THE WIRELESS WORLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 20 June 1936, Page 12

THE WIRELESS WORLD

King Edward Vll’s birthday, falling cn Tuesday, 23rd June, will be remembered throughout the Empire by a holiday, and as far as the national broadcasting stations in New Zealand ! go there will be a special recording 1 presented individually from each of | the four stations at 8.2 in the evening, i These recordings Will be synchronised as nearly as possible to one another. The message contained in this recording is that given to the Empire on Ist March, or actually 2nd March at 4 in the morning, New Zealand summer time. On that occasion the King’s message was the first that he had given over the air since his accession, and next Tuesday’s presentation will be conducted by each main station so that the speech will be heard throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand and as free as possible from any extraneous noise. Fiji Calling Radio station ZJV Suva, newly consructed at the capital of Fiji, is now being received in Nelson with excellent volume and clarity, and the bright programmes broadcast have recentl3 r been exceptionally free from static. The station’s wavelength is 920 kilocycles, or 327 metres, and closes down at 9 p.m. Fiji time, which is half an hour ahead of New Zealand time. Unfortunately the station is operating on the same wave-length as 2ZR Nelson, and consequently is blotted out when Nelson comes on the air.

It is the first broadcasting station in the Pacific Islands and was opened recently by the Colonial Secretary,

NEWS AND COMMENTS FOR LISTENERS

KING EDWARD’S MESSAGE: NEW STATION IN FIJI

FOR AMATEURS

Mr C. J. Barden. The new station, which is operated by the Fiji Broadcasting Company, was built by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd. It employs a power of 500 watts unmodulated in the aerial. Prominent Government officials and representatives of the leading business firms in Fiji were present at the opening ceremony, when an appropriate talk by the Marchese Marconi was broadcast from a recording. Mr E. T. Fisk, chairman of Amalgamated Wireless, who broadcast a message by short waves from Sydney, complimented the people of Fiji on the progressive spirit which had actuated their enterprise. It was a matter of pride that the new station had been built entirely by British capital, and just credit was due to the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher, for his endeavours to bring about the establishment of the station.

Good Laugh from 2UW The Yogi is a Hindu mystic with a definite Swedish dialect, who gives readings from his crystal ball. To use his own words he takes a “squint” at it. News of the times, answering questions and making ridiculous comments on any matters that attract his notice, are given in his inimitable Swedish accent. Yogi Yorgesson is something new in radio. It is outstanding comedy monologue acted in the funniest and most hilarious manner yet heard. Many a good laugh is promised you from 2UW every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday night at 8.40 p.m., and Sunday night at 8.25 p.m., when Yogi Yorgesson takes a “squint” into his crystal ball.

INSTALLING A RADIO RECEIVER Have you decided on a new receiverfor the winter months? There are certainly plenty of sets to choose from (says “Spark Gap,” radio expert of j “The Australian Journal”), and the designs this year have surpassed them-1 selves for beauty in design and good ; workmanship in building. Once the j receiver is purchased, the radio dealer will not doubt fit it up in the home. This fitting does not generally include the aerial and earth, or any! necessary wires which are required j for an extension speaker. This has to be done by the purchaser himself. A good earth system is almost as necessary as an efficient aerial. A poor ground connection will mean that resistance is added to the circuit, and as a consequence broad tuning may be expected. A water-pipe is probably the best earth to use. If this is not available, bury a large metal plate in moist soil and solder a wire to the plate. For good results the soil must be kept moist. The writer recently inspected an earth system consisting of plates buried under a lawn and 1

immediately below the aerial. The result was that many long-distance stations were tunable.

A single-span of wire stretched above the surrounding buildings will make an efficient aerial. Care should be taken to see that the aerial wire does not touch any metal or wood, and Hint the lead-in is likewise insulated from anything that would tend to conduct the radio impulses to earth before they have passed through the receiver. It is surprising the improvement that will be noticed in reception when some attention is given to the aerial and earth connections. AN EFFICIENT EARTH A letter received from an American experimenter tells of his wonderful success in tuning in Australian stations. He claims that most of his success is due to the efficient earth connection he is using. He provided particulars and “Spark Gap” passes them on in the June “Australian Journal.”

The earth connection is not only simple.to arrange, but its cost may be put down at a few pence at the most. Secure a piece of stranded copper wire made up of eight strands of thick wire. Untwist the end of the wire and to the end of each strand attach a carbon rocl from a worn-out dry cell. Although the strands may be clamped over the terminal screw of the carbon rod, a better job will be obtained if each is soldered in place. The eight carbon rods are then spread out in the form of a large fan, and then buried in moist earth.

The directions as provided are as follow:Untwist the stranded wire for six or seven feet. Then take a length of three-quarter inch piping and drive it into the ground for a distance of six feet. Pull it out and in its place push the carbon rod with its connection attached. Fill in the holes, and the ground connection is complete. The other end of the stranded wire is clamped to the earth terminal of the radio receiver. It should be noted that the distance from the earth connection to the receiver should be as short as possible, as long earth leads are liable to cause inselectivity in a set.

EMPIRE BROADCAST “WAS IT A DREAM ” “A surprise show with a touch of I .satire” is the producer’s description of j “Was it a Dream?” a programme that will shortly be heard by listeners to ! the Empire station at Daventry. The i broadcast will tell “the story of how a young composer and a young lyric writer try to sell their songs, and the events that accompany their efforts, i And in the telling, there will be , special entertainment for listeners who are familiar with the individual characteristics of London’s . dance bands: many of them, including popular combinations such as those direct■ed by Henry Hall, Charlie Kunz, Harry Roy, and Lew Stone, will be burlesqued. Cecil Madden is responsible for the book and production, and original music and iyrics are being provided by Edgar Blatt. Nat Ayer, jr„ and Norman Hackforth. The appropriate music will be played by Harry Leader’s Band. This will be broadcast from Daventry, transmission 1, Thursday, 25th June, 4.30 p.m.