BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 275, 20 October 1937, Page 6

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

MAGNIFICENT CONCERTS. «• LONDON AND BERLIN. (By “Microphone.”) Many short-wave listeners will, for the first time, be at present enjoying the magnificent evening concerts being broadcast from London and Berlin at astounding volume and clarity. For a large proportion the excellence of these transmissions must be a revelation of the amazing advances made in transmitter and receiver design to permit of the finest music -being received from the heart of Europe at a strength more than equalling that at which it is originally played in the studio. There is keen competition between the powerful transmitters of Britain and Germany, and listeners are benefiting by the marked improvements effected. With ample choice of transmitters —- Berlin in the early evening has as many as seven separate stations on the air simultaneously—there is no difficulty in selecting a wave giving as nearly perfect reception as possible, London is not behind in this feature, either, and four separate waves are offered. The early operation of the German transmitters from 5.5 p.m. daily enables the listener to enjoy a line programme of high-class music for a couple of hours till London comes on the air at 7 p.m. a.t splendid volume, equalling the strength of the foAner. It is at this time that Berlin transmits news in English and conducts its post box for the Dominion and Australia. On 31 metres Germany gives two transmissions, on 19 metres three, and on 16 metres two. These are as follow: M. K.c.

"There is another 16-metre transmitter, but the Latest information from Berlin does not list the- call. These sta.tions all operate with directional aer-

ial arrangements, and very big signal differences are noticeable on occasion even between those a degree apart on the dial. The British wave-lengths are published nightly in the “Standard,” but they are repeated here for convenience. It will be found that, especially just after 7 p.m., the 2.5-metre wave is particularly clear, with 19 metres also excellent/ The waves employed are: M. K.c.

AUSTRALIAN CHANGES. Important alterations to the schedule of the Australian’ National Stations came into operation at the -weekend according to information to this column from the A.11.C. These have been adopted simultaneously with the opening of the new South Australian transmitter SAN last week, the wavelength of which is not yet known. A new grouping of the National transmitters has been carried out; at present there are 16 such stations, but work is proceeding on another new one at Brisbane and with 17 in operation nine will carry the National programme and 8 the alternative schedules. Listeners will note from the programme columns that 2FO has handed over the National schedule to 2BL and 3LO (389.4

metres, 770 k.c.) has had its programmes changed to 3AR (484 metres, 620 k.c.). The New South Wales alternative programmes are now radiated by 2FC, 2NC Newcastle (244 metres, 1230 k.c.) and 2CR Cumnock (545 metres, 550 k.c.) ; the Victorian by 3WV Horsham (517 metres, 580 k.c.) and 3LO; and the South Australian by SCL Adelaide (411 metres, 730 k.c.) SAN and SCK Crystal Brook (469 metres, 640 k.c.) carry the National schedule. When the. new Brisbane station operates, 4QG (375 metres, 800 k.c.) will take the alternative programme. and in Hobart, where another new transmitter is to open, 7NI Kelso (423 metres, 710 k.c.) and iZL Hobart (500 metres, 600 k.c.) will radiate the alternative Tasmanian programmes. The new Brisbane station will he known as 4BR, and new stations are also planned at Canberra, in tlie Queensland country district, ant. in Perth, tenders having been called for- the latter. The chief effect when these transmitters come on the air, in addition to giving Now Zealand additional sources of Australian programmes, will be to further jamb the already overcrowded ether, Australia being at present just on the century mark in the matter of transmitters. It would seem that synchronisation may yet have to be resorted to as in Britain, where

several transmitters work on identical wavelengths.

PLANS FOR PCJ HOLLAND

It is just ten years since the famous PCJ Eindhoven transmitter went on the air as PCJJ to create several records and originate world short-wave goodwill programmes, and it is intended to celebrate the tenth anniversary with a special programme in the form of a “big broadcast” birthday party in the first. half in the middle of November. Schedules of operation times have been carefully retested to ensure perfect reception in all parts of the globe. Among the ‘stars” on the programme will be Carol Gibbons and his Savoy Orchestra, Greta Keller, Montevanni and his Orchestra, Florence Desmond, Danny Malone, Charles Scott, Captain C. W. A. Scott, the winner of the Melbourne air race. A new development of revolving antennae masts has been evolved at Huizen, to efiable a complete coverage to bo made. It consists of two huge masts, whose steel under-carriers are placed on wheels, in this way resmbling heavy care. The two carriers are united by a steel bridge which turns, together with the masts, on an iron pivot, sunk into a concrete foundation. In this way it is possible to make the whole construction turn on tins pivot and ride on a circular railway track, which differs from tho average railway track only

by the much heavier construction of the rails and the larger distance between them. The aerial suspended from the masts is a beam aerial and so able to “spout” all available energy in a certain direction. In a few moments tlie whole of the gigantic system of masts and carriers can be turned and directed to another part of the world. PCJ is heard on 19.71 metres from 9.30-11 p.m. each Tuesday night.

THROUGH THE MICROPHONE. Moscow is now verifying reports with a fine new card, on one side of which is a composite photograph ot the Soviet airmen who flew to the North Pole, together with a map and the Russian emblems. „ , JZIC Tokio continues to be excellent with its nightly session f roni o .JO- - p.m. on 19.79 metres, 10,160 k.c. The announcer speaks with a pronounced American accent and gives the slogan of “JZK the .Voice ol the Pacific, from Tokio, the Metropolis of the Pacific.” There is an English session. It is noted that JZK returns with a Japanese session at 7.30, corresponding to 4.30 p.m. in Tokio. The 20-metre band is not reliable at present, but on occasions good results. CX3BL Uruguay and VSIAF Singapore were heard recently, also several amateur transmitters in Slianghai.

DJA 31.38 9.560 DJN 31.45 9,540 DJB 19.74 15,200 DJQ 19.G3 15,280 DJL 19.85 15,110 *DJE 16.89 17,760

GSG ... 16.8G 17,790 GSO ... 19.76 15,180 GSD ... 25.53 11,750 GSB ... 31.55 9,510