WIRELESS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 11

WIRELESS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY.

NOTES ON PROGRAMMES BOTH NEAR AND FAR* BY “ AERIAL. ” The following stations will be ‘'on th; air” to-day* at the times stated. Where possible, details of the programmes to be transmitted are given. In the case 6f Australian stations, New Zealand* time is given : Hew Zealand Stations. 3YA, Christchurch, is not transmitting this afternoon and evening. IYA, Auckland, 420 metres, 500 watts —3 to 4.30 p.m., studio items; 7.15 to 7.45 p.m., news and market reports; 8 to 10 p.m., concert session. Programme ; Relay' of orchestral selection from the Rialto Theatre; contralto solo, “Still as the Night” (Bohm), Miss M. Frain; violin solo, “Just Around the Corner.” Mr Rogers; baritone solo, “Balladmonger” (Martin), Mr W. J. Meredith; sketch, “Curiosity,” the Griffiths Duo; pianoforte solo, Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude in C Minor,” Mrs

M’Kinney’: sketch, “As Far as It Goes,” Griffiths Duo; violin solo, “All Alone,” Mr Rogers; pianoforte, “Melody in F” (Rubinstein), Mrs M’Kinrtey; grand organ, “Raymond Overture” (Thomas), Mr T. S. Webster; contralto solo, “Wait” (D’Ardelot), Miss M. Frain; grand organ, “Sunset Melody” (Dr Vincent), “Bohemian Girl” (Balfe) and “Empire March” (Webster), Mr T. S. Webster; baritone solo, "Bid Me to Love,” Mr J. Meredith; violin solo, “I Wonder,” Mr Rogers. IZQ, Auckland, 330 metres, 50 watts —8 to 10 p.m., studio concert. 2YK, Wellington, 295 metres, 120 watts—7.3o p.m., announcements; 7.45 to 10 p.m., studio concert arranged by Mr R. Leslie Jones. Relay at intervals of Selections by the Paramount Theatre Orchestra. 2YL, Napier, 190 metres, 100 watts —S to 10 p.m., studio concert. 2YM, Gisborne, 260 metres, 500 watts—B to 10 p.m., studio concert. 4YA, Dunedin, 380 metres, 500 watts—7 p.m., studio concert (selected gramophone numbers); 7.30 p.m., new r s session, weather reports and forecast, market reports; S p.m., studio concert. Programme: vocal solos, “The Arrow' and the Song” (Balfe) and “The Snowdrop” (Craxton), Miss Rita Raffills; pianoforte soio, “March HongrOise” (Kavosky), Mr Norman O. S. Bachop; banjo solo, Mr Arthur Adams; light vocal solos, “After the Dawn” and “I Wonder Where My* Baby* Is?” Mr A. ll.'Dale: violin solo, Mr J. Green; pianoforte solo, “Finlandia” (Sibelius). Mr N. O. S. Bachop; vocal solos, “Country’ Folk” (Brahe) and “Can’t Remember” (Goatlev), Miss Rita Raffills; banjo solo, Mr Arthur Adams; violin solo, Mr J. Green; light vocal solos, “The Pal That I Loved” and “She Showed Him This,” Mr A. Dale; pianoforte solo, “Waltzes” (Coleridge-Tay-lor), Mr N. O. S. Bachop; banjo solo, Mr Arthur Adams: relay at intervals of selections by the Empire Theatre Orchestra.

Australian Stations. The Australian stations usually* heard in Christchurch will be “on the air” as follow: 2BL, Sydney, 353 metres, ISpO watts —4.30 to 6.30, afternoon studio session: 7.30 to 9.15 p.m., “Uncle Jack” and the children, an address, market report; studio concert. 2FC, Sydney*. 442 metres—9.s p.m. to 12.30 a.m., address and studio concert. 2GB, Sy’dncy', 316 metres, 800 watts —May be on the air from 9.30 to 11.30 p.m. 2KY, Sydney*, 280 metres—9 to 11.30 p.m.. studio concert, lecturettes, etc. 3AR. Melbourne, 484 metres, 1600 watts —3.30 to 6.30, afternoon session, studio concert: 8.15 to 9 p.m., “Uncle Peter” and the children; 9.30 p.m. to 12.30 a.m., market report, weather and studio concert. 3LO, Melbourne, 371 metres, 5 kilo-watts—-4.10 to 7 p.m., studio orchestra and news, etc; 7.5 p.m., children’s hour, stories by “Mary* Gumleaf”; 8.10 p.m., news service, market reports, etc.; 8.50 p.m.. Mr C. H. Holmes; 9.10, Mr 11. Webb; 9.30, Mr Pascoc on “Bowls”; 9.45, Mr A. M. David, “Poppy* Day*”; from 10 p.m. to 1.10 a.m., the 3LO Dance Orchestra will provide dance music. In the intervals between dances the following artists will offer items: -—Messrs Rupert Hazel and Bob Molyneux, Miss Frances Lea and Madame Elsie Day*. News service at 11.26 p.m. and again at 12.14 a.m. 4QG, Brisbane, 385 metres, 5 kilowatts—s p.m., programme of music; 8 p.m., childrens session; 9.30 to 11.30 p.m.. studio concert, weather forecast, latest market reports and news. SCL, Adelaide, 395 metres, 5 kilowatts—s to 6.55, afternoon .session, serial story*, musical numbers, Stock Exchange and news; 8.30 p.m. to 12.25 a.m.. bedtime stores, market reports, weather forecast, news and studio concert. 7ZL, Hobart, 525 metres—4.4s to 5.45, afternoon session, weather report, markets. musical items; 8.45 to 11.40 pan., children’s corner, “The Mercury” special Tasmanian news service, weather forecast, Stock Exchange, markets, address and musical items. :: Last Night. Static in prolonged bursts prevented reception of distant stations last night. Of course, this sort of thing may* be said to be the normal state of affairs during spring and summer and one should ont be disappointed. All that can be done is to concentrate on reception of the local station or experiment with static eliminators. :*5 „ :*: oYA’s programme filled the bill last rigl* fairly satisfactorily. k Motes. A great deal of interest has % bcen ex* :itcd by* the “W.A.S.” crystal circuit.

Traders report a rush of orders for No 21 gauge wire and formers but the sup-

ply* was exhausted quickly. Telegraphic orders for further supplies have not yet relieved the situation. As indicated in the notes on the circuit, “W.A.S.” used a cardboard tube on which to wind his coils. This will do quite well if the tube is first baked in an oven for half an hour or so and then coated with shellac. Suitable 'cardboard formers for this circuit have been 'made up and arc now obtainable at the “Star” office. « « THE BEGINNER. (No 2.) It will b.e as well to state, clearly, that no attempt will be made in these notes to deal with theory*. Those who “wish to take up theory and design can obtain more detailed information, with fuller illustration, from books obtainable ' from local book-sellers than it is possible, with the space available, to print in this column. To continue about coils: These arc coils (of wire) wound on a tube (former) - and known as solenoid coils. These coils may* be “ tapped ” or may* be used with “-sliders. ” As this form of coil is the one most in general use, I will deal with its construction. To commence with the simplest kind of wireless receiver, the crystal set, and to build a coil for the famous "W.A.S.” get, the first thing is to obtain a tube (or “former”) Of ebonite or cardboard of the correct size—3i inches outside

diameter by* 8 inches long. At it is almost impossible to obtain ebonite formers just now, use cardboard. One can be had for a shilling. First, obtain some flake shellac from a painter’s oi one of the hardware stores—about 2 ounces will do—and put it in a widemouthed glass jar (a lib fruit jar does mcely) with about half a pint of methylated spirits (obtained from painters, grocers or chemists). Stir well until shellac is dissolved. This makes a first class insulating varnish, that is, it prevents the cardboard from soaking up moisture, against which you have to guard. Now bake the cardboard tube in a hot oven for about an hour; then, with a soft brush or rag. apply one coat of the shellac inside and outside the cardboard tube. Set it aside to dry, which will be in a few’ minutes. Apply* two more coats in like manner. Set aside for an hour or two. (N.B. Keep the jar of shellac varnish corked when not in use, to prevent evaporation of the spirits.) Next, obtain the copper wire, say* lb. You get it in reels from a dealer in wirelest goods or electrical apparatus. T:i this particular case, you require No. 24 S.W.G. d.c.c. wire (“ standard wire gauge, double cotton covered wire). Using a fine bradawl, one a trifle thicker than the wire mentioned, bore two holes i inch apart about ? an inch or so i,i from one end of the shellacked tube. (Holding the tube horizontally in front of you, with the two holes in the right hand end of the tube, let us call that end the “aerial end” of the tube.) Put about 6or $ inches of the w*ire down the hole nearest you, up through the other, down the first again and up the second once more and pull taut. See that the wire still retains its cotton covering where it goes through the holes. Tuck the loose six inches of wire into the inside/ of the tube. Holding the tube in the left hand commence winding on the first turn of wire, keeping it at the same relative distance from the aerial end edge of the tube all the way round. Put on the second turn close up against the first. (It is convenient to have the spool or bobbin of wire on a nail in your work-bench so that the wire comes off evenly and does not develop kinks.) Pull the wire tight as you put it on, holding the tube firmly* and maintaining a fair strain on the wire. From where the wire enters the holes in the tube and once round to the same spot, count one turn. Continue putting on turns of wire, counting as you go, until the 28th turn is completed. Holding the wire firmlv on the tube at the 2Sth turn with the thumb of your left hand, make a loop about one inch long in the wire at the spot where the 2Sth turn is completed, and give the loop half a dozen twists; this should result in a sort of twisted shank with an eve at the end a “ tap ”). Now carry ori with the 29th and succeeding turns. You will find it a little difficult to make the full 29th and 30th turns “ sit down ” close to t J 2B w h ’ °^ in S tc the twisted shank of the “ tap. ” By using a ruler, a footrule or a bit of flat wood, carefuily tap the last turn cr two (maintaining the strain on the wire) and vou will find the turns will sit up close. Now carry on the winding as before until the next tapping place (the 3Sth turn) is reached; similarly to the 48th turn and then on to the 68th turn—which completes the first half of our coil. More of this to-morrow. « « « ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. “Aerial” will be glad to answer any questions pertaining to wireless, or give advice on the subject* Correspondents should give their names and addressee, not necessarily for publication. :*j « To correspondents: Replies to a number of letters received yesterday and to-day* are unavoidably* held up. Will endeavour to post the required information by to-mOrrow morning. » k CARDBOARD TUBES. Cardboard tubes of correct size for making up the famous W.A.S. crystal receiver can be obtained at the “ Lyt* telton Times” Office, price Is each.