RADIO TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 7

RADIO TOPICS.

BY THEHMION.

BROADCASTING CRITICISED. The inevitable condemnation oE the unsatisfactory position of broadcasting in New Zealand has been made in the House of Representatives with the result that- the Postmaster-General has expressed his satisfaction with the existing arrangements. The reply was not unexpected and indicates that listeners can expect little sympathetic consideration from the Post and Telegraph Department which should be taking every measure ltd protect the interests of the listening public.. While such conditions obtain, broadcasting in New Zealand can scarcely be expected to flourish since the broadcasting company has so far shown neither any ability nor any intention to broadcast programmes of high standard. It in beside the point to state the broadcasting regulations have been favourably commented upon by a visiting scientist. The regulations were carefully designed, but the interpretation of them lias been most unsatisfactory. The question of the rower of the new stations has again arisen and the. Post-master-General stated he had been informed by experts that our 500-watt stations would give better results than the Australian 5000-watt stations. This is an amazing statement which will prove unjustified. It is unwise to make comparisons with Australian broadcasting which iias reached a standard we could not hope to attain for some time even if strenuous efforts were made to do so. What the future holds in store will bo I shown when the new Auckland station opens in August, but, with the history of New Zealand broadcasting characterised l\v unfulfilled promises, with an apathetic Post and Telegraph Department and with a broadcasting company which preserves a strict, silence on the details of its future broadcasts, the outlook is not promising.

NOVELTY BROADCASTING. It lias frequently been stressed in Radio Topics that variety is an essential to good broadcasting and listeners to Australian broadcasts must have noticed that endless trouble is taken in the search for interesting novelties. Thi Brisbane station, 4QG, makes a feature of its children's hour and the various "stunts" arranged show careful preparation.' Recently the entertainers of the children at 4QG, Uncle Ben, Uncle Jim, Mabel Sunshine and Sambo, took an imaginary trip round the harbour. Tho imitation starting and stopping of the launch engine was most realistic. Various features of the shipping and the surroundings of the harbour were describes Jokes and educational matter for the children were carefully interspersed. A clever broadcast such as this will appeal to adult as well as to child listeners. On Saturday evening a microphone was installed at the Central Railway Station. Brisbane, where the staff was gathered to meet Uncle Jim who was returning from Sydney. The station was described and various noises of a railway station were clearly audible in Auckland. The enterprise of the staff of 4QG in arranging these broadcasts is to be commended. On Saturday evening the Sydney station, 2RL. carried out, successfully a novel broadcast in that the whole of the programme was given from the Jenolan limestone caves. Vocal solos and choral numbers wore prominent and ghost stories were featured. The party was conducted through the various caves by the superintendent and the .complete description and amusing comments of the people present must have delighted ivsry Auckland listeners. The preparatory work by the engineers at 2BL for such a novel and entirely satisfactory broadcast must have been arduous, but it is characteristic of Australian broadcasters that no trouble is too great- in arranging for the pleasures of listeners. They are fortunate in having experts who arc capable of overcoming the technical difficulties. '■ ''f'"

AUSTRALIAN RIVALRY. A proposal has been made in Australia that a single high-power broadcasting station 6hould bo erected to cater for the whole of the Commonwealth, but whether this idea will be taken up is not stated. Meanwhile the competition between the two Sydney stations, 2BL jtnd 2FG ,is being 'intensified, and has extended not only to an increase in trasmittinc power bui also in regard to time " on tne air," as well as an improvement in the value and variety of programmes being offered. The challenge of 2BL to be the " highest power broadcasting station in the southern hemisphere *' is being answered by 2FC's installation of additional power generators at Pennant Hills. The additions include a 75 break-horse-power internal combustion engine, to be used in the event of a failure in tho City Council's electricity supply, and a 75,000 watt gorierrator. With this addition it is claimed that " 2FC will then be beyond question capable of transmitting on tho highest power of any station in the southern hemisphere." , » „ At present the output of each " A class station is confined by regulation to 5000 watts, but it is understood that no objection will be offered to the use of any power provided other wireless- services are oot interfered with. Tho results obtained by tho two Sydney stations which now have the same power output will bo of interest as giv- ( ing a comparison of the capabilities of the two widely different wave lengths which are used. It is said that 1100 metre wave longth will give a better daylight range than that obtainable by 2BL, on 353 metres. This is denied by 2BL, which claims a daylight range covering the whole of New South Wales. As evidence of faith in its claim 2BL now transmits during practically the whole of tho day commencing at 7 a.m. Another point of interest is that while 2FC uses a number of valves in parallel as oscillators 2BL uses one large valve only as the oscillator. This will afford another basis of comparision.

FADING SIGNALS. Last week an American visitor claimn.g to be a radio expert stated in a local interview that fading of wireless signals is always' dua to technical defects at the transmitting station and added complacently that they Jiad done away with fading in America, The writer receives the best radio journals from that conntry, but has seen do reference to the accomplishment of the impossible task of eliminating fading. Fluctuation of plate voltage at transmitting stations may cause variation of signal strength. So also may change of frequency. All fading is not due to this, however, since crystal-controlled stations oi fixed frequency will fade. If our American visitor listens to the American stations he is in New Zealand he will discover tnat they fade equally with other stations. Careful research in England by Prof. E. V. Annie ton and Mr. ,M. Harriett, the latter a New ZeaJander, has been duly recognised in America and has shown that fading is due to an interference phenomenon that could not bo eliminated unless the Heaviside layer were done away with. This would, of course, effectively stop long distance traasmiss.on r fadiriff effect is mainly duo to conditions in the upper atmosphere which arcl ' l '" the control of man. Where high nower stations are installed, listener's m nrSitv will not have fading P :ptioa is obtained from waves ciniT directly over the earth's surface. So are not" interfered with by waves reflected from tfco Heavisme layer.

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