RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18575, 25 September 1928, Page 16

RADIO

BY "AERIAL.” Notes and News. Another busy night—this time with a short wave outfit—so did not hear anything of New Zealand broadcasts. After 10.30 switched on the B.T. “Sixer” to see what was doing abroad and met very disappointing reception There was not much static about but fading and distortion were something wicked. 5$ *.j 2BL Sydney did not show anything like its usual good volume. Sounded as if the old 8.-T. had absolutely gone to the bow-wows. And the set was put on to show a visitor what it could do! Now isn’t.that exactly- what happens just when you are ready to burst with pride over your own receiver! 3LO wasn’t to be heard much above a whisper. Hurried over to 4QG feeling certain that here, at least, the 8.-T. would show the world what was what. , Bah! Then to 2FC. Another snort of disgust. Never met with such unsatisfactory reception. Was convinced, quite privately, that either the batteries had fallen down on the job or something had gone wrong. Turned the set off in disgust and resumed discussion on the short wave outfit! And that lasted until the visitor departed. 5? 3* Then hey! For testing those batteries. “A” was quite full; “B” at full voltage; valves home 0.K.! Tried 2BL again. Not so bad! Then 2FC. Excellent! 4QG, too, was quite fair to good! This was at 11.25 p.m. and, of course. . . . but let us draw a veil here. And that is just exactly what nearly every listener has experienced on more than one occasion when he has visitors to hear his “wonder set.” Hence these words of wisdom: “Don’t boast about what your set can do.” “Pride goeth before a (wireless set owner's) fall! ” To change the (painful) subject. The other day a correspondent mentioned that he had experienced trouble

in his receiver owing, he thought, to j faulty operation of a “Turn It” vari- ! able grid leak. “Insulator,” whose short j wave reports are a feature of Monday’s radio notes, states that he has solved the problem of the noises complained of. It was found to be located in a faulty connection to his “A” battery. After giving the battery lead clips a "wiggle” or two the noises disappeared. s* :: Bv the way, gramophone lovers who are also wireless “fans” should not miss 2YA’s gramophone recital this, evening. The instrument to be used —the KolsterrColumbia—was described in these notes last' week. Having written the foregoing notes, had another * short session with the 8.-T.—this was round about midnight. There was very little noise in the ether—an occasional sharp crackle only—and the Australians had abandoned their fading stunts. Both 2BL and 2FC came through splendidly. k Had a lot of fun between 8 and 10.30 last night with a M’Michael Supersonic short wave five Valver. This is a British made receiver and, of course, is a well turned out instrument. Will have the set-for a few days for testing purposes and will be glad if any listener possessing “dope” on this type of receiver will lend same to the writer for perusal. Heard any number of Morse transmissions, (and. 3CM talking) at great volume. Sounded as if the instrument is a particularly good one. V X ss Studio Notes. Excerpts from Donizetti’s brilliant opera “The Daughter of the Regiment” will be produced at IYA this evening. It was Jenny Lind who, as the vivacious vivandiere, made the opera so popular when first produced in London. An excellent miscellaneous concert, to which the studio orchestra, the Orpheus Quartet and Mr Billy Hart will contribute, will be followed by a gramophone recital this evening at 2YA. The St Kilda Band and leading vocal talent will be heard from 4YA this evening.. Silent day at 3YA. 35 55 :< Make Your Own Pulley. The metal pulleys used for aerials are often very unsatisfactory. The rope easily slips off the wheel and gets wedged in some way. The pulley described here is easily made. A 2iin diameter reel insulator is used, and this is mounted on a spindle between two* pieces of wood. These are placed very close to the insulator so that it is impossible for the rope to slip off. The two pieces are to the top of the mast. « :: Ironing Ebonite. Here is a method of straightening warped ebonite which is quite successful. The ebonite end plate of a variable condenser had become what was thought to be hopelessly twisted. The plate was removed from the condenser and placed on a flat board. The domestic flat-iron was then borrowed and heated to the normal heat for irpur ing purposes. It was then pressed on the warped ebonite, which soon became pliable and flat. A cold flat-iron was then placed on the ebonite until it was cold. It was then found to be quite flat and was replaced on the condenser. This method is equally successful when a piece of ebonite is required to be bent. Just place the heated iron on the ebonite. After a moment or two it will become pliable, when it can De bent to any shape. X SC X A Broadcasting Aeroplane. The only broadcasting aeroplane in the world is heard by WLW listeners every day at approximately 3.47 p.m. It is the Whirlwind Waco ’plane, which carries tfie air mail from Cincinnati to Indianapolis and Chicago. An especially sensitive microphone, mounted on the water tower of the Crosley Radio Corporation factory, where the WLW studios are located, picks up the full-throated roar of the engine as it passes with its throttle “ wide open,” 1500 feet above the ground. Since the ’plane travels at a speed of about 120 miles an hour over the studio, its broadcasting is brief. However, its daily repetition delivers the same message : “ Use • the air mail.” WLW listeners report that they look forward to the momentary zoom of the 'plane It is “ something different,” they say. ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. “Aerial” will be glad to answer any question pertaining to wireless, or give advice on the subject. Correspondents should give their names and addresses, not necessarily for publication. !•: j* t‘i What Valve To Use. To E. 8., Fendalton. On reading your letter again I find that the set of coils you purchased are not the 8.-D. “Precision” coils, although that is not to say you will not obtain good results with those you have acquired. The fact that your instructions call for a radio-frequency valve of an impedance of from 20,000 to 30.000 ohms makes the 8.-D- pamphlet of no use in solving your problem. The choice of 6 volt valves to comply with your requirements is somewhat limited, the only ones being the Philips A 630 ( 20,000 ohms), the low-capacity Philips A 635 (23,000 ohms) and the Cossar 610 HF (20,000 ohms). Any one of these three should answer your purpose. I have iised Philips valves in a 8.-D. set with satisf results^— "Aerial.” TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES. Following are details of to-day’s, programmes received from New Zealand broadcasting stations and from 4QG, Brisbane, details of concerts at 2BL, 2FC, 3LO and 3AR not having arrived: — IYA, Auckland (333 M.). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Studio items; literary selection; sports results. 6.0: Children’s session (Uncle Pat). 7.15: News and market reports; book review. 8.0; Chimes. 8.1: Orchestra, “ March Milit.aire,” “ II Bacio.” * 8 9: Contralto, Madame Irene Ainsley, “ Break, Break, Break.” 8.13: Xylophone solo, “ Chavre Souris” (Jessel). 8.16; Baritone, Mr Walter Brough, “ What the Red-headed Boatswain Said.” 8.20: Orchestra, “Minuet in G” (Paderewski), “ Fairy Tarapatapoum ” (Foulds), “Hungarian Dance” (Brahms). 8.29: Soprano, Miss Nancye Hanna, “Trees.” 8.32: Cornet, “ Berceuse de Jocelyn.” 8.36: Tenor, Mr Robert Peter, “Once Again.” 8.40: Xylophone, “ March of the Town Guards.” 8,43: Ta|k, Mr A. B. Chappell, M.A., “ Talks on Old New Zealand:—the Settlement of Auckland.” 5.58: Weather forecast. 9.0:

Cornet, “Serenade” (Schubert). 9.4: Contralto, Madame Irene Ainsley, “ Spinning.” 9^B: Orchestra, “ Glory of Russia.” 9.16: Presentation of excerpts from “The Daughter of the Regiment.” Cast: Tonio, Mr Robert Peter; Maria. Miss Nancye Hanna; Sulpizio, Mr Walter Brough: “The Camp and Battle,” Sulpizio and Maria; “ ’Tis Known to All,” Maria; “I Love Thee,” Maria and Tonio; “My Gallant Friend,” Tonio; “ Dear Friend, Farewell,” Maria ; “ To My Heart What is Wealth?” Maria and chorus; “All Hail! France.” Maria and chorus; “Are We Three Met Again?” trio and finale. 2YA, Wellington (420M0-3 3 to 5 p.m.; Chimes; gramophone items; sports results. 6.0: Children’s session, conducted by Big Brother jack, assisted by pupils of Miss Rose Carte. 7.0: News session. 7.40: Lecturette, “ For the Man on the Land.” 8.0: Chimes. 8.1: Orchestra, “Strauss March,” “In Old Manila.” 8.9: Orpheus Quartet, “Comrades in Arms.” 8:13: Contralto, Miss Lily Mackie, “Will He Come?” 8.17: Orchestra, “Sometime.” 5.25: Baritone, Mr Len Barnes; a group of songs by Frederick Keel, “ To-morrow,” “ Trade Winds,” “ Port j o’ Many Ships,” “ Mother Carey.” 8,35: Orchestra, reqqest number. 8.43: Vocal; duet, Mrs Alice Harris and Mr Arthur Coe, “ Maying.” 8.47: Orpheus Quartet, “ Hunting Chorus.” 8.50: Orchestra, “ Hindoo Song,” “At Evening,” “Open Thy Blue Eyes.” 8.58: Weather forecast. 9.0: Songs at the piano, Mr Billy Hart, “ Beautiful.” 9.10: Contralto, Miss Lily Mackie, “ WillowSong.” 9.14: Orchestra, “Gemelle.” 0.22: Tenor, Mr Arthur Coe, “A Farewell.” 9.26: A Columbia Kolster. gramophone recital; Cornet duet, “Two Little Finches ”; tenor solo, Chas. Hackett, “Dupa”; dance orchestra, Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra, “ Merry Widow Waltz humour, “ Casey Takes the Census organ solo, “Love’s Old. Sweet Song ”; tenor solo, Ernest. M’Kinlay, “ Haera Ra ”; fox-trot, “My Blue-Ridge Mountain Home ” ; fox-trot, “The Kinkajou”; humour, “The Engineer”; dance orchestra, Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra, “La Paloma ”; Columbia Orchestra, “Idilio”; baritone solo. Fraser Gange, “Lassie o’ Mine”: vocal, “Ramona”; violin solo, “ Tosca Seidel, “ Air G- String ”; duet, Layton and Johnston, “Plantation Medley”.; march, “Lights Out.” Close down. 3YA. Christchurch (306 M.). Silent day. 3ZC, Christchurch (250 M.). the children's session (6.307.45), Lady Gay, Mr Wiseman, Uncle Tom and the Sunbeams will entertain the children with the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Pupils from the Waimairi School will be heard in choruses. During the evening concert session, Mr Roy Twyneham will give a lecturette on “ Alpine Climbing in New Zealand.” At 9 o clock the station' will be “ switched-over ” to an imaginary estaminet in France, the Christchurch branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association providing an original “ diggers’ ” entertainment. Songs will be sung by Miss Millicent Jennings and Mr Percy Caithness', and humorous elocutionaryDumbers will be presented by Mr J. Laureuson. 4YA, Dunedin (463 M). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Chimes; gramophone items; address,. “ Aft Needlework, "' by Miss Marguerite Puechegud; sports results. 6.0: sion, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 7.15:. News session. 8.0: Chimes; concert by the St Kilda Band and. items by assisting artists. 8.1: Band, "Machine Gun Guards.” 8.5: Tenor, Mr L. E. Dailey, “ The Sweetest Flower,” “Good-bye.” 8.9: Monologue, Miss Anita Winkel, “Out at Mons.” 8.13: Band, “ Woodland Blossoms.” 8.21 : Soprano, Mrs D. Carty, “ The Rosary, ’ “Dear Little Shamrock.” 8.28: Band, “Scotia.” 8.34: Baritone, Mr Bert Rawlirison, “The Floral Dance.” 8.39: Recitals, Mr Lester Moller, “The Storming Party,” “ Father’s Dress Suit.” 8.47: Band, “Spanish Chant.” 8.53: soprano, Miss Muriel Riley, selected. 9.0: Weather forecast. 9.3: Cornet, with band ■ accompaniment, “ Moonbeam.” 9.11: Tenor, Mr L. E. Dailey, “ Echoes.” 9.14: Recitals, Miss Anita Winkel, monologue, “Little Mary Fawcett,” child impersonation, “Dirty Face.” 9.22: Band, “Minstrel Melodies.” 9.34: Soprano and baritone duet, Mrs D. Carty and Mr Bert Rawlinson, “ What Are the Wild Waves Saying?” 9.39: Baritone, Mr Bert Rawlinson, “ The Arrow and the Song,” “ The Nameless Lassie.” 9.46: Band, “Chant Sans Parole.” 9J52: Mezzo-soprano, Miss Muriel Riley, selected. 9.57: Recital, Mr Lester Moller. “ Punch, Brothers, Punch.” 10.4.: Band, “ Light Step.” 10.8: Close. 4QG, Brisbane (385 M.). 9.30 p.m.: Topical chorus. Tenor, “ How Vain is Man,” “ Lend Me Your Aid,” Mr Jack Land. Contralto, “I Did Not Know,” Miss Mae King. Partsong, “Alice, Where Art Thou?” Baritone, “ Rage, Thou Angry Storm,” Mr Jack Atkinson. Duet, “ O That We Two Were Maying,” Miss Pat M’Onigley and Mr John Steele. Piano, “First Movement Sonata in D ” (Mozart), Miss Isobel Minnis. Quartet, “ The Owl and the Pussj' Cat.” Soprano, “ Regnava del Silensio,” Miss Jill Manners. Bass, “ Honour and Arms,” Mr Frank Curnow. Contralto, “ Angus Macdonald,” Miss Agnes Kerr. Duet, “ The Day is Done,” Miss Mae King and Mr Frank Curnow. Tenor, “ Serenade,” Mr John Steele. Soprano, “Nymphs and Fauns,” Miss Pat M’Onigley. Part-song, “Ye Little Nymphs.” Tenor, “Evening Song,” Mr Jack Land. Duet, “ Soon as the Mountain Summits,” Miss Jill Manners and Mr Jack Atkinson. Contralto, “ The Silver Ring,” Miss Mae King. Motet, “ Hear My Prayer ”; soloist, Mrs H. R. Hicks. Baritone, “ The Ringers,” Mr Jack Atkinson. Soprano, “O Had I Jubal’s Lyre,” Miss Pat M’Onigley. Tenor, “In a Gondola,” Mr John Steel-e. Contralto, “ Smilin’ Through,” “ The Sundown Sea,” Miss Agnes Kerr. Piano, “ Spanish Caprice,” Miss Olivia Sherry. Soprano, “ Fairy Lullaby,” Miss Jill Manners. Bass, “Gipsy John,” Mr Frank Curnow. Part-song, “ A Cycle of Three American Airs.” 1130 p.m.: “ The Daily Mail” news; weather news. Close down.