NOTES AND PROGRAMMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 427, 19 November 1930, Page 10

NOTES AND PROGRAMMES

(Bn '

"Detector.")

IYA Changes Wavelength. IYA, Auckland has been much improved of late but is handicapped by being down in the “noise area” of power lines, etc. This station, by the way, has altered its wave-length from

.333 metres to 329 metres, or from 900 to 910 kilocycles. This change has been carried out with the consent of the P. and T. Department to counteract the interference caused by Kill heterodyning IYA. The shift has had the desired effect. Conversations Unintelligible. Those listeners who have been in the habit of evesdropping on the LondonAustralia public radio-telephone service have lately found the conversations unintelligible. A now system has been introduced which mutilates the speech as it leaves the short-wave transmitter, and reassembles at the receiving end, thus ensuring much-desired privacy. A Bad Night. So far this spring static has been fairly quiet, but on Friday night of last week a veritable tempest raged so that listening to “outside” stations was intolerable. The average beginner is loth to shut down on such a night, but he will save the life of his valves not a little by cutting out long-distance reception when static is severe. The King’s Speech.

Of the four New Zealand stations which rebroadcasted the King’s speech through GSSW, Chelmsford, England. 3YA, Christchurch was the only one successful to any degree, atmospheric conditions spoiling the others. From

3YA there was hardly any sound of atmospheric disturbance, only the light, but rapid fading which is characteristic of short-wave reception. His Majesty’s speech “came through” fairly well, his voice, sounding more robust than his

severe illness of some little time ago led one to expect would be the case. The short, speeches of the Indian Princes proposing and seconding Mr Ramsay MacDonald for the Conference Chairmanship were also fairly clear, but. none were quite so distinctly heard as the speeches of the British Prime Minister and of those following him. Mr MacDonald ’s is a very good radio voice and, although he is a rapid speaker, his enunciation is so good that it was easy to follow his every word. Some Aerial. Americans dearly love height. The mast for the new 50 kilowatt transmitter WABC, New Jersey, will tower 660 ft. above the ground. Television. Some experts estimate that, practical television will not. be available for at least five years. Others, more optimistic, assert that it will only be a matter of a few months before television receivers are installed in the home. New Short Wave Programme. The Eindhoven transmitter (PCJ) has begun, states a report just to hand, to transmit a programme on Wednesdays, from five to nine o’clock in th? evening. This transmission has been added to the existing schedule for the especial benefit of listeners in the British colonies in the East, as well as for short-wave enthusiasts in the United Kingdom and in Central Europe. The times given above correspond to approximately 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.. Thursdays, N.Z. Summer Time. New Schedule for IZQ. Arrangements have been made by the Auckland B station IZQ. conducted by Mr Roy Keith, to change its locality from Mount Albert to Karangahape Road. The change will be made this week, when IZQ will be on the air daily. Afternoon sessions will be given, while it is proposed next month to broadcast in the mornings. The wavelength will be 252 metres, the power being 50 watts. “Wired Wireless.” Wired wireless seems to be growing in popularity in England, and it is understood that- the type of installation whereby a subscriber is able to receive the broadcast programmes by telephone line from a master receiver operated at a central receiving station is gaining more and more attention. On June 30 last there were 56 licensed private radio exchanges in England, with roughtly 12,172 subscribers.

Schedule for Christmas. It is reported that IYA will be on the air daily from mid-day from December 14 to December 24. There will he no “silent” night during that period. Canberra on the Air. Canberra is to have a “B” class station. At present the plant, is testing under the amateur call VK2LE on Sundays between 5 and 12 p.m. (New Zealand time), and at various unscheduled times, when 2BL is off the air. The present wavelength is 285.7 metres (1050 k.e.). the same as that of 2ZF, but it will be increased in a few months time to 480 metres (625 k.e.). The station, has an unmodulated aerial power of 50 watts. The call sign, when it commences regular services, will be 2CA. Some Cheap Receivers. Those who are on the look-out for a bargain in wireless receivers should not fail to visit D. A. Morrison and Co. where the liquidated stocks of Wiseman’s Ltd, Auckland, arc selling at ridiculous prices. There are quite a number of good all-electric sets selling at half the original cost.* On the 80-Metre Band. Amateurs on the 80-mctro band are experiencing conditions conducive to good two-way communication. A number of these stations employing small powers have reported that, the case with which communication has been established is surprising even to experienced operators. True? Of Course! It is reported from the. U.S.A.—without a blink of an eyelid—that Mr J. H. Thornton, of Barnegot, N.J., has increased the egg production of his chick ens by 15 per cent, by installing loud speakers in their houses. This action, says J.H.T., was the result of his observation that the chickens showed “ increased animation and cheer” when he was whistling or singing around.

Better Results. 4QG, Brisbane, which is located between two Japs, one of which heterodynes it rather badly at times, appears to have gone back somewhere near its funner wavelength, with better results. That Newcastle Station. Has any listener yet heard the new Newcastle station? The latest promise was that, it was to go oh tho air on October 29. Progress in Canada. Tho Dominion of Canada continues to make progress in radio. The Ottawa Bureau of Statistics has just issued its report, for .1929, from which it appears that Canada’s production of complete radio sets, parts, etc., reached a value of over £4,193.000 —an increase of 63 per cent over the total for .1928. Static Severe. The Australian and New Zealand stations have given a good account •»: themselves during the past wruk, their transmissions being technically satisfactory, though static has been severe at times. From Ashfiold. 21-3 ‘ was back on its original schedule ni - community singing from Ashlield on Monday, and it seemed that, the programme was even more hilarious than usual. Radio Expert. Few women hold an amateur’s transmitting license, and only one possesses a “Worked All Continents” certificate issued by the International Radio League. The holder is Mrs J. C. Hutchings, of Callawadda, (Victoria), wno became interested through assisting her brother to build his first set. Her cad is VK3HM, and her brother’s, who is a well-known “ham,” is VK3HL.

Two New Short-Wavers. The new Indian short-wave broadcasting station at Calcutta is now ready for work, and may be heard almost, any day now carrying out experimental transmissions. The wave-length selected for preliminary tests is 25.36 metres.

“Chi-Hoa. Calling!” A message from Hong Kong states that a new wireless broadcasting station is reported to have been established recently at Chi-Hoa, near Saigon, power 100 kilowatts, on a wavelength of 49 metres. It is the property of the Indo-China Films and Cinema Corporation, and broadcasts Chinese music between 12.30 and 1 a.m. B.S.T. Between 1 and 2.30 a.m., it also broadcasts European music, mostly of a classical character. This station started operations as recently as the middle of August last. That Howler!!!!! This selfish fiend is still with us. we regret to say, but the set is now almost located, and the owner is being given a few days’ grace. Unless advantage is taken of this, the set-owner will find himself, in the near future, the sorry centre of Court proceedings. For your benefit. Mr Howler, here is the “wet finger” test repeated. Tune in a station with medium volume, moisten th? top of your fore-finger, place it on the aerial terminal, and then remove it. It you hear a loud “plop” in your speaker when you make and break the connection, then you are the particular person to whom this paragraph is addressed. You are, in fact, an unbearable howler. It, is advisable, for every set owner once in a while to apply this test in order to save himself and his neighbours any possible trouble through howling. A Service Department. Make use of our Radio Repair Service. Radio is our speciality, therefore bring your repairs to the firm who specialise in this work. A 1! and ary classes of sets repaired. Valves may be the cause of poor reception, so bring them in, and we will test them free. D. A. Morrison & Co. Avenue.*