WIRELESS NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 9

WIRELESS NOTES

By RADIO.

IMPORTANT TO DOMINION When ono comes to closely inspect the of the world it is not a very difficult matter to understand 'how important it is that New Zealand should be thorougliy up-to-date in the matter of wireless, vhich in the near future will be the predominating method of obtaining the ates k t news of world events, ruling prices n the world's markets, and financial novements. The most far flung Dominon in the British Empire, ovei a fchoaand miles from its nearest neighbour* iood, 11,000 miles from its best market, v tempting bait in a. remote part of the Southern Pacific in the event of a conflagration of nations in these seas, is it iot of the very first'importance that New Zealand should be in possession of the very last word in this great science vhich will reduce distance to a position jf secondary importance? This is the national aspect of the matter, and is one for t which the Government is solely responsible. but there is also the question of the magnificent opportunities it offers in a country like this, where therpopulation is widqly scattered, and many thousands are getting their living cut of the soil in the backblocks. WHAT IT CAN DO What are its commercial possibilities even now? The broaricaeting stations throughout the Dominion are already ierdin« out daily information of various kinds, weather reports, market figures, news, and stock quotations, etc., and the country farmer, dairy, sheep or agricultural, who is fortunate enough to have a receiving set, is in a position to take the fullest advantage of the informationreceived. And what about the social side? Does it not offer compensations for the somewhat lonely life of the country, or rather will it not take away that very loneliness which has been the greatest drawback to netting men and women on to the land?-. The days work is over, hut instead of retiring to bed for want of something better to do, the receiver is brought out, a lever here and a switch there is regulated, the. instrument is tuned up to the station desired, and in a' few minutes one is listening to the greatest artists in the woild, recitations, stories, musical items, etc., or the latest news of tho outside world. Such sets can be obtained for something in the neighbourhood of and even, less, but definite quotations can be obtained from any of the firms advertising in the adjoining column. Realise what it means to those who have not been used to life in the back country, and how it is going to fill tie big void in their lives, offering an attraction which has never been within its fcope before. If the New Zealand farmer is not alive to the importance ot installing wireless in or on his farm, then he is not the man of business acumen that he is considered to be. WOULD HELP IMMIGRATION Now that the Government is seriously Reconsidering' the immigration problem, it might also consider whether it would oe worth while subsidising the installation of. a certain nuipuet of sets in iemote country 'districts with the .object of thoroughly convincing the general public of the value of it. In many cases the nearest neighbours are many miles away, and settlers generally always have a craving for news of the outside world. Give him this wonderful service, and he will no longer feel severed from his fellow men, and the worlfcrs bn the land 1 will bo far more content with their lot. AT THE D.F.I. Although the aerial masts at the Dominion Farmers' Institute were erected some time ago the scheme in view has not yet proceeded any further. “Radio" learns, ,however, that plaQs for a thoroughly u;>itQ-clate broadcasting service are proceeding, and some definite news on the subject may be published before long. WIRELESS NEWS AT SEA The value of wireless to ships at sea is immeasurable, and has made the sea vastly safer to travel over than it was a very few years ago. Now it is helping to pass the time more pleasantly by the dissemination of daily items of news from atl parts of the world, and the more modern vessels carry printing presses and issue a daily news sheet. Intercolonial boats, such as the Maunganui,' Niagara, Marania, Makura, Tahiti, Manuka and Ulimaroa each issue “The'Wireless News" daily, even on the four days' journey from Sydney to New Zealand. A copy of the issue on board the Makura during its last trip to Vancouver contained reports of the English mining disaster, taxation items from Australia, profits of the State sawmills at Perth, arrival of the Australian Premier in London, racing results, football, end other items from Auckland and Wellington, together with a list of vessels with which it was expected to get into communication. These little news sheets have a good sale at 3d each, and hardly any of the circulations fall below 300. ‘ A PLEASED AMATEUR “Amateur," Clinton, Otago, writes that he is using one detector and one audio frequency valve, and is receiving from all- New Zealand stations very satisfactorily. He has three pairs of 'phones, and adds that the Wellington broadcasters concerts come in particularly EARLIER START FOR YOUNGSTERS lady has written to the Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd., asking them to put on the wireless concerts at 7 o'clock in the-evening instead of 7.30, so that the children may have a few stories and musical items before going to bed. “Radio" is supplying them with a few items specially suitable for the youngsters, and arrangements will be made shortly to give an earlier programme on a certain evening for their benefit. ENTHUSIAST AT MASTERTON A JVlasterton enthusiast states that he haa recently installed a three valve set upon which he is able to pick ujp Dunedin. or any New Zealand broadcasting station, and with the use of the Amphion Junior loud-sptfaker the music was produced in sufficient volume to enable dancing to be indulged in in the next room. Not satisfied with this progress be is also using the ordinary telephone to entertain his friends with the concerts he receives. Setting the loud speaker close to the telephone, his friends at the other end just lay the receiver on the table and sit. mound, and they have been able to listen in perfectly. Won’t they have a rather large account for calls? THE FIRST BROADCAST SINGER Tic Die first broadcast singer in Aueaiilasia, tho first person to sing over a hr unicasting set was Mrs Stan Uyles, of iVo'lington, over a Be Forest transmitting (vet, erected on the premises of International Electric Company, in "ourtonay place, Wellington. 'Mr Her•rert J. Woods was next, and was the first male singer. The first mngnavox /which is a loud speaker, not a transmitter) was imported into New Zealand by International Electric Company for Mr W. Barton, of Trentham, twelve months before anyone else.

DOMINION’S INITIATION The first complete wireless telephone transmitter to arrive in New Zealand was a Be Forest type O.T. 3, and was immediately installed a;:d used by the International .Electric Company. All the Wellington folks will remember this, and tho Auckland folks will remember when the set was taken to Auckland by Mr Forrest. It was the first time Auckland listeners-in heard music transmitted. by wireless telephone by a New Zealand commercial firm. This gives the International Electric Company the honour of being the first firm to broadcast Australasia. A NECESSITY Tlie large number of stations now broadcasting weather and market reports make the installation of a radio-receiv-ing instrument on the farm no longer a luxury but a necessity. The operation of a receiving set is very simple; no technical knowledge is necessary, and any farmer may, in a very short time, become expert in tuning in the various stations within the range of his set. A receiving set can be either built at home or purchased ready made, and many home-made sets are already in use vhicn give more or less satisfactory results. SOME USEFUL HINTS If a ready-made receiving set is to be purchased, a few considerations must be Porno in mind. It is highly advisable fc n i. farmer to have a two-stage set with which he can receive the reports on the necessary metre, and it would be as well to ask the dealer to demonstrate that the set purchased'will bring in the reports. THINGS TO REMEMBER In maintaining the set, never allow the storage battery to run low before it is recharged, as this lowers the efficiency of the set and is bad for the storage battery itself,- On a farm having an electric lighting outfit it is not at all necessary to have a separate storage battery for the radio set, because three cells of the lighting battery will do just as well. There are several kinds of detector and amplifier tuoes at various prices qn the market, and any of the firms advertising on this page.*eau sup; ply them. In receiving market reports it is of course necessary to note them down carefully for .comparisons with reports from other stations, and a goodsized writing pad or slate should be at hand for this purpose. After one or two attempts arrangement of the reports for comparative purposes will be an easy matter. N.S.W.—NEW ZEALAND TEST The remarkable success achieved by Jack Davis, a 13-year-old youngster from Vaucluse, in the recent N.S. VV.-N.Z. radio test, indicates the possibilities of long-distance radio telegraphy On. low power. Young Davis transmitted C.W signals to New Zealand —an air-line distance of approximately 1000 miles —using only .3 of a watt. This power *is just about sufficient to light the tail-lamp of a motor-car. The prize* to the two successful competitors in the test were presented at a largely-attended social gathering in Sydney last week. A SPLENDID FEAT The presentation was made by Mr W. T S Crawford, State Radio Inspector, who paid a glowing tribute to the performances of the first and second prizewinners, Master Davis and Mr Slade. Mr Slade's log was only slightly less efficient than that of young Davis, who, in addition to hie excellent low-power transmission feat, also received New Zealand signals on 14 out* of the 15 nights during which the test was proceeding. PRACTICAL ENCOURAGEMENT The Metropolitan Radis Club, which is about the third eldest wireless club in N.S.W., organised the test, and deserves every credit for tis practical efforts to further radio experimental work in Australia. PATENT RIGHTS Naturally all companies are very jealous of their patent rights, and in regard to wireless matters the “Sydney Sun" touches upon this phase as follows: — “Another complaint is that the Amalgamated Wireless Ltd., is retarding progress by insisting on its patent rights not being infringed. Mr E. T. Fisk, managing director of the company, when approached on the subject, said that no conditions were imposed by the company on people engaged in wireless business, and no restrictions either, excepting, o-f course, that the company's patent rights must not be infringed. That, of course, was a natural restriction which would be imposed by a holde.- of a patent on any matter/' "I will go so fur as to cay, concluded Mr Fisk, “that the company is prepared to consider allowing the use of its patents on terms to be arranged mutually betweei the company and those desiring to use them." FREE ENTERTAINMENTS An Australian contemporary .writes: — “It is contended by many that the free programmes will share the same fate as the free entcrtainmei.ts in other countries, where the expense of conducting bright programmes proved too costly for the altruistic enthusiasts dispensing them. From one viewpoint it might be argued that, even if amateurs are unable to continue the financial strain which a broadcast service would entail, (there is no harm in them continuing as far as they can. But the damage is not confined to the transmitter only. His listeners ultimately would be compelled to subscribe to a broadcast company, and to have their receiving sets tuned to the new wavelength. The necessity for transferring, coupled with the inferior service that the gratis service invariably provides, would tend to irritate rather than encourage a newcomer to the science. It is up to those who propose to conduct free broadcasting to-disprove the slogan that “what costs nothing is usually worth nothing." Failing that, it would be better for them to hand over their wavelengths to a company with sufficient financial backing to do justice to the enterprise." DIFFERENT TO NEW ZEALAND. Such remarks can hardly apply to New Zealand, as tho restrictions here are less arduous, and there is no restriction at present preventing j n.yone picking up any entertainment going if they have the f.ets enabling them to do so. If in time to como the broadcasting companies find themselves unable to carry on the freo entertainments, and that the salaries for wrists • compel thorn to make a charge, ’hen this rather awkward situation will icquiro some consideration. There is not tho same freedom in wireless broadcasting and receiving In Australia that there is in New Zealand. FINE ENTERTAINMENT On Tuesday evening that well-known vesatilo artist at the piano, Mr Frank Andrews (late of John Fuller and Sons), described by t : l>3 Australian Tress as tbo “Human Pianola," rendered the following items from the Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd., from Ford Building. Wellington : —“Bells of Bt. Mary’s" (Chimes), “Home, Sweet Home*' (Chimes), “Lead Kindlr Light" (Chimes). “Leave me with a Smile" (Chimes). An extraordinary feature was the playing of “Annie La.u.

rie" with one hand and Humoresque with the other simultaneously the melody being wonderful. The monologue, “Whuv Happened in Lizzie’s Room," composed bv Mr Frank Andrews, featured over 120 different spngs combined into a wonderful monologue. The cinema' serial was a real scream from beginning to end. The way Mr Andrews rendered ‘'Carolina in the Morning," “Georgette," Dually," “Oh. By Jingo," and “Chile Bean" in | syncopation was a revelation. “Three ■ o'clock in tho Morning" and “The I Rosary" were the gems of the evening. | This is the first time in Australasia that j one artist has held the listeners in at i a “one man" concert, and he gave the whole of tho items himself between ".30 to 10.15 p.m NEWS AND WEATHER REPORTS During the evening a wonderful- selection of His Master's Voice records also were given. The latest news was givui out, together with the weather report, during the concert, and all this was supplied by the “NiZ. Times" office. LIKE OLIVER TWIST Continually the telephone was ringing asking Mr Andrews to repeat items over again. The concert was the best that has been heard for many a long day. NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAMME The following artists will be appearing at the Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd., on Ford Building, Wellington, during the coming week.: —Wellington Harmonic Quartett, Mr, South (baritone) Miss Gladys, Mr and Miss Rubenstetn, and the Columbian Orchestra. Miss A. Rubenstein's concert party, including the following well-known artists, will appear next Friday night: Miss W. Huffey, Miss Garnet Cooper, Master Costelloe, Little Billy Murphy (six years old, the youngest broadcast artist in the world), Mr W. McKeon, Mr J. F. Stokes, Mr T. Barchant, Mr George Clapham (of the “E<gg" fame), Master G. Rubenstein. MARKET REPORTS THRICE WEEKLY Exclusive arrangements have been made by the Wellington BroadcastersLtd., with, “Meat and Wool" to send out the latest market reports every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, also on the same evenings the latest news will be sent out, together with the weather report. As supplied by the “N.Z. Times" office. “WHILE YOU EAT" A radio telephone at each of the 7® tables of a San Francisco hotel enables the diners to listen to one of the several concerts tha r . are broadcasted daily, seys an exchange. Diners may now eat while listening, and the hotels of the city .are making preparations to have wireless telephones installed in their guest rooms. NEW ZEALANDER HEARS SIGNALS Mr Ivan H. O’Meara, of Gisborne, has been successful in logging a number of AmeaYcan umateur stations. He expresses the opinion that it is much more creditable to American amateurs to span the 8000 miles that He between America and New Zealand than for them to have crossed the Atlantic. Both are creditable performances, but, necessarily, the longer distance transmission is the more meritorious feat. O'Meara finds that there is a marked fading nf rignols, which makes reception difficult, but points out that signals from local 6park stations fade out also, so that the fading may be due to local conditions. TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS Now that the New Zealand regulations have provided for the licensing of amateur transmitters, with power up to 50 watts, he is looking forward to establishing two-way communication with tho American amateurs. It will be a very interesting race to watch, to see whether Australian or New Zealand amateurs will be the first to hold two-way communication with the amateurs of the United States. U.S.A. TO N.Z. ON 10 WATTS Mr Wallie A. Gee, a New Zealand experimenter, has received a letter from Don. C. Brockway, Hollywood, California, U.S.A., regarding bis signals, which Gee received at Auckland, N.Z Brockway says that on looking up his log he found that Gee'a report of signals received was in every way eoireci, and that he was working 7.5. F. at the time logged by Gee. Brockway was highly delighted to find that he had been logged by a New Zealand amateur) and was possibly more astonished than delighted, for his power imput is only 10 watts. This should be something like a world's record- for long-distance transmission on low power, to reach over 6000 miles of ocean with an imput of 10 watts. Brockway’s circuit is a modified Hartley, and he uses two five-watt tubes, and rectified a.c. for the plates. Future trans-PUcific tests might be from Australia to California. Can any New Zealand 10-watt transmitter get across? If so, drop a line to “Radio." A WIRELESS RECORD A cable press message from Svdney published in our issue of Monday last stated that a vireless record was claimed for an achievement by Mr Charles McClurgan, of Strathfield, New South Wales, who had communicated with Mr F. D. Bell, of Shag Valley, using only 0.0087 watts, vhich was merely a small fraction of the power required for lighting the tail lamp of a motor-car. Mr F. J. O'Neil, of Dunedin, to whom tho matter was referred, said that the message appeared to have been mutilated in transmission. Mr Bell has communicated with the “Daily Times" office and states that the message from Sydney is absolutely correct.