WIRELESS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18013, 25 November 1926, Page 13

WIRELESS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY.

NOTES ON PROGRAMMES BOTH NEAR AND FAR. BY “AERIAL.” The following stations will be “on the air ” to day at. the times stated. Where possible, details of the programmes to be transmitted are given. In the case of Australian stations, New Zealand time is given:— New Zealand Stations. 3YA. Christchurch, is not transmitting this evening. JYA, Auckland, 420 metres, 500 watts—3 to 4.30 p.m., studio itemsi 7.15 to 7.45 p.m., news and market reports; 8 to 10 p.m., concert session: programme:—-March, “Jocelyn”; euphonium solo, “Land of Hope end Glory ” (Elgar) and d<iscript. “ Scots’ Melody ” and “ Sally Trombone.” the Port Auckland Band; soprano solo. “ Out of the Dusk.” Miss W. Gutry; dances. “ Colorado Waltz” and “ Piece of Cake,” the band; relay of orchestral selections from the Prince Edward Theatre; cornet solo, “Lost Chord” (Sullivan); selected item and dance, the band; soprano solo, “Brown Owl.” Miss W. Gutrv; cornet so!c\. "Rntrauns,” the band; soprano solo. “It is not Because.” Miss W. Gutry; selected item and march, “ Edicaf, ' the band. IZQ. Auckland, 330 metres, 50 watts —8 to 10 p.m., studio concert. 2YK, Wellington, 205 metres, 120 watts—7.4s p.m.. announcements; S to 10 p.m.. studio concert arranged bystaff of Charles Begg and Co.. Ltd. 2YL. Napier, 100 metres, 100 watts 8 to 10 p.m., studio concert. 2YM. Gisborne. 260 metres, 500 watts— -S to 10 p.m., studio concert. 4YA. Dunedin. 380 metres. 500 watts. —7 p.m., studio concert (selected gramophone numbers) ; 7.30 p.m., news session, weather reports and forecast, market reports: 8 p.m., studio concert, relay at intervals from the Empire Theatre. Australian Stations. The Australian stations usually heard in Christchurch will be “on the air” as follows: 2BL, Sydney. 353 metres, 1500 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: 9x50 p.m. to 1.30 a m., studio concert. 2FC. Sydney. 442 metres.—9.s p.m. to 12.20 a.m ... address and studio con2GB. Sydney, 316 metres, SOO watts May be on the air from 9.30 to 11.30 p.m. 2KY, Sydney, 2SO metres—9 to 11.30 p.m.. studio concert, lecturettes, etc. 3AR, Melbourne, 484 metres, 1600 watts.—3.3o 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 kilowatts—4.3o to 7 p.m.. studio orchestra and news, etc.; 7.15 p.m., children’s hour, stories by “ Mary Gumleaf”; 8.10 p.m.. news service, market reports, etc.: 8.50 p.m., i sporting talk: 9.10 p.m., lecture by Mr A. W. Jackson, “Golf”; 9.30 p.m., 3LO Melody Masters. During the intervals between the dance items will be given by Rupert* Hazel! and Elsie Day, Pat M’Lean, Moana. Lua, Duo and Non MOlyneux. 12.30 a.m., “Our Great Thought.”; 12.31 a.m.. 3LO Melodv Masters. Close down at i. 40 a.m. 4QG- Brisbane. 355 metres. 5 kilowatts—s p.m.. programme of music; 8 p.m., children’s session: 9.30 to 11.3 Q p.m., studio concert, weather forecast, latest market reports and new*. 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 stories, market reports, weather forecast, news and studio concert. 7ZL. Hobart, 525 metres.—4.4s to 5.45. afternoon session, weather report, market reports, musical items; 8.45 to 14.40 p.m., children’s corner, the “ Mercury ” special Tasmanian news service, weather forecast. Stock Exchange, markets, address, musical items. Last Night’s Concerts. Dandy concert from 3YA last night. Came in at tine volume with no interference. Quite a change, and a most acceptable one. 3 M 3 IYA was also in good form. At times this statibn tuned in at as great volume as the local one. K Lot of static about. This came to light when tuning in stations on the lower wavelengths. Ana what a crop of howling valves! Especially after 10 pm. They made night hideous with their yells and also made one long to be within reach with a good hefty’ hammer! a Oscillating Oswalds. In compliance, with several requests, “Aerial'’ nbw proeceds to have a word or two with the local Oswald family. To commence with there are two branches of this famous (or “infamous"?) clan, the senior branch—comprising those who oscillate and know it, and the junior branch—those who oscillate and don’t know it. The latter is , the larger family, and their numbers are being added to daily. Although they deserve the scorn of all listeners, they also compel our pity for they err through ignorance. Now. Mr Listener, it is no good patting yourself on the beach, saying unto yourself: "Lo! I am not of this de tested tribe. I oscillate not, neither •m I a nuisance to my neighbour for. behold. I know all about wireless and my skill is such I can tune in distant parts even while the voice at the door" of my chamber clamoureth most loudly! !0 That is exactly where you'give yourself away! And it is to you and to those others who spend the hours they ought to devote to sleep in trying to tune in 2BL, 4QG or some other Australian station after 3YA closes down, that these remarks are addressed. What, exactly, is "oscillation”? Shortly it comprises those weird and awful grunts, squeals, squawks and howls you have heard from your headphones of loudspeaker recently during the progress of broadcasting. These are caused bj* “Oscillating Oswalds' operators of valve-sets who, in plain language, either turn their “tickler” coil Over too far (or too close to the other coils in a three-coil set) or turn up their filament controls to such an extent as to cause a loud "hiss” from their ’phones or speaker. The result is the chaos in the ether that absolutely spoiled reception of all Australian stations last night). Why do they do it? The answer is that the operators concerned are trying to remusic, etc., from distant stations at the same volume that 3vA possffSßef. Of i <>urs«. it can it be ta,. But that does not prevent these ether , b«gs" (as an American wfiter terms them) from trying. , ~ i Now, will all you good folk who own valve sets —in particular, those of you ! who have only recently built of purchased a valve set—please obtain the services of a genuine expert (not tnc i mushroom expert -the one raised from | seed a couple of months back I and, | have him teach you how to tune in ana

how to use reaction. At present you are a nuisance to your neighbours and, more than likely a (qualified) nuisance to the members of your own family. You are not able to tune in any station without a background of hissing and squealing —proof that you are not exercising the brains with which you are blessed, or otherwise. You must know'—you have been told often enough—and the Government has a nice little rod in pickle for you one of these tine days if a Radio Inspector tracks you down—that you must not use either (1) a set that is directly connected to the aerial system (without neutralisation), nor (2) must you use reaction in such a way as to cause your set to radiate. lIow T arc you to tell ? Quite simply.

Take the first case. If the aerial terminal on your set has a lead that goes directly to a coil whence another lead goes to the grid terminal of the first, valve and that valve is not properly neutralised (I emphasise it by repeating it)—properly neutralised—by an expert who knows his job, then you are contravening the regulations and, on and conviction by a Magistrate, you are liable to a severe penalty and, what is more, the deserved execration of every man, woman and child wireless enthusiast of your acpaintance, plus the others. Look at your set and see if there is any appearance of your thus being a member of the Oscillating fraternity. Now for the second case—where reaction causes radiation, i.e., howling in your neighbours’ sets. The use of excessive reaction does you not one little scrap of good. You merely develop “mush" in your ’phones or speaker—-causing the music or speech received to sound badly distorted. For you, too, the Government has a rod in pickle. -It matters not that you “didn’t know'.” In the eves of the law ignorance is no excuse.

How can you tell if you are offending.' Quite simply, once again. Tune in as usual. I mean, get what you usually get—from 3YA or elsewhere. When you have done just as you always do and you get the usual results, just wet your forefinger and touch the bare lead-in wire near the aerial terminal or the aerial terminal itself. You will hear a distinct “pluck,” or “plonk,” or what you l%e to call it. in the phones or from the loud speaker. That’s quite in .order. But, if you hear that same distinct “pluck” or “plonk” in your ’phones or speaker when you remove your finger from the wire or terminal, you axe an Oscillating Oswald. Your set is radiating and causing howls or squeals in the receivers of all your neighbours for miles around. To stop your set from radiating ,carry out the following in the order given:— (1) Turn back your reaction dial (usually the “tickler”) until testing shows no sign of radiation. You will probably need to retune with the condensers, also. If signals do not clear Up without any "mush” and with no signs of radiation try the next step. (2) Reduce the filament current supply of (a) 3'our radio-frequency valves or (b) your detector valve bv turning back the rheostat until signals clear up. If that is of no effect try—(3) Reduce the voltage supply from your H.T. (or “B”) battery to (a) your radio-frequency valves, down to 3< a volts, and (b) to your detector valve, down tc# 10 volts. Of course you keep on with the “wet finger” test during each operation and ii, trv* ing all three means of prevwa,tion ys>rstill find signs of radiation, ther;> far \he sake of suffering humanitv, close down your receiver and call in an expert to put things right for you and show you how to operate. This is where the District Radio Inspector and his staff will, probabK- be only too pleased to help you. Or, as they are hard-wo#ked as “it is, consult the secretary or one of the officers of the local Radio Society, and you will find they w’ill be only too glad to *io all in their power to assist you and thus help to "clear up the ether.” One word of warning in conclusion and this, in particular, to those Oswalds who WILL oscillate and “hang the consequences”: A movement is now on foot in Christchurch to form a Listeners’ League, one of whose main objects is the detection of Oscillating Oswalds (a simple matter to the initiated) and their suppression or elimination peaceably or by fdree of law. 55 it M 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 addresses, not necessarily for publication. To “Lead-In”*: Sorry/'letter crowded out. In to-morrow. To “W.T.”: Reply posted. CARDBOARD TUBES. tubes of correct sire for making up the famous W.A.S. crystal receiver can be obtained at the “Lyttelton Times” Office, price Is each.