RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1930, Page 11

RADIO

SUMMER CONDITIONS.

SUCCESSFUL WINTER SEASON. Summer conditions are beginning to make, their appearance in the radio world. Stations are‘weakening at times, and static is beginning to become annoying. Football relays. will poon be, all over, and with the start of summer sports radio will be put rather in the shade. The winter generally has been the best • radio season for several years,,and with the advent of the modern all-electric set some wonderful feats of long distance reception on the byoadeast baud have been achieved. American stations: can still.be heard to advantage on nights! free from static. Latest details of (he new season’s; English radio receivers unfortunately: do .not reveal any attempt on the part' of the English manufacturer to cater for the overseas trade. Their most expensive. models do not compare either in capacity or appearance with some, receivers to which we arc accustomed., Sucli incongrous things as an expensive' radio-gramophone combination, all-elec-tric, with a spring motor and handle for the turntable tend to disgust the aver-, age purchaser, A multitude of dials and controls arc still a feature, while the maximum number of valves seldom, if ever, exceeds four. Push-pull amplili-' cation with its undoubtedly superior, tone range is still ignored. It is a great pity that our requirements are not brought more before the English exporters’ notice, as there is undoubtedly a great number of prospective buyers who would pounce on a reliable British receiver which would perform in anyway in comparison with American re-' ceivers which are swamping the market in this country. Au American trade journal has some pertinent remarks to make about the manufacturers who claim that their product is fitted for the reception of television. As they say, “it costs the manufacturer a few cents to make the add!-’ tion (two terminals) and the industry many thousands of dollars.” It is explained that all that it provides is a pair of terminals connected to the audio amplifier of the set, and the type of amplifier used in the receiver is entirely unsuitable for the reception of television signals because it is not capable of handling one-tenth of the band of frequencies required for the purpose mentiorfed. It is a great pity that prospective buyers arc being gulled by such sales talk, as when they find out they naturally conclude that others will try to deceive them in other directions, and so-called “sales resistance” is increased, as well as the prestige of the trade generally.

What must be a record was put up by the technical staff of 2YB on Saturday night, when news was received at the station some time after 8 o’clock that the Boxing Association had decided to grant permission for the relaying of a description of the boxing match. A hurried scramble for apparatus, the whirl of a car and in a short space of time the announcer’s voice over the air stating that 2YB was relaying from the Coronation Hall. A Palmerston North listener told B.C.L. that the relay was greatly appreciated there, the station coming loud and clear. 2YB is said to be very popular in the Manawatu district. Considerable interest is being manifested in E/.gland in the possibilities of. reproducing sound films with the aid of radio. A suggested scheme is to supply films for use on the typo of projector now becoming popular for home use, and to: run them in conjunction with plays broadcast in the usual way. The receiver would be operated in the conventional manner, and at the beginning of the broadcast the projector would be started, the result being a home version of the talkies. Due precautions would have to be taken, however, to ensure synchronisation between the actors befors the microphone and the listener controlling his home projector. • It has often been prophesied that by the aid of radio facsimile transmission, newspapers will be published in various parts of the world simultaneously, and this is nearer realisation, than many people are aware. Recently the whole of the front page of a Californian newspaper w'as transmitted from Oakland to New York, 2500 miles, where it was automatically reprinted and read on that side of America in less than three hours after its leaving the printing press in San Francisco. - "

By way of an experiment, a Berlin business man • recently put through a call by trans-.’ "..-.ntic radio telephone to Los Angeles, where his voice was relayed to a passenger in an aeroplane ■flying over the city. “I am speaking to you from Berlin,” he commenced. “Can you hear me?” And the listener in the plane replied: “Your voice is perfect, but too loud. Don’t shout!”

But a short time ago only the best operators could produce a thousand/complete valve stems each day, while the latest automatic stem-making unit will deliver this number of perfectly-formed stems each hour (writes A. Ernest Lyle in Radio Engineering). In the mounting departments operators' assemble and weld the plate, grid and filament securely in place. While the mounting operation at present still uses hand labour, fair success has been achieved in the development of automatic fabrication and uigloiibtodly high-speed mounting machines will be regularly employed in the near future. In sealing in the glass envelope over the stem parts rapid strides have been made toward greatly increased production on high-speed units. EXHAUSTING AIR IN 8 SECONDS. Probably in no other branch of tube making have there been so many .rapid changes as in the automatic exhaust units. An idea of these improvements may be gained by contrasting the speed of the latest machines, from which a tube is exhausted in five to eight seconds, with the older methods of pumping lubes for JO to 20 minutes. Then followed improvements in attaching the base to the glass bulb, replacing four or live of the old type basing reels and doing away with as many more'iiuxiliary operators, each new ninety head automatic baser, straightener and lead wire cutting machine produces a perfectly-aligned tube in three seconds as against 25 seconds and uncertain alignment under the old methods. In the final operation, that of testing, automatic equipment also plays a very important part. It not only speeds up the operation, but also safeguards the quality of the finished tube by removing the human equation.

i Speed is not only a name, but is an inspiration. Everlastingly quickening production, increasing efficiency—above all keeping quality high and constantly striving for its improvement —searching for new and better ways of performing necessary operations —experimenting testing discarding, patiently and steadily working, each member strives tc rrd a common goal—speed .nd perfect. tubes. The new relay station 2NC al Newcastle will lie ‘’on the air” at the end of this month. Situated at Beresford, an elevated position 12 miles from Newcastle, 2.NC will have a wave-length of 241 metres. The station will have a good crystal range of 25 njiles, which, it is estimated, will serve 200,1)00 people. ■ Manufacturers' of radio appliances in Australia, express satisfaction at the assurance, given by the Prime Minister that he will investigate all the circumstances under which the Post Office Department placed with an American firm,: through its British branch, a contract for the erection of five broadcast relay stations in Australia. In the representations which have been made, to the Federal Government through the Chamber of Manufacturers it is emphasised that in future contracts the specification should not be based on American broadcast - experiences, but that special consideration should be given to Australian requirenientsuind the policy adopted by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

An English radio amateur is reported to have been convicted at St. Louis, of operating an unlicensed radio transmitter. He was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment and paroled for deportation to England as an undesirable alien. Assuming -- report to bo correct, the sentence appears, to be. drastic and the deportation unnecessary and insulting. No indication is given, how-i ever of the use he was making of the transmitter. If he-was working with “bootleggers” or other criminals the matter assumes a very different complexion.

AMERICA CUP RACE.

BROADCASTING ARRANGEMEI TS. Arrangements for the broadcasting of the race for the America Cup, in which Sir Thomas Lipton’s yacht Shamrock V. will represent Great Britain, are stated by • Mr. A. R. Harris, general manager of the Radio Broadcasting Company, as follows: —The Broadcasting Company has received advice fre i its consultant in America that a description of the first race for the: America Cup, which is to take place between noon and 5 p.m. to-morrow afternoon

(American Eastern daylight saving tifne) will be broadcast. This time corresponds with the New Zealand time of 3.3o'and 8.30’ a.m. on Sunday morning. All New Zealand stations will therefore be on the air for that period arid will carry, out a rebroadcast, atmospheric conditions permitting. As indicating the elaborate arrangements which have been made by the broadcast authorities in U.S.A, to describe the race, there will be observers in destroyers, dirigibles and aeroplanes, from all of which craft the announcers’ descriptions will be transmitted to the shore stations, to be relayed round the whole of the, network of American stations controlled by the" Columbia and National Broadcasting Company. Shortwave broadcasts will be made from Bouridbrook, Pittsburg and Schenectady. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. Radio programmes to-be broadcast by New Zealand stations arc as follow. The wave lengths of the various stations are: Auckland DUO k.c., 333. m.; Wellington, 720 k.c., 410.7 m.j Christchurch, 980 k.c., 3015 in,; Dunedin, (550 k.c., 30G m. IYA Auckland. Afternoon session.—3.0,. selected studio items, including literary selection; 5.0, children's session; 0.0, dinner session, H.AI.V. hour; instrumental, New Light Orchestra; instrumental, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; violin, Fritz Kreialer; 0.30. instrumental, l’hil-_ adelphia Symphony- Orchestra; instrumental, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; orchestral, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; instrumental, San Francisco, Symphony Orchestra; 7.0, news and' market reports; 7.4(1, talk, M-. B. S- Jones, “How to Get the Best out of your Receiver.” Evening session.—B.o, chimes; overture, IYA Orchestral Octet, under direction of Mr. Whitford Waugh; mezzocontralto, Airs. pearl Owen; piano, Mr. Cyril Towscy; suite, IYA Orchestral Octet; 8.31, soprano, Madame .Isherwood; orchestral, IYA Orchestral Octet; talk, Mr. A. B. Chappell, Topical Talk; evening forecast and announcements; 9.1, suite, IYA Orchestral Octet; mezzo-contralto, Mrs. Pearl Owen; orchestral, Orchestral Octet; soprano, Madame Isherwood; 9.39, gramophone lecture-recital, Mr. Karl Atkinson. 2YA Wellington. Afternoon session.—3-0, chimes; selected studio items; 3.30 and 4.30, sporting results to band; 5.0, children’s session; 0.0, dinner music session, H.AI.V. hour; orchestral, National Sy ms phony Orchestral; 0.30. instrumental, Royal Opera Orchestra; orchestral, Royal Opera Orchestra; orchestral, London Symphony Orchestra; trio, Fritz and Hugo Kreisler and Michael Raucheisen; instrumental, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; 7-0, ’ news session, market reports and sports results. Eresing session.—B.o, chimes. Note — During the course of this programme there will bo a relay of a sound film

feature from the Majestic Theatre. A programme featuring the Philharmonic Quartet in vocal gems from Lionel Monckton’s musical comedy “The Country Girl”; overture, 2YA Orchestrina (Conductor Signor A. P. Tr.uda);. soprano, Miss ■ Ena . Rapley; ■ piano dm?t, Misses Dorothy Tighe and Edith Rail; baritone, Mr. Arthur Brady; duet, Miss Ena Rapley and Mr. Edwin Dennis; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; elocution, Miss Alvin England; contralto, Miss Madge Freeman; organ, Quentin McLean; tenor, Mr. Edwin Dennis; quartet, Philharmonic Quartet; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; weather' report and announcements; soprano, Miss Ena Rapley; duet, Mr. Edwin Dennis and Miss Mudge- Freeman; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; elocution, Miss Alvin England; baritone, Mr, Arthur Brady; duct, Miss Ena Rapley and Mr. Arthur Brady; concert valse, 2YA Orchestrina; violin,, Efrem Zimbalist;, contralto, Miss Madge. Freeman; choral, Columbia : Light Opera Company; baud, Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards; God Save the King. • ■ 3YA Christchurch. Afternoon session.— -3.0, gramophone ( recital; 4.25, sports results; 's.o,'children’s hour; G.O, dinner session, Colunr-1 bia hour; Morceauj Plaza Theatre Or-J Chestra; dance, Plaza Theatre Orches-1 tra; octet, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; cinema organ, G. T. Pattman; 6.30,r orchestral, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra; waltz, New Concert Orchestra; violin, Efrem Zinibalist; waltz, New ■ Concert Orchestra; octet, J. H. Squire's Celeste Octet; orchestral, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra; 7.0, new« session. Evening session.—S.o, chiuics; popu- ’ lar dance programme; overture, Dajos I. Bela Orchestra; contralto, Airs. D. W. | Stallard; instrumental. Studio Instrumental Octet ’(Conductor, Mr. Harold i Beck); song, story and dance, Mr. Eddie Hcgau; banjolin, .Mr. Stan Birch; tenor, Mr. Douglas Suckling; 8.35, instrumental, Studio Instrumental Octet; humorous recitation, Air. J. J. Flewellen; contralto, Mrs. D. W. Stallard; instrumental, Studio Instrumental Octet;

weather report and station notices; 9.7, song, story and dance, Mr. Eddie He-,o-a'n;' instrumental,' Studio Instrumental Octet; tenor, Mr. Douglas Suckling; btnjoliti, Mr. Stan Birch;- humorous recitation, Mr. J. J. Flewcllen; instrumental, Studio Instrumental . Octet; dance music until 11 p.m., Brunswick'; 11.0, God Save’ the King. ■ 4YA Dunedin,' Afternoon session.—3.o,'chiiries; ' selected gramophone items; 3;.15,. talk, Miss Buccleugh, “Fashions”.; 4,25, epor.ting results; 5.0, chinieß; children’s .hour; 6.0, dinner music, Columbia hour; orchestral, Debroy Somerc,’ Baud; ’cello, ’Gaspar Cimwtdo; male choir, Sheffield Orpheus Male Choir; 6.30, orchestral, Halle Orchestra; instrumehtaJ, Bournemouth Symphony Orcheistra; orchestral. Columbia Symphony. Orchestra; Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra; orchestra.!, Bournemouth .Municipal Orchestra; male choir, Sheffield Orpheus -Male Choir; 7-0, news session, . Eveniiiri* 'session.—B.o, chimes;,' overture, Vie Tor Symphony Orchestra.;. ’ soprano, Miss .Alma Finnerty; recital; Miss Madge Yates; trio, 4YA Trio; bass, Mr. E. Bond; violin, M l ’. J. A. Wallace; contralto, Miss G. Burt; .organ, Arthur ‘Meale; tenor, Mr. R. A. Mitchell; 9.0, weather report; orchestra], National Symphony Orchestra; soprano, Miss Alma Finnerty;, recital, Miss Madge Yates; instrumental, 4YA Trio; 9.30, bass, Mr. E. Bond; orchestral, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; contralto. Miss G. Burt; instrumental, 4YA Trio; tenor, Mr. R. A. Mitchell; orchestral, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; 10.1, God Save tie King.