BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 72, 24 February 1937, Page 3

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

8.8. C. AND EMPIRE SERVICE. (Bv “Microphone.”) The most interesting portion of the last overseas mail is that from the 8.8. C., in which are included certain facts concerning the Empire service; with a hint of what to expect later in the year. Now entering its fifth year, the service covers a schedule of more than 17 hours; the aggregrate transmission time last year was hours, 33 minutes. If or the Home programmes the stations worked for 71,608 hours, 21 minutes, and this was an increase of nearly 3000 hours on the previous year; the breakdown percentage was .031. It is stated, in the j customarily guarded language: “Good progress has been made with large-scale extensions to the Empire station at Daven- j try. Three transmitters of considerably! higher power than thoso now in opera-i tion have been ordered, and it is! hoped that all three will be in operation by the early summer of 1937. Eight additional masts are being erected to support an improved aerial system, which is the outcome of experiments carried out at the Empire Station since it was first put into service in 1932.” It would, therefore, seem that within six months those new stations will be on the air. It is interesting to note that America last year took by relay 60 8.8. C. programmes. Broadcast-band listeners who have tried to obtain in the early morning reception of the English transmitters will be interested in the following list of National stations:

Seventy-seven studios are utilised, of which 28 are in London, and- 443 musical performers are employed, of whom 119 are in the 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra alone. The television orchestra has 22 players, as has the Empire orchestra, and in the dance orchestra there are 21. The total staff of the corporation numbers more than 3000 persons. For the year ended December 31, 1935, the revenue totalled £2,472,572, and the balance left after the allocation of expenditure was only £324,101; the biggest single item in this category was £401,380 for artists’ and speakers’ fees. Reverting to the Empire service, it is stated that the year’s work was marked by two main tendencies, a substantial growth in the number and scope of incoming broadcasts from the Empire overseas, and steady progress towards a more systematic and varied schedule of programme material outgoing from Daventry, especially- in the fields of music and talks. More than thirty broadcasts from the | Empire overseas were arranged. !

THROUGH THE MICROPHONE. Reference has been made recently to the improved reception of the Cuban stations, but so satisfactory are they on the majority of occasions till they sign clear at 6 p.m. that it is worthwhile drawing further attention to the fine programmes they radiate at increasing strength. On 31 metres COCQ appears to have a rival in COCK, who was heard on Thursday night at fine strength; the American announcer at COCQ is Alec. Seymour, who gives the schedule very clearly. COCX continues at good volume on 25 metres. Berlin is on the air seemingly- at all times of the day and night—and on nearly- all bands—at an eminently satisfactory strength and with a fine programme. On Sunday afternoon DJQ (19.63 metres, excellent), DJD (25.49), DJN (31.45) and DJL (19.85) operated simultaneously as the onlyaudible foreigners of listening value. In the early and late evening each of these bands is again occupied, usually at good strength. The “sound pictures” (see programme column) are interesting features of the night broadcasts ; recently relays were heard from the journalists’ bail in Berlin (where Jack Hylton’s orchestra played) and from a quartz foundry-, with English commentaries. Morning listeners will find the 31 and 25-metre bands yielding increasingly interesting entertainment, which will increase with the approach of the winter. Amazing reception lias been obtained from Radio Coloniale (Paris) on 25 metres at 7 a.m.—fine music at excellent strength. Direct advice from the E.1.A.K., Rome, indicates that 2RO operates on 25.4 metres (11.810 kilocycles) till 6.30 p.m. C.E.T., corresponding to 5.30 a.m. New Zealand summer time, and after that hour it is heard on 31.13 metres (9635 kilocycles). City listeners are at present enjoying very satisfactory reception on the latter wave around the breakfast hour. The address of Radio Roma is 5 Via Montello, Rome, and reports are requested. Between 6.20 and 6.45 a.m. news sessions in English are broadcast. On other occasions Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish. German, French, Hindustani, and Italian broadcasts take place for North America, East Africa, the Argentine, Mediterranean, Arabian and Eastern zones.

■ The present time is a difficult one for Geneva engineers in connection with tlie broadcast to Australia and New Zealand each Monday night at 8 o’clock, and it lias been observed that in addition to H BO (26.3 metres), HBL (31.27 metres) operates simultaneously ; volume is better on the former wave.

111-success apparently attended the efforts of HJIABP, Cartagena, Colombia, to transmit the special programme dedicated to this column—at least so far as receiving conditions were concerned. No trace of the station could be found on Sunday afternoon on 31.25 metres on the writer’s receiver, but reports from a more fortunate listener would ho appreciated. It is reported that HJIABP is now being well heard from midnight, when it opens. This corresponds to 10 p.m.. E.A.S.T., and Air R. N. Shaw reports that the strength of the signals is excellent in New South Wales.

A Christchurch amateur operator advises that conditions are excellent at present for contacting American amateurs on the 40-metre band from 5 p.m. till midnight, and up till 9.30 WG stations, AY7’s, and W9’s are “no trouble” on Morse traffic. On 20 metres the Americans on plume work arc quite fair from about 4.30 p.m. in Palmerston North, but an increase in signal strength might he expected shortly-.

The Australian National stations arc at present undertaking unique overseas relays, which might also well lie attempted in the Dominion. Recently a performance from the Moscow Opera House was rebroadcast, and on Monday last a concert from the Argentine was transmitted. These rein vs are heard in

M. K.W. Broitwicli 1500 160 Brooknians Park 261 20 Slaithwaite 261 20 Washford 261 20 Wcsterglcn 285 20 In addition tlie following Region al stations operate: — M. K.W. London — London 342 70 Bournemouth 203 1 Plymouth 203 0.3 North —■ Slaitlnvaite 440 70 Newcastle 267 1 Midland— Broitwicli 296 70 Scottish — 70 Wcsterglcn 391 Aberdeen 233 1 Burghead 391 60 West— Washford 375 70