Listens In!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20167, 8 June 1928, Page 10

Listens In!

tAMKMMneMJWMWWWWWWWMMr JVW NOTES AND PROGRAMMES 1? (By "Detector.")

On Monday evening 2BL. Sydney relayed messages from the aeroplane Southern Cross, which is on its way to Australia from America.

Only 2YA, Wellington, has been free from atmospheric interference ?o far this week, but that does not mean to say that other stations have not been heard well.

2FC. Sydney, and 4JG. Brisbane, have easily been the best of the Australians this week.

We are still waiting definite word as to when the promised dinner orchestral music is to be put on the air.

Though South Africa has some broadcasting stations and amateur transmitters, there seems no possibility whatever of us being able to hear broadcast descriptions of the All Black matches, or even to get the results ahead of cable. South Africa is the most difficult spot in the world for us to receive radio messages from, and as far as is known, only once has any message been heard in New Zealand, and that wa<» in Morse.

Latest reports from Hawke’s Bay, say that 2YA is received badly there. Fading and mushiness are the main troubles. Taranaki have not got it on their own.

A fair warning of what may be expected in the near future as a result of the drop in licenses is contained in the latest number of the Broadcasting Company’s official organ. *1 he |■ ?• laments th? 20 per cent, drop in ces, as indeed we all do. but it throws the whole blame on the listeners. Naturally, ore supposes. An 1 just as naturally it says: “The loss of that revenue will inevitably react into the service given.” More writing on the wall is: *‘The company is exceeding the revenue provided by those who have so far renewed their licenses. 7 ’ evidently the paper is setting out to prepare listeners for some reduction in broadcast service, for whici listeners will also be asked to assume the blam?.

Christchurch will be the first City in the Dominion to have a modern high-powered short-wave transmitting station, broadcasting regular programmes during each week. The Governmert has granted a license to 3Z*3 (Home Recreations, Ltd.) to broadcast on a wave-length of 50 metres and a modern plant, with an output of 250 watts, will be installed almost immadiately. It is hoped to inaugurate a weekly Empire programme for overseas listeners, similar to those which have done so much to Australia known to all parts of the world.

The most satisfactory solution to the *'B” battery problem yet conceived is a rechargable wet Edison type of battery with a small trickle charger incorporated in the “B” unit. The Edison type of battery being almost indestructible should last in constant use quite a considerable number of years and all that is needed to keep the battery up is to plug into a heating or lighting point once a week for a few hours. When your dry “B’s” give out it will pay you to replace with this latest type. 90-volt blocks complete with charger cost £5 15s and 135volt blocks cost £7 7s. Thea? are clocked in Wanganui by D. A. Morrison and Co., the Radio People.*

A proposal by Station 3ZC to relay the morning service each Sunday, and two choral evensongs weekly, from the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral was considered at a special meeting of the Diocesan Standing Committee on Tuesday evening. The matter was referred to a special sub-committee to go fully into the matter anrl report to the next meeting of the Standing Committee.

The Japanese Department of Communications has allotted the following call signs and wave-lengths to tne six new 10-kilowatt broadcasting stations: Tokyo (Central. JOAK, 345 metres; Osaka, JOBK, 400 metres; Hiroshima. JOFK. 353 metres; Kumamoto, JOGK, 380 metres; Sendai. JOHN, 290 metres; Sapporo. JOIBr. 361 metres.

The Paris-Borrleaux express is the first train in France to be fitted with radio receivers for the entertainment of travellers.

A rariao station has been opened for traffic at Ruysseledc, Belgium, for the special purpose of communieating with ;he Congo State and with America.

Official announcement is made that direct radio communication is now available between Berlin and Constan* tinople, at moderate rates of fees.

A corporation with capital of 1.000.000 guldens has been formed in Holland for building and operating a short wave transmitting station of unusual capacity.

Mor© than two hundred vessels in the British mercantile marine have been equipped with apparatus for automaticaJlv receiving and announcing 5.0.8. calls.

Short-wave reception is fascinating—it is a never-ending source of interest. A local listener while enjoying an early morning cup of tea tuned in the Dutch station, PCJJ. The strength was quite as loud as Melbourne comes in During the afternoon the same listener picked up the New York station 2XAF quite equal in strength. Later in the evening the Russian short wave station RFM, came through in fine style, thus reaching around the world in one day. Other listeners can obtain similar results by using the short-wave adaptor now being introduced by Emmetts. Radio Specialists. Call at the “Sound Box.’’ 62 Victoria Avenue, they will be delighted to demonstrate this wonderful accessory which operates successfully with any make of set.*

A British chemist is reported to have discovered a metallic compound which, when applied to glass, renders it unbreakable. It is also said that attempts will be made to use it in construction of radio valves. Mars will Remain Silent. In accepting the Heaviside theory of wireless transmission, scientists have precluded the possibility of getting in touch with any of the planets through the medium of the radio waves now used. The Heaviside theory holds that there is a layer above the atmosphere impenetrable by ra/ito waves’" that deflects these waves back to the earth, and it is through the acceptances of this theory that scientists have accounted for the freakishness of the short-wave transmissions, whereby signals are heard over tremendous distances, but are inaudible a few miles from the sending point. The attempt to listen in for Martian signals was made this year just as it was made last year when the planet was comparatively close to the earth and nothing of scientific importance was expected to develop from the tests. The recent peculiar blanket that has smothered radio reception in the East has led to the experiments in most of the cases, it was said. The blanket has been attributed' both to the Aurora Borealis and to other unknown causes.

<: :t Tuning in 2FC on Wednesday night last one had a pleasant surprise to hear the announcement of solos by Dame Nellie Melba, who was singing : i. A couple of songs by t»e

famous u ; ra.'ian were heard splendidly. but interruptions to the land line over which the relay was being sent interfered with the transmission of the third.

Radio is far from stagnant in Australia just now. There have been amalgamations to the two big stations In Melbourne and in Sydney, and now 2GB, which is heard regularly here, has entered into occupation of a new studio, which will afford facilities for better and more ambitious broadcasting. At the last radio exhibition in Sydney the apparatus on display was worth over half a million.

A Taranaki listener reports that on May 23 he picked up an unknown station operating just above the wave of 2FC. He could not get the call sign, but just after 11 p.m. he caught these words: “Hello, mortals! This is ghostland.” and later, “I’ve been speaking to a man who has been dead since June.” Has anyone here heard this perpetrator of a weird practical joke!

PCJJ is making arrangements to relay descriptions of the forthcoming Olympic Games at Amsterdam. Thrs is good news for The short-wave fraternity, who will not mind remaining up through the small hours to follow the performances of the Australian and New Zealand- competitors.

Does radio affect the sale of timepieces'? Many listeners who write to 2BL give that impression, because they say, “We always depend on the G.P.O. chimes for our correct time—if you didn’t broadcast them we should have to buy a clock!”

Because of its formidable list of high quality features the Crosley Six has been hailed as the Tnest set yet produced. With one of these ’•emarkable instruments in the home the best programmes are always at your disposal—distance, volume and clearness are assured. Arrange for a demonstration from D. A. Morrison and Co. now.* Making Static Work.

That greatest nuisance of radio — static —is to be harnessed and put to work. The potential energy of the ether can be made to operate a miniature electric motor, according to C. F. Jenkins, who has made it do exactly that thing in his Washington laboratories. Mr Jenkins employs a spider-web coil connected to an aerial and ground to collect the energy required for his miniature motor. The speed of the motor varies with the amount of static electricity in the air, he admits, but insists that there is always sufficient to keep the motor moving as long as the apparatus is hooked up. Radio may find one of its most important functions in the harnessing of noisily wasteful energy, if continued experiments by Mr Jenkins now under way justify the enthusiasm aroused by early results.

NEV/ RADIO RULE TO DROP PERFORMERS’ NAMES IN FUTURE. In regard to the new form of announcing introduced at 3YA last week, the Broadcasting Company states: — “In response to many requests that the length of announcements should be reduced, the Broadcasting Company proposes in future to omit the names of the performing artists. This practice has been in force for some time now at 2YA, and is meeting with general approval. The full programmes with the name of the performer and the item to be rendered appear in the daily papers, so there would appear to be little need for announcing in full the names of both the artist and the piece to be performed, unless there has been an alteration in the programme and a new artist appears. “It has been suggested that the nonannouncement of the performer will add considerably to the interest of the programme. After the experiment at 2YA it is evident that this is so. and the Broadcasting Company is therefore extending the practice to the other stations. There is little doubt that the additional interest created will more than compensate for the small inconvenience which may be caused to a few people who may wish to know the names of the performers, and who may not have daily paper on hand.”