RADIO NOTES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 25 June 1930, Page 2

RADIO NOTES

THIS WEEKS HINT.

One of the simplest methods of connecting fixed condensers consists of connecting that under .suspicion to the mains through an ordinary lamp. If the lamp lights at anything lik«* its norma] brilliancy the condenser i* certainly broken dpwn; if it does not light at all, or in the case of big condensers, only dully, it can bej considered in order, so far ;is voltages up to 300 or so ai,< concerned at least. BROADCAST FROM PRISON. Prisoners wlio escaped the raging fire that burned to death more th»» 300 inmates of the Ohio State Penitentiary at Columbus, Q., through station WIAV told the radio audience thei,. own stories of the fire when the Crosley station's microphones were set up in the inner courtyard of the penitentiary on April 22, the day after the fire.

After newspaper men had given their versions of the fire as eye-wit-nesses, and after the deputy-warden had congratulated the prisoners for their spirit during and after the fire, the prisoners were led to the microphones. No censorship was made of their speeches. Many of the prisoners had just been released from the hospital where their injuries had been treated. Some told of the suffering of their comrades they tried to save. Others merely reported the course of the fire and of how the men. m tiers one andl two raced through tho prison in an attempt to free tho men in fho higher cells. *'AN ETHER^ORGAN". The Hungarian/ inventor, "M. Tihamer Netties, has constructed a new instrument called the "ether-organ", i It is a considerable improvement ' upon the ether-instrument previously known. These are limited to' one

BY "GRID LEAK"

tone at a Lime, whereas tho keyboard of the new ether-organ enables the player to sound simultaneously as many tones as ho likes. STRAY SPARKS, I American broadcasters favour musi- ! cal backgrounds, and it is reported | that one company has engaged a trio to furnish the background when a | talk is being given. Once or twice in the past some ol our i>unedin stations have tried announcing to a musical accompaniment, and when done prafperly the •effect Js quite. pleasing. ** * * Although at present some listener* can overhear private, telephone conversations by means of the wireless telephony between Sydney and London, it is believed that within the next six or eight months eavesdropping will bo impossible, * * * An exchange reports, that a'Christchurch man has found! a new use for his wireless. Tn ],js infant's bedroom he has placed a loud speaker, which is coupled to another in the front room in such a way tha't it acts as a | microphone. When the baby makes j the slightest sound anyone sitting in tlm front room can l'c>:- ~vt„ plainly. With the opening of the relay station at Newcastle. N.S.W., some time m August, it is estimated' fcTiat a population of about' 3UU,UIH) V wil] be brought within "crystal range of broadcasting. The, number within valve set range wilPof course be enormously greater. Further relay I stations are planned] for .Rockhampton. and Albnry, with others at later dates. Soon the country will be almost as well served as tho city, and it is suggested that it is going co be a difficult problem to balance the programmes to suit both country and city listeners.