RADIO.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12439, 4 September 1933, Page 2

RADIO.

ITS SENSATIONAL RISE.

As in the automobile industry, the sensational rise of the radio business has been closely paralleled bv aggressive advertising. 'Mr E A Nicholas, sales manager of the ’ R.C.A. Victor Company, Inc., manufacturers of radio sets and phonographs, stated: ‘There are several factors which make the newspapers ideally suited for radio set advertising. First, there is the time element. Campaigns can be regulated closely by sales opportunities, and with ail industry like radio there is no danger that clisplav copy will fail to keep abreast technical' developments. Newspaper campaigns are flexible and a company can strengthen sales efforts quickly in any given territory.'” In a letter to the Bureau of Advertising, New York, Mr E. F. McDonald, Jr., president, Zenith Radio Corporation, said: ‘’Our fifteen years of radio pioneering have taught us that the newspaper is the advertising medium which most profitable and quickie presents our storv to' the public. These same fifteen years of experience have taught us that of all advertising . media, the newspaper is comparatively the greatest result producer.” DX RECORD. A new record has been established in New Zealand for overseas reception by Mr J. E. Downes, of Dunedin, with a log of 442 stations. Mr Downes wins the DX Cup competed for six monthly by members of the New Zealand DX Club, and the DX Shield competed for three monthly by members of the New Zealand DX Radio Association. His log consists of stations from America (300), Canada (16), Mexico (4), South America (1), China (1), India (3), Europe (13), Siam (I), Japan (18), Australia (85). XER STIMULATED. The advent of the super power Mexican station XETN with its late broadcasts has evidently stimulated Dr. Brinkley’s XER to fresh activities as any night the .lonesome, singing and yodelling cowboys may be heard interspersed of course with the inevitable health talk about “Paw and Maw.” One or two nights this week volume reached almost local strength. Although this station uses 75 k.w. it has greater clarity and volume than XETN with its 100 k.w. Probably the lower frequency of the latter station may account for this as also may location of transmitter. A DUNEDIN GRIEVANCE. Dunedin feels a grievance over a, Wellington report (uncontradicted) that as soon as coverage statistics have been obtained in Auckland and Christchurch, from the two new stations to be erected in these centres, investigations will be carried out for a new station in the Wellington district. The Dunedin Star makes this statement: “If this information is correct, are we in Dunedin expected to carry on with our present out-of-date transmitter? Wellington already has the most powerful and most modern plant in New Zealand, and can, therefore* wait longer for an improvement than suffering listeners in the south. In comparison with populations in other districts the local radio district has the highest licence figures in the country, showing conclusively that this part of the Dominion is more willing to contribute to the coffers of the authorities than others; and, from this point of view we are entitled to consideration at the earliest possible date.” If the Dunedin writer knew as much about the AVellington station as the board’s engineers do, it would hardly be so complimentary to 2.Y A WIRELESS NEWS AND NOTES. The life of an accumulator is greatly prolonged if careful attention is regularly paid to “topping up” each cell from time to time. Owing to evaporation, the level of the electrolyte sinks slowly, and if it is allowed to remain below the top of the plate there is a danger that the battery will be spoilt. To avoid this the accumulator should be examined from time to time, and a little distilled water added periodically to make up the deficiency caused by evaporation. Many constructors use several lengths of ordinary flex as an alternative to a battery cable, and it sometimes happens that when attaching the flex to a terminal, one of the strands becomes twisted round in such a manner that difficulty is experienced in tightening down the nut. If, however, a metal washer is first placed over the looped flex tory little trouble in this respect will he encountered. This idea can also be employed with advantage when two or more wires are to be attached to one terminal. The terminal nut can be locked down much more satisfactorily if a metal washer is slipped over after each connection.

Separated and straggling batteryleads do not improve the appearance ol any battery- set. It is certainly not necessary that this should he so, tor they can be kept tidy simply by slipping several elastic bands around the leads before they are attached, to the battery. Within a few months’ time aerial insulators will gather & film of soot that will lower their efficiency. This is true of any type of insulator, and the lowered insulating value is quickly noticed in amateur transmitting installations. The effect in standard broadcast receivers is noted by the increasing difficulty in tuning in distant stations. It is a good plan to lower the aerial at least once everv six months and wash the insulators with warm water, after which they should be polished with a soft rag. At this •time, the aerial should be inspected for bad connections, and the guy wires and lead-in checked.