RADIO NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 124, 23 April 1927, Page 3

RADIO NOTES.

INFORMATION SERVICE. A new radio magazine is. to make, its appearance in New Zealand in aboutthree weeks’ time. It is to come from Christchurch and it is understood that every licensee will reoeive a first copy upon xta publication. “Undo Jack” Prentice has taken New Zealand young folk by storm with hie bedtime stories and entertainment. The broadcasting of the children at 3YA studio recently was enjoyed by both young arid old. The 3YA “Twilight Song” ia largely awaited by hundreds of young listeners every “bod-time story night.” For the benefit of those who do not. know the words, and so are not able to join in the chorus, it is given:— “Sing the sang of twilight, when the lights are low, S' And the flickering shadows softy come and go. . . Whippor-wills a singing, robins in their

ne3t, May our song at twilight lull you to rest, Lull you to rest.” The following is the schedule for 4QG Brisbane for the remainder of this month: April 23th :—lie Citizens’ Commemorative Anzao night meeting relayed from the Exhibition Hall; April 27th, full choral reoital; April 29th, W.E.A, tutorial musio class. One Sunday night last month listeners heard a call from 4QG Brisbane for the brother of a man who was dangerously ill in the general hospital. The brother received the message away in the Oakoy district and left for Brisbane within a few minutes after the call had been delivered from the station. Reports come from Australia that many people are buying radio sets for the purpose of listening-in to the ceremonies at the opening of the Federal Parliament at Canberra. The broadcasting stations themself are making most e’aborate preparations to broadcast the many ceremonies during the Royal tour whenever possible. Radio dealers state that their sales have increased at a marked rate since the arrival of the Royal party in Australia. On May 3rd listeners are to be once more entertained by the McLeod concert party under the direction of Mr W. Braiden and Miss N. Graham. Those who have heard this humorous party before will know the treat in store for them. Mr J. E. Strachen, president of the Canterbury Progress League, protested, in a lecture given by him last week at the Chamber of Commerce, against the regulations restricting the operations of wireless enthusiasts. THE BROADCAST RECEIVER. As a general rule the average modern broadcast receiver requires very little attention once it has been installed by competent radio dealers. There is always a certain amount of care required, however, to keep the sot in first-class working order. The receiver.—Dust and dampness, are the chief enemies of a receiver. The high frequency currents passing through the set will always tend to jump across the shortest possible path, and dust will always make a comparatively easy path for these currents to take. When the plates of the condensers become dirty, they should bo blown out by means of a bicycle ■ pump, etc. Some people use the ordinary “pipecleaners,” but great care must in usuing these, as the plates may very easily be bent out of plumb with disastrous results. It is better not to clean the concondenser.s with a cloth for the same reason. All nuts, terminals, joints, etc., should be gone over, occasionally to make oertain they are clean and tight. A loose nut will often cause crackling noises and will seriously interfere with good reception. Telephones and speakers.—The majority of loud speakers and phones have the terminals marked with a positive and (negative sign. Plugs also have some distingu-' ishing mark. The positive speaker or phone lead must be connected to the positive of the plug and the negative to the negative. If a plug is not used, the positive is to bo connected to the positive of the H.T. battery, and the negative to the valve. This is very important, as speakers connected the wrong way will become demagnetised. These instruments must not bo dropped or be made subject to hard H.T. Batteries: —The “B” batteries should be kept clean and placed in a dry place away from heat. The terminals are to be kept tight. L.T. Batteries: —The “A” batteries require particular attention, and should be charged immediately they have “rim down.” It is dangerous to the life of your battery to completely discharge it—that is, work, it until your valves will scarcely light up. The terminals are to be cleaned occasionally with emery cloth, and smeared with vaseline to prevent corrosion. The aerial: —The aerial must be. kept taut. It should be lowered once a year and all insulators cleaned,, and the aerial wire may be cleaned with fine emery cloth, If there are any broken strands it is advisable to procure new wire—which is quite cheap. Soldered joints are to be avoided, a continuous wire right to the set is far better. The earth. —If the earth connection is made to a water pipe, by means of a clip, it Should be removed and cleaned thoroughly with emery cloth. A firm soldered connection is better here. THE SPEAKER. A great deal of the quality and “tono” of wireless broadcasting depends upon the loudspeaker. No matter how efficient and how expansive a receiver may bo, even the best results will be poor if the loudspeaker is not of good make and is not fuotioning properly. There are about half a dozen reasons why a good loud speaker “squeals” or gives distorted music: (1) The transformers in the receiver may be of poor construction and design. Only the best makes of transformers should be used, as upon them depends a great deal of the tone of the reception.; (2) the set is being worked too near the oscillation point. The

(By “Q.R.M.”)

valves m ist always be operated with as little fi.a aent current as will give satisfactory i isults.; (3) inter-action between transformers. Transformers are best mountei away from each other as far as possible and at right angles to one another; (4) a grid bias battery is essential with all voltages over 90 volts; (5) the voltage I it through the set from the high tension 1 ittery may not be of the proper value. J trial will best remedy this. The lowest 7i tage for successful results must be used; (6) the waives may be unsuitable for the paiti ular circuit employed. . If all i iese faults are corrected and distortion i ill results, and the set itself is alright, hen the cause is probably in a poor lou .-speaker. Inferior speakers usually mil > themselves known by their inability tc carry any volume without distortion, ir by the “tinny” rendering of the broa leasts. Better tone may often be obtained by conned! ir. ; a small fixed condenser of about .0005 n.i.d. capacity across the terminals of the It ud-speaker. The proper value of the condenser must be found by experiment It is always advisable to keep the loudspeaker away from the set as far as possible. Home makes of valves are affected tremendi isly by the vibrations issuing from i. oud-speaker, aind will commence to ring i i a most distressing manner. The speaker ihould not point towards the 1 receiver si :n if it is across the room. Sometimes Ik diaphragm of the speaker will require ,djusting. This must be done carefully as tho diaphragm may be broken or crack d if it is screwed up too tightly. Alwayi remember that the interior of these initruments is made up of the most dolicati apparatus and so treat them *ocordingl;.

RADIO PROGRAMMES. £ATURDAY7~23rd APRIL. IYA . ~nd. —3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.t Afterhx l concert; 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 p.m., nows, r ports, etc., sporting results; 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., chimes, relay of orchestral sol itions from the Strand Picture Theatro contralto solos, Miss B. Smith, Miss .1: McGruer, vocal duet, Misses B. Smith a d R. McGreur, piano solo, studio baritone solos, Mr F. Baker, soprano solos, pianisi, relay of dance music from Dixieland Ce iaret by the “International Six.” 3YA ( hristchurch—6.3o p.m. to 7 p.m.: Childret s session (“Uncle Jack”); 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 p.m., nows, reports, eto, sporting results; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., chimes, relay ol orchestral selections from the Liberty Picture Theatre, soprano solos, Miss M .vis Spiller, banjolene duets, Mr S. J. I irmer, baritone solos, Mr A. G. Thom]*' n, monologues, Mr S. L. Dettmer coi tralto solos, Miss D. Spiller, relay of aaiic- musio from the Caledonian Hall.

4YA lunedin—Silent day. 2 YK Wellington— 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. : Relay o Charles Dalton’s “Solo Six Dance Orcheiti i,” Kilbirnie. SUNDAY, 24th APRIL. IYA Auckland—6.ss p.m. : Relay of evening jorvice from Pitt Street Methodist Church (Preacher, Rov. L. Dalby); 8.30 to 9.46 >.m.: Relay of band concert by Municlp 1 Band from the Town Hall. 3YA < hristchurch—6.3o p.m.: Relay of evening service from Trinity Congregational C lurch (Preacher, Rev. J. Gardiner Miller), 'ollowed by musical service. 4YA Dunedin —6.30 p.m. : Relay of Anzao i; emorial service from the Methodist Cei tral Mission (Preacher, Rev. W. Walker) 8 p.m., relay of band concert. 2YK Vellington—6.ss p.m.: Relay of evening icrvice from the Terrace Congregational Church (Preacher, Rev. Ernest R. Weeks:; 8.15 p.m., relay of band concert of the Wellington Municipal Tramways Band. MONDAY, 25th APRIL. IYA 1 uckland —10.15 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.: Descript >h of proceedings at cenotaph and roll / of Anzao Day memorial service in To m. Hall, togother with relay of massec. >ands outside hall. 3YA 1 'hristchurch—2.3o p.m.: Relay of Anzao lay service from King Edward Barrack: ; selections by Derry’s Military Band, F uneral March, “Garland of Flowers,” trie Band; hymn, “() Valiant Hearts” ; prayer, Commemoration of tho Fallen, Canon W. S. Bean; The Lord’s Prayer, overture in C, “In Memoriam” (Sullivan), tho Band; lesson, choral, “With Proud Thanksgiving,” Royal Christchurch Musical Society; address, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime 1 [blister; “Dead March” (Saul), the lia id; Last Post, “Recessional, * Benedict on and National Anthem. 4YA i)unedin.—Silent day. 2YK .Wellington.— 3 p.m.: Relay of Anzac nisi orial. service from Town Hall; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., relay of Anzac Day concert fiot i Town Hall. TUESDAY, 26th APRIL. IYA . uckland. —3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. ; Afternoon soncert; 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m; children’s session (Aunt Betty); 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 pn:., nows, reports, etc; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., el imes, relay of orchestral selections from 1h Majestic Theatre Orchestra, baritone sol is, Mr S. Garland, ontralto solos, Mrs (la land, selections, Webber’s Jazz Band, ! lorano solos, Miss D. Gouston, pianofor a solos, Mrs W. Hawkins, duet, Mr ai d Mrs Garland. 3YA < (hristchurch. —Silent Day. 4YA lunedin. —3 p.m. 'to 4.30 p.m.: Chimes, gramophone recital, address by Miss M Puechegud on “Interior Decoration,” s lected studio numbers, social notes and nsv i, book talk by Mr H. Greenwood, Libraiia i, Dunedin Athenaeum; 7 p.m., chimer, children’s session (Aunt Diana) ; 7.30 i'.r news, reports, etc; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m, chimes, fox trots, Waialae Dance Orchei ti i, vocal solos, Mr _J ; Simpson, Cornea olos, Mr Geo. Christie, relay of orchei ti il selections from the Otagon Theatre Orchestra, vocal solos, Mrs J. Marshall ; a dress, “Hint to Motorists”; vocal solos, h iss W. McPeak; Cornet Solo, Mr Geo. C ristie. . 2YE Vollington.—Silent day.