RADIO NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 189, 15 July 1925, Page 14

RADIO NOTES

(By “Q.R.M.”) 31/0 is now permanently transmitting on 371 metres. It is received much better on this low wave length than on its former 1720 metres.

Mr Dawson, owner of 3AD, Ashburton, has secured another record in radio communication. He has succeeded in holding two-way communication with the French amateur BPV, operated by Mr G. Perroux, 96 Boulevard, Mont Parnasse, Paris. Mr Dawson was using a power of under 14 watts, and he i 9 to be congratulated on his success.

One of the first, things heard from 3LO, since it has changed its wave-length, was a request that a certain man was to communicate with his people in Adelaide immediately, as one of the family was seriously ill. 4AB, Otago, now transmits regularly on 300 metres with a power of 40 watts. Reports come to hand that the representative on the New Zealand Broadcasting Company will hold office for a period of five years. From this we take it that the Government will not hold another election for at least five years. The Otago Radio Association is joining with Wellington in supporting the Auckland candidate, Mr G. Mcß. Salt, M Sc. Mr Salt was horn in New Puynioulh in 1896, being dux of the New Plymouth High School and leaving there to study science at the Otago University. After specialising in magnetism and electricity under Professor Jack, he obtained his M’.Sc. with first-class honours. Since 1920 he has held the position of lecturer and demonstrator in physics at Auckland University. At present ho is conducting a radio research, and holds the amateur’s certificate for the experimental station to be built at the Auckland University College. Mr Salt was a foundation member of the Auckland branch of the original Wireless Institute of New Zealand, and acted at different times as hon. secretary and chairman of that branch. Under Dr. Jack, he picked up a great deal of both practical and technical knowledge during the time when Dr. Jack was conducting his experimental transmission in 1921. The Wellington candidate for the above nosition is Mr 10. F. Hollands.

2YK, -Wellington, transmits on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, on a power of 100 watts. The latest reports state that 2YK is to be pulled to pieces and rebuilt sometime during this month. It is hoped that. when it recommences, it will be heard a little more clearly in Palmerston North than has been the case during the past. 2YB, the stand-by for 2YK, transmits on a power of 15 waits every afternoon from 3.30 to 4.30 except Saturday and Sunday. From 5 to 5.30 p.m. a children’s half-hour of bed-time stories is broadcast. RADIO TELEGRAPHY. It is surprising the number of people who still think that “radio” and “wireless” are two different inventions. Some people think that radio is a recent invention pertaining only to (ho transmission of speech and music. Wireless and radio, however, are one and the same thing. The word “wireless” is rapidly going out of use, the term now being “radio telegraphy” or “telephony.” Anyone owning any kind of a set has heard the dots and dashes of the telegraph stations. To anyone not knowing the code it means very little, but once knowing the code this form of entertainment is quite ns interesting as listening to music or speech. Every country in the world except Japan uses .the International Morse code. This code is made up of dots and dashes, the dash being equal to three times the duration of one dot, as dash and two dots, and when heard would sound like “dit dull dit dit.” The radio operators receive the messages by these sounds, and the process becomes automatic. When receiving messages at. a speed of 30 to 40 words a minute, it is impossible for the brain to separate between each dot and dash ; the only way is to go by sound, and it is for this reason that messages are sent at so great a speed. Of the three forms of transmission — spark, quenched-spark, and c.w.—the latter is hv far the most easily read, because of its high-pitched singing tone, whereas spark signals make a harsh metallic noise. RADIO GOLF. This is a simple and interesting form of amusement for amateurs living in the same vicinity. For example let: us suppose that Jones and Smith both live in the same town, and each possesses a three valveset, both thinking his is the better set for long distance reception. They decide to play a nine hole game of radio golf, with a time limit of from 8 p.m. to ]0 p.m. Each goes after tile distant stations, and records all stations heard during that period. The call of the station and at least one item must he logged. Now, suppose Spiilh hears ten different stations. The nine stations farthest away are considered ns “drivers.” Let us say Smith picks up among others. KGO, and 2BL. Upon measuring the distances on a map he finds that one is 6000 and the other 2000 miles distant. Then, in two drives Smith has covered 8000 miles. At the end of the specified time each “player” adds up his total distances, the one with the greatest distance to his credit being of course the winner, and will have the better set. If one amateur has a four-valve set and another only a single one, a handicap of say 3000 miles can be imposed on the larger one. It will be seen that many variations are possible and a great deal of competition can be aroused from this source.

STATIONS HEARD AND FUTURE PROGRAMMES. Last Saturday evening a number of good stations wore on the air. At eight o'clock Dunedin station, 4YA, was very loud but not very clear. The Auckland station, IYA. also was good but very faint. 2YK, Wellington, roared in. 31.0, Melbourne, was about the best it lias been for some time. 2BL was fairly good. Every one seemed to have gone to the pictures', for quietness reigned a greater part of the time, though occasionally one or two squealers made themselves conspicuous. At about nine o'clock the writer run into 2AO. Tailiape. It seems that 2AQ was having a test with Australia. He was using a 60 watt modulation, and a fivewatt amplifying valve. An Hawaiian item bv Mr Xic.hol Is came in with extreme volume. Ths item was given twice. The first time the chords seemed to be cut short in the middle; the second time it. was given Mr Coutts made numerous adjustments and it came in very well indeed. Mr Coutts then gave out one or two announcements. He called “Hello, Palmerston North,” once-or twice and then gave n description of the power used, etc. He specially requested that anyone hearing him should let him know how the two items came in. After wishing everyone goodnight lie signed off. About ten minutes to ten the writer again ran into 4YA. The item just, commencing was a violin solo. Then followed the best performance from 4YA yet heard for many a long day. In fact it. was the best; ever heard from Dunedin. The squealer* had the grace to be silent, for which we owe thorn a debt of thanks. The reception was perfect in tone, strength and quality, in fact one could almost imagine the performer in the room. Mr O’Neil! is to be congratulated most heartily on Saturday’s performance. IYA for the last half-hour was very good except for fading. From half-past nine to about. 10:i5, shorn! items from 2FC, Sydney, came in very well. Mr Coutts, of 2AQ, Tailiape, will be again testing next Saturday evening from seven o’clock onwards.

Last Monday evening the Otago Artillery Band gave an excellent, performance from 4YA. To-night the Dunedin Salvation Army Band will givo the items from this station. To-morrow night the Hanover Street Baptist Choir will render the programme. On Saturday evening the Commercial Travellers’ Association will givo what is certain to be a most enjoyable concert from the above station.

Listeners-in throughout New Zealand, and, indeed, throughout the world, aro familiar with the “Hello! Hello! Hello!” followed by the code call of the Taihapo Broadcasting Station! Morton Coutts, the Tailiape enthusiast, has (says an exchange) been heard in many parts of tiro world, and his radio concerts, Morse signals, and experimental wireless telephony calls, sent

out from the powerful Ration lie has erected, lire considered to be among the best in New Zealand. Two huge steel towers, with a perfect maze of wires spread umbrella fashion overhead, have been erected on the grounds of the family abode. These can be seen from any part of Tnihape, but the station is more often heard than seen, its powerful signals cutting in on nearby listeners-in with such strength that they can be heard strongly on the valves after both aerial and earth line have been “dissed.” Some idea of the strength of his signals can be judged l front the fact that they have been beard in Cornwall, England, while communication with America is a. regular thing. Inside the little cabin used as a studio the visitor finds an amazing number of instruments, wires and broadcasting gear of every conceivable description. I-lcre our young enthusiast spends most of his time, and as every part of the plant is the result of his own labour and enthusiasm, he is justly proud of his achievements. As the Yanks would say, Morton Courts, of Taihape. has sure got a “bug” for wireless, and we hope that his “carrier wave” will never grow weaker or his shadow grow less in the wireless world.

SECRET RADIO. BY THE MARCONI BEAM. SHORT-WAVE WONDER. Within a year or two the voice of the King of England may be easily and clearly heard by millions of his subjects in places as far apart as India, Australia, Canada and South Africa. Senatoro Marconi ventures this prophecy after describing (in an article in the Wireless Magazine for June) the remarkable results of bis wireless experiments in the use of short electric waves, combined with what is known as the “beam system.” lie foresees what will amount to “nothing less than a revolution in the methods of commercial long-distance communication,” and is “convinced that the day is fast approaching when beam stations, using short waves and employing a fraction of the power utilised in the present high-power stations, and with .much lower and fewer masts, will be able to carry on communication at practically any time between any two points of the earth’s surface and at much higher speeds than is now possible.” How this revolution in wireless may establish a. regular system of secret wireless communication is also hinted at by Senatore Mi rconi, who says : “As regards secrecy, the beam system possesses a considerable advantage in so far as only places situated within a certain angle or sector of the beam are able to receive. “This comparative secrecy or privacy, which cannot be obtained with any other system of radio communication, might prove of tbo greatest possible value in war time.” Describing the series of tests with short waves that ho carried out between a small experimental station at Poldhu, Cornwall, and a receiver installed in his yacht, the Elettra. Senatore Marconi says that when (ho yacht was at St. Vincent, in the Cape Veriio Islands, a distance of 2220 nautical miles from Poldhu, “we continued tc receive the night signals with such strength that it was nearly always possible to dc without tho amplifier, or to disconnect the aerial or put it out of tune " 1