Listen In!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 10

Listen In!

i: NOTES AND PROGRAMMES

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“Detector.")

2YA Distorted Again. After a spell of good transmission I 2YA. after 5.45 on Tuesday evening, once again broke out in spasms of distortion, and continued so throughout the night. One hopes that this was only a temporary failure. KFI on Test. A number of listeners report having heard KFI on a test transmission after 10 p.m., New Zealand time during the past week. This time would bo between 3 and 4 o’clock iu the morning in California. This station is operating on a power of 50 k.w. and is usually heard fairly well in New Zealand. A Furniture Show? One person remarked to the writer that the Wellington Radio Exhibition was little more than a furniture show, and although I cannot altogether agree with him, for there were interesting things to be found if one only looked for them, there is a grain of truth underlying the statement. Radio to-day is developing along the lines that most inventions before it have followed. A few years ago the telephone, electric appliances, house lighting systems, the mo-tor-car, and the milking machine were cumbersome and unsightly. Furthermore, one had to have at least a fair smattering of technical knowledge to operate them. To-day it is different. The engineering part is well-nigh perfect and adjustment is both unnecessary and inadvisable, so what better can the manufacturers do than concentrate upon the design of cabinet and, of course, small refinements? Furthermore, the salesman and the serviceman are no longer the same person, and those who went to the show to seek information re the technicalities of their sets were somewhat disappointed. However, some of the firms had the heads of their technical departments down, and these gentlemen were funds of information for inquirers. Mishap at 2ZF. On Wednesday night of last week, during the relay of the 2YA programme. 2ZF, Palmerston North suddenly went off the air shortly after 9.30 p.m., owing to the generator failing. The machine has since been dismantled and the armature which delivers 1000 volts to the valves has burnt out a coil. This is an unfortunate mishap for the Manawatu Radio Club and will be a somewhat costly job to repair. The club have a small spare motor generation set which it is hoped can be installed in time to enable the broadcasts to be resumed on reduced power. Of Public Interest. In order to discuss several aspects of broadcasting, a public meeting of listeners will be held in Auckland on Monday next.

Wireless Popular in London. London is the most popular city in England as far as wireless is concerned. It is followed by Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Huge Sales. Complete wireless receiving sets to the value of £7,000.000 were sold in Great Britain last year. Have You Logged Manila? Now that 3AR, Melbourne, lias slightly shifted its wavelength frequency. KZRM, Manila may be heard at 10 o’clock in the evenings. Interference Becoming Serious. For the past week or so 3YA, Christchurch has been hetrodyned by some other station. The interfering station has been identified as 380, Bendigo. It. is exactly on 3YA’s wavelength. Tlie new Wellington station, 2ZW, which is heard here splendidly at times, is also surrounded by a host of stations, of which most interference seems to come from IZR, Auckland. It is about time some stations were cut out instead of the number being increased. 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.* Short-Wave News. Every Wednesday and Saturday from 9.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (our time), VK3ME Melbourne, will broadcast news and music on 31.55 metres. It is understood that this schedule will continue for several weeks. Submarine ‘ ‘Nautilus.’’ WSEA is the call sign of the transmitting plant aboard the submarine “Nautilus,” which will carry Sir Hubert Wilkins and his expedition to the North Pole under the ice. This station has been heard testing on about 26 metres. ZTJ, South Africa. It is reported that a short-wave station is operating in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the call ZTJ. This transmitter relays the programmes of station JB on 49.5 and 31.4 metres irregularly from 9.30 p.m. to 8.15 a.m. New Zealand time. It is also reported that this station works on 43 metres as well. Radio Bangkok. Station HS2PJ, on 29.5 metres, has closed down on that wave-length, and is broadcasting on 41 metres from 2.30 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. on Tuesdays (New Zealand time).

Elimination, of Radio Interference. The name “Philips’’ is as well known in the radio world as is that of any of the scientists who have made radio possible, and the firm is constantly adding to our knowledge of the art or pleasure in its practice. Their latest activity in this direction comes in th” form, of a little brochure bearing the title used as a heading to this article A copy of the publication having been placed at the writer’s disposal by the firm’s New Zealand office—Messrs Philips Lamps (N.Z.) Ltd., Wellington—the following extracts are taken from it for the benefit and instruction of noi only wireless listeners but, as well, of i owners of electrical apparatus that mav' be the cause of interference with reception by radio listeners. The subject is one that cannot be dealt with adequately here, and for that reason manufacturers of interfering apparatus, such as electric motors, vacuum cleaners, etc., as well as tramway companies and other similar authorities, should obtain a copy of the booklet and, when complaints of interference with radio reception are made, ascertain by what means it may be possible to aid listeners by eliminating the trouble at its source. “B*’ Cl3£s Stations. We are given to understand that the announcement made by the PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. J. B. Donald, at the opening of the Wellington Radio Exhibition, that a certain trader had been given permission to give sponsored programmes from his station and that announcement of the name of the firm donating the programme could bo made both at the beginning and the end of the session, is applicable to all B class stations in New Zealand. Although copy of the Ministerial letter is not available, we arc assured that the permission given is strictly limited to the bare announcement at the begin ping and end of each programme that “this programme is supplied by Messrs So-and-so.” There are in New Zealand some, thirty odd B class stations, and their announcement by the Minister creates an entirely new situation in New Zealand broadcasting. Hitherto the Minister, both in verbal and written statements, has expressed himself as opposed to advertising and as recognising the danger of even starting advertising on the air in New Zealand.

Advertising on Air Condemned. “Advertising is the scourge of radio jin the United States,” declared MiBrooks Gifford, a Los Angeles lawyer, on his arrival from Sydney by the Ulimaroa, states a Wellington paper. “A great idea—what a marvellous service for listeners!” was his comment on being told of the New Zealand system, whereby all sets were licensed. In America licenses are not required, he said, the necessary funds for carrying on the broadcasting stations being obtained from advertising. “Nobody listens to the advertising stunts over there,” he said. Things are so bad that when you tune in to one station, a symphony or a song, or other item is suddenly broken into by a dissertation on the merits of somebody’s hats or such like, and it means constantly tuning in to a new station. Sometimes we have to tune in to a dozen dififereut stations in an evening, and I can assure you that people, in America are absolutely tired of the whole thing.”

Relays of 2YA. Relays of 2YA’s Sunday evening programmes to Mr W. D. Ansell’s station.' 2ZD, Masterton, arc now regular features. 2ZD also broadcasts the Wednes day evening International programmes. Variable-Mu Valves. Much curiosity has been aroused by the appearance of a new type of screen grid receiving valve, which was hardly out of the egg before it was into sets and on the market. It is called the “variable-mu” valve, and its especi.il virtues are its excellence as a volume' controller ami Its ability to handle sig rials without accepting “cross-talk.” Cross-talk is a peculiar form of interference which is fortunately not very troublesome here. A receiver may have a blank tuning space between two sta tions, but. when ono of them is tuned in, the other also becomes audible. It is generally understood that the mu of a valve, in other words its amplification factor, depends upon the spacing of the grid wires, that is, the distance between the wires themselves, and also the distance of the grid from the filament and from the plate. How. then, can the mu bo altered while the palvo is in use? To simplify the explanation as much as possible, the trick .is to combine in ono valve a combination of grids: one grid wide is wound * so that part of it is closely-spaced and part of it widely spaced. The closely spaced part gives a high mu, and the widely spaced part a low mu. It is in the nature of a high mu valve that it will work only with a small amount of negative grid bias, whereas a low-mu valve will operate with a large grid

bias. Hence, if the bias: is varied over a largo range, starting with a high value wo get the valve operating first with low but increasing ‘‘gain,” until the bias is sufficiently small to bring the high-mu portion of the grid into operation. Further reduction of the bias increases the amplification given by this portion of the grid. This enables the amplification to be adjusted over a much wider range than with a standard valve without introducing distortion. It is not commonly realised that, one of the most difficult problems faced by the designer of a high-grade receiver is an adequate volume control that will avoid introducing distortion: it is a lesson soon learned by anyone who builds his own set. and the point is usually dodged by making a more or less satisfactory com promise. The new valve seems to have got over the difficulty. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES Following are the programmes of Australian and New Zealand stations scheduled for to-day. In the case of Australian stations Australian time is given in each instance, which is one and a-half hours behind that of New Zealand:— 2ZK, WANGANUL (595 Kilocycles). Programme of selected records from the stocks of D. A. Morrison & Co. Broadcasting hours 11 a.m. until 1.30 p.m. daily. 11 a.m. Johann Strauss and Symphony Orchestra, “Die Flederinauss.” Jack Mackintosh (cornet), ’‘O Dry Those Tears” and ‘ I’ll Sing Thee Songs.” Arthur Jordan, “Tho English Rose” and "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,” Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra, "When My Dreams Come True” and “Reaching for SomeOne.” Silver Stars Band, "Poet and Peasant” and "Zampa.” Castlewood Marimba Band, “Lo-lo” and "Waiting for You.” Palakiko and Paaluhi (guitars), "La Golondrina" and “Cielto Lindo.” Isobel Baillie (soprano), "Doll Song” (Contes d’Hoffman) and "Il Bacio." Ernest Hastings, "Perverted Placards” and "Lovely Music.” The Maestros, "Old Pal” and "Will the Angels.” Binnle Hales and Robert Howe, “Every Little Moment” and "On the Amazon.” Eddie Jordan s Old-fashioned Boy, “Yip-I-Addy” Medley and tenor), "Danny Boy” and “Little Town.” "Yankee Doodle.” Trevor Watkins (boy Russian Novelty Orchestra, "Love of a Gypsy” and "Greetings of Spring.” Flanagan Bros., "Irish Washerwoman.” Ketelbey’s Concert Orchestra, "In a Monastery Garden.” IYA, AUCKLAND. (900 Kilocycles 333 Metres). 3.0: Selected recordings. 3.15: Talk —"Eat More Cereals.” 5.0: Children's session, conducted by Peter Pan. 6.0: Dinner music session. 7.0: News and market reports. 7.40: Lecture, under the auspices of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, "The Iron Industry and Products. ’ 8.0: Chimes. Relay from the Lewis Eady Hall of Concert by the Leys Institute Orchestra. 9.30: programme of dance music. 11.0: Close down. 2YA. WELLINGTON. 720 Kilocycles). 10.0: Chimes. Selected gramophone recordings. 11.12: Lecturette—Cooking.” 11.37: Lecturette —Health talk: "Nervous Children.” 12.0: Lunch hour music. 2.0: Selected items. 3.30 and 4.30: Sporting results to hand. 5.0: Children’s session. 6.0: Dinner music session. 7.0: News session, market reports and sports results. 7.40: Lecturette—Miss Inez Connop, "Dancing in Relation to Health.” 8.0: Chimes. Overture—Salon Orchestra. 8.9: Baritone— Mr S. Evelyn Rodger. 8.13: Glees—The Singing Circle of the Pioneer Club. 8.18: Organ— Leo Stin. 8.24: Tenor—Mr Denis Sheard. 8.30: Prelude —Salon Orchestra. 8.40: Mezzo-con-tralto— Mrs A. S. Mitchell. 8.44: Violin—Eri-I ca Morini. 8.52: Suite for piano and strings— Mr M. T. Dixon and Salon Orchestra 9.2: Evening weather report and station notices. 9.4 : Glees—The Singing Circle of the Pioneer Club. 9.11: Piano—Walter Rthberg. 9.15: Baritone—Mr S. Evelyn Rodger. 9.20: Selection— Salon Orchestra. 9.30: Soprano—Miss Nora Gray. 0.35: 'Cello —Hans Bottermund. 9.41: Tenor—Mr Denis Sheard. 9.48: Dance —Salon Orchestra. 10.0: Close down.

3YA. CHRISTCHURCH. (980 Kilocycles). 3.0: Gramophone recital. 4.25: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour. 6.0: Dinner music session. 7.0: News session. 7.30: Addington stock market reports. 8.0: Chimes. Overture— Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra. 8.8: Bass—Mr Finlay Robb. 8.14: Selection— Studio Octet. 8.22: Soprano—Miss Frances Hamerton. 8.32: Selection—Studio Octet. 8.38: Bass—Mr Finlay Robb. 8.44: Violin —Vosa Priboda. 8.51: Instrumental—St dio Octet. 9.0: Weather forecast and station notices. 9.2: Lecture —To Ari Titama, "Maori Foods.” 9.17: Selection—Studio Octet. 9.27: Soprano—Miss Frances Hamerton. 9.30: Dance music. 11.0: Close down. 4YA. DUNEDIN. t 650 Kilocycles). Silent Day. 2YB, NEW PLYMOUTH. (1230 Kilocycles). 8 to 10 p.m.: Conceit programme. 4QG. BRISBANE. (395 Metres; 760 Kilocycles.) 7.40: Sporting session. 7.55: Musical Inter-

lude. 7.59: Eastern Australian Standard Tim 4 Singals. 8.0: A Concert by the Windsor Municipal Band, under the baton of Mr H. Perkins, will be broadcast from the Studio. 10.0: Weather information. 10.10: Dance music from the Trocadero. 11.0: Close down. 2FC, SYDNEY. (451 Metres). 5.45 p.m.: Children’s session. 6.45: The A.B.C. Orchestra. 7.20: A.B.C. sporting and news items. 8.0: Studio concert programme. 2BL. SYDNEY. (353 Metres). 6.15 p.m.: Dance music. 7.5: Country seesion. 7.20: Dance music. 8.0: Studio concert programme.