AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19808, 1 December 1927, Page 17

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTS.

NOVELTIES INTRODUCED. The Australian broadcasting service is noted for the frequent introduction of novelties to interest listeners, and the latest of importance is being provided at 2FC, Sydney On Tuesday evening, just prior to the commencement of the entertainment session, various subjects of interest are being discussed by two able speakers. Instead of a formal lecture being given, the two speakers conduct an ordinary conversation on the subject chosen. The consequent removal of all formality from the discussion makes listening to the various statements quite attractive and entertaining. Station SCL, Adelaide, has introduced a new feature into its daily programmes by devoting a special half-hourly session at mid-day to children's stories and music for sick children. One of the most significant items of Australian wireless news is the announcement that the proprietors of 3LO, are applying for licences in South Australia, West Australia and Tasmania. The application for such extended operations is the result of tho recommendation by the Royal Commission that 3LO should surrender portion of its revenue to help the stations in other States where broadcasting is not so successful financially. Apparently 3LO has come to the conclusion that it is far better both for itself and the States in question for it to iissuine the responsibility administering its own funds if it is to be chargfld vvitn the duty of aiding the weaker stations. BRITISH IMPROVEMENTS. COMMITTEE'S SUGGESTIONS.

The British Wireless Organisations' Advisory Committee has issued a report containing suggestions which are of interest in that some of them might be acted upon by broadcasting interests in New Zealand. The suggestions, which either confirmed existing practice or were adopted by the British Broadcasting Corporation, were the following:— The British Broadcasting Corporation should undertake demonstrations of reception, in order that listeners might he accurately informed on the quality of reproduction they might reasonably expect for expenditure of stated sums. .More information should be communicated to the public regarding the prospective changes, in the broadcasting system. A "clear the ether" campaign, relative to interferences with the reception of broadcast programmes, should be instituted in the autumn Tho British Broadcasting Corporation should arrange for the publication of an article, or a series of articles, explaining the technical expressions used in connection with weather reports and the manner in which such reports could be interpreted in terms of atmospheric conditions affecting reception. No efforts should be spared by the British Broadcasting Corporation to bring about a regular service of short-wave transmissions for the benefit of the overseas Dominions and colonies. RUSSIAN BROADCASTING. KHABAROVSK STATION.

Much myEtery has attached to the extent and power of the Russian broadcasting stations, which aie controlled by a Government monopoly, but details have been made available of the short-wave station, RFN, frequently heard of late by New Zealand listeners. The station is situated at Kharbarovsk and is one of a chain of about a dozen radio stations in Eastern Sibena. The city lias 40,000 inhabitants and is one of the strategic outposts of Russia. Although the most important part of the apparatus used is for short-wave telegraphy, provision was made for the development of bvtudcasting. The wavelength range ot' the transmitter, which was made :r; America, is from 20 to 100 metres. Th output power rating for telegraphic tervice is 20 kilowatts on wave-lengths as low as 30 metres. The output decreases, however to about 15 kilowatts at 20 metres. In the broadcast service the output is limited to about 10 kilowatts by tho power supply, and the wave-lengths being nsed at present are approximately 50 and 60 metres. A master oscillator, controlled by a quartz crystal, energises the transmitter circuit. Three intermediate amplifiers, of 250, 500 and 1000 watts, feed a 20,000watt output amplifier, consisting of four water-cooled valves. Tho modulator unit for broadcasting also contains four watercooled valves.

NEWS FROM ALL FARTS. " UNCLE GEORGE " RESIGNS. A novelty was introduced at IYA last Thursday evening when a portion of the wool sale was broadcast in excellent fashion. On Tuesday evening Morse interference from \ L,r>, Auckland, was pronounced about 11 o'clock. Listeners understood the spark transmitter was not to be used before midnight. During the special broadcasting week in the holiday season, the holding of a Radio Olympia would, in the writer's opinion, assist greatly in bringing broadcasting more prominently before the general public. Several listeners in America to the broadcast of the Tunney-Dempsey fight died from excitement during the description or from suspense while waiting the announcement of the winner. The total number of deaths in front of loudspeakers was 11. Last evening " Uncle Torn" conducted the children's session at IYA in a manner more on the lines suggested by the Auckland Listeners' League, which believes that the present system is not meeting with the approval of the child listeners. There will be universal regret at the recent staff changes at 2BL, Sydney, whereby Mr, W. Maclardy has retired from tho position of managing director, and Mr. George Saunders, announcer, has also left the service of the company. Mr. Saunders was probably the most able announcer in Australia, and he was without peer as a radio " uncle." A Polish landowner nearly lost his life recently when villagers attributed a violent thunderstorm to the evil agency of his radio set. As soon as the storm was over the villagers broke into his house, but the owner of the set and his family escaped by pretending to have been struck by lightning. Their prostrate forms scared the villagers, who ran away panic-stricken, according to the report of tho occurrence. As soon as IYA closes down it is usually impossible to obtain satisfactory reception of 2BL, Sydney, owing to the excessive interference from howling valves. Strange to say, there is practically no similar interference with 2F(5, and" it would therefore appear that 213 Lis more popular with Auckland listeners. In Canada there are 14 radioequipped cars solving the interference problem and it is time that similar vehicles were obtained for New ZoaiaacL