Hobart, £1,013. The reply of the general manager of the R.8.Cl to the Wellington Radio Olib’s request that silent days he eliminated is very unsatisfactory. With revenue at the rate of £50,000 per annum, there is no excuse for silent days.

For the first time on record a contract has been transmitted across the Atlantic by plioto-radio. The contract was. for the purchase of the film rights of the play, Broadway, for £1,500, by the Universal Film Corporation of America. At 9 p.m. The Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Company arranged to have their photographer take down a message at the London end, and before 10 p.m., the contract was in New York. -

A listener in London had what lie calls the “fascinating but nerve-shat-tering experience of picking up the S.O'.S. signals of the ill-fated “Principessa Mafalda.” The wireless operator true to the traditions of the sea-going “Sparks,” went down with his ship. He kept Jibs gear in good order ami worked it to the lust.

The wireless year will soon bo out and the time rapidly—all to' rapidly fulsome of us ! —approaching when mother will have to go short on the groceries, father curtail his smoking and “spots” and son postpone the purchase of that pair of Oxford “bags” he’s had his eye on for some time —all because there’s thirty shillings to pay for a, new license. And the question to many —especially to those .with crystal sets only—is “Is it worth it?” One hears from apologists for the Broadcasting Company that the entertainment provided is only costing listeners “a penny a night” : but the company must not rest satisfied with ther service they a re, at present giving listeners.

Th© Kookooburra. which 2FC broadcast throughout the Empire Broadcast concert was remarked on in nearly every letter, though, in various ways. Quite a number of listeners missed the name of Australia’s national bird, and their reports are most amusing. One lady says: “I heard some sea gulls making a funny noise during the broadcast. L suppose they were picked up as the waves crossed the ocean.'’ “I heard a peculier noise,’’wrote another. “What was it? It sounded like an Australian wild cat.” “We heard a most extraordinary noise during the transmission; it seemed to be like a lot of birds jabbering—or was it the artists in the. studio?”-—An ingenious theory!

Setting the alarm for g.3U a.m. last Sunday, I arose to hear the special transmission from I’CIJ Holland; it was well worth the loss of a couple of hours of sleep, although the songs and music were mostly of the gramophone order, but well selected. It was just like old times, says a writer to an exchange. By the way, the announcer's vioce seems strange, not as clear and precise as the old one, his English also not being so polished, but was quite understandable. At 4.15 a.m., I left him still going strong. This station is hard to pick up in the usual Wednesday and Friday morning transmission, in fact it is so weak that it is hardly worth while bothering about; lie may improve later. I also hoard this station last Sunday morning on a singlevalve set, at good phone strength.

Radio Dealer: “Well, Ed, how do you like your new radio?’’ Radio Fan: “Not much.” . Radio Dealer: “Why, what’s the matter?”

Radio Fan : “Well, last might my wife and I were listening in on a sermon ; and avlicji they passed round the plate for the collection I forgot and handed by wife a dollar!”—E. W. Bun •iss.

Station 2LEI has commenced service in Sydney under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. It will be used chiefly for broadcasting church services and mutters of faith.

The fact that no one who builds a short-wave receiver and -spends a fortnight or SO' listening on jt ever gives it up again .speaks for itself. One may query the truth of this assertion, but there is very little room fur doubt.— E'ingl ish Con tempo rary.

Marconi was asked in New York recently : “In your opinion will the present broadcast band of 550 to 200 metres ever be changed to short waves, thus necessitating the scrapping of present equipment?” He replied: “I can see a field for - short waves, but they will play their most important role in international exchange of programmes; that is, for long-distance broadcasting. However, 1. believe the wave-band now used for broadcasting entemtninment is well adapted for that use. and T can see no benefit to be 1 gained for the broadcasting station's to operate on channels below 100 metres unless they desire to be heard in foreign countries.