RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1930, Page 12

RADIO

RADIO AT ITS BEST.

SOME EXCELLENT PROGRAMMES. Listening-in is at its height these cold nights, and. the blessings of radio are more appreciated in the home than during the warmer nights. What can possibly be better than a good radio, a good fire, an easy chair, the light out and a good programme coming from the speaker ? A case in point was the broadcast by 2FC, 3AR and 4QG of “Within the Law,” which was played by Muriel Starr and her company. This undoubtedly was the most perfect theatrical broadcast ever heard by the writer. Every word was plainly heard, and nothing, was lost through undue echo, as is the case with most broadcasts of this description. During the hours of daylight a great number 1 of stations can be tuned in. 2FC is a regular performer with some listeners, while even 4QG can be heard occasionally. The new .Wanganui station also comes in well during the lunch hour. A New Plymouth listener reported very good reception of 4ZL testing at a late’hour recently. The announcer called 2XX and asked for reports. He asked the locality of 2XX. This is a new short wave privately owned phone station in Wellington which operates on 31.4 metres. -The following details of tho outfit, which is run by Western Electric, may interest experimenters. Oscillator 5 watt 450 v. Frequency double 5 watts 500 c. Modulation 2.5 watters 500 v. First straight amplifier 5 watts ' 500 v. Power amplifier 2.50 watters in push-pull 800 v. The input is 82.5 watts with radiation, of .8 amperes. Great interest is being taken in the series of lectures on football being given from 2YB by Mr. King. Mr. King is by far the ablest speaker on this subject that has been heard over the air for a long time, and he is to be congratulated on his very able discourses.

SECOND HEAVISIDE LAYER

The recent announcement of the discoveries of Professor E, V. Appleton in connection with a second Heaviside Layer is of extreme interest and the discoveries themselves of considerable importance. It is now well- known that when Dr. Heaviside, the famous physicist( who died only recently) first formulated his theory of a conducting layer at a height of some miles above the earth’s surface, the announcement was greeted with considerable scepticism, not only in Britain but also abroad. That was before radio had developed to anything like its state to-day. The advances in radio science, however, have more and more confirmed Heaviside’s theory, and, indeed, it is believed that the Heaviside Layer plays a very important practical part in certain forms of long-distance radio communication, particularly transmission on the “beam” system. The Heaviside Layer theory is now accepted by the majority of scientists, many of whom at first had doubts about it, and now comes Professor Appleton with the discovery of a second Heaviside Layer at a distance of more than 100 miles above the earth’s surface. It is believed that this second layer may largely prevent radio energy produced on the earth from passing outwards to other planets. The Auckland B station IZB announced “over the air”' last Monday evening that it proposed to increase its power and to extend its hours of broadcasts. Mr. C. H. Pearson, announcer, stated the other day that the station was considering increasing its power from 15 watts to 250 watts, and to have daily morning and afternoon services and three evening sessions. The cost of the suggested extension of services and of the new plant would be between £3OO and £4OO. The tentative scheme provided for the following daily sessions: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., women’s session; 11 a.m. to noon, news session; 12 to 3 p.m., miscellaneous concert programmes. Evening broadcasts were included in the suggestions for Mondays, ■ Wednesdays and Saturdays. A vote of regular listeners would, however, be taken before a definite allocation of the hours and of the nature of the proposed broadcasts would be made.

The popularity of this B station is shown by the number of appreciative letters received at the studio, Over 100 letters, including some from the South Island, have been received this week complimenting IZB on its programme of old-time records last Monday evening. Another old-time programme will be given next Monday. Arrangements are also being made to present in the near future an evening of old-time comedy numbers.

OPERATIONS OF R.B. COMPANY.

The editor-announcer of the Broadcasting Company, Mr. J. Ball, recently visited the West Coast and Nelson, and while in Nelson gave a survey of the work of the company, indicating the scope of its operations. Mr. Ball said that in spite of the difficulties that had had to be overcome in establishing an efficient Dominionwide service-it could truthfully be said that the service available to the people of New Zealand to-day was in every way creditable to all concerned. It had, happily, been founded on the sound principle of private management under Government regulations, which provided

] that the dividend earnable by the responsible company must be limited to 7£ per cent., and that all profits in excess of that must be used for the improvement of the service. Under this system not only was the maximum of efficiency assured, but the danger either of monopolistic profiteering or political exploitation was averted. The company had not hesitated to extend its enterprise far beyond the limits of its obligations, with the result that it was giving listeners' more than three times the hours of service called for under its agreement with the Government. Touching on the problems of broadcast programmes, Mr. Ball said that obviously and inevitably broadcasting was an extraordinarily comprehensive and many-sided service, and therein it differed from all other forms of public entertainment, each of which enjoyed the appreciative patronage of its own particular votaries. For example, musical comedy attracted those who liked that form of entertainment. The same thing applied to drama, grand opera, vaudeville, and so on; but radio went on .the air to cater at one and the same time for all these diversified tastes. It was humanly impossible to please the whole of such a vast and cosmopolitan audience at the one time. To meet this problem as far as was possible, the broadcasting company had instituted what might be termed classified programmes and alternated those programmes between the four stations. These classified programmes were arranged under the headings of classical, operatic, band, popular, vaudeville and church, and were so presented that owners of selective sets Operating under favourable conditions had the choice of four distinct types of programmes on any one evening. In concluding, Mr.. Ball said he knew of no other public service in which the spirit of unselfish community service was so strongly manifested as it was in the daily routine of radio broadcasting. This manifestation was, in his opinion, the natural consequence of the unique character of the service, which, witli wonderful intimacy, penetrated not only into the home but into the very hearts of the people.

MAST ON TINAKORI HILL.

Many readers have written concerning the new radio mast visibly sprouting from the top of Tinakori Hills, states the Dominion, Wellington, They all want to know if this mast will in any way interfere with broadcast reception. This mast now being built is to replace a similar mast blown down some, years ago in a gale. When completed it w|U bo 165 ft. high. It will be used to support several aerials, including an aerial for working ships on 800 metres, a shortwave aerial for working the Pacific islands and the short-wave telephony to Australia, which will not be of the beam type. The nearest wave-length likely interfere with reception of broadcast services is the 800-metre wave-length. For the last five or six years all the New Zealand coast stations have been working on the modern continuous waves system. Whereas the old spark transmitters covered practijrtilly every wavelength with delightful impartiality so useful for S.O.S, work and so troublesome to broadcasting, the new valve transmitters stick very closely to their wave ban (closer than some broadcast stations, for modulation always spreads the wave). The postal authorities state that the new mast should in no way interfere with the Broadcast services and even people in Tinakori Road should not be troubled. The harmonic of 800 metres

falls on 400 metres, and this in its turn is not a wave-length used for broadcast purposes in this Dominion,

GENERAL ITEMS,

The first of a series of debates will be given by the Forensa Club from IYA on July 1. The motion will be “That the Spread of American Influence is Detrimental.”

Frequency tests to enable listeners to judge the capabilities of their receivers will be conducted by the Broadcasting Company’s chief engineer from 2YA, Wellington, on Saturday, June 21. There

will he both afternoon • and evening tests. New artists who will be appearing at IYA shortly are Miss Veda Nelson, contralto; Mr. O. Healy and Mr. Fred Briggs, a novelty saxophone and piano duo; Miss Patricia McLeod, soprano; Mrs. Keven, contralto, and Mr. W. L. .Benbow, vocalist.' The regular talks : on “Motoring,” broadcast from LYA are of an interest-

ing and instructive nature. The lectures are now being conducted by Mr. Rod Talbot, who has had 20 years’ experience in motoring. The remaining matches of the British tour scheduled for broadcasting are:— June 14, v. Otago, at Dunedin (4YA); June 21, first test, at Dunedin (4YA and 2YA); July 5, second test, at Christchurch (3YA and 2YA); July 9, v. Maoris, at Wellington (2YA); July-19, v. Auckland, at Auckland (1YA); July 26, third test, at Auckland (IYA and 2 YA): August 9, fourth test, at Wellington (2YA). Conditions for reception of New Zealand and Australian stations during the last- week liave been - unusually good. The New Zealand B stations have been easier to pick up, while 4YA, Dunedin, which is often a difficult station to find in Auckland, has been coming in better. A number of Australian B stations have also been picked up more readily. The Australian A stations have been received with good volume, 2FC, Sydney, being usually the best. A southern listener states* that 3LO Melbourne has dropped slightly in wave-length, so that it is almost on top of a Japanese station, chieh maiut.'.ins a continuous whistle on top of 3LO, The station is probably JOBK, which 'is often picked up when tuning-ip. to 3LO, although the writer has lie- 1 - heard the whistle on top of 3LO.

It is expected that South America will experience a genuine radio boom this year as a result of the action of the Argentine Government in taking ovei control of broadcasting (writes a correspondent in “World Radio"). There are 22 stations within the city limits of Buenos Aires, and these stations have been deviating from their assigned wavelengths. The result was that broadcast reception was extremely poor, owing to interference. The Government, since taking control, has ordered all broadcasting stations to move their transmitters out of the city limits during the next nine months. The Secretary of Communications in the Argentine Cabinet will enforce this regulation. The belief is expressed that with reception conditions improved as a result of Government intervention, the use of receiving will increase considerably. In spite of poor reception conditions and the fact that little attention has so far been given to the production of programmes, the demand for receivers has been quite brisk. The 22 broadcasting stations in Buenos Aires have been presenting extremely sketchy entertainments made up almost entirely of gramophone, records. The contention that broadcasting is harmful to sport is not supported by the New Zealand Referee, This is what last week's issue- has to say in the matter: Broadcasting has contributed more than its mite in helping the game of fisticuffs. At one time the hue and cry was raised that broadcasting would have a tendency to injure the gate receipts, but during the last few months it has been realised that the sport is being helped rather than hurt by chronicling the doings over the air. To refute the suggestion that broadcasting keeps the fans at home one need only hark back to the two Dempsey-Tunney heavyweight championship matches as illustrations. Of course the attraction was there, but all the same there were more at the second mate’', than there were at the first one. Broadcasting of boxing contests in New Zealand has instilled a good deal of interest in the game, and there are some very ardent supporters of boxing in the country who so far have never had the fortune of attending a contest. Many set-owners thoughtlessly remove valves from their sockets in a.c. operated receivers without first turning off the power switch. This is a very dangerous practice, as it will generally cause excessive filament (or heater) voltage to be applied to the remaining valves in the set. This unbalancing of filament voltage is brought about by the inherent characteristics of the transformer winding which supplies power to the filaments? This winding is designed to deliver a definite voltage across tlie filament terminals when a certain current is drawn from it. If the current is increased, the voltage delivered by the winding will decrease, but, if the current is decreased, th voltage., will increase. From these facts it is easy to

see that the removal of a valve from its socket when the radio set is in operation will case a decrease in the current drawn from the filament winding and will result in a corresponding increase in filament voltage. This increased voltage is impressed directly across the filaments of other valves in the set and is instrumental in causing early valve failures.

TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMMES

NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA, Auckland.—3 p.m., afternoon session, selected studio items including literary selection; 5 p.m., children’s [Session*; 6 p.m., dinner session, “Columbia” hour; orchestral, Menorah Symphony Orchestra; piano, Ignaz Friedman; orchestral, New York Symphony Orchestra; (‘.30, band; 8.8. C. Wireless Military Band; violin, Yelli D’Arani; orchestra., Orchestra, de la Socier.e des Concerts de Conservatoire; band, 8.8. C. Wireless Military Band; piano, Ignaz Friedman;'' orchestral, Berlin State Orchestra; 7 p.m., nows and market reports; 7.40, talk, Mr. Allan McSkimming,/‘Voice Culture—Ancient and Modern”; 8 p.m., chimes; orchestral, Orchestra Symphonique de Paris; 8.30.. baritone, Mr. H. Barry Coney; piano, Mr. Cyril Towsey; elocution, Mr. J. M. Clark; baritone, Mr. H. Barry Coney; evening forecast and announcements; 9 -p.m., mezzo-soprano, Misss Amy Hansard; 9.30, elocution, Mr, J. M. Clark; harp, Signor Alberto Torzillo; 10.4, God Save the King, 2YA, Wellington.—3 p.m., chimes, selected studio items; 3.30 and 4.30, sporting summary; 5 p.m., children’s session; 6 p.m., dinners session, “Parlophone” hour; waltz, Edith Lorand Orchestra; trio, Dajos Bela Orchestra; : ’cello, Gregor Piatigorsky; 6.30, Edith Lorand Orchestra; waltzes, Royal Music Makers; suite, Paris Opera Comique Orchestra; 7 p.m., news session, market reports and sports results; 7.40, lecturette, a member of Toe H., “The Service Side of Toe H”; 8 p.m., chimes; operatic programme; God Save the King. 3YA, Christchurch.—3 p.m., afternoon session, gramophone recital; 4.25, sports results; 5 p.m., children’s hour; 6 p.m., dinner session, “Brunswick” hour; orchestral, Brunswick Concert Orchestra; orchestral, Anglo-Persians; violin, Fredric Fradkin; orchestral, Ray Miller and his Orchestra; 6.30, orchestral, A. and P. Gipsies; orchestral, Brunswick Con-; cert Orchestra; orchestral, A. and P. Gipsies;, orchestral, Ray Miller and his Orchestra; orchestral, Brunswick Concert Orchestra; violin, Fredric Fradkin; orchestral, Anglo-Persians; 7 p.m., news session; 8 p.m., chimes, popular and dance programme; orchestral, Marek Weber and his Orchestra; contralto, Miss Margaret J. Richardsc.i; organ, Jesse Crawford; tenor, Mr. C. R. Williamson; Hawaiian Honolulu Serenaders; humorous song, Mr. Reg. Lamb, dance music, Bailey-Marsdon Dance Orchestra; 8.36, mezzo-soprano, Miss Lottie Colville; male quartet, The Revellers; dance music, Bailey-Marsdon Dance Orchestra; Irish humour, Mr. W. H. Moses; 9 p.ni., weather report and station notices; band, Black Diamond Band; con-

tralto, Miss Margaret J. Richardson; dance music, Bailey-Marsdon Dance Orchestra; tenor, Mr. Chas. R. Williamson; humorous monologue, ,Mr. Reg. Lamb; dance music, Bailey-Marsdon Dance Orchestra; 9.30, mezzo-soprano, Miss Lottie Colville; foxtrot, Alfredo and his Band; humour, Mr.- W. H. Moses; dance music, Bailey-Marsdon Dance Orchestra; . male quartet, The Revellers; dance music until 11 p.m., supplied by Bailey-Mars-C a Dance Orchestra; God Save the King, 4YA, Dunedin. —3 p.m., chimes, .selecte\ gramophone items; 4.25, sporting results; 5 p.ni., chimes, children’s hour; 6 p.m., dinnef music, “Columbia” hour; orchestral, Menorah Symphony Orchestra; band, 8.8. C.. Wireless Military Band; octet, Squire Chamber'Orchestra; 6.30, orchestral, New Queen’s Hall Orchestra; band, 8.8. C. Wireless Band; orchestral, Classic Symphony Orchestra; octet, Squire’s Celeste Octet; Poltronieri .String Quartet; orchestral, Squire’s Celeste Octet; 7 p.m., news session;’B p.m., chimes, overture, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; soprano, Miss Gretta Don; instrumental, 4YA Studio Trio; recital, Miss M. E. Juriss; baritone, Mr. Rex. Harrison; suite, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.; contralto, Miss Irene Horniblow; trio, 4YA Studio Trio; ten-", . Mr. J. E. Davies; 9 p.m., weather report; Chinese dance; soprano, Miss Gretta Don; instrumental, 4YA Studio. Trio; .recital, Miss M. E. Juriss; bari- \ tone, Mr. Rex. Harrison; suite, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; 9.39, contralto, Miss Irene Horniblow; violin and piano, Messrs. J. A. Wallace and Max Schrek; tenor, Mr. J. E.. Davies; instrumental, 4YA Studio Trio; 10.2, God Save the King.