RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1931, Page 11

RADIO

AMERICAN STATIONS HEARD.

VARIATION IN LOCALITIES.

(By. “8.C.L.”)

For those who glory in reception of distant stations the present time of the year is most favourable. American stations can be heard to great advantage these evenings in spots favourably situated. ■ ... In this connection it is surprising how conditions vary in localities. For instance, there is an area in New Plymouth covering but a few square chains within which American stations cau be tuned in like local stations. Sets in this area aro of all descriptions —battery, all electric, old and new—yet they can .all hear well. Half a mile away reception is as indifferent as in most places. Radio still has its mysteries and this is one of them. Despite its original threats and exorbitant denjands,. the Australian Performing Rights Association has seen fit to reduce its fees to something reasonable in the case of,. the B class stations of New Zealand. 2ZF, Palmerston North, for instance, has concluded an agreement with the A.P.R.A. for the right to use its catalogue for the sum of ten "uineas per annum, a considerable contrast, with the earlier demand Of £2OO.

Sporting listeners were treated to an agreeable surprise on Saturday last when 2YB broadcast and relayed to 2YA a description of the’Donovan-Blay boxing match. Mr. Gordon Hutter, Auckland, was the announcer and kept the interest up. Although slight line trouble was experienced before the big bout came on, this was cleared up in time for all New Zealand to hear. The technical end of) the relay was carried out >by 2YB’s staff. '

CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGES.

Inventors are still busy trying to find a way to prevent confidential messages sent by wireless telephony from being intercepted by unauthorised listeners. . ■

The vice-president of the Bell Telephone Laboratories has recently described a method for “scrambling” speech before it reaches the ether, so that anyone who succeeded—in- picking up the signals en route would hear no more than an unintelligible jumble of sounds.

For 'instance, the . words “telephone company” are transposed into “play-o-fine crink-a-rope,” so long as they are travelling through space. In order to convert them into their original form a special “unscrambling” device is necessary, and this is, of course, installed only at the authorised receiving station.

Some time ago it was proposed to use ‘•'secret” wireless -for broadcasting special items of particular interest to a limited numiber of subscribers, who would each be provided with the necessary equipment for reconverting the “jumbled” message into clear language. The project has not yet been cartied into practice, although it has certain possibilities which may cause it to be revived in some form or othei 1 in the future.

LOCATION OF INTERFERENCE.

New Zealand listeners reception is marred by interference will be interested to learn that an instrument which does away with guesswork and accurately measures the quantity of electrical interference in micro-volts per meter has been developed by the General Electric Company of New Y'ork. The new instrument is called a radio noise meter, and is not to be confused with meters made to measure noises audible to the human ear. This meter records the quantity of noise, generally described as electrical interference, made audible only by radio receivers.

The meter locates the source of the noise and measures its intensity. The need , for a measuring instrument has been felt for some time, and many radio organisations have been hampered iii their efforts to improve radio receiving conditions ’ by the lack of a standard testing instrument and a standard of measurement. The noise meter makes possible a comparison of the test results of different investigators; it gives mamifacturers of electrical apparatus a means of measuring the amount of radio noise created by the apparatus. Tn addition, an invaluable method of obtaining data upon which fair and reasonable rules and ordinances may be based is provided. Many municipalities, anxious to protect radio listeners from excessive electrical interference, have passed ordinances limiting “permissible” interference. The trouble, heretofore, has been to define “permissible.”

The radio noise meter consists of two parts, a receiver unit to detect and indicate radio noise, and a calibrating unit to measure the intensity of the noise in micro-volts per meter,' which is the customary unit of measurement of radio signals.-.' . ■ '

The receiver is enclosed in an aluminium box,, and weighs thirty pounds. Six valves are used. The pick-up is obtained with a "rod antenna,, two’ meters long. By using the meter a radio noise corresponding to a field intensity of three micro-volts per meter may be measured. With the headphones it Is possible to measure still lower noise levels. A search coil may be used to investigate noises around motor brushes,' transformer ground leads, etc. The calibrating unit is also enclosed in an aluminium box which is fastened to the side of the receiver, and it is so designed that the radio noise may hb measured with any antenna that may be used with the receiver. The output of the calibrating unit may be varied from zero to 10,000 micro-volts per meter.

A feature of the instrument is the standard noise created, by means of

I which it becomes possible to measure I the intensity of the interfering noise. Operation of the instrument consists of adjusting the intensity dial until the standard noise reads the same on the meter as the radio noise. The intensity in micro-volts per meter is then lead from a curve. Switching from standard to radio noise is accompanied by depressing and releasing a key switch. The standard noise is obtained by alternately charging a network of small condensers from a dry battery and discharging into the autenna in such a way°as°to produce a noise that closely imitates the usual transmission line noise. . , . The portability of the instrument makes it readily applicable to tests in the field, in the home, or wherever the radio noise may occur. It is especially useful to measure radio noise on transmission lines, house-wiring, around distribution points, or electrical apparatus of any description.

new use for radio.

■Signal Corps engineers of the United States Army have devised a means by vylrich radio can be used to determine air conditions several miles above the surface of the earth. After- more than seven years of experimentation they have perfected, at the Signal School laboratories at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, equipment by which the direction and velocity of the winds at high altitudes may be computed with a high decree of accuracy regardless of visibility, writes Mr. J. D. Van Brakle, in the Scientific American. . Visual observations of upper-wind conditions are impossible at night and when visibility is reduced by low-lymg clouds or fog. Since many war operations are carried on behind smoke screens or after dark, it became, necessary to devise a method of obtaining the desired upper-air information under these conditions for army use. The radio method was the answer to the problem. The radio device consists of a miniature continuous-wave transmitter which iS sent aloft by means of three hydro-Jeu-iillcd balloons; Its flight is tallowed with a loop direction-finder, a .process known as “tracking” or making a 1 “balloon sounding.” Long research was necessary before, an efficient direc-tion-finder was. perfected, as it wits found that the commercial instruments used in radio compass work .were not sufficiently accurate- for meteorological, use. ■ The loop direction-finder consists or a specially-built radio receiver of rugged construction connected to a loop, antenna composed of a single tube of copper, mounted on a tripod base. To the shaft of the loop is connected a calibrated dial, graduated in degrees and fractions. This dial is used to measure the angles through . which the loop turns.. Except for the fact that-the receiver is of the regenerative type, Signal Corps authorities refuse to divulge the details of its construction. Tho transmitter which goes aloft with the balloons is compact and 'sturdy and weighs less than a pound. It consists of a small vacuum tube, an inductance coil of enamelled wire, a small transformer, and a small flashlight battery, the whole outfit costing apout £l. When the .battery is snapped into place at the bottom of the device, continuous-wave oscillations are started which will continue for more than two hours. This wave has been picked up from a distance of fifteen miles.. The length of wire which connects the transmitter to the balloon cluster acts as an antenna. Signals'are sent at a constant frequency of 2300 kilo-cycles or 130.5 metres.

RENEWAL OF LICENSES.

The New Zealand broadcasting year will terminate at the end of the present month and licenses will have to be,renewed by that time. The license fee is 30s and covers a number of sets in a private household, thus giving amateur experimenters an unrestricted opportunity to try out new circuits and sets. Listeners by presenting their old licenses may renew them without making a fresh written application. The number of licenses in New Zealand at the end of 1930 was over 00,000, and after the usual seasonal decrease at the beginning of the new radio year there should be a correspondingly larger increase. GRAND OPERA RECITALS. ■ Lovers of grand opera will be pleased to learn that arrangements have been made for a scries of recitals to be given by Signor Lucien Ccsaroni apd his company at 2YA. The first, “Lucia di Lammermoor,” will take place on Sunday, March S. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. Miss Cicely Audi'bert, soprano of Christchurch, who is touring the YA stations under engagement to the Broadcasting Company, .will give her second recital at IYA this evening. Mr. Hugh Woods (bass-baritone) will also be on the programme. Two new humorous entertainers will be introduced, The Tollys, who will present some diverting nonsense. -A very popular programme will be contributed-by the Orchestral Octet.- . :

At 2YA Miss Myra Sawyer will sing “The Wren” and' “Crossing the Bar,” Mr. W. Boardman's solos being ‘‘Venetian Song” and “Pass Every Man.” As a duet “None so Pretty” will be sung. There will be tenor solos by Mr. A. Coe. Mr. Allan Shand will contribute novelty .items on the-piano. ■ There will also be selections by the 2YA Orchestrina. Excerpts frdni the popular musical comedies, “The Girl in the Taxi,” “Sally” and “Alary” will comprise the vocal numbers of the musical programme at 3YA. Humorous items will be contributed by Air. Geo. Titchencr. The instrumental programme will be provided by Aliss Aileen Warren (pianistc), Air. Frid

Fox (cornetist) and the Christchurch Broadcasting Trio. Listeners who tune in to 4YA this evening can be assured of a really •bright, varied and novel two hours’ entertainment. The vocal side of the programme is in the hands of Miss M. Vickers (soprano), Mrs. E. Stone (contralto), Mr. H. Prows© (tenor) and Mr. W. Ruffell (baritone). Miss E. M. Holland is to appear in two character sketches. The instrumental side of the concert will be a veritable p<it pourri of pleasing numbers. Mr. VV. T. Devlin will present marimbaphone solos and Mr. E. Murphy mouth organ solos. Mr. R. G. Napier will make his re-appearance at 4YA with brilliant piano novelties. Mr. Ted Farrant will present violin solos with light vocal effects.

TO-MORROW NIGHT'S CONCERTS.

Broadcasting artists will contribute td the concert to be given by the Auckland Municipal Band under Captain Geo. Buckley this evening. They will be: Miss Cicely Audibert (soprano) and Mr. Frank Sutherland (baritone). Mr. J, Davies (cornetist) and Mr. Hal. McLennan (flautist) will also contribute items. The concert will be a particularly good one. This will be Miss Audibert’s third and final recital in Auckland.

2YA’s vaudeville programme will be provided by Miss Muriel Johns (popular songs at the piano), the White Coons Novelty Trio, Mr. Len. Ashton (humorous recital), Mr. T. C. Rodger (dulcimer soloist), Mr. William Charles (tenor), Mr. L. W. Probert (bells), Mr. W. Haydoek (violinist) and Mr. Stanley Chapman (’cellist). The orchestral numbers will comprise Flotow’s “Stradella,” selections from “Lilac Time,” “The Suite Oriental’.’ and the latest .dance novelties.

There will be plenty of variety in 3YA’s concert programme which will also ■be broadcast by 4YA.. The contributing artists will be: Mrs. C. E. McDowall (soprano), Mr. Stanley Hood (bass-bari-tone), Mr. Douglas Suckling (enor), the Joyous Pair (in cabaret songs at the piano), Mr. Stanley Birch (banjolin solos with piano accompaniment), Miss Irene Morris (violinist), Mr. Jock Lockhart (Scottish humorist) and the Christchurch Broadcasting Trio. .

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES

NEW ZEALAND STATIONS.

IYA, Auckland.

Afternoon session.—3.o, selected recordings;. 3.30, literary selection and further selected recordings; 5.0, children’s session; 6.0, dinner music session; 7.0, news and market reports. • Evening session—Chimes. Orchestral Octet under direction of Mr. Harold Baxter; bass baritone, Mr. Hugh Woods; humour, The Tolleys; 8.33, male voice quartet, Ritz Quartet;, novelty, Orchestral, Octet and Miss Dorothea/Ryan; 8.50, choral, Raymond Visconte and chorus; 9.0, evening weather forecast and announcements; waltz, Orchestral Octet; soprano, Miss Cecily Audibert with orchestral accompaniment; organ; Jesse Crawford; saxophone, Andy Saunella; 9.34, humdup, “Further Nonsense from the Tolleys”;' suite, Orchestral Octet; march, ; Sousa’s Bgnd; 10.1, God Save the King.

2YA, Wellington.

Afternoon session.—3.o, chimes. Selected gramophone recordings; 3.30 and 4.30, sporting results to hand; 5.0, children’s session; 6.0, dinner music session; 7.0, news session, market reports and sports results. Evening session.—B.o, chimes. Note: This programme is subject to interruption to permit of a relay of a .sound film from th© Majestic Theatre. Overture, 2YA Orchestrina (Conductor Signor A. P. Truda); soprano, Miss Myra Sawyer; duet, Miss Myra Sawyer and Mr. Wm. Boardman; 8.31/ novelty piano, Air. Allan Shand; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; 9.0, weather report and station notices; tenor, Mr. Arthur Coe; suite, Orchestrina; 9.29, dance music programme; 11.0, God Save the King. 3YA Christchurch. Afternoon session.—3, gramophone recital; 4.25, sports results; 5, children’s hour; 6, dinner music' session; 7, news session; 7.30, talk, Messrs D. Cossgrove and W. Melbourne, “Radio Service”; talk under the'auspices of the Canterbury. Amateur Athletic Association by a member of the American athletes.

Evening session.—<3, chimes; overture, National Shilkret and the Salon Group; baritone, Air. T> D. Williams; vocal trio, Salon Trio; duet, Salon Duo; piano, Miss Aileen Warden; tenor and quartet, Air. H. J. Francis and Salon Quartet; duet,' Salon Male Duo; cornet duet, Alessrs Herb, and Fred. Fox; 8.31, humour, Air. George Titchencr; instrumental, Broadcasting Trio;, vocal, Salon Quartet; soprano and quartet, Miss Lucy Fullwood and Salon Quartet; selection, Arthur Pryor’s Band; 9.2, weather forecast and station notices; selection, Arthur Pryor’s Band; 9.2, weather forecast and station notices; selection, International Concert Orchestra; baritone and quartet, Air. T. D, Williams and Salon Quartet; duet, contralto and Male Duo, Miss Dulcie Mitchell and Salon Male Duo; cornet solo, Air. Fred. Fox; contralto and male duo, Miss Dulcie Mitchell and 'Salon Alale Duo; vocal duet, Miss Lucy Fullwood and Mr. H. J. Francis; piano, Aliss Aileen Warren; humour, Mr. George Titchener; 9.30, selections, Christchurch Broadcasting Trio; duet, Salon Duo, Musical Comedy Excerpts from “Mary”; soprano and tenor,. Salon 1 Duo; cornet duet, Messrs Herb, and Fred. Fox; soprano and duet, Aliss Lucy. Fullwood and Salon ,Alale Duo; baritone, Air. T. D. Williams; Salon Quartet; 9.50,' selection, band of H.M. Coldstream Guards; 10, God Save the King. . 4YA Dunedin. Afternoon session.—3, selected recordings; 5, children’s hour; 6, dinner music session; 7, news session. : ■

Evening session.—S, chimes, overture, Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards; baritone, Air. William Ruffell;. piano novelty, Air. R. G. Napier; waltz, Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees; contralto, Airs. E. Stone; marimbaphone, Air. W. T. Devlin; 8.30, soprano, Aliss Molly Vickers; violin and light vocal, Air. E. W. Farrant; Scots character sketch, Aliss E. M. Holland; tenor, Mr. H. Browse; Hawaiian guitars; bass, Air. L. Al. Caehemaille; mouth organ, Mr. E. Murphy; 9, weather report and station notices; selection, National- Symphony Orchestra; contralto, Mrs. E. Stone; marimbaphone, Air. W. T. Devlin; Dutch sketch, Aliss E. AL Holland;

baritone, Air. William Ruffell; piano novelties, Air. R. G. Napier; 9.35, soprano, Aliss Alolly Vickers; waltz, Zonophone Salon Orchestra; novelty, the Rhythmic Eight; tenor, Air. H. Prowse; mouth organ, Air. E. Murphy; bass, Mr. L. Al. Caehemaille; violin and light vocal, Air. E. W. Farrant; march, Coldstream Guards Band; 10.6. God Save the King.