RADIO NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17712, 16 May 1929, Page 11

RADIO NOTES.

■RECEPTION IN HAMILTON. wireless returns FOR MONTH. ADVERTISING OVER THE AIR. (By "Static.") Atmospheric conditions have not treated "listeners in" in Hamilton too kindly during the past week, the prevalence of static rendering enjoyable programmes impossible. Australian and New Zealand stations are roaring in, but are a source of little enjoyment on account of the interference. The issue of new wireless receiving licenses continues steadily, and in the past month no fewer than 67 were issued in the Hamilton Radio Inspector’s district. Fourteen of these were issued in the Borough of Hamilton. During the same month last year there were $6 issued in the district, 16 of which were taken out in Hamilton. It would be interesting to conjecture what effect the inauguration of a “B” class station for Hamilton would have on the issue of licenses. There is every reason to believe that the revenue that would accrue from crystal set owners (who could be catered for by such a station) would sufficiently justify the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand bearing the cost of the construction of such a desirable step in the radio progress of the district. Tlie Radio Broadcasting Company has engaged an Auckland-Wellington telephone lino for relaying Wellington concerts on the following Sundays:— May 26, June 9 and 23. The concerts will be looked forward to with interest.

We profit by the mistakes of others. The craze for advertising over the air in America and Canada has assumed such proportions that to secure a good programme is considered something out of the ordinary. No license 'fee is charged to listeners, with the unfortunate result that stations have to subsist on revenue from advertising. Small stations are scattered everywhere relaying their jargon day and 'night. How fortunate are we in New Zealand!

WELL CATERED FOR. Some idea of the excellent way in which the British broadcasting service caters for its supporters, over 2,500,UUO subscribers, is gathered from tho following: There arc 22 stations and relay stations in operation, all completely connected by land lines. Tho power of the stations ranges from 30 kilowatts down to 200 watts, and the longest distance separating any two stations is 480 miles less than that between IYA and 3YA. The greatest distance a listener can be from any station is roughly 100 miles. One house in every three throughout Britain lias a receiving set. Victoria, by the way, claims the same proportion.

STATIC AND FADING. From observations on static and fading conducted recently in Melbourne the results of which have now been published in booklet form by 3LO, Melbourne, It was noticed that the duration period of a particular fade was not the same in two cases. This was probably due to the fact that observing stations were mostly a good distance apart. The new test has been decided on with the object of discovering, if possible, the average duration and the extent of the area covered by single "fades” and the observers will be located fairly close to one’another so that local conditions will he the same at each station.

PICKING) THE WINNERS. Way out back at a railhead near the centre of Australia, where mails and newspapers only arrived at very long intervals, the men have no way of knowing the starters in racing events, except by wireless. Previous to the last Melbourne Cup a couple of hundred men could be seen gathered round a loudspeaker—most of them with pencil and paper, taking down the names of the starters. One of their number showed enterprise by opening a hook, and the odds were laid and taken with just as much gusto as on the racecourse. And when the big race was run the great desert railway construction came to a halt whilst 3LO and allied stations belched out into the ether a running description of the Melbourne Cup.