RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1928, Page 10

RADIO

THE BROADCAST SITUATION. DISSATISFIED LISTENERS. (By “8.C.L.”). As “8.C.L.” previously predicted, a fresh storm ia about to break. Listeners are being compelled once more to take steps to have their grievances brought to the notice of the authorities. Although the dismissal of Mr. Stringer from the directorship of IYA has brought about the present action on the listeners’ part, it is merely the culmination of a long series of provocative actions by the company. The evidence of these actions is too well known to listeners to be detailed in these columns. At the general meeting of the North Taranaki Radio Society held during the week, listeners expressed their dissatisfaction in no measured terms with the programmes. A public meeting has been called tn Auckland for the purpose of discussing the matter and finding a remedy. Mr. Harris and Air. MeNamara have been invited to attend, but both have declined for various reasons. With the end of the year close at hand, and the consequent necessity for renewing licenses, this action on the part of Mr. Harris is hardly politic. Apparently he considers himself and his company secure under the wing of the Government. That the company has failed to “deliver the goods” to the satisfaction of the general body of listeners Is very evident. The programmes have catered for one class of listener only, and the Company, instead of bowing to an insistent demand for programmes of a different calibre, have continued to publish articles in its official organ and in the press, as to why listeners should appreciate what they choose to dish up, and harp upon educating the people by means of their monotonous programmes. The primary and sole reason why 99 per cent, of people buy a radio set for Is to be amused, not educated. The company has failed dismally in it 3 choice of executive officers. Where they should have had a theatrical manager used to entertaining the public and knowing their wants, they appoint a highly technical musical man, with undoubted qualifications in the musical world no doubt, but apparently quite unsuitable for arranging the fare demanded by the workaday listener. And so it has gone on right through the operation of the Company. It seems to be the case of deliberately putting Square pegs in round holes; if a round peg happens to come in, he proves a misfit and is promptly fired. Mr. Harris has admitted that his Company is administering a public utility. Very well then as the listeners are “paying the piper,” they are quite justified in demanding to “call the tune.” BACK TO THE ORGAN. A peculiar- state of things seems to have arisen at IYA. When action was taken by listeners regarding the excessive amount of organ music provided from that station, Mr. Haydon was station directors. On Mr. Stringer taking over, this unpopular class of item practically ceased. Mr. Haydon now takes over the directorship again, and we are deluged with organ music again. Why 1 Apparently officials who don’t study the wishes of listeners are not popular in certain quarters. AMONG THE STATIONS. With the exit of “summer time” one begins to look for the Australian stations in preference to our own. Last Saturday night’s fight from 2BL Interested listeners more than usual on account of Purdy’s participation, and the bout seems to have been well worth tuning in to. Reception on the same evening was, in the writer’s opinion, better than any other night so far this year. From 2KY to 7ZL the Aussies all came in exceptionally well. Even SCL was passable, and a marked improvement noticable in 4QG. 2UE Sydney is another station which puts on some very good gramophone recitals, and is worth listening for on 293 metres on Tuesdays and Thursdays. CONTROVERCIAL BROADCASTING. The 8.8. C. now permit the broadcasting of contravercial matter, a privilege that has been denied since the inception of broadcasting in the United Kingdom. In New Zealand it is at present “taboo” but one feels sure that if a three-cornered debate between a representative of the listeners, the manager of the 8.8. C., and one from the P. and T. Department, were put on the air it would be the most popular item ever put over since the introduction of broadcasting in this country. 2BL AND 2FC. On top of the announcement of the amalgamation of 2BL and 2FC, come the proposed union of 3LO and 3AR. It Is said that by eliminating duplication of items, etc., and splitting up the hours of running between two stations considerable sums of money will be saved in performing rights, royalties, etc. On the other hand, it reduces the alternative programme at certain times of the day, but on the whole the scheme presents great possibilities. EFFICIENCY IN MINIATURE. A PLANE'S TRANSMITTER. Utilising a quartz crystal one inch square for the maintaining of a constantly high frequency, the United States Marine Corps radio men at San Diego have been successful in building a transmitter for interpiano communication and communication with the ground, that can claim to be one of the smallest transmitters in the world. The set was tested for 50 consecutive days, and on 47 of these it was found to operate and be heard over a radius of 250 miles. It was claimed that it would send its signals 300 miles under ordinary conditions. The small transmitter is the result of flying necessity. Aviators have found that, with a swinging aerial, they must have a steady frequency. The quartz crystal solved that problem in the new transmitter. The transmitter weights 51 pounds, is nine inches high, 9j Inches wide, and JO inches from front to rear. It is constructed of an aluminium sheet and

angles, the front panel measuring 9 by 10 inches and the base 9 by 9} inch-.s. On the front panel is mounted a milliameter for measuring the total current in the tuned plate tank circuit and the variable tank circuit. The small base panel holds the clips for the crystal, the grid-biasing resistance, the platebloeking condenser; the socket for the 50-watt valve, the grid and plate chokes, the inductance for the plate circuit, and the keying relay. The transmitter swings in a shock absorber cord in the rear of the cockpit.

The transmitter receives maximum power from a generator mounted in the slipstream. Ten volts of electricity are delivered from a 30-volt supply by means of a resistor, also mounted on the side of the fuselage in the slipstream. Under ordinary conditions the resistor, wire wound, would burn up in about three minutes, but with a 90-ml!e gale cooling it, one may touch his hand to the resistor without receiving a burn. Aviators can install and dismount the apparatus in a few minutes, 30 its practicability has been demonstrated. EXPERIMENTERS TAKE NOTE! SAFETY FIRST. More care should be exercised by those responsible for hints appearing in the Radio paper. Recently hints were given in one journal on eliminating interference from incoming power lines, and stating that the connections to the switchboard could be made by any fan. This is very ill-advised. Apart from exposing the unsuspecting reader to prosecution if he follows the advice given, the writer is also exposing the fan to possible injury from a' severe shock. It is all very well to rehash copy from American magazines, but when the person doing so possesses little, if any, practical electrical knowledge it is decidedly dangerous. “B.C.L.’s” candid advice is on no account touch any of the house wiring, and if you want anything done get the assistance of a practical electrician. Advice on matters of this nature can always be obtained from yonr local radio society, whose members are always willing to help one another. THE R.B.C. AND ITS CRITICS.

The hysterical outburst in the editorial columns of the Record this week is amusing to a degree. “The man with a pull” is either having a joke at the expense of the Record and the R.8.C., or else is a crank. In either case, he should have been ignored, but the Record has taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker. For the Record to treat as serious the ridiculous article on New Zealand Broadcasting appearing in an American journal, seems to point to a fanatical championship of the R.B.C. and all its works. HINKLER'S WELCOME. The various functions in connection with the feting of Hinkler have caused a tremendous amount of interest when it has been possible to put the proceedings on the air. A particularly interesting evening was spent during the Returned Soldiers’ and Sailors’ reception of Hinkler at Brisbane on Friday last. TO-NIGHT’S BROADCAST. WIRELESS PROGRAMMES. Details of the programmes to be sent out by the New Zealand and Australian broadcasting stations this afternoon and evening are as follow: — NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA Auckland. —3 p.m., afternoon session, selected studio items; 4, literary selection by the announcer; 0 p.m., children’s hour; 7.15 p.m., news, reports, and sports results; 8 p.m., Chimes; special Irish concert programme; 8.1 p.m., relay of orchestral overture from the Rialto Picture Theatre; vocal quartet, Madame Mary Towsey Quartet, “Last Rose of Summer”; instrumental trio, Bosworth-Hemus-Tow-sey, “Trio in D. Major, Op. 49, Scherzo”; tenor solo, Mr. Peter Rose, “Shs Is Far from the Land”; recital, Mr. J. F. Montague, “Shandon Bells”; soprano solo, Madame Mary Towsey, “Kathleen Mavourneen”; instrumental trio, Bosworth-Hemus-Towsey Trio, “Londonderry Air”; baritone solo, Mr. John Bree, “For the Green”; talk on “Old Ireland,” by Mr. J. J. Sullivan • weather forecast; tenor solo and quartet, Mr. Rose, “Eileen Alannah”; relay of orchestral interlude from the Rialto Theatre; soprano solo, Madame Mary Towsey, “The Irish Emigrant”; ’cello solo, Miss Lalla Hemus, selected; baritone solo, Mr. J. Bree, “The Mountains of Mourne”; humorous recital, Mr. J. F. Montague, “Father Phil’s Subscription List”; -.ontralto solo, Miss Gwenyth Evans, “Molly Bawn”; instrumental trio, Bosworth-Hemus-Towsey Trio, “Trio in D Minor, Op. 49, Finale”; vocal quartet, Madame Maiy Towsey Quartet, “The Meeting of the Waters”; relay of dance music from the Dixieland Cabaret; a thought; 11.1 p.m., God Save the King. 2YA Wellington.—l2 noon, relay ol Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting from Trentham; 6 p.m., children’s hour • 7 p.m., news session, market reports, and sports results, St. Patrick’s Night concert, Wellington Town Hall; 7.45 p.m., relay Mr. J. F. Skedden will play a selection of national airs on the grand organ from 7.45 p.m. till 8 p.m.; 8 p.m., chimes of the G.P.O. clock, St. Patrick’s Night concert followed by dance music; 11 p.m., close down. God Save the King. 3YA Christchurch. —7.15 p.m., news and reports; 7.30 p.m., sports results; 8 p.m., special Irish concert programme. 4YA Dunedin. —7.15 p.m., news session; 7.30 p.m., address on "Amateur PhotograI phy,” by a member of the Camera Club; 8 p.m., Town Hall chimes, St. Patrick’s Day concert, and relay of orchej, ral music | from the Empire Theatre Orchestra. AUSTRALIAN STATIONS. 2 BL Sydney.—From 9.30 p.m., studio items; 10.15 p.m., relay of description of boxing from Stadium; 11.45 p.m., dance music from the Wentworth. 4QG Brisbane. —From 9.30 p.m., orchestral music from the Gaiety Theatre; 10.15 p.m., motor-cycle races from the Speedway; from 11 p.m., dance music from Lennon’s ballroom. 3LO Melbourne.—From 9.30 p.m., St. Patrick’s Night concert; 11 p.m., description of events from ths Stadium; dance music from 12.30 am.

SUNDAY BROADCAST. NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA Auckland. —3 p.m., afternoon session, selected studio items; 4, a literary selection by the announcer; 6, children’s hour; 6.45, close down; 6.55, relay of evening church service from the Devonport Methodist Church, preacher, Mr. Martin; during the evening, J. H. Maunder’s “Song of Thanksgiving” will be rendered by the choir and selected soloists; 8.30, relay of Municipal Band concert from the Auckland Town Hall; 9.30, a thought; 9.32, close down. 25’A Wellington.—6 p.m., children’s service; 6.55, relay of evening service from the Terrace Congregational Church, preacher, Rev. Ernest R. Weeks; 8.30. studio concert; vocal quartette, Etude Quartette, “There Is No Death”; pianoforte solo, Mr. Gordon Short, “Rhapsodie in B Minor”; baritone solo, Mr. Ray Kemp, “O, My iFather”; soprano solo, Miss Gretta Stark, “Songs My Mother Sang”; instrumental trio, Symons-EU-wood-Short Trio, “First Part of Trio in A Minor”; tenor solo, Mr. Frank Skinner, “A Song and a Dream”; instrumental trio, Symons-Ellwood-Short Trio, ‘'Second Part of Trio in A Minot”: contralto solo, Miss Rita Arnold, "I Wonder If Ever the Rose”; vocal quartette, Etude Quartette, “Rest, Gentle Maiden.” 3YA Christchurch.—6.3o, relay of evenservice from the Church of Christ, Moorhouse Avenue, preacher, Rev. Howard Earle; a concert will be given from 3YA studio after the church. 4YA Dunedin.—7 p.m., relay of harvest festival service from Methodist Central Mission; 8.15, studio concert; 0.15, close down. AUSTRALIAN STATIONS. 2BL Sydney.—B.3o p.m., relay of service from the Newtown Congregational Church, followed by studio concert. 4QG Brisbane—B.3o p.m., service from the City Tabernacle, followed by concert from the Brisbane Municipal Concert Band. 3LO Melbourne.—From 8.30 p.m., relay of church service from Scots’ Church, followed by instrumental and band numbers.