RADIO NOTES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 2, 10 September 1927, Page 3

RADIO NOTES

SQUEALING VALVES. ; What with leaky ami squealing valves, listeners in this 'town certainly have a just grievance aaginst the Borough Council, and the slackness on the part of the Postal Department. The squealing valve nuisance has been particularly bad this last fortnight, and especially on Thursday afternoons. This seems to show that apparently the guilty individual is one who enjoys his half holiday on that day, and there should be no trouble on the part of the department in “tracking” him down. Listeners are paying pretty stiff licence fees compared with other countries, and are surely entitled to more consideration from the Department. Devices are in use in other towns in New Zealand whereby the culprits are easily detected, and it is time something of this nature was provided by the Department, for the local Radio Inspector’s use in this district. The Borough Electrical Engineer i s alive to the position, and has already taken action to detect the cause of the trouble. Listeners who are affected can assist the Electrical Engineer if, when the trouble occurs, they would phone him. Hel will be pleased to investigate the locality that is, on wet nights especialy, spoiling the local reception.

NEW PLYMOUTH RELAY STATION. It is to be hoped that the request of New Plymouth radions to have a relay station established in that town will be turned down by the Radio Broadcasting Company. Atl the present time there are alreadj too many stations on the air to en able capable artists to be obtainefor a decent night’s programme, an seeing the company have to pa these artists for their services, further expense in maintaining a r lay station at our capital town wl mean thatl isteners wlil have to su fer in the matter of programnn etc. One good powerful broadcastii station in the Dominion would I much better than the present sta of things—better artists, bctt( musical items, and longer broadens ing hours, because the company cou afford to pay higher fees seeing th: they would only have oiu station maintain. According to Auckland files it intended to increase the power c that station. If that is done thei is no need for a relay station New Plymouth. If there are aij further relay stations required, th< the claims of Gisborne should r( ceive consideration before that cl New Plymouth. If the request is granted, in a very short time Hamilton and other towns will be provided with further stations, and then listeners will be further complaining about the quality of programmes provided. The sugegsted station is not required, and it is to he hoped that Radio Societies and listeners in will oppose it.

By “RHEOSTAT.”

WHAT I SEE AND HEAR. K.F.0.N., Longbeacli, California, was coming in particularly strong this past week. Last Sunday evening the station was broadcasting jazz music, and one could plainly hear the applause from the audience. A saxophone solo, “Love Here is my Heart,” and a mouth organ solo came through very clearly. The Sunday evening concerts from the Wellington Station are increasing in popularity. The Lyric Quartette and the items from the Port Nicholson Band were particularly good. To-morrow, Sunday evening, the church service from the St. Alban’s Methodist Church, Christchurch, will be broadcasted. The Rev. L. B. Neale (formerly stationed in Stratford) will be the preacher, and after the service a sacred concert will be transmitted from the same church. The Auckland Municipal Band will broadcast a concert from the Auckland Town Hall to-morrow evening. This Baud is one of the best in the Dominion, and is always popular with listeners in. Last Thursday afternoon the Wellington Station broke down and had to forego its afternoon session. The repairs were executed in time for the eVening session. Wireless poles are now being

H• I H Hi He erecting of tn" transini.o...s apparatus of a broadcasting station well outside the city area is contended by many radio experts to no necessary to prevent inter-station interference. This is in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Radio Commisison. There is no doubt, therefore, that in Australian cities where more than one high-power station is in simultaneous operation the respective transmitting plants will need to be sonic miles from the cities.