RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19075, 21 May 1930, Page 6

RADIO

(BY

“AERIAL.”)

NOTES AND NEWS.

Reception. Fairly good conditions all round ruled last night. Was too busy with correspondence to carry out much detailed searching. Not much static about. Reception of DX stations was very steady. Good volume mostly. The Popularity of Radio. Geneva, April 9: —The Office of the International Broadcasting Union at Geneva (Union Internationale de Radiodiffusion) has just published its annual diagram showing at a glance the relati\*e number of wireless listeners for each thousand of inhabitants in each of the European States where there exists a system of licenses. This discloses the position, as at December 31. 1929, to be as follows :—R\imania, 1.7: Italy, 2.06: Jugo-Slavia, 2.2; Lithuania, 4.5; Poland, 6.6: Irish Free State, 8.6: Estonia, 13.8; Latvia, 15.41; Czechoslovakia, 18.61; Switzerland, 24.16; Norway, 25.32; Finland, 26.27; Hungary, 30.77. Germany, 49.1; Austria, 56.26: Great Britain, 67.16; Sweden, 70.03; and Denmark, 87.93. A detailed examination of the diagram shows that Denmark has not only retained its place as the country in Europe having the highest proportion of listeners in relation to its population, but that it has even increased its lead over both Sweden and Great Britain which at the end of last year, as at the end of 1928. occupied respectively second and third places. There appears to be no doubt that the extremely high and praiseworthy figure of 57.93 wireless sets amongst each thousand persons—or roughly amongst each 250 homes, approximately one seL for each three homes throughotxt the entire country—is due in a small measure to the temporary reduction of the license fee agreed upon last autumn, but as the Danish proportion of listeners even at the end of 1928 still remains unpassed by other States other reasons for the peculiar popularity of broadcasting in Denmark must be sought. The nature of the terrain in Denmark js certainly favourable to broadcasting, but so it is elsewhere. It is probable that the clue is to be found in a combination of factors—favourable terrain, a consistently prosperous people, a familiarity with electrical apparatus due to a wide use of the ordinary telephone. and systematic efforts on the part of the broadcasting organisation to ascertain the opinions of all listeners on their tastes in programmes. Denmark is the only country* in the world which requests its listeners, when renewing their licenses, to express on the portion of the license form retained by tiie postal authorities their wishes (in terms of “more,” “less,”' or “content”) upon some twenty or thirty classes of programme material specially indicated. Each criticism received last year was examined by the Danish State statistical department and incorporated in an interesting analysis. _ The percentage of listeners in Denmark cannot be far short of a world’s record; unfortunately, as there is no licensing system in the United States of America—where one naturally-looks for the highest proportion—it is impossible to make a definite comparison.

TO-NIGHT’S CONCERTS.

N.Z. Stations. Details of to-day s broadcasts appeared in last night’s "Star.” This procedure has been adopted to meet the wishes of many out-back and West Coast listeners whose copy of the “Star” does not reach them until the day following publication here. Local listeners who follow the detailed programmes should either file the radio page or cut out the next day's programmes and file the cutting, after “the family” has read the paper. Following are some studio notes anent to-night’s concerts from both YA and A.B.C. stations—-just in case you’ve lost your copy of last night’s “Star”! The Auckland Artillery Band will supply the major part of this evening’s programme at IYA. Other instrumental items, and also vocal items will be given by the popular Ingall’s Hawaiians, the humour on the programme being introduced by Mr T. T. Garland. This evening’s programme at 3YA will be one of the finest of the week at the Christchurch station. Fewoperatic numbers are included. The vocalists will be the Salon Quartet. Their concerted numbers will Ix2 “’Tis the Last Rose of Summer” and Root’s “Laughing Chorus.” The programme will also include one of Mr Sydney Francis Iloben’s popular pianc-lecture-recitals. Further instrumental numbers will be provided by the Studio Octet under Mr Harold Beck, among the items being selections from "Lucia di Lammsrmoor.” Broadcasting from 4YA at 7.15 p.m. Mr A. Hamilton, M.P. will speak on “Operations of the Meat Control Board.” This talk will be relayed to and broadcast by 3YA as well. The concert programme at 4YA will be contributed by the Syncopaters (with vocal choruses to many of their items), Miss Olga E. Wynne (soprano), Mr Jack Clark (baritone), Mr B. Brown (Lauder songs) and Mr Angus Gorrie (who will give the final of his series of talks on “Poets Lost to England during the Great War”). Silent day at 2YA. Surely there can be no better contrast—no more interesting feature in a radio programme than the variety which “The Old” anil the “New” in entertainment can offer. Here at 2BL we have the "Veterans of Variety” in laughter and tears of former years, and then a bright hour contributed by “Newcomers,” artists who have not yet appeared on the air. C. Price Conigrave will tell of "Fishing in North Australia” at 10.30. Through 2FC service the programme will be taken from the .Sydney Town Hall —the concert arranged by the Professional Musicians’ Union, contributed by an orchestra of fifty-five members now out of emploj-ment. This presentation will be relayed by 3LO, Melbourne, and SCL, Adelaide. Now that the colder weather has set in, 4QG will, in response to listeners' suggestions, provide, another evening devoted mainly to dance music so that parties may be arranged in the homes., Ernest G. Mitchell and his Hotel Carlton Orchestra will provide the dance music, which will commence at ten o'clock, and careful co-operation between the Carlton Cabaret and 4QG will result in a continuous entertainment. Between dances vocal items will be broadcast from the studio.

An Appreciation. "1.5.8.” is thanked sincerely for his letter of appreciation of the notes in the radio columns of the “Star.” He made up an Edison wet “B” battery and charger according to the published instructions, and adds, referring to his three-valve set—a well and favourably known English receiver—“ Last Wednesday evening” (a couple of weeks ago) “connected up mv new wet ‘B’ battery using 135 volts with surprising results. Picked up stations on speaker I had never heard before, both Australian and New Zealand. The tone, also, has improved immensely, surpassing my utmost expectations. Thank you for being the primary cause of my success.” To “Eliminator”: (1) How about trying this method of biasing the R.F. stage in your four-valver: Connect the grid return of your first coil (together with the moving plates of the aerial tuning condenser) to “A” negative instead of “A” positive-—the normal connection—inserting a 500,000 ohm potentiometer in series with, say, a li to 4’} volt battery in the lead between the “A” negative wire and the grid coil return (and the moving plates). The potentiometer will act as a “safety-first” device to keep the bias down to the minimum. It is easy to increase the voltage to over by the insertion of other cells, of course. Connect the inserted bias battery in the usual way —-bias plus to “A” negative; bias negative to one terminal of pot.; sliding arm of pot. to the wire joining the A.T.C. and coil. This is pure theory —have never tried it. Will be glad to hear how you get on. (2) Yes, the high resistor is necessary as your R.F. stage calls for a max. of G7 h volte. (3) Not at all bad. Good hunting' In reply to your second letter: (1) 1 described a similar occurrence—recep tion of a broadcast being audible from a six-valve set without either ’phones or a speaker being connected-—in the ‘ Star” some two years ago. The signals were eventually traced to loose laminations in an audio-frequency transformer. acting in exactly the same way as the diaphragm in* a speaker or headphones! —“Aerial.” i° Grid Leak”: \es, you can obtain grid rectification still another way— by a method called "push-pull grid rectification.” Shortly :—2-volt valves give best results. A positive grid bias of about 2 volts is required. Two valves, side by side, are necessary. Connect the plates together and then connect a lead from this to the P. of the first A.F.T. Connect the grid of one valve to the plates of the tuning condenser (and one end of coil) ; connect the grid of the second valve to the moving plates of the coil denser (and the other end of the coil). Connect the “A” negative filament socket terminals and connect up with the A negative supply. Do the same with the positive terminals and the “A” positive supply, but through a rheostat. Insert a 2 volt bias battery connecting its negative to the wires joining the “A” positive terminals, on the valve sockets. Using two gridleak holders, place them end to end. Join them where they meet and take a lead to the positive of the bias batterv Jom the free end of one leak to the grid terminal of one valve socket and the free end of the other leak to the grid terminal of the second valve socket. Insert grid leaks of half a megohm each to start with. Higher values of leaks may give better results according to type of valve used. No grid condenser is required. This arrangement gives excellent results.— “Aerial.” RADIO PROGRAMMES. TOR THURSDAY. IYA, Auckland (333 Metres). 3.0: Afternoon session. 5.0 : Children’s programme. 6.0: Dinner music 7.0: Mr H. H. Driver, "Book Review." 7.15: News. 3.0: Mr Reg. Morgan and his orchestra, " Manteaux Noirs.” 8.10: Roosters Concert Party, " Y.M.C.A. Concert." 8.13: Saxophone, Mr E. Hoffman, " Sax-o-Lot.” 8.1 S : The Bohemian Duo, " Mahara Ki A-Au.” 8.26: Orchestra, "Beautiful Danube." 8.36: Baritone, Air Reg. Morgan. "Just Because the Violets." 8.40: Violin, MiFrank Parsons "The Rosary.” 5.45: Mr A. B. Chappell "Topical Talk." 9.0: Evening- forecast. 9.2: Foxtrots. "Laughing Marionette,” " Josie and Me.” 9.10; The Bohemian Duo, “ Hoki Tonu,” “Tahi Nei Tarn Kino.” 9.15: Serberling Players, “ A Japanese Sunset.” 9.21 : Trumpet, Mr R. Sprowi, “11 Bacio.” 9.26: Mr Reg. Morgan, "The Joy Bird.” 9.30: Dance programme, including:—Foxtrots, "Promise Me.” “ One Alone,” " I’m .Tust a Vagabond Lover” "Blue Rose of Spain,” "Some Sweet Day,” " Singing in the Rain." “ Your Mother and Mine," " I Kiss Your Hand, Madame,” “ Yo te Amo.” Waltzes: “ The Desert Song," " Stormy Weather Pal,” " The Merry Widow,” " My Loved One.” 2YA, Wellington. (416 Metres). 3.0: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children’s session. 6.0: Dimmer music session. 7.0: News session. 7.40: Lecturette, Miss Inez Connop, “ Ballroom Dancing." 8.0: Wellington Municipal Tramways Band, "Entry of the Gladiators” (Fucik). 8.6: Soprano, Miss Rita Hopkins, “Oh That I Might Retrace the Way.” 8.10: Novelty Orchestra, “Danse Bagatelle.” 8.13: Baritone, Jin Claude Moss, ** Keramos.” 8.17: Band, "Three Blind Alice" (Shipley Douglas). 8.24: Elocution, Miss Zena Jupp, "Scots of the lUverina.” 5.29: Tenor, Mr Lewis Campbell. " Siciliana,” "Son o’ Mine." 5.35: Novel tv Orchestra, “Ginger Snaps.” 8.38: Contralto, Miss Marjorie Bennie, "By (he Waters of Minnetonka," "Ships That Pass in the Night.” 8.44: Humour, Clarkson Rose, “My Austin Seven.” 5.47: Band, “ Chu Chin Chow ” (Norton). 9.0: Weather report. 9.2: Soprano, Miss Nita Hopkins, " Thou’rt Like a Lovely Flower,” "Thoughts.” 9.8: Duet, Barrington and Foster Richardson, "Genevieve,” "In the Valley Where the Blue Birds Sing." 9.14: Band, "The Vanished Arruy ” (Alford). 9.20: Humour, Miss Zena Jupp, “Education Made Agreeable.” 9.26: Baritone, Mr Claude Moss, "E Pari Ra.” 9.30: Band, " Floradora ” (Hewitt). 9.42: Contralto, Miss Marjorie Bennie, "Love’s Coronation.” 9.46: Violin, De Groot, "Cavatina” (Raff). 9.49: , Tenor, Mr Lewis Campbell, " The Last Watch." 9.33: Band, ” Ecstasy ' (Baynes), "Old Comrades" (Teike). 10.3: Close down. 3YA, Christchurch (306 Metre*). 3.0: Afternoon session. 4.25: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour. 6.0: Dinner session, Ketelbey’s Concert Orchestra, "In a Fairy Realm ’’ (Ketelbey). 6.15: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. " March of the Bojaren.” ’Cello, Gasper Cassado, "Melodic Arabe” (Glazounov). New Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra, "Wood Nymphs.” 6.30: New Queen's Hall Light Orchestra, " Summer Days Suite." 6.45: .T. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet, " Memories ot Mendelssohn." Columbia Svvnphonv Orchestra, “ Bridal Procession'” 7.0‘: News session. w 7.30: Talk, Mr O. \V. Banderson, "Sweet Peas.” 8.1: Victor Symphony Orchestra, " Dance of the Hours.” 8.9: Melodious Four, "O Maiden Dearest.” Contralto, Miss Belle Renaut. "Caro Mio Ben.” 8.15: Piano. Wilhelm Backhaus, " Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” (Liszt). 8.23: Baritone, Mr T. D. Williams, " The Erl King." 5.27: Studio Instrumental Octet, "Grand March.” "Nocturne” (Chopin). 8.87: Melodious Duo, " Dear Love of Aline ” 8.40: Sketch, Mr Alan W. Brown, "The Fallen Star.” 8.45: Organ, Arthur Meale, "March on a Theme of Handel." "The Pilgrim's Song of Hops.” 8.53: Tenor, Air Russell Sumner, "All Hail, Thou Dwelling.” ,8.57: Soprano, Miss Frances Hamerton, "Waltz Song.” 9.1: Weather report. 9.3: Studio Instrumental Octet, " To a Wild Rose,” " Will o' the Wisp,” " From an Indian Lodge,” "To a Water Lily.” 9.12: The Melodious Four, “ Evening Has Lost Her Throne.” Conlvalto, Albs Belle IVn-

aut, “ Sapphic Ode,’* “ Woodland Thoughts.” 9.19: Studio Instrumental Octet, "Pas de Amphores (Cnaminade), “ Mazurka ” (Saint-Saens). 9.27: Baritone, Mr T. 13. Williams, ** The Bird of Passage," “ Slow, Horses, Slow.” 9.31: Sketches, Mr Alan W. Brown, "Delightful People,” "Exaggeration.” 9.34: Tenor, Mr Bussell Sumner, "Down Her Soft Cheek.” 9.38: Studio Instrumental Octet. " Intermezzo.” 9.42: The Melody Duo, "Night Hymn at Sea." Soprano, Miss Frances Humerton, " Skylark and Nightingale.” "Your Brother has a Falcon.” 9.45: Kiriloff’s Balalaika Orchestra, “ Shining Moon.” 9.51: The Melodious Four, " O Peaceful Night.” 9 54: Studio Instrumental Octet, “ Ballot Music from ‘L* Cid ” (Massenet). Close. 10.0 a.m.: Women’s session. Overture, “ Der Freischutz” (Weber), American Symphony Orchestra. 10. S: Tested recipes. 10.23: “ Rondo-Sonate in G/’ Maurice Marechal (’cello) ; " O (contralto); “ Cara-Memorla,” Franz Falkenburg (piano); "Coconut Dance,” Fred Van Eps (banjo); "Funiculi Funicula,” Guido Ciccolini (tenor); “Spirit of America,” New York Military Band; " Px-iere,” Maurice Marechal (‘cello;; “Fierce Flames Are Soaring.” Cvrena \an Gordon (contralto); " Marie Nocturne,” Franz Falkenburg (piano)- “ Chinese Picnic and Oriental Dance ” re^, Van EjJfr (banjo). 11.0; Dr H. T. •J- Thacker will give a short talk on "Whitlows” (Poisoned Fingers); followed by " Dor mi Pure.” Thomas Chalmers (baritone); “Naval Reserve March.” 11.30: Close down. 12.0 noon to 1.30 p.m.. News and luncheon music session. Close down. Silent day. 2FC A Sydney (4olm.): 9.30 p.m. to 1.0 a.m., 2FC presents the fifth entrant in tne Radio Choral Competition, the Ilurls tone Park Choral Society. The Garrick Players have collaborated in Oscar Wilde’s “A Florentine Tragedy." In lighter vein Dos Tooley, the girl with the unusual voice, will sing papulall' numbers, and Jock Herron and his Brass Quartet are including in their programme " Rossini,” by Rimnier, and “ Bucia ” (Donizetti). Danco musicwill be taken from the Hotel Australia. 2P»1,. Sydney (353 m.): 9.30 p.m. to midnight—To-night Oliver King is appearing in association with the Studio Orchestra in an interesting musical presentation of Scottish songs. There are sketches by Bert Gilbert and Dodi Wolfe; Ray and Rex are busy with new violin and mello-piano numbers. Fred Bluett introduces a refreshing- note of comedy, and Paula and Pierre are introducing novelty piano solos and bright popular songs. At II.S Francis Jackson will give a talk. 4QG, Brisbane (395 m.): 9.30 p.m. to 32 30 a.m.—A studio programme by artists who have not hitherto appeared before the microphone. Dance music will be relayed from the Troeadero from 11.40. At 11.10 there will be a talk on “ Bridge,” by " Horatius.”