RADIO NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 164, 12 June 1926, Page 3

RADIO NOTES.

“Q.R.M.” will include an “information service” in each week’s notes, and will endeavour to publish in it radio nowa of Now Zealand and the world, to interest both the large and. small amateur sot owners.

Broadcast license fees in England last year totallod £2,150,000 from 1,906,000 licensed listeners.

With her increased power, 2BL will be able to take 32,000 watts input power, which equals about 10,000 watts output. Italy has adopted the scheme of wireless on trains, an othodync being recently installed on the Rome-Naples express. A cat strayed into the’ operating room of WENR, Chicago but rubbing itself against tho metal framework of tho trans--mitting apparatus, and receiving somo good healthy shocks, ho lost no time in gotting out; in fact, according to tho operator, he skidded quite ten yards in his endeavour to negotiate the doorway. Mr Bore, radio engineer of an Amorican companly, is to supervise the installation of tho new stations. A new relay is being connected to the Rialto Theatre for VLAK.

England lias 5,000,000 listeners who do not pay licenso fee 3, according to official reports. To-morrow evening (Sunday) at 6.55, 2YK will relay the evening service from the Terraco Congregational Church, conducted by tho Rev. E. R. Weeks. From 8.15 to 9.45 tho Port Nicholson Band concert from the Grand Opera Houso will be relayed from that station.

Next Tuesday evening, 2YK will commence at 7.40 p.m. by broadcasting the Paramount Theatro Orchestra and Btudio items, closing down at 10.10 p.m. 2WO, radia station of the Now York Times, in cp-oporation with tho Australian Press Association, recently conducted a wireless broadcasting test with Australia, which has proved so encouraging that it will be continued with a short resume of the world’s news, so that Australian ' and Now Zealand amateurs and ships may reoeive it. 2WO employs a wave-length of 40 and six-tenths metres. The news thus being broadcast by tho New York Times has been picked up by Mr Shrimpton, jun., Wellington and Mr R. Whife, of IAO Auckland. The news which' is sent out every morning is prepared by tho Australian Press Association representative. On Friday afternoon, 2YIC commenced afternoon transmission at 2.45 with studio items and the New Adelphi Cabaret Dance Band, closing down at 4.30. Last Sunday evening the transmission of the Tramway Band concert was a great success.

Tho best of tho Australian stations was 2BL, where the Newtown Band gave a truly wonderful performance. Tho items “II Trovatonc” and Suppc’s overture, “Light Cavalry,” were almost perfect. Tho club reoeived a report from Victoria last week to tho effect that a station giving 2YF as its call had been picked up on May sth at about 12.30 a.m. New Zealand time. The club’s station, however, was not broadcasting that night. The Manchester Wireless Society is .anxious to carry out tests on 23 metres with powers from five to 250 watts. Transmissions will bo arranged for any time during the day or night wilji stations G 6MX, G SMB, G SWX and G 2YO. M. l’Abbo Gabriel, a French sciontist, has established tho theory that thunderstorms have a definito cycle of minimum and maximum activity. For the next six years electrical disturbances will be at a minimum; that is, static will quieten down. Let us hope somo one has invented a static eliminator before it reaches its maximum.

An American station recently broadcast a special memorial service for “radio fans.”. It was as follows: Organ recital, “Prepare thyself for what you may hear” ; text, “woo unto the ‘squealers’ for they shall disinherit the earth” ; hymn.” There is a wire lying across tho B battery” ; sermon, "What are the air waves saying”; solo, “Keep calm throughout tho tumult” ; organ solo, “It is enough.” BRISBANE RADIO 4QG. This is owned and operated by the Queensland Government for those “outback” ; wave-length 385 metres (at present, to bo altered at a future date); power (temporary) 5000 watts. Mondays to Fridays.—Midday session: 12.55 to 1.20; market reports, stock exchange, information, weather, news. Wednesdays only, 3 to 4, Tivoli Operatic Orchestra. Wednesdays and Saturdays, children’s hour, 6.30 to 7.15. —Bedtime stories and nursery rhymes by “The Sandman” or “Little Miss Brisbane.” Night sessions : 8 to 10 —Entertainment, generally as follows : Mondays—Tivoli Orchestra and studio concert. Tuesdays: Studio entertainment. Wednesdays: Popular night. Thursdays:—Classical night. Fridays:—Roof Garden Orchestra and concert. Saturdays:—Lennon’s Ballroom. Sundays.—3.ls to 4.30 —Bands concert, 7 to 8.30 church sorvicc. Tho above programme may be slightly

INFORMATION SERVICE.

(By “Q.R.M.")

altered as the station improves. Tho times given are Australian times, New Zealand being approximately one and a half hours ahead of Brisbane. 4QG is ono of Australia’s best stations and gives 2BL a good run for first' place on tho ether. When 2BL imereasos its power’ to 5000 watts output, they will be two very fine stations. 2FC, although a most enjoyablo station on 10 kw, has too high a wavo-length for tho ordinary amateur and for good reception. 2BL—3LO —SCL 2KY. In tho following programmes the times givon are those for New Zealand. The wavo-lengths are only temporary : 2BL—Sydney Broadcasters Ltd., power to bo 5000 watts output, wave-length 353 metres. -Week days: Afternoon session 4.30 to 6.45; early evening session, 7.30 to 9.20; ovoning session. 9.30 to 11.30. Sundays 12.30, 5, 8 onwards. 3LO —Broadcasting Coy., of Australia, Ltd; pow-er 500 watts, wave-length 371 metres. Weekdays: 1,30 to 3.30. 4.30 to 6.30, 7.30 hour), 8.15 nows service; night session, 8.45 to 12.30 a.m. Sundays 12.30 to 1.45; 7.30 to 8.15, 8.30 to 11.30. 5CL —Central Broadcasters Ltd; power 5000 watts, wavo-length 395 metres. Week days, morning sossion 1 to 3.30; afternoon session 4.30 to 6.30; evening session 8 to midnight. Sunday, 12.30; 4.30 8 onwards. 2ICY —Trades Hall, Sydney; wave-length 280 metres, programme, 4-6.15, Bto 9 (children’s hour), 9 to 11.30 evening session. Tho above programmes include news items, weather, market, stock exchange reports, children’s hour, broadcasting from studio and from various theatres and ballrooms, including item 6 from some of Australia’s best orchestras and singers, and dramatio opera. A PIANIST’S IMPRESSIONS. Bonno Moisoiwitsch, tho famous pianist, writing in reference to a, broadcast from 2LO, London ,states: “Alone in my room, sitting at the piano without coat, collar, or tie, with nothing whatever to distract my thoughts, I believe I can play better than on the platform. It was the same in the broadcasting studio. I found when I arrived that a number of people were in the room, Lut at my request they wero asked to leave. Then I took off my coat and collar, and abandoned myself to my task. I was completely happy. Thero was no one near mo except- the operator, and the thought that, in my <swn way I was entertaining an unseen audienoe of, perhaps, a million, supplied me with all tho inspiration 1 needed.” RELIGIOUS ITEMS PREFERRED. The Melbourne broadcasting station, 3LO, recently conducted a vote to determine tho popularity of the various items broadcast. To the surprise of a good many religious ■items topped the poll, with band music second, and public concerts thiid. Thousands of listeners-in look part in th-* vote, so that tho result was from a wide area. “FROTHING” ACCUMULATORS. Amateurs who have A batteries to light their valves may liavo found that considerable trouble has been caused by the accumulators “frothing.” This should never occur in accumulators of good make, where the manufacturer’s instructions for their caro and use are carried out carefully. It is caused by impurities present in tho electrolyte acting chemically on the celluloid casing of the accumulator. It is often tho case when the battery develops this defect, tliat tap or impure water has been used to make up for evaporation losses ill tho electrolyte. Nover on any account mu6t anything but distilled water be used in a battery of this kind, for impure water affects the celluloid and produces tho “frothing,” and also seriously injures tho plates. The only way to stop “frothing” is to empty out the electrolyte and carefully wash out the accumulator with pure distilled water, before replacing with fresh electrolyte. Even then the trouble may not be rectified completely, thus necessitating nnolher washing out—an inexpensive process which would have been avoided by using distilled water in the first place. When accumulators have celluloid cases it will be noticed that the electrolyte is continually bubbling, whether tho accumu-' lator is in uso or not. This effect is duo to some obscure chemical action, but is apparently not injurious. Due to evaporation, distilled water has to be added more frequently than in the case of accumulators ’ having ebonite or glass cases. To keep a radio battery in good order it is practically essential to have a home-charni-ihg plant; most .service stations have not the time to put the care and work into these delicate instruments that they require in order to givo good results for radio work.