Listen In!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 10

Listen In!

%’ NOTES AND PROGRAMMES ¥

(By

‘Detector.

Change Improbable. Some listeners expect that if the Government takes control of the Broadcasting system in New Zealand the license

fees will be lowered. As the Government is responsible for the amount now paid, such a change seems improbable until there are at least twice the number of listeners: and that figure will not be reached until the service is more complete than at present. Parliament will meet on June 25 and the whole situation in reference to broadcasting is to be discussed during the session.

A “Star” Station. Station 2GB, Sydney, has been the star of the Australian stations during the past week. At times this station has been heard at far better volume and with better quality than 2FC. This has been more particularly noticeable during the- late afternoon.

Conditions Appalling There is no improvement in the hetrodyne situation; conditions are appalling below a thousand kilocycles. One wonders where room is to be found for the SCO-watt relay stations advocated by the P.M.G. Unless something is done in the wry of either a complete reallocation of wavelengths, or sharing of time on tho ail. listening will he anything but a pleasure in the future.

Improving the Orchestras. The Auckland advisory committee is urging the Broadcasting Company to increase the personnel of the octets at the four stations, and thus bring each up to the standard of a light orchestra.

[ Licensing Servicemen. It is to be hoped that while the Government is discussing broadcast matters it will deal with the question of licensing servicemen. The modern all-electri' - receiver has developed into such a com plicated and delicate piece of mechau ism that it. requires to be handled only by specially skilled men when in need of adjustment or repair. Strangely enough, purchasers of receivers costing from £3O to £lOO are content to hand over their receiver to the first person who claims to know all about it. In the interests of all listeners and legitimate servicemen the sooner those tin kerer? are prevented imposing on the public the better. Apart from the damage it is possible to do to a receiver, it can be left in such a condition that it. is a menace to life and property alike. Properly installed and serviced, the modern receiver is one of the safest things in the world, but. like all electrical installations, can be a potential source of danger if tampered with by unskVJed persons. Charlie Chaplin and Radio. Charlie Chaplin, who on his recent visit to London several months- ago could not be persuaded to face the microphone. in America refused offers totalling £lBO,OOO for broadcasting advertisements. He was offered £130.000 for twenty-six radio talks of fifteen min utes each. This works out at £333 a minute! He also received an offer for £50,000 from one of the largest public concerns in America.

N.Z. Manufacture. A fine sample of what can be achieved in the way of local manufacture ano assembly is at present being turned out by Radio Ltd. This is a special re ceivirjg equipment for the Nelson Pub lie Hospital. The receiver will supplv efficiently 70 pairs of headphones with programmes tuned in on it. In addi tion it has a gramophone combination so that when no suitable broadcastin; is available records may be audible t( each patient. A microphone enable: tho superintendent, or any other officia to convey information or instruction t< each patient. Radio Drama Popular. Whilst the production of full nigh drama was looked upon with suspicioi a few months ago, studio managers al - over the world are now concentrating s on this form of entertainment. Tlu i listener, on the other hand, realises tha ’■ to get the full benefit from broadens i plays it is necessary for him to givi the play his undivided attention. d Authors are realising the possibilitie y in the radio field, and many are nov rr adapting their work for radio presen ;] tation. The Australian Broadcasting n Company, with the object of encourag n ing local authors along these lines, wil . purchase original plays suitable fo broadcasting. . Radio Popular in U.S.A. There arc 13,478,000 listeners in th' t United States, according to the lates return issued by the United State. e Board of Trade. t :: :. :: . Pick-up Tip. I When using a gramophone pick-u] c with the amplifier portion of a radio se always try to keep the leads from I.h< pick up as short as possible. One of tin commonest causes of hum is due to tlu use of long leads in this connection. t :: :: :: , More Current Needed. Usually when a valve sot oscillate; . considerably increased current is drawi . from the H.T. supply than when tlu r set is functioning normally. Apart fron the fact that this may overload am j drain the supply unit, the emission o: r the valves may also suffer owing to tin > additional strain upon them. This point should be emembered bj the novice, who may unwittingly dam age his set, as well as annoy other listeners in the neighbourhood, by endea vouring to receive stations beyond hit I reach. A Service Department. Make use of our Radio Repair Service. Radio is our speciality, therefor* bring your repairs to the firm who specialise in this work. All and any 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.* Public Demanding More. ‘'Anyone who owns a wireless set today has an instrument of enjoyment,*’ said the Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral, in officially opening the radio exhibition in Wellington last week. He advised prospective buyers to purchase now, and not wait. To delay buying was to forfeit a good deal of pleasure. Wireless was a good friend, particularly in times of depression. The Minister said that the broad question of control and ownership of major stations was under consideration by Cabinet, but had not been finalised, and he was not prepared at the moment to make a dclinito announcement. He stated, however, that he had that d..y approved of a proposal that a sponsored programme in a modified form should be allowed in the case of B class stations. When the new regulations were gazetted listeners would be mote satisfied than they were to-day, said the Minister. He emphasised that tho Government had no reason to find fault, with the present broadcasting company, which had done very well indeed in the circumstances. Listeners, however, were demanding more than they were getting now, and as they paid the piper they were entitled to consideration. ReQaying London In view of the recent success of the relaying of 2LO, London, through the short wave station SSW. Chelmsford, by the Sydney stations 2FC and 2BL during the early morning sessions, the Australian Broadcasting Company has decided to carry out these broadcasts regularly twice a week. The rebroadcasts are carried out between 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m., New Zealand time. When Noise is Dear It is bad practice to always try to get the utmost volume of sound that the set is capable of producing. Apart from the fact that quality will materially suffer, permanent damage may be caused to the loud speaker and the components. Moreover, it. is possible to listen with far greater comfort when volume has been reduced to proportions suitable for the particular room in which the loud speaker is operating. “AM Paid For.” ( ‘Broadcasting in U.S.A, starts at 7 a.m. and finishes at two next morning,” states Mr R. Milward Ellis, chairman of the British Radio Manufacturers’ Association, who lately returned from a visit to America. “Most of the time,” he emphasises, f ‘is taken up by advertising. “Even the physical jerks which are broadcast early each morning, are paid for as advertising—a powerful insurance company is the sponsor, as they consider that by making the nation physically fit there is less drain on their funds. Even tho religious hours on Sundays are paid for—the Presbyterians or some other body soil sermons by the hour of air-time! Pence Saves Pounds A component which costs a few pence, yet may often save pounds, is a fuse. The fuse should be inserted in the H.T. negative lead, and, providing it is of light value, should prevent tho destruction of valve filaments due to accidental short-circuit. Will Popularity Last It will be very interesting to sec how long the little set can hold its popularity. It has already had a greet influence on the larger type in rhe direction of pulling down their prices, and this influence, co-operating with the tierce competition in the radio markets of the world, has brought the prices of radio receivers down to a level which, considering the nature and quality of the commodity, is simply astonishing. 2UE‘s Schedule. Station 21* E. Sydney, has increased its transmitting schedule by 13A hours a. week, making a total of 861 hours a I week,

Development of Short-Wave A development which has distinctly affected commercial receivers in the past year—as distinguished fron. tin preceding amateur construction vogue- I is the appearance of short-wave technique as an important actor. Then* | are now a host of easily receivableshort wave stations in all parts of the world. They are so numerous and so reliable that there arc actually more short-wave programmes o be heard at a time than programmes on the stamiard broadcast brand. fhi- is duo, to the fact that distance is practically no barrier to short-wave reception, but very emphatically damps out the medium-length waves. Short-wave reception demands special equipment, but it is very simple. Latterl, the commercial exploitation of this important field has developed rapidly. Insulated Wire for Aerials No useful purpose is served by using insulated wire for he aerial or for the down lead. The only eason why enamelled wire is used on aerials is to avoid weathering wearing out the wire. Unless one is situated very close to tho sea a bare aerial should last several years. The coating of oxide that forms on a bare aerial does not lower its efficiency. Copper wire has a lower resistance to high-frequency currents than any other metal except, silver. The use of tinned aerial wire is not so good. High-frequency currents flow for the most part on the outer surface of wires. It flows along the tinned portion of a tinned aerial. Tin has a resistance many times that of coppeTho size of wire used in an ai rial makes very little difference lor reception purposes provided it is largei than 22 gauge. The 7 / L’i' copper wire sold for aerials is very suitable for the purpose. If anything, it errs on the heavy side. Detects Loose Contact When the toaster won’t toast or the pecolator won’t “perk” at the customary speed, owing to a loose connection, the source of the trouble can be located easily with the aid of your radio set. Turn on the set and then plug in the suspected electrical appliance. Push and pull gently on the cord both nt the appliance and at the plug. If the radio “clicks” when you move the cord the loose or defective part is at the point where you are handling it.