WIRELESS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17906, 23 July 1926, Page 13

WIRELESS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY.

NOTES ON PROGRAMMES BOTH NEAR AND FAR. BY AERIAL. The undermentioned broadcasting stations will be “ on the air ” this evening. In all cases New Zealand time is given. (M, wavelength in metres; W, power in watts or KW in kilowatts). New Zealand. IVA. Auckland—33om , 200 w.. 7.30 p.m. usually on Fridays. Studio concert. 2YK. Wellington—2osm., 120 w.. 7 p.m., childrens hour; 8 p.m. to 10.30 p.m..'studio concert of latest pianola rolls and gramophone records. 4YA, Dunedirp—3Bom., 500 w., 7 p.m.. radio dealers’ demonstration, selected gramophone records; 7.45 p.m., information service, weather reports and forecast, shipping news, market and stock reports, sporting news and news items; 8 p.m., studio concert; 8.45 p.m., an address bv an officer of the Department of Agriculture; 9 p.m., relay from the Savoy, special numbers for broadcasting by the Savoy Novelty Band; 10 p.m, close down. Australia. All the Australian stations will be on the air to-night. Following are latest particulars received;— 2YK, SvdneV, 2SOm., 4-6.15 p.m., S p.m. (children), 9.15-11.30 p.m. (concert session), a 2BL. Sydney. 353 m.. 1500 w., 4.30-6.45 p.m., 7.30-9.20 p.m., 9.30-11.30 pm. (concert session). 2FC, Sydney, 1100 m.. 9.30 pm.-12.30 am. (heard on specially built receivers only). e 3AR, Melbourne, 454 m., 9.30 p.m.12.10 am. 3LO, Melbourne. 371 m., skw., 1.30330 p.m., 4.30-6.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m. (children). 8.15 pm. (news service), 8.45 p.m.-12.30 a.m. (concert session). 4QG, Brisbane, 355 m., skw, 2.25-3 p.m., 4.55-6 p.m. 7.55-9 p.m. 9.15-11.30 p.m. (concert session). SCL. Adelaide, 395 m., skw., 1-3.30 p.m., 4.30-6.30 p.m. S p.m.-midnight (concert session). NOTES. 3AC, Christchurch may not be operating to-night, owing, it is understood, to “ flu'’ having laid up the operator for this evening. The lady, editor of a Home journal ha? this regarding wireless: How, in a few short years, wireless has settled down as Sfti essential factor in our lives! This was brought home to me the other day when I heard that a new garden estate is planning to put an aerial m every back garden, just as they fit water pipes and sinks inside. It doesn't seem a wild stretch of fancy tC> picture the not-iar-distant future when radio will be provided for in the building of new houses just as gas and electricity are to-day. Besides the aerial, we shall have the proper insulated wires ready for attaching to a set, leading thence to the main sit-ting-room in which a convenient earth .of some kind will be installed. And perhaps enterprising architects (I can fancy them of the feminine persuasion !) will plan the inevitable fireside recess in a position and of a size just to take a set that can be comfortably reached from father's armchair. Cross-words are still flourishing all over the jJontinent. Some of the German and ‘Austrian stations have broadcast the skeletons, leaving the listener to fill in -the words. Apart from that, this pastime has permeated the columns of fiiost foreign wireless journals. For those amateurs who are sated—have you ever met it?—with the daily

“emu.’* “seer,” “ova” and “ort” variety, considerable amusement should be derived from an attempt to solve puzzles published in other languages. Our French friends call them mots en damier (draught-board words), the Germans Kreuzwortraetsel, the Austrians Radioraetsel or Kombinations-probiem —as an abbreviation—but the greatest credit is due to the Magyar who, in a Buda*Peslh journal, heads his effort “Radiokeresztrejtvenv.” “Wireless Magazine.” Everyone who has dull-emitter :*valves has probably had experience at one time or another of lost emission, ,says a - radio authority. When the valve* are new a very low temperature is all that is needed to enable the specially prepared filament to emit a sufficient electron stream. If the filaments are seriously overheated the surface film of thoria or special oxide compound, which is used in some cases, may be driven off, with the result that the valve ceases to be a dull-emitter. Valves can often be restored to efficiency in the following simple way;— Switch off the high-tension supply altogether, and run the filament at its normal temperature for half an hour or so. If at the end of that time the valve is not found to be functioning as it should, give it a further period without the high-tension battery. Sometimes a rather desperate remedy will produce results when everything else fails. , This is to apply to the filament for a few seconds about three times its normal voltage. Some valves, particularly dull-emit-ters of the .06 type, are rather microphonic. This means that if the valve is subjected to vibration or jarring of any kind, unpleasant noises are produced in the telephones or loud-speak-er. Nearly all valves are microphonic to some extent, particularly when they are used as rectifiers. This you may test for yourself by tapping gently the rectifying valve on your set; in most cases a pong will be heard. The microphonic quality is not annoying unless it is particularly marked, that is to ’Say, unless the pongs occur on the slightest provocation. One may, for example, find that noises are heard even when one walks across the room in which the set is working. Valves which are badly microphonic should be mounted in special spring holders which absorb the greater part of any ▼ibrations received and do not transfer them to the electrodes. In the absence of any valve holder of this kind an improvement may be made by Standing the receiving set upon a pad made by folding a thick cloth several times. ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. M Aerial” will be glad to answer any questions pertaining to wireless, or give advice on the subject. Correspondents should give their names and addresses, not necessarily for publication. To the Editor. Sir,—l thank you very much for the trouble you have gone to, to put my set in working order. I was able to get a decent concert orv Sunday evening, as far as receiving it went. I followed your instructions carefully and connected them up accordingly. After the church service I tried to get 4YA and later in the evening I tried for the Aussie’s, but in vain, so I must try a little more experimenting. Thanking you again for your kindness, —I am, •tcF. C. P.