RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18985, 3 February 1930, Page 6

RADIO

BY

“AERIAL.”

RECEPTION NOTES.

Saturday Night. *So far as the New Zealand stations were concerned, reception on Saturday evening was clear and unspoiled except for a trifle of static on IYA. After 10.30, when the Australians were given a turn, the ether was not on its best behaviour, static being somewhat prominent during reception of trans-Tasman stations. With the exception of SCL Adelaide, all the “A” and “B” class stations were audible. The best were 2BL and 2FC Sydney—as has been usual during the past couple of months. 4YA on 291 Metres. The Dunedin station was on the air, on 291 metres, in a test transmission from 2.0 to 2.45 yesterday afternoon. Reception was everything that could be desired. There was no static nor other forms of interference;: the transmission was as steady as a rock, and there wasn’t the least sign of distortion. However, good as it was, it is to be hoped that 4YA is not placed permanently on 291 metres—or, if it should be, then that 3YA’s wave is changed—as it will not be possible to separate 3YA and 4YA when both are on the air together, unless the listener possess an unusually selective receiver or is located more than five miles from either station. With the writer’s receiver set for best reception of 4YA and left at that until 3YA came on, the local station roared in at a strength that jwould have swamped 4YA. . The set used is a very selective one—a six-valver possessing three stages of tuned R.F.—and is located nearly two miles from 3YA. Conditions Last Night. Somewhat heavy static greeted attempts to tune in IYA. Reception was, also, marred by severe fading. 2YA was O.K. in every way, only an occasional “spit” from static being audible. It was also fairly quiet up Dunedin’s way, there being less static interference on 461 metres than lower down the scale. Both afternoon and evening programmes from 3YA were much enjoyed. » ::

Static was somewhat heavy during reception, of the Australian stations. 2FC .was again the best of the bunch, coming through at good loud speaker strength and fairly steadily. wireCess for beginners. No. 108. . Now that the construction of the twoelectrode valve (the diode) and the three-electrode valve (the triode) has been explained, let us investigate the valve’s properties further. Place the valve in a valve socket so as to enable you to connect up the required sources of current. If you connect a suitable “A” battery (English radio magazines term this a “low tension,” or JL.T. battery) to the socket terminals connected with the filament “legs” of the valve, the effect will be to heat the valve’s filament and enable it to give off free electrons that will then be available to start off a current through the “B” battery-plate circuit. Then, by connecting a “B” battery (Anglice, “high tension,” or H.T. battery) with its positive terminal joined up to the plate terminal of the valve socket and the battery’s negative joined to the negative (or positive—it is immaterial) of the “A” battery, there will be a flow of current from filament to plate, as already explained. Next, join up a battery—a small one of say 4 to 9 volts—so that its positive end is connected to the grid terminal of the valve socket, with the negative end connected to the negative of the “A” battery. To carryout our experiments we need a voltmeter (an instrument for measuring the strength—or voltage—of a battery) reading to, say, 10 volts and one reading up to, say, 50 volts. We also require an ammeter (an instrument for measuring the flow of current —amperage—of a battery). To obtain practical results a more sensitive instrument than the ammeter is desirable—one called a milliameter and reading up to, say, 100 milliamps. Let us suppose it is possible to increase or decrease at will the amount of voltage we can supply from both the grid and the “B” batteries and the amount of current from the “A” battery. Now we are all set for the next step.

(To be Continued.) SHORT-WAVE NOTES. “Insulator” reports:—“Listening during the week on short waves has not been too good as static has been troublesome on all but the shortest of waves. It has been rather a lean week as regards stations heard, but as we had an excellent week previous to this we cannot complain. “ Monday.-—HS4PJ, Bangkok, Siam, heard well at 7.15 a.m. on 29.5 meters Native music put over—not very tuneful, however. A 23 meters American station was conversing with London at 7.20 a.m. at good strength, R 7. Later in the week this station was heard to give its call as WOO. RA97 very loud on 35 meters at 11.5 p.m.. with a talk. GLY, Dorchester, England, very loud, RB, at 11.10 p.m., with a talk on diamonds. On opening again at midnight their frequency was given at 11,420 k.c., which corresponds to a wavelength of 26.27 metres. RA97 excellent at 11.15 p.m. with a talk. UOR2, Vienna, fair at 11.55 p.m., but static very heavy. Records heard. Another foreigner heard at good strength just after midnight on about 60 metres. Piano music put over, but static too bad to distinguish much of the announcements. “ Tuesday.—GsSW at 7.15 a.m. was heard with a talk, but intelligibility poor. W9XF about R 6 at 7.40 p.m. with songs, etc. KZRM good speaker strength at 10.30 p.m. on their musical programme. RA97 very loud, R 9, with a lady giving a talk. “Wednesday:—W9XF very good speaker strength at 7.40 p.m. with jazz music. KZRM a good R 8 at 10.5 p.m. with band items. Static very bad. RA97 suffered still more from static, the talk they were giving being almost eclipsed by the bursts of static. s* “Thursday :—GSSW was about R 5 at 7.15 a.m., when a talk was heard. W9XF at 7.30 p.m. was good with their usual class of programme. KZRM very loud on the speaker at 10.30 p.m. with well modulated records. ZL3AE and ZL3BF both came over well testing on the 80-metre band at 10.35 p.m. RA97 very loud, R 9, with a talk, followed by a concertina solo, one of the best played ever heard. The Russians certainly can play the concertina—or an instrument sounding very much like one. M 2£ 3$ “Friday:—GsSW rather weak and surging badly 7.10 a.m. W9XF good

on speaker at 7.30 p.m. with jazz. W3XAL, Bound Brook, New Jersey, was testing at 9.45 p.m. Gave his wavelength as 49.18 metres. Bad static, surging and a generator hum spoiled reception. RA97 very loud at 9.50 p.m., but static still louder. PCK much quieter talking to Java. Good strength, R 7. and very clear. PLE and PMB both in operation replying to Holland. Both excellent strength at 10 p.m. KZRM loud and clear but surging. Good band items. tt « “Saturday:—PCJ about R 4 at 7 a.m. but surging badly. Records heard, well modulated. GSSW was also spoiled bv surging. W9XF good at 7.30 p.m. with dance items. KZRM very good both on 24.5 and 49 metres. WOO on 23 metres was R 5 at 10.45 p.m. reading a word list for G2GN, the s.s. Olympic. A short item was read from a book and then another word list read out. RA97 very loud, R 9, at 11 p.m. with a presentation of an opera. PLE very loud, RB, at 11.10 p.m., with well-modu-lated records. No static. PMB on 14.6 was putting s>ut the same music. Strength from this station was wonderful. Modulation perfect and no static. Taken all round it was one of the best transmissions ever heard on short waves. Listened to them playing records till midnight, when they commenced talking to Holland. They were a real treat to listen to on music. PCK was very clear but surging.

“Sunday :—-WBXK good strength at 5.10 p.m. with the Byrd programme. W9XF good speaker strength at 7.30 p.m. but he'avj- bursts of static marred reception. RA97 was about R 6 at 9.30 p.m. with an instrumental number. KZRM was R 7 at 10 p.m. with band items. Static rather troublesome so turned it in for the day.” « # TODAY'S PROOKAMMSS. Following: are details of to-day’s programmes to be broadcast by New Zealand radio stations:— IYA, Auckland. Silent day. 2YA, Wellington (41® metres). 3.0: Afternoon session. 3.0: Children's session. 6.0: Dinner music session. 7.0: News session. 7.40: Lecturette, Mr H. C. South, "Books— Grave and Gay." 8.0: 2YA Orchestrina, ‘Overture Solennelle.” 8.9: Wellington Orpheus Musical Society, "Oh, Who Will. O’er the Oowns so Free?” 8.13: Pianoforte, Miss Hazel Rowe, "Negro Dance,” “Flirtation in a Chinese Garden." 8.20: Musical Society, "Welcome to May."' 8.25: 2YA Orchestrina. “Roma Suite." 8.36. Musical Society, "Huntsmen’s Chorus.” 8.40: Flute, Mr D. W; Rothwell, "Papillon." -8.45: Baritone, Mr H. B. Robb, “Invictus,” "Youth.” 8.51: Musical Society, "Barcarolle” from "Tales of Hoffman.” 8.55: 2YA Orchestrina, “Dae des Cygnes.” 9.3: Weather report and announcements 9.5: Musical Society, “Spring Cornea Daughing," from "Peasant Cantata.” 9.9: Baritone, Mr George Gray, "L’Ebreo,” "The Two Grenadiers." 9.16: Trumpet, Mr S. Bernard, "Violets." 2YA Orchestrina, "Scarf Dance.” 9.24: Musical Society, "Bridal Chorus” from “Der Freischuts.” 9.28: Mezzo-soprano, Miss Marjorie Bennie, “Maori Slumber Song,” "Winds in the Trees.” 9.32: Virtuoso String Quartet. "Theme and Variations—Emperor Quartet,” Op. 76, No. 3 (Hadyn). 9.36: Musical Society, "If Fortune had made Me the Master.” 9.40: Virtuoso String Quartet, "Dondonderry Air.” 9.44: Sea chanties, male members of the Wellington Orpheus Musical Society, “Clear the Track: Let the Bulgine Run,” "Hullaballo." 9.50: Musical Society, "Sleep, Gentle Lady." 9.54: 2YA Orchestrina, "Consolation,” "Turkish Patrol." 10.2: Close. 3YA, Christchurch (306 metres). 3.0: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children’s hour. 6.0: Dinner session. U.S. Army Band, “Army and Marine.” Piccadilly Orchestra, "The Waltz Dream.” Jack Hylton's Orchestra, "My Inspiration is You.” 6.15: Royal Opera Orchestra, "Sylvia Ballet—Prelude," and

“Intermezzo." Salon Orchestra, "Chanson Boheme." 6.30: Jack Hylton's Orchestra. “A Room with a View." Salon Orchestra, "Aloha, Sunset Land.” San Francisco Symphony Orchestra,

"Marche Militaire." 6.4 5 : Detroit Symphony Orchestra, "Spanish Rhapsody." Balalaika Orchestra, "Shining Moon.’* U.S. Army Band, "American Spirit." 7.0: News session. 7.15: Talk, Mr E. ,T. Bell, "Book Review.” 8.0: Woolston Band, "Sons of the Wild," "March of the Mannequins.” 8.11: Mezzo-soprano, Miss Khura HartStewart, "I Picture Thee a Flower,” "Wind in the Trees.” 8.17: Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, "Trio in D (Op. 352)—Allegro Moderato Andantino and Rondo” (Bohm). 8.27: Humorous recitation, Mr J. J. Flewellyn, “The Sleeping Beauty.” 8.32: Band, "La Traviata.” 8.42: Baritone, Mr A. Gladstone Brown, "Somestimes in Summer," "The Sea Gypsy.” 8.4 8: Organ, Eddie Dunstedter, "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” 8.51: Song, Miss Lottie Colville, "Laugh and Sing.” 8.55: Trombone, Bandsman E Williams, “Drinking.” 9.1: Weather report and announcements. 9.3: A 1 Goodman and his orchestra, "Follow Thru." 9.6’: Mezzo-soprano, Miss Khura Hart-Stew-art, "The Four-leaf Clover.” 9.10: Christchurch Broadcasting Trio. "Spring Song,” "Softly Awakes My Heart,” "Three Fours Valse.” 9.20: Humorous, sketch, Mr J. J. Flewellyn, "Papa and the Boy.” 9.25: Band, "Keel Row." 9.33: Baritone. Mr A. Gladstone Brown,

"Sons of the Sea." 9.37: Organ, Eddie Dunstedter, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life.” 9.40: Forbes Randolph’s Kentucky Jubilee Singers, "My Old Kentucky Home." . 9.43: Cornet, Bandsman R. Ohlsen, “Come, Sing to Me." 9.48: Songs, Miss Lottie Colville, “Spreading the News," "Always.” 9.54: Band, "Utah,” "The Mouse." Close. 4YA, Dunedin (461 metres). 3.0: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children’s hour. 6.0: Dinner session. 7.0: News session. 8.0: Salon Orchestra, “A May Day.” 8.9: Bass, Mr W. B. Lambert, "Muleteer of Malaga." 8.13: Recital, Mr D. E. Hall, "Buckingham’s Farewell.” 8.19: Salon Orchestra, “Menuet Pompadour," ‘Pizzicato.” 8.26: Mezzo-contralto, Miss Helen Roy, "The Turn of the Year,” “The Woodpecker." 8.33: Piano, Mr A. W. Pettitt, "Pierrette" (Ohaminade), "Danse Creole" (Chaminade). 8.40: Light Opera Company, vocal gems from "The Arcadians." 8.44: Violin and organ, Chas. Williams, "Melody in F” (Rubinstein). 8.48: Tenor, Mr R. A. Mitchell, "Angel of Light.” 8.52: Salon Orchestra, “Amorita.” 9.0: Weather report. 9.2: Bass, Mr W. B. Lambert, “Harlequin," "The Carol Singers.” 9.9: Salon Orchestra, Tango—"Joselita,” "Ballet Motif." 9.15: Recital, Mr D. E. Hall, "The Burial of Little Nell." 9.20: Cello, Mr Phil Palmer, "Humoreske.” 9.25: Mezzo-contralto, Miss Helen Roy, "We Wandered.” 9.29: Salon Orchestra, “Dance of the Hours." Light Opera Company, Gems from "Veronique." 9.37: Violin and organ, Chas. Wiliams, "Somewhere a Voice is Calling.” 9.45: Tenor, Mr R. A. Mitchell, "The Old Refrain." "The Land o’ the Leal." 9.51: Salon Orchestra, "The Dervishes," "Waves of the Danube.’ 10.0: Close. FOR TUESDAY. 3EC, Christchurch (250 metres). 10.0 a.m., women’s session: “Fragrant Rose,” Losev’s Orchestra. 10.5: Tested recipes—Stewed and stuffed steak, lemon sponge, cherry buns. 10.25: "Minuet in G” (Beethoven) and " Largo " (Handel), Joel Belov (violin); “ Morentia,” Margaret Namara (soprano): "Lullaby," Ernest Albert Couturier (cornet); "Pomp and Circumstance," Frederick Kinsley (organ); “ De Sandman" and "The Drum,” Criterion Quartet: "Honeymoon Waltz," Imperial Marimba Band; “Afterwards," Losey’s Quartet; "Air for the G string” (Bach), Joel Belov (violin); " L’Ardita,” Consuflo Escobar de Castro (soprano); “ Chasse aux papillions,” Wepert A. Moor (flute); "War March of the Priests,” Frederick Kinsley (organ); "Old Black Joe," Criterion Quartet; “ Manisot March,” Imperial Band. 11.30: Close down. 12.0 noon to 1.30 p.m.: News and luncheon music session. 2.50 to 4.30: Afternoon concert Session:—“Bridal Chorus and Introduction to third Act" ("Lohengrin ”), American Symphony Orchestra; " Asthore,” Merle Alcock (contralto); "Quartet in F major” (Dvorak), N.Y. Philharmonic String Quartet: " Bright Gleam of Hope ” and " Nymphes and Sylvains," Stella Power (soprano); " Humoreske ’’ (Dvorak), May A. Meyer (piano); "Oh, How I Miss You,” Rae Eleanor Ball (violin); “Die Allmacht,” Jacques Urlus (tenor); " Liebesfreud,” Sodero’s Band. 4.30: Close. 6.0: Children’s hour. 7: Wireless session, followed by news. 8.0; Evening concert session—" Dream Pantomime," Edison Symphony Orchestra"; " Vul-

can’s Song," Foster Why (basso); “ Le Cygne,” Herman Sandby (’cello); "Pas-tel-Minuet," Tollefsen Trio: "‘Patience’ Airs,” New York Light Opera Company; "Arabesque in G major,” Robert Schmitz (piano); “ Egyptia-Characteris-tie,” Peerless Orchestra; " Voice of the Mountain Land” and "The Clang of the Forge,” Arthur Middleton (bass); " Tannhauser ” (march), George Hamilton Green (xylophone); “ Angelia Mia,” Henrietta Kamern (organ); “ Ave Maria,” Marie Rappold (soprano); "On Wings of Song,” Vasa Prilioda (violin); " Dance of the Hours,” American Symphony Orchestra; “ Darling Nellie Gray," Metropolitan Quartet; "Greenwich Witch,” Ernest L. Stevens (piano); “ Sabre and Spurs,” New York Military Band. 9.30: Dance music. 10.15: Close down.