“ON THE AIR”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17030, 15 August 1929, Page 4

“ON THE AIR”

THE AUSTRALIAN PROGRAMMES INDIFFERENT MODULATION JAZZ ON SUNDAYS RESENTED SYDNEY, August 1. Listeners apparently appreciate the improvement being made in the broadcast programmes from the Sydney and Melbourne studios. It is reported there was a record in the number of new licenses taken out, as well as in the percentages of expiring licenses renewed. There have been complaints concerning the transmission during the past fortnight. This is now directly under the supervision of the Post Office Department. By its instruction the American system of modulation is being introduced. Up to the present this has not proved as satisfactory as that previously in vogue in Australia. However, with a little more experience the new system,- which is admittedly a good one, may be better controlled, and listeners get not only greater power from the transmitting station but also better modulation. JAZZ ON SUNDAYS Many Melbourne listeners do not like the broadcast of) jazz ou Sunday. A jazz programme from one of the stations there on Sunday night last has evoked a storm of protests. The PostmasterGeneral is to be asked to use his power of censorship under the new contract to prevent the repetition of such programmes on Sunday nights. QUALITY IN FINAL TEST OF SET More and more is tone becoming the final test of a receiver (states the Sydney Sun). Selectivity, of course, is still a prime consideration, but quality nowadays, is considered necessary with it. It is doubtful, just the same, if modern speakers ai’e any more natural. The heavy, “drummy” reproduction, with th over-emphasis of the bass, is certainly very little more like the real thing than the thinner and higher-pitched notes of other days. Still, popular opinion votes for it, the best and most sought-after, and that after all, is the final test.

For those who like this sort of reproduction the “cone” type of speaker is undoubtedly required. They give pleasanter music, although not quite so clear-cut in speech, and for the most part they cover the range of musical frequencies more thoroughly. A step further—getting into the higher class—is the dynamic speaker, a more recent development, which helped to a great extent to make the talkies possible. The essential difference between the dynamic speaker and ordinary “reed” or “magnetic” type, lies in the fact that the magnets—really the heart of any speaker are energised by a separate current supplied from an accumulator, or direct from the mains. 'lbis not only gives the speaker great power, but renders it sensitive and responsive to the finest notes. Of course, for any speaker, and particularly the dynamic, to deliver its best, the power must first be put into it—it is useless to connect a heavy speaker to a set with one or two small valves and transformers, and expect stupendous volume and wonderful purity, as many listeners do. The output stages of the set must he designed to deliver the signals undistorted and, with some power; the speaker should then make them audible without loss of quality.. This, in fact, is one of the secrets of good reproduction on the cheapest of speakers. And one of the secrets is this, to go a step further, is unstinted “B” battery voltage and current, combined, in larger sets, with judicious use of power valves. Bigger outfits now use about 200 volts “B” battery, and in smaller sets at least 125 ape nearly always necessary—the conventional 60 or 90 are barely sufficient. Then, of course, the grid biasing must be considered, which depends on the valves in use. RADIO PICTURES British and Eurpoean listeners who desire to make a collection of radio “still” pictures have the,choice of a considerable ■ field from which to fill their radio album. In addition to the pictures sent out nightly by 2LO, London, there are regular transmissions from Continental stations, including Vienna, Linz, Copenhagen, Posen, Berlin. Paris, Rome, and • Hilversum. Listeners who “work” these stations consistently each night are able to secure wonderful illustrations of 1 daily events of importance in Britain, as well as in the leading capital cities of Europe. Several additional stations have intimated that they are adding “still” pictures to their nightly programmes. SOUSA APPROVES BROADCASTING For over five years, Sousa, as well as Sir Thomas Beecham and Toscanini, persistently refused to permit concerts conducted by him to bo broadcast. All three have recanted their opinion. Sir Thomas Beecham is organising special concerts for the 8.8. C. Toscanini has not only permitted broadcasts in Italy, but approves of relays of his concerts to Austria. Sousa, the U.S.A. “March King,” admits he was wrong in his opposition, and has. agreed- to give concerts to brf relayed throughout America, from the Atlantic to. the Pacific. LISTENING-IN PARTIES Sydney never lags behind in the newest vogues." Its latest takes place on a vShndav evening.! Gone' are the times -that left the seventh day and night of the wfeek hang heavily on our hands. What to do and what hot to do on a Sunday were the most irksome do’s and dont’-s of the week. The Australian Broadcasting. Go. tells us they have thought of a way'out. We think thov have. They have been inundated with letters from listeners all over Australia. praising the.duality of the Sunday night music which has emanated from their studios since they took the control of Australian broadcasting. Those letters are really interesting, to read. They come from way hack of Bonrke, from the Queensland border, from other States, from the city and suburbs of Sydney, and all in praise of the new> Sunday broadcasts.. It was a letter, however, from a well-known family at- Darling Point that decides the question of whet to do with our Sunday nights The head of, the family

wrote in to the company to say that for two weeks running, he and his wife have instituted “Sunday listening-in Parties.” A dozen or so friends have spent the evening with them lazily esconsed around the fire whilst the radio has been the means of excellent entertainment. He further stated that the inaugural programme of the A.B.C. first gave him the idea of entertaining some of his friends to a radio evening. It was a great success. Then the Sunidny programmes manifested themselves and he decided to carry on with them. The quality of the programmes provided was surprisingly good and so the letter the company ’ has received on the strength of it provides a way out for listeners all over Australia who don’t know what to do with their Sunday evenings. The Sunday evening broadcasts from 2BL and 2FC will be provided by such brilliant musical conductors as Will Prior and his musical ensembles, Ted Henkel and his Capitolians, Albert Cazabon and his orchestra, Stan Porter, and his Symphony Orchestra, relayed from 3LO, Fred Scholl, Price Dunlavy. brilliant organist from Sydney, and Frank Lanterman, the fine Wurlitzer organist of v Melbourne. YOU CAN LISTEN-IN WHILE IN A TAXI NEW YORK. July 31. The latest in taxi cabs has radio equipment. with a loud speaker for the passengers, supplying any programme within 100 miles. Only the passenger compartment is enclosed. The chauffeur sits in the open. The control dials of the radio are forward with the driver, the loud speaker in the. rear, and the antennae concealed in the !roof. The car sells for £550. but the Police Commission must approve it before if will ho allowed on the streets.