ON THE BROADCAST BAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 10

ON THE BROADCAST BAND

CHURCH RELAYS Morning—lYA, Methodist; 2YA, Salvation Army; 3YA, St. Michael’s C. E.; 4YA, Salvation Army. Evening—lYA, St. David’s Presbyterian; 2YA, Methodist; 3YA, Church of Christ; 4YA, Congregational.

No definite date has yet been announced for the change-over of 4YA from motor-cycles to kilocycles.

A listeners’ litany: From dash-dot-dash, from oscillators and howlers, from diathermy and all other deadly ills, Good Board deliver us.

It is reported that the metal valves incorporated in the latest American receivers are being withdrawn by some distributors and temporarily replaced by glass valves with similar bases. This suggests that in some the new type of tube has been rushed on to the market before it was quite perfected, or that some further improvement has been devised.

Nothing more hideous has been heard on the air than 4YO’s attempt to broadcast the wrestling contest from Dunedin last Saturday night. 2HD Newcastle was blotting out the puny Dunedin station, and sets were howling, whistling and caterwauling in attempts to pull the announcer’s voice in. Fortunately the description was relayed to 4ZP, and a tolerable description could be heard via Invercargill. 3YL is heterodyned by SKA, Adelaide, and until the two South Island auxiliaries are given other wave-lengths they will never be worth listening to.

According to a Press Association message, “The Broadcasting Board has received advice from the Government and Opposition parties to the effect that both have decided not to avail themselves of the Board’s offer to broadcast speeches during the election campaign.” That message implies that the proposal to broadcast speeches came from the Board. If that correctly represents the position, the Board has given a further demonstration of the fact that it is out of touch with the views of listeners. There is no desire on the part of those who pay the piper to have the broadcasting service used for political purposes. The speeches, even by Mr Hislop, would be neither education nor entertainment, and would merely make the programmes more stodgy.

2GZ, the long promised graziers’ station at Orange (N.S.W.), Is now on the air, transmitting on 990 kc. with an output of 2000 watts. Volume is fair and tone good.

Election candidates in Auckland province are being Interrogated regarding their attitude to "B” stations, and most of them are making promises satisfactory to the questioners. Even Mr Coates has agreed to do his best to secure an extension of hours for the “B’s”.

"The Newspaper of the Air,” a concise and comprehensive service broadcast for the benefit of Americans In Alaska and the Pacific, has been coming over well lately from KNR, “the Voice of Hollywood." There are many things in American radio that we can afford to miss, but this service is commended to those responsible for the “news” sessions of the YA stations.

A candidate for one of the Auckland seats has promised that, if elected, he will not rest until anti-interference regulations are rigidly enforced. That’s great. But a similar threat was made by Mr Livingstone, one of the new members of the Broadcasting Board, and while Interference grows steadily worse nobody has heard of Mr Livingstone losing any sleep. Probably he was told that he was expected Just to draw his salary and be good. Whatever else they get from YA stations, listeners are entitled to expect some measure of accuracy. This they did not get in the advertisements broadcast In connection with the latest charity concert. It was stated that there was a big house at the Granger concert in Dunedin. If there was a big audience it was at the loudspeakers and not In the hall—and it was thought advisable to offer concessions to families and parties of students in Christchurch. Australian stations have been variable lately. Following a period of normal reception came a burst of volume which caused a spread of the more powerful signals, requiring very careful tuning to prevent overlapping even on a highly selective machine. Then came a sudden fall in signal strength, noticeable particularly on the high-powered transmitters such as 7NT, SCK and 2CO. 7NT on one nignt was inaudible, and probably was off the air for “technical adjustments.” Australian stations are making comprehensive arrangements for handling the cricket tests to be played in South Africa this season, but it is expected that there will be fewer “effects” ths*. in the alleged descriptions put oveg during the Australian tour of England That is not surprising. While on the question of cricket, it is interesting to note that ball-for-ball descriptions will not be broadcast from Melbourne grounds this season. The drop in attendance had become so serious that the Association had to take the obvious

Complaints are growing in intensity regarding a new type of interference which has been unpleasantly manifest during the last two or three months. The nuisance, while intermittent In character, is often sustained for considerable periods, and is in the nature of a loud crackling bubble. It seems to be mechanical in origin, but is heard at times when electro-medical apparatus is unlikely to be in use, and some listeners believe that it is transmitted over power lines. The attention of the radio inspector has been drawn to the pest.

The French Syndicat Professional des Industries Radio Electriques announces that there will be a long period of severe labour before any honest manufacturer will be able to put on the market a television apparatus that will be satisfactory to the purchaser. It desires to place the public on guard against unscrupulous dealers who are deceiving the public by announcing that the receivers they are selling are able, either immediately or with modifications, of receiving views. “Such statements are lies,” the Syndicat declares. “In short, it may be stated that practical television is not yet in existence, and the date about which it will come cannot be stated.” Television will ultimately be a complement to radio; and it will d.emand a special apparatus which will be auxiliary to existing sets.

The appointment of Mr Cliarles Moses, formerly sports “editor” at 2BL, and lately “Federal liaison officer,” to be general manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, may not be popular in Melbourne. It was rumoured weeks ago that Mr Moses was to be appointed, but this was denied by the chairman of the Commission, Mr W. Cleary who was then accused of desiring the position himself. Next it was reported that the choice had fallen on Mr A. Neville, an Australian who had been on the staff of the National Broadcasting Co. in U.S.A. Mr Moses, it was who announced the script prepared in connection with the cricket tests, and rightly or wrongly he was suspected of being responsible for the “Battle of Adowa” stunt which aroused a storm of protest lately. When his appointment of liaison officer was notified a few weeks ago it was stated that his task was to change the style of announcing and of presentation of news and other sessions, and it will be interesting to note what influence he will have on Australian programmes.