THE LISTENER-IN

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3044, 26 August 1933, Page 3

THE LISTENER-IN

RADIO' TOPICS OF THE MOMENT. The DX Cup. Tlic DX Cup for the past six months has changed hands, the winner being Mr J. E. Downes, of Dunedin, with a phenomenal log of 41(5 station, 50 more than the previous winners. The run-ner-up, Mr Cowlisliaw, of Palmerston North, had a log of $B.l stations, while several other competitors had logs of over 300.

One Fly-power. A receiving set at a distance of a few hundred miles from a transmitting station of 50 kilowatts will receive about as much power as a fly would require to crawl up a wall at, the rate of two feet per minute, this being estimated as, roughly, a hundred-miliion-millionth of the power sent out by the broadcasting station.

An Elaborate Earth. Those who cannot bo bothered with installing an elaborate' earthing system are now able to obtain an English device which would suit their needs. It is a copper container filled with a highly hydroscopic chemical which percolates through holes drilled in the container and spreads around the surrounding earth for several feet, at-

tractirig moisture from nearby, soil and thus ensuring a permanently moistened earth connection.

Texan Radio Outlaws. Texas is the land of wireless outlaws. According to the American Federal Radio Commission there are at least sixty unlicensed broadcasting stations in the United States, arid half are reported to be in Texas, with Pennsylvania a good second. Many of the stations are on very low power, and it is even believed that in some cases their owners aro unaware of the regulations. But ignorance is no excuse, and the Eadio Commission, armed with seven high-precision receiving sets and four recording units, intends to wipe out the outlaws and police the wave-lengths more thoroughly.

! The Super-Midget. One of the newest features of sets in America is the Cigar Box or Per- ! sonal Eccciver. These are tiny sets, generally of four inches and rectifier, with self-contained dynamic speaker, the dial and earth system utilising the mains. They have no power transfor- ■ mers of any description. The filaments ; are wired in series from the mains , through a voltage deep resister and the i high tension is supplied by one of the > new indirectly heated rectifiers, the ■ filaments of which are also in scries • with the other valves. The output is generally one to one and a-half w r atts so that good quality is assured. These sets are in a variety of cabinets mostly designed to camouflage the fact that it is a radio. They take the form of rading lamps, etc., some being screwed under tables or put into cupboards. Chinese Programmes. The inauguration of the powerful station at has placed China in possession of a regular broadcasting service. It is interesting to examine {he items on a Chinese programme, since they reflect the very divided character of modern Chinese civilisation (says Philips Eadio- Press). In the programme of Nanking we find ancient and modern China side by side: Asia along with Europe. In the morning the station broadcasts gymnastics, sporting events, and gramophone records of European dance orchestras, interspersed with news items, weather forecasts etc. Toward mid-day, however, the aspect of the programme changes completely; there come ancient Chinese prayers, the texts of which are thousands of years old, and Chinese music dating back to an equally remote antiquity. During the remaining hours of the afternoon the programme is devoted to instruction and education, e.g., talks on hygiene and medical hints for everybody, there being a great shortage of doctors in China. Furthermore, there are agricultural lectures for farmers, and, last but not least, lessons in foreign languages. It is the wish of the Chinese Government that the modern Chinaman be acquainted with at least one foreign language, for which reason English and German lessons are given for half an hour daily. At night the programme is devoted to Chinese and European art, besides which political lectures arc given by the Government itself. There are frequent reports of events. Moreover, the performances in the Chinese and European theatres at Nanking are often broadcast. Some time ago, on a Chinese holiday, the divine serviee in an old Chinese temple was broadcast, and half an hour after came dance music from a band .in one of the 'Nanking hotels. According i to the Chinese programme manager, this

medley of programme is necessary itt order that broadcasting may ha,V& something to offer ,to every section e£ the population.