Listen In!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19989, 4 November 1927, Page 10

Listen In!

V NOTES AND PROGRAMMES T (By “DtiTitt.’*)

Carnival Week. Christchurch Carnival Week op>‘no on Saturday, and 3YA has made special arrangements for providing entertainment and broadcasting all the attract.‘ons. Descriptions of the raring will be given by Mr A. R. Allardyce. On Saturday and Tuesday listeners will hear more than raring. They will hear all about the people on the lawn—who they are and what they wear. The dresses will be described by a lady announcer. A novelty in the way of an early morning session will be in vogue during Carnival Week, when from 8 a.m. to 8.30 o'clock news, and a lot of useful information will be broadcast. In keeping with the breakfast-time session, a dinner session of music is also bring instituted. This will last from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. For this week the children’s sessions will begin at 5.30 p.m. Every evening the sporting announcer will give a short talk on the next day’s racing. The evening concert sessions will, for the week, depart from the usual procedure at 3YA. and every programme will be in keeping with the spirit of the carnival, when no oce is supposed to be seriously minded. There will be no silent day. Three long dance night programmes are to be broadcast during the week and some of the brightest and most engaging talent has been secured for every evening of the week. The urogrammes will be of a very varied nature. Reception on Tuesday evening was very fair indeed, most of the main Australian stations being heard to advantage despite th? background of static. The New Zealand stations IYA and ' 2YA came in well, especially Wellington, though the tune could have been < improved uporu The Californian station, KFON. also ■ came through well at times at fairly! good strength. There was not much ■ interference though distortion was fre-! quent. The station closed down at 7.40 pan. New Zealand time, with the ■ usual good-night for listeners in this country. The result of the Melbourne Cup was Known in Wanganui a few seconds after the race was over. The wireless broadcast was picked up by the Rev. Abbey and Mr D. Wilkinson on their shortwave sets, and through their courtesy the “Chronicle” were able to post the result in their office at once. The ether has been pointed during past few nights by the ‘‘king” of nowlers. Could he not be tracked down and given a few lessons on the ‘‘working of a wireless receiver?*’ Listening-in was not worth while on Wednesday night, static being too severe, and Wellington being silent made matters worse. IYA, Auckland and 3YA, <Christhurch, would have been excellent but br the noise, both stations coming through at good strength, and with very little fading. 2FC, and 2BL, Sydney were the best of the Aussies. Both were at exceptional volume, and they seemed to have good programmes. But the night was a “dirty” one. Tried these stations later in the evening—static not so severe. 3LO Melbourne and 2GB, Sydney, were very fair. 3AR, Melbourne was weak; 7ZL Hobart, was barely audible; 4QG. Brisbane, came in well between severe spells of static and fading. There was too much noise down beluw 300 metres so did not trouble the other stations. The Balkite “A” Battery Trickle Charger entirely eliminates the worry of wondering whether the “A” battery is up to strength, and does away completely with the necessity of carrying the battery to a charging station. Once connected to your “A” battery the Balkite Trickle Charger will automatically keep your battery at full power. It is noiseless in operation, so that it may be used during the operation of the set. It operates at extremely low cost. Morrison 2nd Co. are the agents. Those interested in reception of American broadcast stations will be interested to know that “summer-time” terminated in the United States on September 25. Daylight saving win resume exactly six months after that data Australian broadcasting stations are not allowed as a general rule to send over the air straight-out messages to individuals. Exceptions are sometimes made, however, as in a case which came trader notice this week. A man living away up in the bush came to Sydney to undergo a serious operation. His family are beyond reach of telegraph, and it takes four days for a letter to reach, be home. In these circumstances the rwfio inspector readily agreed to station 2BL sending “a bulletin” every day as to his progress to his friends in the country. Eeprodueing the full musical scale a cone speaker with ample volume and exceptionally fine tone quality. On a Single Tuning Control Set. Emmett’s, ©f Victoria Avenue, are demonstrating the finest Radio Set on the market today. It is a “Gilfillan.” Six valves are used including a power valve. The three radio stages are enclosed in separate metal shielding which gives the highest degree of selectivity, clear reproduction, and purest tone quality. The cabinet is hand carved brown mahogany with a handsome satin finish of a very attractive design. The careful workmanship and the special features give a purchaser a radio outfit that will repay him with many years of keen enjoyment.* • - •<

A radio valve large enough to hold a tail man now operates in the transmitter of the American station W..T.Z. It is seven and a-half feet high, weighs 100 pounds and has a power of 100.000 watts. Telephoning the Radio. The Post and Telegraph is out to put a stop of community radio, where the telephone is the connecting link. Not, of course, with any idea of forcing people to instal their own receivers, nor (most decidedly) with the idea, of popularising radio, but apparently because —it must be surm-sed—party-lin-ers run down their batteries unduly while listening to other subscribers’ radio receivers. It is said that battery maintenance has increased tremendously since radio reception became fairly general. Evidently the revenue derived from the license fees does not recompense the department. The Gilfillan Neutrodyne Broadcast Receivers are the standard of quality throughout the world and due to their extreme efficiency, combined with great simplicity of operation and attractive appearance, are undoubtedly the best known and most popular receiver on the New Zealand market. Enthusiastic appreciation of the performance of the Gilfillan Neutrodyne Receivers is daily being expressed all over the Dominion. A Gilfillan Neutrodyne is properly constructed and adjusted so that under no circumstances can it howl or squeal, causing trouble to the user and to his neighbour. In addition, it possesses a higher degree of selectivity than other types. It is extremely sensitive and the quality of its reproduction of sound is unusually fine. Emmett’s, Radio Specialists, 62 Victoria Avenue, Wanganui.* A Substitute for •‘Listener-In.” This subject is receiving attention in England just now. In New Zealand the term is nowadays generally shortened to 41 Listener. ” One alternative suggested to the 8.8. C. is “Radie-nt,” which would lend itself to the com-munity-form “Radience.” “Etherite” is another suggestion, while “Badiomer” is also favoured as being more harmonious. More Television. M. Denes von Mlhaly. the Hungarian experimenter, has stated that he intends to form a company in London for the development of his system of television. He hopes to produce television receivers at a cost of about £2O each. Empire Broadcasting. Mr Gerald Marcuse (G2NM) has now received official sanction from the G.P.O. for his experimental venture in bradcasting to the British Empire, says a London message of August 17. He is, we understand, now authorised to transmit speech and music for a period not exceeding six months from September 1, the power not to exceed Ikw and on wavelengths of 23 and 33 metres. Continuous transmission is not allowed on more than three days a week, and must not exceed two hours on each occasion. Ultra-modern Music. A story from Cincinnati relates how in the days when broadcast stations were liable to jam one another, the song of a star tenor broadcast from New York was intermingled with a piano solo from a local station. Musical 1 ‘ highbrows, ” however, accepted the combination gladly, imagining that the Cincinnati pianist was playing the correct accompaniment to the tenor,'s song, and were ravished with this masterly example of polytonality. Radio in Danish Schools. Denmark will equip its schools with radio equipment, as the result of negotiations between the national department of education and the radio control board. Radio instruction, it is announced, will be made part of the regular curriculum in the schools. Short Waves Best. Because static prevails about the Canary Islands, the U.B. consular service reports, it is found that the shortwave broadcasts from Europe and America give the best reception on home-made sets. This has aroused much interest in this type of receiver. There are several types of special detector valves on the market, and it is interesting to note that these revert to a very early valve principle—that of filling the instrument with gas. These new (?) detector valves are remarkably sensitive, but suffer the drawback of being a little noisy in action, though the characteristic hiss of ‘ soft, ’ valves is not offensive. This reversion to oldtime practice is very interesting, as the first practical valves were “soft,” and there are many engineers who are still of opinion that the old valves have not yet been surpassed for certain work. The gas-filled valve is conspicuous as the glass is quite clear. It may be stated fairly that the entire structure of modern broadcasting both of transmission and reception, has for its foundation the vacuum valve, and it is interesting to note that, basically, the principles on which the latest valves operate, have remained unaltered during twenty years.

35,000 LICENSEES

FIGURES FOR OCTOBER. The secretary of the Post Office advises that the number of wireless re eeiving licenses received up to the end 'of October is as follows: Auckland .. .. .. 12,645 I Canterbury .. .. .. .. . . 7,184 I Otago 1.965 Wellington ~ 11,753 Total .. .. •• . • .. 33,547 Radio Dealers. Auckland .. .. .« .. .. .. 473 Canterbury .. .. . . . .. .. 284 Otago .. .. .. .. .... .. 166 Wellington .. »• «• .. .. 724 Total 1,647 Transmitting licenses . • .. 128 Grand Total .. ♦. 35,322 RADIO SIGNALS HIGH TRANSMISSION SPEED. Radio communication, says an English scientific journal, is proving of great value to isolated communities on various parts of the earth’s surface. For example, the lonely Farsan Islands in the Red Sea, which are about 400 miles north of Adon and the same distance south-east of Port Sudan, are being examined for oil by the Red Sea Petroleum Company. The prospectors are equipped with an ordinary Marconi ship’s transmitter. Through the neighbouring ports, ‘or through any of the large number of ships within radio range passing up and down the Rod Sea, they can easily link up with main telegraph circuits, and also secure, i? necessary, medical advice and other as- ; sistance. The new short-wave beam stations enable news to be tran?m-tted to the Dominions much more rapidly than by ordinary radio services. Last year it took 60 seconds to transmit the name of the winner of the Derby to the Melbourne central telegraph office. This year the name of the winner was transmitted in three seconds, and in 14 seconds after the finish of the race the full result was known in all the principal newspaper offices in Australia. This result was equalled on Budget day this year, only a few days after the beam stations had been handed over to the General Post Office. A thirteen-word “empiradio” message, giving the first news of the Budget, was transmitted to Australia in 30 seconds. DUTCH BROADCASTING DETAILS OF PCJJ STATION. Although the Dutch short-wave 1 broad-casting station PCJJ has been on I the air for only six months, it has be- ■ come one of the most famous wireless ; stations in the world. For about three I years previous to broadcasting however, j intensive experiments were being con- ! ducted into the development of a highpowered, short. - wave transmitter. Water-cooled valves dissipating high i powers had to be developed, and these . were tested in a transmitter of about 250 kilowatts connected to a “ dummy ’ ’ ;terial. The station is about 40 times as powerful as 2YA. The actual broadcast transmitter was ifnished on March 110 of this year, and it was tested on j March IL The transmitter at PCJJ includes elaborate apparatus for ensuring that the wave-length remains absolutely [ steady. Every listener who has heard j the station will know that the tuning 1 is extremely critical, and, if there was any tendency for the wave-length to vary or “swing.” it is clear the station would alternately be in and out of tune with the receiver. To ensure that the wave-length does remain stable, an instrument which is identical in principle with the tuning-fork of the musician is employed. This consists of a very thin plate of quartz, about the size of a shilling, and about the same thickness. It is placed between two carefully ground copper discs of the size of the quartz plate, and the two discs are connected to an elaborate series of valves. The quartz disc vibrates mechanically just as the prongs of a tuning-fork do, and in vibrating it produces electric currents. The frequency of the vibration of the quartz plate is extremely high, however. It makes nearly 2,000,000 complete -vibrations a second, and each of these produces an electric surge in the valves to which the plate is connected. Even these 2,000,000 electric surges a second are not sufficient to produce the 30.2 1 metre wave used by the station, but by using the fifth harmonic, they are multiplied to approximately 10,000,000 surges to be impressed on the aerial. The aerial at PCJJ is extraordinarily simple. It consists of a single, fairly fine wire, supported by a wooden mast j only 60ft. high. It is interesting to compare this with the great 800 ft. towers employed by the giant British transatlantic wireless telephone station at Rugby.

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES ALL N.Z. STATIONS ON THE AIR IYA. AUCKLAND. (333 Metres). 3 t 04.30 p.m.: Afternoon session— Selected Studio items. 6.30: Children’s session. 7.15: News and information. 7.30 to 7.45: Talk on “Motoring,” by Afr Geo. Campbell. 8.0: Chimes. 8.1: Relay of overture from Strand Theatre —Eve Bentley, conducting. 8.13: Vocal—The Asquiths, thirty minutes’ drawing-room entertainment. 8.43: Flute solos—Mr Les Rainger, (a) selection of Gilbert and Sullivan airs; (b) “Serenade,” “Le Millions (I’Harlequin,” Drigo. 8.52: Vocal —Mr Culford Bell, literary selections. 8.58: Baritone solo—Mr James Hutton. “The Fishermen of England,” Phillips. 9.4: Weather report. 9.5: Soprano solos Miss Ida Holmes, (a) “If We Sailed Away,” Phillip; (b) “Waves,” Phillip. 9.13: Orchestral selections—St. Andrew’s Society Orchestra., (a) “March Clarion,” Fulton; (b) “Southern Melodies,” Bowman. 9.28: Flute solo—Mr L. Rainger, “Graceful Dance,” Lemmone. 9.33: Baritone solos —Air J. Hutton (a) “The Lark in the Clear Air,” Lehmann; (b) “Arise, O Sun,” Day. 9.41: Soprano solo—Miss L Holmes, “Nighfall at Sea,” Phillips. 9.45: Orchestral selections—St. Andrew’s Society Orchestra, (a) “Dainty Princess’ Court Dance,” Fulton; (b) “Gems of Erin,” Bowman, 10.0: A thought. 10.1: Close down. 2 YA, WELLINGTON. (420 Metres). 3 p.m.: Gramophone recital. 3.30: Sporting results to hand. 3.31: Lecturette Miss Marion Christian, ‘ ‘ Gas Cooking. ’ ’ 3.46: Gramophone recital and relay of Manuel Hyman’s Exhibition Band from the Adelphi Cabaret. 4.59: Sporting results to hand.

6.0: Children’s hour —Uncle Ernest find pupils of Berhampore School. Two part-songs, “A Lullaby,” 4 ‘Oh, Blessed Night”; songs by school children, “Lullaby,” “Down the Hillside Softly Stealing”; followed by piano solo, stories, recitations, and choruses.

7.0: News session and market reports. 8.0: Crimes of the General Post Office clock, Wellington.

8.1: Overture. 8.6: Quartet —The Celeste Quartet, “Light as Air” (Faust), Gounod (Boosey). 8.10: Cornet —Mr N. Peez, “Star of England,” Farrell (Boosey). 8:15 Elocution —Miss Edna Purdie, ‘ * Laughs. ’ ’ 8.19: Instrumental —Symons-Ellwood-Short Trio, “Molto Allegro” (First Movement, D Minor, Trio), Mendelssohn (Litolf). 8:28: Dramatic Soprano—Madame Winnie Fraser, (a) “Undying Love” (Brahms); (b) “At the Mid Hour of Night” (Cowen). 8.32: Piano—Mr Gordon Short, “Ballade,” Reinecke (Senff). 8.40: Baritone —Mr Wm. Boardman, “Tn Rushy Beds of Silver Nile,” Balfe (Boosey). 8.44: Flute —Mr W. J. Tasker, (a) “Scesa Dal Ciel.” Donizetti-Clinton; (b) “Love’s Dream after the Ball,” Czibulka (Wagner). 8.49: Contralto —Miss Mabel Dyer, “The Sweetest Flower that Blows,” Hawley (John Church).

8.53: Vocal Duet —Mr W. Boardman and Miss Alyra Sawyer. “A Paradiso for Two” (Maid of the Mountains). 8.57: W eather report. 8.58: Lecturette —Editor-Announcer, “Imperial Affairs.” 8.13: Tenor —Mr Edgar Swain, “La Donna I Mobile,” Verdi (Ricordi and Co.).

9.17: Quartet —The Celeste Quartet, “As Torrents in Sammer,” Elgar (Novello). 9221: Cornet—Mr N. Peez, “My Task,” Ashford (Fred Harris). 9.25: Elocution —Miss Edna Purdie, “Listening In,” Rutherford. 9.29: Instrumental —Symons-EUwood-Short Trio, “Andante,” Schubert. 9.38: Dramatic soprano—Madame Winnie Fraser, (a) “The Vesper Hymn” (Flora Woodman); (b) “Lauretta’s Aria” (Puccini). 9.42: Piano—Mr Gordon Short, “Gavotte,” d’Albert (Bote and Bock). 9.47: Baritone—Mr Wm. Boardman, “A Jovial Monk, Am I,” Andrian. 9.51: Flute —Mr W. J. Tasker, “Dream of the Tyrolean.” Labitzky (Wagner). 9.56: Tenor—Afr Edgar Swain, “’Tis the Day,” Leoncavallo (Ricordi). 10.0: Quartet —The Celeste Quartet, “Dame Darden,” Harrington (Chappell). BYA, CHRISTCHURCH. (JOG Metres). 3 p.m.: Afternoon concert session., 7.15: News and reports. 7.30: Talk —Mr G. N. Valentine, “Short History of Petroleum.” 7.45: Cup prospects. 8.0: Chimes. Belay of orchestral selections from Grand Picture Theatre Orchestra, under conductorship of Mrs Black. 8.15: Contralto Solo —Miss Alice Vinsen, “My Dear Soul,” Sanderson. 8.19: Tenor solo—Mr W. Bradshaw, “The Irish Emigrant,” Barker. 8.23: ’Cello solos —Mr Harold Beck, (a) “Barcarolle,” Stitt; (b) “Russian Dance,” traditional. 8.31: Comic solo—Mr C. O’Connor, “Looking at the World Through RoseColoured Glasses,” Steiger. 8.36: Contralto solo —Afiss Alice Vinsen, “Till I Awake,” Finden. 8.40: Tenor solo —Air W. Bradshaw. “Ever for Thee I’m Fondly Dreaming,” Hall. 8.44: Instrumental trio— Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, “Andante and March Alla Turka” from Trio, Op. 352 (Bohm). 5.52: Comic solo —Mr C. O’Connor, /‘When the Red, Red Robin,” Woods. ! 8.56: Contralto so?o —Miss Alice Vinsen, “Harbour Night Song,*’ Sanderson. 9.0: Relay from Grand Picture | Theatre. 9.15: Talk—Rev. J. Robertson, 8.A., “‘Romance of Australian Explora- , tions ’ ’ 9.35: Tenor solo—Mr W. Bradshaw “Ailsa Mine,” Newton. 9.40: ’Cello solo —Mr Harold Bee' “La Danza. ” Rossini. 9.46: Comic solo —Mr C. O’Conn:“Bye, Bye Blackbird,” Hendersor- ! 9.48: Instrumental trio— Chri | church Broadcasting Trio, “O, Star 0 Eve,” Wagner.

9.35: Contralto solo—Miss Alice Vinsen, “Caller Herrin,’’ Sloper. 9.57: Tenor solo—Air W. Bradshaw, “Roses,” Adams. 10.1: Comic solo—Air C. O’Connor, “To-night’s Afy Night with Baby,’* Buttemutb. 10.5: Instrumental trios—Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, "'To a /Fairy Boat,” Hope; (b) “HumorI esque, ” Vidor. 10.15: Close down. 4 YA. DUNEDIN. (463 Metres). 3 p.m.: Town Hall chimes. 3.1: His Master’s Voice Recital. 3.16: Afternoon tea music, relay 3.31: Studio music. 4.0: Alusic from the Savoy. 4.15: His Master’s Voice recital. 4.30: Close down. 7 p.m.: Town Holl chimes. 7.1: Children’s session—Big Brother Bill. 7.45: News and market reports. 1 8.0: Town Hall chimes. 8.1: Baritone solos—Mr J. Clarke (a) “Myself When Young,” Lehmann; (b) “The Pirate King,’’ Sullivan. 8.8: Pianoforte solos —Miss Myrtle ; Bills, (a) “The Silver King,” Chamin- j ade; (b) “I came to Your Garden,’’) Kent. 8.19: Violin solo—Mr A. Roberts, “Cavatina,” Raff. 8.23: Pianoforte solos—Mr J. Clarke, (a) “When the Sergeant-Major’s on Parade”; (b) selected. 8.30: Pianoforte solo—Afiss Rita Holmes, selected. 8.35: Soprano solo —Miss Myrtle Bills, (a) “A Bowl of Boses,” Clarke; (b) “My Heart is Sair for Somebody. ’ ’ 8.42: Violin A. Roberts, selected. 8.45: Address —Afr W. B. Steel, secretary Otago Expansion League, “Southern Tourist Resorts.” 9.0: Dance music, relayed from the 1 Savoy. 10.0: Close down. 4QG, BRISBANE. (385 Metres), fi.O p.m.: Daily Standard news; announcements. 6.15: Lecturette: “Astronomy, Shooting Stars and from Whence They come.’’ 6.30 p.m.: The children's hour—stories by

“Thu Sandman.” 7.0: Special news service; market reports; stock reports. 7.30: Weather news; announcements. 7.45: Lecturette—“A Queenslander’s Impressions of Rural Europe.” 7.43: Standard time signal. 8.0 : Studio concert. 10.30: Close down, 2FC. SYDNEY. (442 luetrea). K. 45 p.m.: Children’s Muion. 5.50 : Dinner muatic. 7.15: Weather reports; latest spert inform*, tion; Evening News service; programnao a*« noaaeements. 8.0: Studio concert. 10.45: Dance music from Wentworth Cafe. 11.30: Close down. IBL, SYDNEY. (553 Metres). 5.50 : Dinner xnurie. 7.0 : Chimes. Sportina and athletie n«s : weather information; market and stock re-