THE WIRELESS WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19492, 29 May 1925, Page 2

THE WIRELESS WORLD.

BROADCASTING DELAY. SYNDICATE’S EXPLANATION. By Magna Vox. About 18 months ago a proposal to form a Government broadcasting scheme for the whole of New Zealand, with a 500-watt station in each of the four centres was mooted, and after several public meetings of listeners-in the Government was approached with this end in view. In November, 1923 the Post-master-General (Hon. J. G. Coates) outlined a scheme, and immediately the New Zealand Broadcasting Syndicate was ret up for the purpose of floating the proposed company on a sound basis. However, considerable difficulty was encountered, and the prospectus of the company has not yet been issued. The Government has Endeavoured to improve matters by subsidising the principal stations in each centre, but these arrangements are not working satisfactorily, as listeners-in have been promised, and are expecting, 500-watt stations in each centre. Consequently the delay has caused much perturbation in the radio trade, and also among thousands of . amateurs throughout the country, and a statement of the position has been anxiously awaited for some time. Mr H. Esmond Greig, secretary of the New Zealand Broadcasting Syndicate, which undertook to launch the broadcasting company, has written the following letter to members of the New Zealand Broadcasting Syndicate and secretaries of radio clubs registered with the Syndicate. “The New Zealand Broadcasting Com mittee, in the course of its long negotiations with the Government, has been subjected to heartbreaking delay. It has throughout made allowances for the difficulties that the Government has had to face from time to time, but it feels that, in fairness to itself, it should make a statement setting forth the position as it is to-day.” Mr Greig writes, inter alia, to the Minister: —“I have been directed by,,my committee to .write to you relative to the delay in the preparation of a suitable equitable agreement between the Gov eminent of New Zealand and the proposed New Zealand Broadcasting Company, Ltd., which company ray' syndicate has been formed to float for the purpose of conducting the broadcasting service in New Zealand provided for in the amendment to the Post and Telegraph Act, 1908, passed last session. This delay is disappointing to those _ interested, is a great deal longer than should have been necessary, and is adversely affecting the prospects of a successful flotation of the intended company as the following considerations will show:— . ' “Firstly: Listeners-in are now having to pay the increased license foe demanded to cover cost of improved broadcasting, and, so far, apparently no visible steps have been taken to provide such improved service. Consequently, listeners-in aie feeling suspicious and restive, and an uneasy apprehension is springing up,that something is seriously amiss. Tills is being reflected in tho smallness of the number of licenses taken out so far. “Secondly: Tho ‘tight’ period in tho financial year is approaching, thus increasing unnecessarily the difficulty of the already sufficiently hard task of obtaining funds for our purpose. “Thirdly : While the members of my syndicate were full of enthusiasm when it was formed well over a year ago, even tlie greatest enthusiasm will wilt and fade in the face of unexplainable delay, “Fourthly; Broadcasters arc still con tinning broadcasting partly at their ov n cost, having promised to do so under the impression that tho new company won id come into existence in a very short time, and thus relieve them oi the heavy expenditure which they were undergoing. “The method of the company formation is as follows: —(1) A syndicate is formed to put up money for the necessary preliminary expenses; (2) the material contracts arc got ready; (3) memorandum of association and articles of association arc finalised and prospectus issued: (4) capital is obtained and the company registered. My committee formed the syndicate 14 months ago and has gone as far as it can with 1 the company papers pending tho agreement with tho Government. Mr Groig’s letter, which then details tho various steps Liken by tho syndicate, and* tho delays allegedly occasioned by the Government, concludes:—“ln the end it was March 5, 1925, before regulations were gazetted. Even at that they were faulty, in that they contained several things that made it impossible for us or any other entity to undertake a broadcasting service with any prospect of success. The proposed regulations were submitted to our sub-committee on several occasions for comment, and on each occasion we indicated our requirements, but without any satisfaction resulting. Wo understand amendments aro now under consideration in tho direction of our requirements. “Finally «it was March 19 before our solicitor was able to peruse a draft agreement. This resulted in two things: (t) Our company papers which we had ready for 12 months for approval, had to be torn up and fresh ones substituted. This. I may say, our solicitor accomplished in a week! (2) The draft agrement was in some respects such as wo could not accept as trustees of tho proposed company. These aspects were discussed with von by Air Hope B. Gibbons- early in March. Our requirements are known to von. and as soon as the agreement is finalised in a mutually satisfactory form, we have every expectation of going right ahead. W© cannot understand the delay, and we most earnestly and respectfully reouest you to see that the necessary altera tions, to the agreement and the regulations are carried out without any further delay.” STATION 4YA. A further letter has been received from Mr Marshall (Glenavy) regarding transmissions from 4YA. The writer states: “In reply to my letter concerning 4i’A’s transmissions 'Mr 0. Neill stated that probably I was using a home-made set, with three or four valves, and that this was too many valves to receive a 500-watt station situated so close as 4YA. I would' like to say that, before complaining even to my friends about the quality of 4YA’s transmissions, I tried every way I could think of to clear up the signals, rising two valves, one 11.1. and detector with an aerial 7ft high and 50ft long 4YA comes in at about the same strength as 2BL, Sydney does using an ordinary 40ft high 100 ft long aerial, but the quality of the two stations cannot be compared. Station 4YA is just as blurred as it is with three or four valves. Using only one valve and tho small aerial mentioned above the results are just the same. Before tho broadcasting scheme came into operation I received several really good concerts from 4YA using exactly tho same set as I have at present; but since the beginning of April 1 have not received one concert from 4YA that could be called good, while there is not much difference in the other stations. The worst of it is that 4YA gets worse and worse, tho concert on Saturday night was very bad, nothing could be understood from beginning to end. I think that as Mr O'Neill receives letters of praise and letters of criticism he should take a set some little way out of Dunedin and judge the transmissions tor himself. I consider tho excuse about my being 100 close to 4YA to receive it properly is very weak ; I really fail to see how a 500-watl sLitiou should not be as dear as a 50-watt station on the same set, unless one of the stations is not managed properly. I have, often received 2AQ far louder than 4YA.''— (Signed) A. F. Marshall. “Listen-in” (Timaru) also writes, supporting “H. F. M’s” criticism. [The letters were referred to the operator of 4YA (in the absence of Mr F. J. O’Neill), who states that honest criticism is welcomed at the station, hut added that for each letter containing general criticism numerous letters were received praising the station both for the quality of the programmes and tho standard of transmission. The only thing to do was to lie swayed by tho majority of the ro-

ports and continue as before _ -without drastic changes, while persevering with all experiments that might possibly otter an improvement in transmission. This the operators were doing. An instance of the difficulty of obtaining reliable criticism was obtained in a letter from a wellknown listener-in near Christchurch, who states that 4YA is over-modulated; while a writer in Wellington gives it as Lis opinion that 4YA is under-modulated. It both these listeners are sure they are not mistaken, then the only solution left is that Station 4YA sounds over-modulated in Canterbury and under-modulated in Wellington! If this were possible it must be due to physical properties over which the operators of 4YA have no control. Station 4YA was at present the only station in New Zealand operating on the full power of 500 watts prescribed under the regulations, and a tremendous amount of pioneering work had to be done and many difficulties overcome. Steady progress was being made all the time.] Mr O’Neill submits the following statement which it was his intention to broadcast from 4YA yesterday evening : “Just recently, 4VA changed over to alternating current >n the filaments of the valves. A curtain amount of experimenting has to he done, and parts manufactured, as instruments cannot be obtained in the country. Very few have any idea of the difficulties one is up against, but we hope to put everything on a sound basis and endeavour to please everybody. I cannot let the opportunity pass without further comment. So far this is the only station that has tackled the 500 watt output problem, and you will admit you have had very good results from 4YA in the past. Experimenting lias to be done to obtain success, and anyone can have ago at it. They are in the same position as ourselves, and if they think they can do better, let them get busy. There is plenty of room for them. Anyone can criticise but actual practice is a different matter. The position as it is to-day is that New Zealand listeners expect this station to supply programmes on high power, and they seem to expect too much from it. There are dozens of. other stations going; why not give them a turn? For two years or more, you have had free programmes, and now, when some are called upon for a small payment, 2d per concert, they cry out against the station. We ask for tolerance, and if anyone can come along and do better, we will be pleased to let him have a try. Before finishing my remarks, I would like to point out that many of the sets in use today are anything but the best type. If difficulty is experienced, we are prepared to install a set in any locality, and give satisfactory reception. Look to your sets; you "will find that a great deal of your trouble is there.’’—Station 4YA, Dunedin. The following letter came to hand after Mr O’Neill's statement had been received : Dear “Magna Vox,”—“The article concerning Station 4YA appearing in last Friday’s issue is certainly one that calls for further comment. As users of various kinds of valve sets, we can endorse all that Mr Marshall has writen and can assure you that he has not exaggerated the position. Mr O’Neill’s answer is very evasive and leads one to wonder if the Dunedin amateur is being considered at all. Whilst no doubt many such letters can bo produced nothing can hide tho fact that the concerts as transmitted from 4YA are far from being perfect. Further, Mr O’Neill’s reply does not explain why 4YA is so broad.’ The fact that so few licenses have bceir taken out is proof that there is something radically wrong in this connection and we can assure you that anv redress in this direction will be appreciated hv the valve sot holders in Dunedin.”—ive are, etc.; W. J. Wincfield, iR. T. Stedman, F. Gillies, T. 0. W. Brebnor, A. J. Hamills. L. A. Walters, J. T. Roberts, F. Barnett, B. R. Bray, A. R. Harris, M. R. MTndoe, E. L. Keast, C. Kruse, and E. Bond.—Dunedin, May 21. [Mr O’Neill certainly is not attempting to conceal facts as suggested. So far as tho letters received are concerned it would appear reasonable for the controllers ot station 4YA to assume a verdict on their transmissions borne out by the large majority of their correspondents. Tho claim that the, small number of license renewals throughout New Zealand is duo to the quality of tho transmissions from the Dunedin 'station cannot be taken as correct • the evidence showing that this is due ’rather to tho delay in the inauguration of the promised high-powered broad-' casting stations throughout the dominion.]' ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The current if sue of the Canterbury Radio Journal, the official organ of the Radio Society of Christchurch, proves that this fine little magazine is worthily maintaining the standard set in its first number by the editors, Messrs E. J. Bell and L. Slade. The articles comprise “The Receiving Experimenter” (E. W. England), “Capacity” (H. R. V. Blown), “Amateur Activities” (L. F. Ball), Radio Waves” (E. J. Bell), “Society Notes.” etc., which will prove of great interest' both to amateur and advanced enthusiasts. The magazine, which ‘is issued free to members of the Radio Society of Canterbury, may be obtained for one penny by others interested, and it is indeed seldom that such value may be obtained for so small a sum. The Canterbury Radio Journal certainly deserves to succeed. The May issue of the New Zealand Wireless and Broadcasting News contains the usual number of interesting wireless articles, the principal being “The Broadcasting Position,” “Supes DX Among the Amateurs,” “A One-Valve Low Loss Receiver,” “Mr E. ■H. Scott’s (Nelson) Records.” “The Government Regulations,” etc. The features provide a wealth of profitable reading for all amateurs.