RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18926, 23 November 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

RADIO

BY

“ AERIAL.”

WIRELESS FOR BEGINNERS. NO. 60. Our diagram (described in article 59) represents a circuit in which we have a battery as the source of the “urge” to send electrons from the negative side of the battery “S” through r the resistance “R”, the condenser “C” and the inductance “L” back into the positive plates of the battery “S”. The switch “Sw” being closed, the electrons rush in great numbers through R towards and pile up in the left hand plate of C. In doing so there is a pull exercised on the right-hand plate of C—the electrons are drawn out of it. Then what? Well, the electrons first of all rush into the condenser C—a current flows into the condenser. Presently (used comparatively only, of course) the condenser becomes full to the limit of its capacity. No more electrons can crush through the resistance, but a way is open through the passage leading to the left-hand ball of “B”. The electrons crowd in here and, there being only a small air space between it and the other ball leading to the empty plate of condenser C, presently (again comparatively) the “urge” is such that the insulating air space is broken down and the electrons pour across the space (known as the “spark gap”) in a flash of white-hot flame. But it’s not only the excess electrons in the left-hand ball that surged across the gap; those in the condenser C also followed tfie crowd across the gap and into the empty plate of C. That, however, was only the beginning of the trouble. The rush across the gap was so fierce that, in a moment, the right-hand side reached a state of “intensity”, so to speak, similar to that which occasioned the crash over from the left and, to balance things, the crowd surges back across the spark gap, the flame being almost as conductive as before, it not having had time to cocl. And then the process repeats itself and keeps on doing it—the electrons surging up and down between the plates of C between the resistance R and the inductance L. Here, then, you have what is called “oscillations”. (To be continued.) LETS OWN A RADIO. “A Thin Time.” There comes a time in the life of all of us when we cast our minds about and marvel at the wonders of the age in which we live. When we compare the very thin time our grandfathers and grandmothers must have had in

their youth, with our own age of science and invention, we should be truly thankful and mentally praise the “powers that be” that we live in an age when nothing seems impossible, and in which everything is achieved. In the last decade the world has gone ahead more than in preceding hundreds of years. Take, for instance, the triumph of the motion picture, how it first emerged from the chrysans of a silent picture, to the fully-fledged “talkie”. Two years ago, if we were informed that the screen would speak, we should ha\’e regarded the informant as “not all there”; yet five years ago radio was but in its infancy, and no one knew what its future might be, yet look what rapid strides it has made during that period. An Important Factor. The broadcasting of the Federal Election results recently gives some idea of what an important part radio plays in Australia. Listeners heard the result of the first count of a few hundred votes to the final count of several thousands, which a few years ago was only obtainable a day later. But the feature of this broadcast lies in the fact that not only was the metropolitan area supplied with election news immediately it was counted, but the far outposts of the Empire received it at exactly the same time as the cities, which, in the ordinary course of time, would not reach them for several days, if not weeks. This feat was made possible by the chain of stations which stretch from Queensland to West Australia, and whose waves cover the whole' of the vast continent of Australia. One event swiftly follows another, and we see the hurry and bustle of the elections give way to the wild clamour of the turf. The course of Flemington, the prancing horses, pretty and the age-eld problem of picking the winner makes Melbourne Cup Day the most attractive turf meeting ri Australia. Heard by the World. Most of us were not fortunate enough

to be able to go to Flemington, but those who owned a wireless set made up by listening to a description of the races, which was not only heard in Australia, but overseas a well, for the Australian Broadcasting Company made arrangements with A.W.A. to broadcast the description of the Melbourne Cup on short-wave to the world. Many who heard the race in New South Wales (either from their own set or at the local dealer’s) little realised that the voice describing the race was carried a distance of 570 miles and 61 chains on a telephone line to 2FC’s studio. Such is the triumph of radio. What other invention offers such a variety of items appearing on a broadcasting programme ? The day is not far distant when every home in. Australia will be equipped with wireless, as every home is fitted with electric light. —From a “Star” correspondent in Sydney. -- MORE TALKS,’* World-wide Swing Over. Sydney, November a peculiar coincidence the mail which arrived both from England and the U.S.A. this week, brought information to the Australian Broadasting Company that the listening public in Europe and America are now calling for talks, sketches and plays to take the place of music which had predominated in the programmes. The American correspondent of the A.B.C. writes:—“We have been in touch this week with Mr Leonard Cox, who puts on the Main Street sketches from some of the stations here. He has been most successful as an author and a stage director and his sketches and plays have proved most popular, so much so that listeners now write to the stations stating that they prefer this form of entertainment to music. We find over here that, at least for the time being, music seems to have run itself out, by so much constant repetition and radio listeners by tens of thousands are now turning to the dramatic and comedy sketches in preference to the musical programmes. Travel talks and educational talks are also now in the boom.” The' English correspondent of the company writes:—“The most notable feature in broadcasting in England and on the Continent is the rapid displacing of musical items by talks, plays and sketches. Where at one time listeners merely tolerated talks and plays, they are now demanding that these features shall have their full share of the programme alongside of the musical offerings. The popularity of short plays and sketches, is mainly due to the fact that the stations are now realising the importance of. atmospheric effects, and are also seeing that a new radio technique is necessary in those who actually take part in these presentations.” It is very interesting to note that the land slide to talks, plays and sketches in overseas countries is coincident with a similar movement here m Australia. The correspondence of the Australian Broadcasting Company shows an ever-growing preference expressed by listeners in the direction of plays and talks Here too, it is felt that the establishment of an atmosphere by the use of what may be termed “ stage effects,” has popularised these offerings. This phase of broadcasting is very expensive as, in comparison with the individual artist occti-

pied in so many musical items, a number of characters have to be filled in the sketches and plays. The best of the talks also call for much preparation and the A.B.C. determined that in arranging its roster of subjects, the educational side was not to be neglected by a super-abundance of amusement topics. Exactly what has called for this world-wide demand for the spoken word as against the musical offering is hard to gauge, but in a period when the talking film has so rapidly dismissed the silent picture from the screen, it might be that the outcry for speech as against music is the concomitant in the radio world.

WEEK-END PROGRAMMES. To-night’s Concerts. Details of to-day’s programmes to be broadcast by the New Zealand stations appeared in last night’s “ Star.” No information has been available this week anent 4QG’s programmes, nor have any studio notes come to hand regarding artists appearing at 2BL, 2FC, 3LO or 3AR. With the change over of the stations to Government ownership and A.B.C. control, the publication of programmes in advance has been temporarily suspended except in the case of 4QG. Following are some notes from R.B.C. headquarters anent this evening’s concerts : A concert to be given by the Auckland Municipal Band will be relayed from the Town Hall by IYA this evening. Listeners-in to 2YA this evening will be given a musical treat when the Wellington Amateur Operatic and Theatrical Society, with the assistance of 2YA Salon Orchestra, under Mr M. T. Dixon, will present the musical numbers from “ Our Miss Gibbs.” Miss Joyce Woodward, a talented young soprano, interprets the part of “ Our Miss Gibbs.” The radio vaudeville at 3YA this evening will again be a very attractive entertainment. Miss Nellie Bilcliffe (mezzo-soprano) and Mr W. H. Inkster (baritone) will be the singers. There will be Scottish humorous items by Mr Bracey Wilson. The popular Chatterboxes will give another of their twenty minutes’ entertainments. There will be items by the Studio Trio. 3YA’s programme will be relayed to 4YA. rOE SUNDAY. IYA, Auckland (333 M BOOK.). 3.0: Afternoon session. 6.0: Children’s session. 6.55: Relay of service from Beresford Street Congregational Church (preacher, Rev L. B. Fletcher). 8.30 (approx.): Studio concert; Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, " Tannhauser ” overture (Wagner); soprano, Miss Laura Walker, “ Le Roi D'ys,” " Charm of Spring”; recital, Mr Joe Clark, "From My Scrapbook”; violin, Peggy Cochraine, Excerpt from "Andante Concerto in E Minor” (Mendelssohn); baritone, Mr Walter Brough, " Eri tu Che Machiavi organ, Berkeley Mason, "Polonaise in A Major” (Chopin); soprano, Miss Laura Walker, “Joy of Life"; Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, “ Hungarian Lances ” Nos. 1 and 2 (Liszt); recital, Mr Joe Clark. "More From My Scrapbook”; pianoforte, Maurice Cole and Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, "Concerto Op. 16 in A Minor —Third Movement ” (Grieg) ; baritone. Mr Walter Brough. " Yeomen of England,” "I Heard You Singing”; Band of H.M. Welsh Guards, “ King’s Guards ” March (Keith). 9.30: Close down. 2YA, Wellington (410M—720X.). 3.0: Afternoon session. 6.0: Children’s song service. 7.0: Relay of service from Vivian Street Church of Christ (preacher, Pastor W. G. Carpenter). 8.15 (approx.): Studio concert by the Port Nicholson Silver Band and assisting artists; Band, “Silver Hill” and “ Le Flandre ” (Bouillion); soprano, Miss Isabel Cooper, “ Slave Song,” ” I Hear a Thrush at Eve”: Lener String Quartet. “ Meriuet to—Quartet in 1> Major ” (Haydn); contralto, Miss Edith Buck-

master, " The Lover’s Curse cornet solo, Bandsman C. Eades, " Londonderry Air”; baritone, Mr Harry Matthew, “ Les Rameaux ”; Band, " II Trovatore weather report; soprano. Miss Isabel Cooper, “ A Castilian Lament,” ** That’s All”; euphonium solo. Bandsman A. Kaye, " Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes”; contralto, Miss Edith Buckmaster, “ Caprice,” ” How Many a Lonely Caravan ”; Band, “ Cinderella’s Procession " (Weir); baritone, Mr Harry Matthew, “ The Lute Player,” " The Banjo Song”; Don Cossacks Choir, " Kolp Slavenj,” “ Tri Piensi ” (Three Folk Songs); Band, " Punchinello ” (Rimmer); close down. 3YA, Christchurch (306 M 3.0: Afternoon session. 5.30: Children’s song service (children of "the Presbyterian Sunday schools). 6.15: Hymn tunes from studio. 6.30: Studio concert; organ, G. T. Pattman. " Liebestraum ” (Liszt); violin, Miss Mary Martin, “ Romance ” (D’Ambrosio), ’ Chanson Polonaise” (Wieniawski) ; grand opera chorus, " King’s Prayer ” ("Lohengrin”); violin, Miss Mary Martin, " Allegro ” (Harold Henry); Cbauve Souris Company, “ A Russian Barcarolle ” (Varlamoff). 7.0: Relay from Knox Presbyterian Chux-ch, Bealey Avenue (preacher, Rev T. W. Armour). 8.15 (approx.): Studio concert; Christchurch String Quartet. " Allegro Moderato ” and " Scherzo ” (" Quartet No. 2”) (Borodin). 8.25: Columbia Symphony Orchesti-a. " March of the Bojaren,” "Bridal Procession” (Grieg). 8.33: soprano, Trevor Schofield, “ Good-night, said the Cuckoo.” 8.36: Christchurch String Quartet, “Adagio Minuet” ("Sonata Pathetique”) (Beethoven). 8.46: Tenor. Herbert Brown, " One Flower Grows Alone in Your Garden.” 8.49: Grand organ. Francis Sutton, “ Suite Gothique ” (Boellman). 5.57: Duet and chorus, Maris Beaujou, M. Borden and chorus, "Faust—Church Scene” (Gounod). 9.5: Christchurch String Quartet, "Andante Cantabile ” ("Quartet Op. 11”) (Tschaikowsky). 9.1 4 : Chorus with orchestra, La Scala Chorus, " Otello— La Tempesta ” and “ Otello—Fuoco di Gioia ’* (Verdi). 9.22: Lucerne Kursaal Orchestra, " Orpheus in the Underworld ” (Offenbach). 9.JTO: Close down. 4YA, Dunedin (461M.—650K.). 3.0: Chimes; afternoon session. 5.30: Children’s song service. 6.30: Relay of service from St Andrew’s Street Church of Christ (preacher. Pastor W. D. More). 7.55: Weather report. 8.5: Relay of concert by the St Kilda Band. 9.15: Close down.