RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1930, Page 11

RADIO

RECEPTION STANDARD POOR. 7 INNOVATION AT 2YB. (By “8.C.L.”) The past week has been rather an “off” one as far as good reception is concerned. Static, power noises, howlers and other forms of interference have helped to spoil enjoyment, but like a good many other things, the glorious uncertainty always adds a spice of interest to listening. A novelty in the forni of public community singing will be broadcast from the studio by 2YB to-morrow night. This is au experiment which will be very interesting. It will give the public, an opportunity of viewing 2YB’e new home, which is considered to be the finest and most compact B class station in the country. Dr.' Adrian Boult, the newlymppointed musje director of the 8.8. C., in speaking about the 8.8,C. music policy recently, said: “As far as I can judge, the policy has always been to aim at aiviug listeners the best music of every kind, 9 performed in the best possible way. It will be my steadfast purpose to advance this policy to the limit of my ability and opportunity. To me, the great fascination of broadcasting is as ah instrument of cultural development. The 8.8. C. has done a great deal to elevate the general standard of cultural and artistic appreciation.” Act Ope of Gouhpd’s Faust is to be produced from 2YA on October 3. A very strong cast has been secured, headed by Signor Lucien Cesaroni, a wellknown Wellington bass. Lovers of grand opera should have an enjoyable evening. ‘ The consideration of those in charge of IYA iu going on the pir on Monday evening, their silent day, to relay a description of the wrestling was much appreciated by many listeners who are keen on this form‘of sport. Mr. Gordon Hutter was at his best with his breezy description. , • . BROADCAST OF RECORDS PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS. A AND B /STATIONS AFFECTED. To obviate the repetition of gramophone records broadcast by Australian and New Zealand stations the publishers of the records have imposed a number of restrictions on the broadcasting stations. The decision was made at a conference in Sydney recently of the principal companies and the Australian Performing Rights Association. The restrictions will operate in Australia almost immediately and are expected to be enforced shortly in New ZealandMr. 8. Holden Howie, wjrn recently returned from Sydney, stated recently that the wholesale broadcasting of records in Australia and New Zealand was doing considerable harm to the trade. New records, particularly those of the “light” type, were secured by the stations and played ad pauseapi. Mr, Howie made, the forecast that the propospd restrictions in New Zealand pros vided for the broadcasting of new releases only once a day for a fortnight by each station, and thereafter once a week. In the case of catalogued copyright records they could be played only cnee a week unless spepigl permission was obtained from the Australian Performing Rights Association- The regulations appjipd not only ’to the record, but also to the item. For instance, a, station might use a certain item by some well-known artist or h.s a violjn solo or any other nigans apart from the record. This would constitute the performance for tho day and the station would not be entitled to use the same item on a record. Further no records would in future be loans' 1 by gramophone dealers ofr broadcasting purposes,-and the stations would have to purchase their own records. The companies had decided that wher§ a B class station was operated from a dealer’s premises or, in the event of a dealer being interested in a station to such an extent 'that he could supply it with records, the make, title and artist must be announced. Also,* if a number were given at all it must be tho maker’s selection number on tho record. My Howie said one of the principal companies was awaiting confirmation of the proposals from its London office. The otl er main companies were agreeable to the proposals, and when the first company received authority a confeience would be held jn New Zealand to finalise the arrangeinents. The restrictions Would then be imposed as soon as possible. T 1 writer does not altogether agree with Mr. Howie where lie s;iys that broadcasting of records has done harm to tho trade. On the contrary several houses engaged in the sale of gramophone records have installed transmitters for the solo purpose of bringing before the public notice the latest releases of records, while other dealers in records are only too willing to lend records to the broadcasting stations, realising the great advantage and publicity gained. Ou the other hand some B class stations overdo the tiling- “8.C.L.” remembers a southern B class station, run by a intism retailing concern, broadcasting one record eleven times one morning between 10 a.m. and J2 noon. It will mean a, serious thing to the smaller stations if the proposed restrictions copie intq force. The time allotted by tjie Radio Broiidca sting Company of New Zealand, Linv ited, ‘for the broadcasting of records at its stations is half an liqur out of two hours at the evening sessions. There aie no specific allocations of times for the afternoon, dance sessions or all-day broadcasts on race-days. Tho total number of items broadcast from the company's four stations in its. evening sessions during the period April

1, 1929, to March 31, 1930, was 37,000. Of this number one-quarter was recorded items, 75 per cent, of this being used in dance sessions. The proportion of records to the total number of items presented in concert sessions only WAS 7 epr cent. Expressed in length of time jdevoted to evening entertainment sessions one-fifth was occupied with recorded numbers, including those used for dance sessions, The proportion of time given to recorded music during concert sessions only was G per cent. REALISATION OF DREAM. ADVANCE OF SHORT WAVE. GOOD FORTUNE OF NEW ZEALAND. With the approach of summer conditions for short wave work are rapidly improving. New Zealand is particular? : ly well situated for reception of the world’s leading short wave stations. In the following article Mr. R. J. Orbell, Auckland, a well-known experimenter and a member of the Byrd Antarctic expedition, describes the birth of short wave work and the progress made in this most interesting branch of radio. It has been the dream of radio enthusiasts, Mr. Orbell writes, to be able to listen to programmes from stations in all parts of the world. .1 he ability to sit at one’s receiver and swing the dial first to London, then Paris, then New York, and so on round the world, has for many years presented a powerful appeal to the imagination. This was in the early days of radio. More recently the advent of short wave transmission and a certain, little, peculiarity attached to it have indeed made this wish come true, 4 Experimenters have discovered the fact that when very short wave lengths are used the signals have what is called “skip effect”—waves jump right over near.by receivers in their travel and' come to earth again at very great distances, thus losing practically no energy by motion along the earth's surface. Prior to this all-important discovery engineers stations to operate on very loner waves in the belief that their signals would travel over great distances more effectively than with medium wave lengths as were used originally. In this assumption they were correct. It was found, however, tligt very high' power indeed was necessary if the signals were to be heard on the other side of the world. Another serious difficulty with the use of these ul-tra-long waves was met with. Thiis was tjiat static interference which was f und to be very much more troublesome than with the medium waves, sometimes rendering operation entirely impossible. Very high lattice towers were necessary and the cost of stations ran into many thousands ( of pounds. The pendulum swung in the other direction/and strangely enough the firstv to make satisfactory use of ultra-short waves were amateur experimenters, They had been allotted the use of these very short waves by their respective Governments, which believed that these were useless for commercial purposes. The amateurs communicated over astounding distances with extremely low power, with barely any static interference, and ata cost that was infinites/ mat when compared with that necessary for the long waves then in use by the Governments. Naturally, all attention was tupned to these short waves gs offering immense commercial possibilities. New Govern? ment? owned short wave stations grew up almost overnight, Beam stations which concentrate the •waves in one dir? eetion were developed and operated morse at high speed from one cpiintiy to another. ' Experimental short wave stations wf?re erected in various coujitries for the purpose of transmitting musical programmes to other countries, and great success was met with. Two years ago the British Broadcasting Corporation erected a station at Chelmsford, about 20 miles from Lopdon, with the express purpose of conducting experimental transmissions to the Dominions of the normal London and Daveqtry programmes. Interest in these daily transmissions became worldwide, and a yast field was opened. fm broadcast listeners in the Dominions possessing short wave receivers, ’Development in America was at the same time proceeding along similar lines. The high powered short wave stations of the General Electric Company, 2XAF, 2XAD, and 3XAL, were erected at Schnectady close to New York. Others were 9XF at Chicago, BXK at Pittsburg, GXN at Oakland, California, These stations, now rapidly being supplemented by numerous others, continued to transmit daily prp- : <»ramines, the reception of which, although subject to slight fading at times, was found to be satisfactory, in all quarters of the Globe. Attention Lin Holland, Germany and Australia was ■also turned to short wave broadcasting., till to-day the rapidly expanding list of stations includes several hundreds of call signs. Those possessing short wave receivers will be interested in the recent cabled announcement from London statin,? that the British Broadcasting Corporation intends further to develop iti, service to the Dominions by the construction of .a super station, capable of reaching all parts of. the Empire even under adverpe conditions. Kollo wiii<r on this aniiouiiucnient comes another indicating that Vienna, Budapest and Warsaw are to lie connected by a relay chain with London. This will mean that programmes present in- the world’s foremost Continental artists will be available for transmission by the new British short wave station. . XT „ Th geographical position ot New Zealand is ideal for reception from British and Continental stations, inasmuch as it is close to their antipodal points. Straimo as it may seem at first sight, wheu°wo locate a receiver as far as >i 6 possible from a transmitter, that transmitter. is actually received many

times more strongly than if it were closer. The reason for this is that waves travelling from a transmitter in general follow great circles on the earth’s surface. Since all great circles originating at one point meet again at another point exactly opposite on the globe it is not difficult to understand then why reception is better at that point. That partly is what actually happens in practice, and although refractions and reflections due to the two twilight bands somewhat modify this result, nevertheless the concentration in New Zealand of European transmissions is most marked. During a recent trip to the Antarctic on the City of New York of the Byrd Expedition, the writer was able to follow closely the effect of this concentration of signals from European stations close to the Antipodes. As the ship moved further south European stations became weaker than in New Zealand, whereas stations in the United States became somewhat stronger. Incidentally this occasion made one realise ihore than ever the incalculable value of short wave radio in maintaining contact with remote places over great distances. When long wavp apparatus failed to maintain contact with the closest land, two-way communication was carried on daily with New York as easily as over an ordinary telephone. Regular weekly short wave broadcast transmissions from America to tile expedition members in that remote locality enabled the latter to hear distinctly the voices of their friends and relations ivb home as well as musical entertainments provided by these stations. Although short wave broadcasting is now becoming very popular with radio listeners it will never supersede the longer waves for short distance trans'missions on account of the P skip effect” referred to above. The owner of a modern long and short wave receiver has the choice of either short and medium range programmes or long waves or extreme distance on short waves. He has either at his command and so is enabled to realise, in fact, the drgam of the early experimenters. The limit of his set is the world. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA Auckland. Afternoon session.—3 p.m., selected studio items, including Literary Selection; 5, children’s session; 6, dinner ses? sion, Columbia Hour; J. H. . Squire’s Celeste Octet; suite, Plaza Theatre Orchestra; 6.30, suite, Plaza Theatre Orchestra; Madrid Symphony Orchestra; Venetian Players’ String Quintet; pianoforte, .Ignaz Friedman; Basle Symphony Orchestra; 7, news and market reports; 7.40, talk, Mr. B. S. Jones, “How to get the best, out of your receiver.”' , Evening session.—B, chimes; overture, Berlin State Opera House Orchestra; vocal quartet, -The New Clarion. Quai> tet; bass, Mr. Duncan Black; instrumental, Studio Trio; elocution, Miss Maisie Carte-Lloyd; clarinet, Mr. S.. C, Lewis; 8.3'2, vocal duet, Miss Lilian Woods and’‘Mr. Lambert Harvey; instrumental, Studio Trio; contralto, Miss Beryl Smith; organ and trumpet, Patil Mania; vocal quartet, The New Clai'r ion Quartet; violin, Mr. J. Whitford WauMi; evening weather forecast and announcements; 0.1, orchestral, Dajos Bela Orchestra; tenor, Mr.. Lambert Harvey; elocution, Miss Maisie CarteLloyd; clarinet, Mr. S. C. Lewis; vocal duet, Mr. Duncan Black and Miss Beryl Smith; 9.31, instrumental, Studio Trio; soprano, Miss Lilian Moods; instrumental, 'Studio Trio; vocal quartet, The New Clarion Quartet; fantasia, Edith Lorand Orchestra; 10, God Save the King. 2¥A Wellington.

Afternoon session,—3, chimes, selected studio items; 3,30 and 4.30, sporting results to hand; 5, children’s session; 6, dinner music, Columbia Hour: selec? tion. Columbia Symphony Orchestra; violin, Toscha Seidel; 6.30, orchestral, Orchestre Symphonique de Paris; or? cbestral, Orchestre Symphonique de Parjs; band, Band Garde Republicaine de France; 7, news session, market re? ports and sports results. Evening chimes. ?■ P l '/ grammo of Gems fi’om Opera end Musi? cal Comedy, by the Etude Quartet and the 2YA Orchestrina; during the course of this programme there will be a relay of a Sound Film Feature from the Majestic, Theatre; overture, 2YA Orchestrina (conductor, Signor A. P- Truda); soprano, Miss Gretla Stark; piano, Miss Dulcie Reeve; duet, chorus and •Etude Quartet, Airs. Ray Kemp Sfid Mr. Will Hancock; selection, 2YA Orchestrina,; elocution, Mr. Doqg. Edwards; baritone, Air. Ray Kemp; orchestra, Zurich Tonhaße Orchestra; Zurich 'Tonhalle Orchestra; tenor, Mr. Will Hancock; vocal trio, Miss Gretta Stark, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kemp; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; weather report and announcements; orchestral, Joh'ann Stranes .Symphony dreheptra; duet, Mjss Gretta Stark and Mr. Bay Kemp; Villi' our, Air, Doug. Edwards; selection, 21A Orchestrina; chorus, Columbia Light Opera Company; contralto, Airs. Ray Kemp; ’cello, W. H. Squire; quartpt, the Etude; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; God Save the King. 3YA Christchurch.

Afternoon session. —3, gramophone recital; 4.25, sports results; 5, children’s hour; 6, dinner session, H.AI.V. hour; orchestral, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; light orchestra, New Mayfair Orchestra; 6.30, orchestral, New Mayfair Orchestra; ’cello, Cedric Sharpe; organ, Herbert Dawson; baud, 11. M, Coldstream Guards; trio, De Groot (violin), A. Gibilaro (piano), J. Pacey (’cello); organ, Herbert Dawson; orchestral, Berlin State Opera Orchestra; 7, news session. Evening session.—B, chimes, popular and dance programme, overture, Century Progress Band; mezzo-soprano, Mis. Grace Empson: clarionet, Air. E. Withers; humour, Mr. J. P. Darragh; cornet, Air. N. G. Goftiu; bass, Air. Leslie Fleming; 8.31, piano medley, Air. Les Grummitt; tenor, Air. Dy vid AlcGill. concertina, Mr. John Campbell; concertina and ocarino; mezzo-soprano. Airs. Grace Empson; clarionet, Air. Al. E. Withers; recitation, Mr. J. P. Darragh; 9, weather report and station notices; cornet, Air. N. C. Goflin; bass, Air. Leslie Fleming; piano, Air. Les Grummitt; tenor, Mr. David AlcGill; concertina and ocarino, Air. John Campbell, concertina; 9.30, dance programme, Brunswick; 11, God Save the King..

4YA Duoedin. Afternoon session.—3, chimes, selected gramophone items; 3.15, talk; Miss Buccleugh, “Fashions” sporting results; 5, children’s Il'ouv,; 6,-dinner session, Columbia hour; overture, Basle Symphony Orchestra; instrumental, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; Musical Art Quartet; violin, Yvonne Curti; 6.30, instrumental, J. 11. Squire’s Celeste Octet; instrumental, J. IL Squire’s. Celeste Octet; ’cello solo, W. H. Squire; instrumental, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; 7, news session. .?< . Evening session.—B, song Cycle by the Majors’ Quartet, “Wind, Flowers” —soprano Miss Freda Elmes, contralto Miss Gwenda Burt, tenor Mr. W. Harrison, baritone Mr. L. M. Cachemaille; Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; lecturette, Mr. Max Scherek, President-of Otago Society of Musicians;.'contralto, Miss G. Burt; 9.3, weather report; piano and string orchestra, Max Scherek and Chamber Orchestra; baritone, Mr. L. M. Cachemaille; two violins and piano, Messrs Scherek, Wallace and hliss Gourlay; soprano,.Miss Freda Elmes; string Quartet, Chamber Orchestra; >• chorus, Royal Choral Society; 10.6, God. Save the King. .