Listen In!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 10

Listen In!

1! NOTES AND PROGRAMMES t’

(By

"Detector.")

I eng Distance Re-lays Many months ngo were lavjoured with long-distance relays of concerts held in various parts of the country, but nowadays such attractive features seem to be quite neglected. Is this on account of expense, lack of relay facilities, or mere inertia? Those Recorded Programmes Some months ago the coming of experimental recorded broadcast programmes was heralded, but since that, time there has been a pronounce.] silence. The innovation will provide a welcome change, when it is introduced. That American Misnomer We have adopted so generally in New Zealand that American misnomer, “all-electric,” that it is quite striking to note the much better British term, of which frequent use is made in describing exhibits at the London Radio Olympia. British manufacturers of receivers adopt the words “all-mains set” to indicate the latest general advance. and the departure from the old wet and dry battery types. From Australia On Thursday, at 10 p.m., •• The Green Goddess” will be broadcast from 2FC. From the sister station, 2BL, to-night, at 10 p.m., listeners should be able to enjoy the humour of the “Christchurch Meeting of the Smith Family.” (New Zealand times mentioned). Conditions Unreliable Experienced listeners and experimenters have learned that summer is coincident with a period of unrelial.de listening conditions. The present season is no different and in the course of a single week “wireless weather” may vary considerably. At this season one cannot arrange a radio party for fear of disappointment as even the most powerful receiver cannot compensate for the fading of most stations. Lady Announcers Lady announcers at regular broadcasting stations are so rare as to be unique. Wanganui possesses two—and they are very popular, too. It is observed. from correspondence in an English exchange to hand by the last mail, that Ihe Government broadcasting station at Hong Kong. ZBW, also has a lady announcer in the person of a young Chinese lady, Miss Amy Wong, who occupies a post under the Colonial Government. The station is heard all over the little colony, and in several cities on the Chinese mainland. As there are numerous radio listeners in Hong Kong as well as on the mainland whose knowledge of English is limited to “pidgin” English, the station call is given in English and Cantonese. the latter being “Heung kong no shin koong po toy.” A visitor to Hong Kong thus describes the announcer at ZBW: '•Miss Wong is small, slight, and rather shy. but very charming. Nineteen. and just out of school, this young lady, with bobbed hair and a pretty smile, looks more like a girl of twelve. She speaks perfect English and announces programmes to both her Chinese and her English audiences. Miss Wong wanted to be a doctor, and studied to enter the medical department of the University of Hong Kong, but she found the cost of training prohibitive. The Hong Kong Government needed someone to announce its daily broadcasts. ‘A friend recommended me for the place, although I was much afraid,’ Miss Wong explained. ‘I passed the test. I was so afraid that I was almost, sorrv.’ But the nervousness of talking into the microphone has long since disappeared, and now she loves her work. The sparkle in her eyes and her eager enthusiasm when talking of wireless tell the story more eloquently than words.” :: K 11 Interference It is evident that the authorities will not permit minor stations to interfere with other broadcasters. IZQ, Auckland, is to return to the air at its new headquarters in Karangahape Road after being removed from Mount Albert. Its broadcasts were stopped some weeks ago on account of interference with IYA. Under the new arrangements IZQ will provide a programme every night, while in all probability there will be mid-day sessions. M IZH to Increase Power Advice has been received to the effect that IZH, Hamilton, at present operating with a power of 60 watts, is to increase its output to 110 watts. Operating at the top end of the waveband, IZH is often heard here. Short-Waves Short-wave reception, especially on the 80-metre band, has been very satisfactory and quite a number of the crystal-controlled American amateurs have been picked up. 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, are selling at ridiculous prices. There are quite a number of good all-electric sets selling at half the original cost.* Unsatisfactory Announcing Every listener, no matter what his complex, gets an idea of the station whose music he is hearing by the style of the announcer employed. If the voice be tired or condescending in tone it leaves a displeasing taste, but if it be alert and conveys the idea that the owner is anxious to prove of service and be friendly, then the listener instinctively feels that he has come across a “good station.” At the present time Australian listeners are condemning the styles adopted by those officiating before certain microphone. I ’. Some appear to read their notes in a poor light and stammer in correcting themselves, while, the news service and sporting results arc mutilated by gut teral voices. It is alleged that there are comparatively few clear voices. Transferred Mr Owen Pritchard, programme organiser at IYA. made his final appearance on Saturday evening. Mr Pritchard’s place will be taken by Mr H. C. Trim, who has been organiser at 2YA lor about the past four

.Musical Static Listeners whose patience lias been sorely tried while listening through a .storm of static would Jimi it difficult to believe that such inlcrl’ercnce could ibe termed musical. Yet, a listener who I made a “voyage” of radio cxplora tion from Australia to the Pacific Coast of the United States of America 1«>I rated this particular form in the vicinjity of long. 130 and hit 35. Th: effect was similar to that produced by the whip bird. There was a brief whistle, rising rapidly in strength and followed by a sharp crack. The whistle itself was quite a pure musical note of almost unvarying frequency and its recurrence produced a weird effect. Listeners in the Dominion might, appreciate a change for this form of static if the interference cannot be eliminated altogether. Change in 3UZ’s Wavelength In view of the increase of broad <uisting stations in Australia, the authorities are finding it necessary to adjust the wave-lengths of some of the older transmitters. The new relay station. 4RK. Rockhampton, has been allot'el the 322 metre band —the same as that of 3UZ, Melbourne. To avoid interference to owners of mote powerful receivers, the chief radio inspector for the Commonwealth will nave to alter 3UZ’s wave-length. Dominion listeners will still experience hetcrodying as 2GB operates on 316 metres, just below, and IYA on 329 metres—just above. To the broadcast listener the ether is becoming more like the American atmosphere every day. 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'l and ary classes of sets repaired. Valves may be the cause of poor reception, so bring th.cm in, and wc will test them free. — I). A. Morrison & Co. Avenue* Wireless Telephone Speech with Australia from New Zealand over the wireless telephone is now an accomplished fact, and communication to London will soon be available, when the voices will span a total distance of over 13,090 miles. .In a great measure the successful operation ol the New Zealand-Australia, service is due to the efficient wireless staff of the New Zealand P. and T. Department, and to the experimental research work of Amalgamated Wireless. A Hearty Response Dealers being forbidden to lend gramophone records to broadcasting stations, the Manmtu Radio Club, which conducts 2ZF at. Palmerston North, made an appeal recently to listeners for tho loan of records, and within 24 hours 2663 were offered as well as nearly 100 player-pin no rolls. Tho fear that the station might, have to cease broadcasting thus vanished. Yet Another Station Sanction has been given by the New South Wales Post Office Department to the erection of a B station at Gunnedah which, it is expected, will give accpetable service to that locality as well as in Tamworth and other parts of north-west New South Wales. This station has been operating for some time on an experimental wave-length of 244 metres, with a power varying from 2| to 4 watts. The owner, Mr M. J. Oliver, has received encouraging reports of the reception from listeners in Tasmania, South Australia and New Zealand. As this station is on the same wavelength as 2YB, New Plymouth, we should imagine that serious hetrodyning will be the result if the Australian increases his power. :: :: j Speech-inverting Devices. | Anyone with an ordinary wireless set ; could have listened in to the recent telephonic conversations between the Prime Minister of Australia Mr J. U. Scullin, at London, and the actingprime Minister, Air J. E. Fenton, at Sydney. The voices, however, could not have been understood. Both men, sitting at their own telephones, conversed in plain English, but in the G.P.O.’s in London and Sydney, I wo devices, known as inverters, seized hold of their words and translated them into gibberish, which passed through the air. The inverted speeches were turned into English again at the receiving stations. Inverters are not used for all radio-telephono talks, but in the interests of secrecy they have been applied to all the conversations which .Mr Scullin has ben having with his colleagues in Australia. Wavelets It is estimated that 1500 of the total number of shortwave transmitting stations in Germany arc unlicensed. The new Calcutta station works on 25.6 m. Relays have been given by English stations. The shortwave station UOR.2, Vienna, has provisionally suspended operations. The first Italian train to be equipped with wireless was run on September 8 over the Milan-Turin line. Headphones were rented out for a small sum according to the distance travelled. Transmitters are used by petrol prospectors in America, 5 metres being reserved for them. It is said in Italy that an ingenious person is on the point of completing an efficacious remedy to deal with parasitic. noises. One of the advantages of the output filter circuit is that it tends to increase stability. Such a filter is of value in shortwave receivers. Remember that buzzing and crackling noises arc caused to a great extent by “B” batteries that have been permitted to run down. The inclusion of a “U” batl'Ty in (he circuit lengthens the life of the former battery. An increase of 120 per cent, in the number of licensed listeners in Italy in eighteen months is attributed to the special measures adopted by the Government to suppress piracy. A special shortwave transmitter which will be finished before the spring of 1931 has been authorised for the League of Nations. It is to be erected at Prangins, in Switzerland, and the broadcast slation now working in that town will also be placed the disposal of the league.

Effect of Radio Debated A well-known British musician states that the radio and the gramophone both tend to lower the musical standard of the growing generation. He argues that neither system is perfect enough to give even a moderately true, conception of music as played by in orchestra. Because the radio is becoming so universal the attendance at. musical recitals are seriously falling oil and wc arc becoming used to a lower standard of musical reproduction. From the United States of America, on the other hand, we read that; the great facilities of wireless are a big :iid in the. development of the. musical sense. It is considered that reproduction of tho voice and of instruments is of a sufficiently high standard and that listeners cannot but benefit from contjnuaily hearing concerts. There is probably more than a grain of truth in both statements, but the former applies to. perhaps, those specially gifted with a high-developed musical car while the latter is true whore the great, majority of people is concerned. Whatever way wc consider the question, it cannot be denied that tho advent of radio has opened up paths unthought of before as a means of enabling a tremendous number of people to hear music of a high standard •as given by modern receivers and gramophones, ('specially the electrically reproduced type. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES Following arc the programmes of Australian and New Zealand station? scheduled for *oday. In the ease of Australian stations Australian time is given in each instance, which is two hours behind that of New Zealand: — 2ZK. WANGANUI. (505 Metres). 10 a.m.: Selected Columbia necordings taken from stocks of Messrs D. A. Morrison and Co. 1 a.m.: Close down. 2ZR, WANGANUI. (500 Metres; 600 Kilocycles). (Radio Specialties Ltd., Wanganui). 1 p.m: News and reports. Selected Recorded Items. 3 p.m.: Close down. IYA, AUCKLAND. (900 Kilocycles: 333 Metres). 3.0: Afternoon session—Selected studio items, including literary selection by the Announcer. 5.0; Children’s session. 6.0: Dinner session. 7.0; News and market reports. 7.40: Talk—Mr Norman Kerr, ‘ Physical Culture.” 8.0: Chimes. Studio programme by members of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind. March —The Band. ‘‘Old Comrades.” Waltz— Band, "Blue Danube.’’ 8.11: Elocution—Miss Rena Bedogni, "A China Tragedy.” 8.15: Song in unison—School Choir, '■Michaelmas Morn.” 8.19: Selection—Classic Symphony Orchestra, "Classical Memories.” 8.27: Foxtrots—Jazz Band, (a) "Somebody Mighty Like You,” lb) "The Toymaker's Drcam.” 8.34: Piano duet-Messrs Stuart Gordon and Torn Taylor. “Faust.” 8.38: Choral School Choir, la) “Winter,” (b) "Sunshine.” 8.42: Selection—Band, (a) "A Forest Wooing," (b) "Imitation Bagpipes.” 8.51: Soprano—Miss M. Bray, (a) "Still as the Night,” (b) "The Wren." 8.56: Saxophone solo—Mr Stuart Gordon, "The Piggly-Wiggle.” 9.2: Evening weather forecast and announcements. 9.4: Nev Queen’s Flail Light Orchestra, (a) “Demande et Response," (b) "La Caprice de Nanette." 9.12: Choral—School Choir, three folk songs, (a) "English, "The Lass of Richmond Hill." (b) Irish, "The Meeting of the Waters,” (c) "Scotch. "Hundred Pipers.” 9.18: Piano—Miss L. Martin, "Ballade.* 9.24: International Concert Orchestra, "La Spagnola. 9.28: Fox-trots Jazz Band, (a) "Punch and Judy Show,’ (b) "Where the Daffodils Grow.” 9.36: Soprano—Miss M. Bray, "The Fain.' Pipers.” 9.40: Cornet—Mr Tom Taylor. "I’ll Sing Thee Songs of Araby." 9 45: Chorus—Light Opera Company, “Lilac Domino.’ 9.49: Selection—Band, (a) “The Smithy in the Wood, (b) "The Victor’s Return. 10.0: God Save the King. 2 YA. WELLINGTON. (720 Kilocycles; 420 Metres). Silent Day. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH. (980 Kilocycles; 306 Metres). 3 p.m.: Afternoon session. 4.25: Sport l ' rc.-ults. 4.30: Close down. 5.0: Children’s session. 6.0: Dinner music session. 7.0: News session. 8.0: Chimes. Popular programme. Overture—Savoy Orpheans, "Round the World Medley.’ 8.8: Jazz songs at the piano—The Joyous Pair, (a) "With You," (bl "Cooking Breakfast for the One I Love,” (c) "You’ve Made a Difference to Me.’* (d) "Ragamufiin Romeo.” 8.20: Studio Instrumental Octette —(1) Ballet Piquant: Minuet, Dance Piquant. Fairy Dance; (2) "Ball de Notes.” 8.33: Baritone—Mr Leslie Fleming, (a) "Old Farmer John," (b) "Rolling Lown to Rio." (c) “Funicui Funicula.” 8.45: Organ—Terence Casey, "Keys of Heaven," with novelty variations. 8.49: Mezzo-contralto—Mrs N. Bingham Puddey, (a) "Love’s Garden of Roses,” (b) "Oh. Promise Me,” (c, “Sincerity.” 8.59: Weather forecast and station notices. 9.1 : Guitar—Walter Kolomoku's Honoluluans. "Southern Melodies Waltz Nos. 1 and 2.” 9.9: Popular songs—Mr Cheslyn O'Connor. (a) "Looking at the World Thru’ RoseColoured Glasses," th) "Where’d You Get Those Eyes?" (c) "Just Like in a Story Book.” 9.19: Studio Octette, (a) "Florindo,” (b) “Lucia di Lammermoor.” 9.32: Humour —Mr Bert Goodland. "Phrenology.’ 9.42: Choral—The Sieba Choir. "Tales from the Vienna Woods.” 9.50: Studio Octette. (a) “Hungarian Dance," (h) "Three Dances.” 10.2: God Save the King. 4 YA, DUNEDIN. (650 Kilocycles: 463 Metres)'. 3.0: Chimes. Selected gramophone Items. 3.15: Tall;—Home Science Extension Service. Otago University, "Vegetable Main Dishes." 4.25: Sporting results. 4.30: Close down. 5.0: Chimes. Children’s hour. 6.0: Dinner music session. 7.0: News session. 7.15: Talk—Mr L. W. McCaskill, "Review of New Zealand Journal of Agriculture for November.’’ 8.0: Overture—Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards, "Floradora.’ 8.9: Tenor—Mr James Simpson, (a) "Questa o’ Quella,” (b) "Lohengrin’s Farewell.” 8.15: 4YA Trio, "Hadyn Trio No, 7.” 8.25: Recital Mr D. E. Dall. "Dissertation Upon a Roast Pig." 8.31: Soprano- Miss F. Sumner, (al “Hark, Hark the Lark," (b) “Adieu." 8.37: ’Cello-Mr P. J. Palmer, “Pastorale.” 8.43: Baritone—Mr L. J. Neilson, “For the Green.” 8.46: Instrumental— Trio, “Hummel in B Flat.” 9.0: Weather report. 9.2: Tenor—Mr James Simpson, "Martha.’ 9.5: Cello—Mr P. J. Palmer, “As Once in Happier Days.” Soprano—Miss F. Sumner. “King of Thule.’* 9.13: Recital—Mr 1). E. Dall, “Heather Ale.” 9.17: Baritone— Mr L. J. Neilson, (a) “Irish Immigrant," (b) "Four by the Clock.” 9.23: Instrumental— Trio, “Andante in E Flat.” 9.30: Dance session. 11.0: God Save the King. 2FC. SYDNEY, (451 Metres). 8.45 p.m.: Children's ecssion. 6.45: The A.B.C. Orchestra. 7.20: A.B.C. Sporting session and news items. S.O: Studio concert programme. JBL. SYDNEY. (353 Metre”). 6.15: Dance music. 6.45: Boy Scouts’ session. 7.5: Country session, 7.20: Dance music. 8.0: Studio concert.