RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1929, Page 12

RADIO

A TARANAKI HOWLER. THE PORTABLE RECEIVER, Programmes from all stations have been of a high order during the week and conditions generally have been good for the time of the year. Some very enjoyable items were heard from the Electric Exhibition, relayed through 2YA. Christchurch also kept sporting listeners in touch with events during Carnival Week, and some fine relays were heard from the Christchurch Radio Exhibition. Recently a local listener was frantically telephoned by his wife to come home as strange noises were issuing from the loud speaker. After defying all traffic regulations on a motor-cycle he reached home to find his wife had disconnected all the batteries. Still a strange noise persisted in issuing from the horn of the speaker. On examination it was found that a beetle had flown down the horn and was practising the latest jazz steps on the diaphram. This reminds the writer of a dealer who was called out on a frosty winter night to fix a set which refused to more than murmur. Everything was tested and found o.k. Finally the speaker was dismantled and a sticky mess of sweets, administered by a small child, was removed from the diaphram, when music poured forth as of old. The dealer’s remarks can be taken as read. The Radio Broadcasting Company can indeed feci that it has accomplished something when it can satisfy as severe a critic as Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P. At the Christchurch Radio Exhibition last week Mr. Howard delivered a short, entertaining address concerning radio broadcasting generally. In the course of his remarks he referred to the Radio Broadcasting Company and the service it was giving to listeners. Mr. Howard said for some years past he had taken an interest in radio. He was the first man who had ever mentioned broadcasting in the House of Representatives, when 75 per cent, of the members knew nothing of broadcasting. Three years ago he had strongly criticised the Broadcasting Company and two years ago he had criticised it still more strongly, but now he would like to place on record, as they said in the House, his congratulations to the Broadcasting Company for the great improvements which had been made in the service in the past year. Indeed so excellent was the service now rendered that any reasonable listener would be hard put to find grounds for complaint. New Plymouth listeners are complaining bitterly of a howler of a calibre heretofore unexcelled in radio in this district. The culprit's ears must burn at the maledictions being heaped on his head from all quarters, but still it goes merrily on. The noise is terrific and completely drowns even the most powerful station. It is certainly time that the Post and Telegraph Department took steps to cope with the interference problem in this district. The services of an inspector, with the necessary apparatus, would do much towards clearing the ether of noises that are at times unbearable. Static is enough to put up with without irresponsible persons spoiling the enjoyment of the rest of the listeners. Although much has been published, in English radio periodicals, especially on portable radio receivers, they have not enjoyed great popularity in New Zealand, except in districts close to the four centres. With such big gaps between stations and with the exception of 2YA all of comparatively low power, it is a difficult task to design even a transportable receiver capable of giving reasonable receptions in all districts. Now •that the screened-grid valve has been improved and suitable circuits evolved for it there is a greater field for the experimenter. The screened grid valve used as a radio-frequency amplifier in a suitable circuit is capable of enormous amplification so that, used even with a loop antennae, very successful results may be obtained at several hundred miles from a medium powered station. Although it is not generally known, the screened grid principle is being used in transmitting valves, of the latest type and some very gratifying results are being obtained. Next Monday night is to be •staff night” at 2YB, when members of the staff will each contribute towards the evening’s entertainment. An interesting and novel entertainment is promised. It is rumoured that no excuses will be accepted, every member of the staff having to do his or her bit or suffer dire penalties.

SPRING-CLEAN - YOUR SETS. IMPROVEMENT OF RECEPTION. “Prevention is better than cure” is a term which applies to guarding against troubles in radio receivers. Periodically each set should bo carefully examined. A thorough overhaul, of course, is the work of a skilful mechanic only, but there are many minor points which the owner can see to himself. Dust is one of the greatest enemies of any receiver. No matter how closely fitting is the cabinet, dust will sneak its way into the “works.” With so many “gadgets” and wires inside it is often a difficult problem to know how to remove it. A bicycle pump is a good medium for blowing away that dust which ac-

cumulates, between the plates of vanablo condensers. When this fails a few pipe cleaners will be found handy for the purpose. BE THOROUGH. To clean the set thoroughly remove it from the cabinet. Be careful of the battery connections. If doubtful of the identity of these connections when removing mark each one with a small tag or piece of paper. If the insulation is worn off the cords it is advisable to replace them. ' This applies particularly to the “A ’ battery cords, where they come in contact with the accumulator. The acid not only eats into the insulation, but the wire itself is frequently corroded. The connections to the “B” batteries or the eliminator must be kept clean. Stripping off a small portion of the insulation and baring a clean portion of the wire effectively reduces resistance at this point. Remove the valves prior to cleaning the baseboard. A good, clean, small varnish br.ush is about the only thing which will clean up here. Lightly brush the dust from all the components. Rheostats, transformers and valve sockets sweep properly. Then dust over the baseboard, care being taken to see that the wiring is not disturbed. TIGHTEN CONNECTIONS. Examine the prongs of each socket. Sometimes the spring contacts become weak. A pair of tweezers is a handy instrument for rectifying this. A poor contact in the valve socket causes quite considerable trouble. Weak and scratchy signals are often traceable to this source. With a pair of pliers tighten up till nuts. It is wonderful how they work loose, and loose contacts are always to be avoided. . Examine all soldered joints and repair, those which seem faulty. Satisfy yourself that the grid leak is making effective, contact. The grid condenser should be mounted directly to the G terminal of the detector valve socket. A short grid lead is necessary. The terminal board requires attention. Frequently the terminals become loose. Tighten all up securely and at this stage be advised to obtain one of the multicoloured battery cords for connections. This acquisition will save much time and will guard against connecting up the receiver wrongly. Valves have an effective life and should last for years with reasonable care. Only too often are some valves subjected to excessive filament voltage, which causes them to lose their emission. Entire replacement is the only remedy. A. spare valve tried in each socket in turn will indicate if the valves are worn out. Incidentally change valves about in different sockets. Some valves function better in one stage than in another. Finally, where there is an accumulator, wipe it over carefully with a damp cloth. Apply a little vaseline to each terminal to prevent corrosion.

WORTH-WHILE HINTS. AC hum in a light socket may be caused by the partial failure of a heater lube. Always keep a spare one handy. Hum may in some cases be eliminated by conneating a four MF condenser across the field winding of a dynamic speaker. Many dynamic speakers contain an output transformer, and in this case it is unnecessary to use one on the receiver. A correspondent of Rakaia pointed out that if a push pull amplifier is used, two output transformers will be in use. This, however, will not affect the speaker, as the output transformers are all of 1-1 ratio. A humming sound in a battery-op-erated receiver generally means a broken-down transformer, or a diseon-. nection in the grid circuit.

. WIRELESS PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA, Auckland.—3 p.m., afternoon session—selected studio items; 4, literary selection; 4.8. studio items; 4,25, sports results to hand; .5, children’s session; 6, dinner session—“ Brunswick” Hour; New Philharmonic Orchestra; pianoforte, Leopold Godowsky; New York Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra; 6.30, Brunswick Concert Orchestra; organ, Lew White; International Concert Orchestra; New York Philharmouic Orchestra; 7, news and market I reports; 8, chimes; relay of concert from Messrs. Lewis Eady Hall; 8.30, studio concert; pianoforte, Miss Lillian Quinn; lecture-recital, Mrs. Daisy Basham and Mr. H. Barry Coney; instrumental, studio trio; violin, Miss Ina Bosworth; 9.2, weather report; pianoforte, Miss Lillian Quinn; lecture-recital, Mrs. D. Basham and Mr. H. Barry Coney; instrumental, studio trio; 9.32, gramophone lecture-recital, Mr. Karl Atkinson, “The Weird in Music”; orchestral, Peter Biljos’ Balalaika Orchestra, fantasy on “Song of India”; vocal solo, Richard Bonelli, “Danny Deever”; orchestral, Berlin State Opera Orchestra, “Valse Triste”; vocal solo, Theodor Chaliapin, “Death of Don Quixote”; orchestral, Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, “Dance Macabre”; orchestral, Symphony Orchestra, “Ride of the Valkyries”; 10.10. close down.

2YA, Wellington. —3 p.m., chimes; 3.1, selected gramophone items; 4.30 and 4.50, sports results to hand; 5, children’s session; 6, dinner session—“ His Master’s Voice” Hour; selection, Marek Weber’s Orchestra; National Symphony Orchestra; 6.30, selection, National Symphony Orchestra; Royal Albert Hall Orchestra; organ, Reginald Foort; selection, National Symphony Orchestra; selection, H.M. Coldstream Guards; 7, news session, market reports and sports results; 7.40, lecturette, Mr. R. Howard Taylor, “Care of the Feet”; 8, chimes; overture, 2YA Orchestrina under the conductorship of Signor Truda; soprano, Miss Millicent O’Grady; pianoforte, Miss Irene Spidey; baritone, Mr. Ray Kemp; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; 8.32, sketch, Madame Eugenie Dennis and partner; contralto, Mrs. Ray Kemp; instrumental trio, Kreisler, Kreisler and Raucheisen; tenor, Mr. E. W. Robins; instrumental, 2YA Orchestrina; 9.3, weather report; soprano, Miss Millicent O’Grady; vocal duet, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kemp; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; sketch, Madame Eugenie Dennis and partner; .’cello, Lauri Kennedy; selection,’2Y A Orchestrina; contralto, Mrs. Ray Kemp; tenor, Mr. E. W. Robins; instrumental, 2YA Orchestrina; 10.1, close down. 3YA, Christchurch. —3 p.m., afternoon session—selected studio items; 4.25, sports results to hand; 5, children’s session; 6, dinner session—“ Columbia” Hour; Plaza Theatre Orchestra; Wurlitzer organ, G. T. Pattman; Plaza The-atre-Orchestra; violin and organ, Manuello; 6.30, Squire Celeste Octet; organ, Emil Velazco; Squire Celeste Octet; pianoforte duet, Constance and Muriel Alering; instrumental, Eddie Thomas’ Collegians; Debroy Somer’s Band; 7, news session; 7.3'0, lecturette, Mr. Alex. O’Donoghue, New Zealand Inst. R.A.0.U., “The Takahe and its Life Story”; 8, chimes; Edith Lorand Orchestra; baritone, Mr. W. J. Richards; violin, Miss Irene Morris; contralto, Miss Nellie Lowe; Hawaiian, David Kaili; tenor, Mr. T. G. Rogers; Christchurch Broadcasting Trio; .8.37, humorous recital, Miss Kathleen Brewins; tenor and contralto duet, Dulcet Duo; violin, Miss Irene Morris; baritone, Mr. W. J. Richards; waltz, Dajos Bela Orchestra; 9, weather report; Christchurch Broadcasting Trio; contralto, Miss Nellie Lowe; tenor, Mr. T. G. Rogers; saxophone, Arnold Brilhart; tenor and contralto duet, Dulcet Duo; reCitai, Miss Kathleen Brewins; 9.30 (approxl.), relay of boxing tourney from Ashburton —ringside description of match between H. Leckie and Donovan; 10, “Brunswick” dance programme; >0.12, march, Brunswick Concert Orchestra; foxtrots; waltzes; organ, Lew White; foxtrots; waltz; 16.45, vocal, Zelma O’Neal; foxtrots; 11, close down’. 4YA, Dunedin.—3 p.m., chimes; selected gramophone items; 4.25, sports results to hand; 5, children's session; 6, dinner session, “His Master’s Voice” Hour; waltz, International Concert Orchestra; Victor Concert Orchestra; violin, Isolde Menges; 6.30, Piccadilly Orchestra; Piccadilly Orchestra; orchestra and grand organ, International Concert Orchestra; Victor Olof Instrumental Sextet; Jack Hylton’s Orchestra; waltz, International Novelty Orchestra; 7, news session; 8, chimes; overture, Celeste Quintet; contralto, Miss Gwenda Burt; pianoforte, Mrs. Spackman; tenor, Mr. L. E. Dailey; recital, Mr. Angus Gorrie; 8.31, soprano, Miss Dorothy Sligo; violin and piano sonata, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Spackman; duet for two piccolos with orchestra, Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra; baritone, Mr. William Ruffell; 9, weather report; instrumental, Celeste Quintet; contralto, Miss Gwenda Burt; recitals, Mr. Angus Gorrie; tenor, Mr. L. E. Dailey; 9.31, instrumental, Mr. Roy Spackman’s Trio; soprano, Miss Dorothy Sligo; instrumental, Celeste Quintet; baritone, Mr. William Ruffell; duet for two flutes with orchestra, Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra; 10.1, close down.

A CO-.OPERATICE CONCERT. r— WIDELY-SPREAD ORCHESTRA. A novel concert intended to symbolise the co-operation of European nations, was recently broadcast from Zurich and relayed by all the German stations. The orchestra, which was composed of musicians situated in Berlin, London, Paris, Milan, Vienna and uZrich, was conducted by Dr. Fischer, who invented and patented the system. The method employed was as follows: A piano, provided with a special damping device, was placed in the Telephone Echangc at Zurich. This damping device rendered the tones of the piano almost inaudible in the room itself, but they were received by a microphone placed close to the piano. The resulting frequencies passed from the microphone to amplifiers, and then were relayed over telephone lines to the musicians located in the six cities mentioned above. The musicians were provided with headphones, and were thus able to hear the piano played in Zurich by the conductor, who played the score according to a prearranged method. At the side of each musician was placed a microphone, which transmitted his playing via a second telephone line to the Zurich telephone exchange, where a collective line united the sounds received from each instrument, and passed them simultaneously to the transmitting station and to the musicians. The latter were thus enabled to hear their own performance in unison with those of the other members of the orchestra. The transmission was also passed direct to the five hotels in Geneva, at which were quartered the delegates to the League of Nations.