Over The : AERIAL :

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18855, 27 January 1933, Page 10

Over The : AERIAL :

BY RHE OSTAT — i ■ - 1 *”

THE COMING WEEK.

Sunday —lYA: 7, service from Unitarian Church; 8.30, Municipal Band concert at Albert Park. 2\A 7, service from Vivian Street Baptist Church; 8.15, concert by Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Band. 3YA —7, service from Trinity congregational Church; 5.15, Shakespearean concert. Monday —lYA: 11, talk, 11.30, description of Takapuna Jockey Club meeting; 7.30. agricultural talk; 8, studio concert. 2\A—7.40, talk, "Books Grave and Gay"; 8, studio concert; 10, dance music. 3\A Talks, 11 “Camping,” 7.30, “Progress in Furniture”; 8, concert by Derry's Military Band. Tuesday —lYA: 11, talk; 8, studio concert; interspersed with description of Auckland Swimming Centre cham- ! pionships at Tepid Baths; 10, dance music. 2YA—II, talk, “Fabrics and Fashions"; 8, studio concert. 3YA— Talks, 11 “Fashions,” 7.30 “How to be an Optimist"; 8, studio concert; 9.30, dance music. Wednesday —lYA: 11, talk; S, selected recordings; 8.30, studio concert; 9.30, dance music. 2YA —talks, 11.30 “Hollywood Affairs,” 7.10 “Gardening”; 8, studio concert. 3YA-—lt, description of Sanders'Cup race; 7.30, Addington stock market reports; 7.45, horticultural talk; 8, studio concert; 10, dance music. Thursday —lYA: 11, talk, “Cooking by Electricity”; 12.30, service from St. Matthew’s Church; 8, studio concert. 2YA—B, concert by Wellington City Salvation Army Band and 2YA artists. 3YA—II, talk, “Handicrafts”; 11.15, description of Sanders Cup race; 7.30, review of Journal of Agriculture; 8, programme of recordings. Friday —lYA: 11,'talk; 7.30, sports talk; 8, studio concert. 2YA —8, studio concert; 8.40, talk, “On an island Schooner"; 9, recordings; 9.30, dance music. 3YA —11, description of Sanders Cup race; 8, studio concert. Saturday —lYA: 8, studio concert; 10, sports summary; 10.10, dance music. 2YA —8, studio concert; 10, sports summary; 10.10, dance music. 3YA —11, description of Sanders Cup race; 12.15, description of Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting; 8, studio concert; 10, sports summary; 10.10, dance music.

MESSAGES TO MARS. POSSIBILITY OF COMMUNICATION. Dr. Barnes, Bishop of Birmingham, speaking recently, referred to the possibility 'of tlie existence of sentient beings on other planets, and expressed his belief that by improved wireless methods it was probable that “ in the course of time man will be able to communicate with the beings on far distant planets.” Dr. Barnes was probably thinking of Mars and the Martians. The Bishop is not alone in this belief. The " canals ” on Mars, which the American astronomer, Percival Lowell, declared were, artificial waterways constructed by intelligent beings faced with the necessity of utilising to the full the scanty water supplies of the planet, have been carefully studied for the last quarter of a century, and many scientists agree that, admitting the symmetrical line work of markings on Mars is a canal system, Professor Lowell’s explanation is the only possible one. If it were possible to set up communication with the Martians the matter would be settled once for all, and of late years more than one method of signalling to Mars lias been suggested. Among these was the planting of huge areas witii “ dark-leaved crops arranged in geometrical shapes," which would prove to the Martians that intelligent being existed on the earth, and they would probably answer in the same fashion. Another project was light signals on a gigantic scale. But there are obvious ditticulties. When Mars is nearest the earth the latter is invisible -to the Martians, being in their day sky. When the earth is favourably placed, the distance between us is around 100,000,000 miles, and for the Martians to just glimpse, in powerful telescopes, geometrical or light signals they would have to cover an area of at least 2000 square miles.

Wireless Signals. Wireless signals are more promising, ami probably llie only possible method. Given sufllcient initial power, wireless waves could travel from the earth to Mars, as, though the long waves used in broadcasting are turned back to earth by the “ Heaviside layer V of our atmosphere, and never reach interplanetary space, very short waves are not thus reflected, and pass into space. But what kind of signals could be used which Ihe Martians could understand'.’ And how could they answer? Some believe that mysterious signals occasionally heard on wireless receivers are signals from Mars, but no one has so far deciphered them. That is surely a bigger problem than that of setting up any inter-planetary communication. But one day that may be solved. So many marvels have been achieved in the last HO years—wireless itself, the conquest of Ihe air, submarines, and, on a small scale, the transmutation of the elements — that nothing can be ruled out as impossible. Perhaps the Martians will solve the problem of a signalling code both we and they could understand, for if they exist they must lie far more advanced in intelligence than we terrcstials. Their world is much older than the earth, and they themselves had probably been in existence millions of years before the first signs of life appeared on our planet. HALF A MILLION LICENSES. RADIO IN AUSTRALIA. Before the end or 1033 the number of broadcast receiver licenses in Australia should exceed half-a-million. Although flic official figures for December 31, 1932, arc not yet complete, it is expected that they will show a total number of radio receiver licenses of more than -i 10,000 —possibly i 20.000. On December 31, 1931, the told number of licenses was 33i,Gbo.

This means that in 1932 the number of honest listeners increased by 82,000—the rate of increase averaging between six and seven thousand each month. In the latter half of the year, however, when the influence of the new Commission began to make itself felt, the figures showed a tendency to jump. Between October 31 and November 30, the increase was 11,774, whereas in the earlier part of the year, between February 29 and March 31 (broadcasting was at a very low ebb), the increase was only 3106. If the Commission continues its good work, and the tendency towards an acceleration in the monthly figures is maintained then we may expect a total increase for 1933 exceeding that of 1932. Not more than 82,000 licenses will be required, however, to bring the total figure to within the half-million mark. The most substantial contribution towards the increase of licenses came from New South Wales, which now has more licenses than any other state —a position occupied by Victoria last year. In New South Wales on December 31, 1931, there were 125,409 licenses, while in Victoria there were 134,173 —nearly 9000 more in the southern and smaller state. However, by June, N.5.W. was more than 2000 in the lead, and by November 6000 ahead of Victoria, the figures being 157,506 and 151,49 S respectively. Victoria still claims to have a greater percentage of listeners per head of population, although it may soon lose even this honour. In the other States, which arc far behind N.S.W. and Victoria, the rate of increase has been much less. South Australia makes the best showing, with an increase of just over ten thousand, bringing the total number of licensed listeners up to 42,312 on November 31. The iuilucncc of SCK is just being felt, and a higher rate of increase is expected in 1933. Queensland is next with an increase of 5000, bringing the total up to 31,534 on November 31, 1932. Western Australia follows with an increase of 4768, the total being 15,568. The new 6WF transmitter is just being erected, and when this is operating with higher power and improved transmission, W.A. expects a rapid increase of licences. Tasmania is last with an increase of '2OOO odd for the eleven months, and a total of 10.546.

ITEMS OF INTEREST. Publicity broadcasting stations are growing increasingly common on the Continent, but in Holland there are a number of stations which, while seeking publicity for their clients, aim at secrecy themselves. Illicit stations are reported to be making themselves hoard in various populous regions. One station is sufficiently brazen to send out a nightly “good luck” message to the police wtio are trying to trace it. Another makes the announcement, “llier de clandestine zenda Gouda."

When critics of the 8.8. G. become unusually vitriolic the corporation can always point to the eagerness with which foreign broadcasting organisations relay the British programmes. Since the beginning of September some 25 8.8. G. programmes have been radiated from aerials in America, Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Austria and the Irish Free State. British military band music is especially popular in Germany. France, it seems, has a weakness for our symphony concerts, while Switzerland and Austria like those of the popular variety.

Recently an engineer working on the 2 lc.w. seven-metre television transmitter on the roof of 'the Empire Stale building in New York began to feel his finger getting unbearably hot. Investigation showed that the ring he was wearing was picking up enough energy to generate eddy currents. This occurrence suggests that the use of the ultra-short wires may mean that engineers and others will have to divest themselves of all jewellery before approaching ultra-short wave transmitters. Perhaps even all small metal objects will have to be put on one side, and if so what will happen to the fellow with metal fillings in his tcetli? it will ho a tough break for our familiar friend of the golden smile.

The broadcasting authorities are to bo congratulated on the fact that there docs not seem to be a single person with any complaints to make about I he broadcasting of the arrival of the Southern Cross at New Plymouth.

Not many of us realise that the success of this complicated outside broadcast was due as much to the fortnight’s spade work put in by Mr E. C. Hands, the general manager, as it was to the excellent running commentary on the part of-Mr King, of 2YB. The broadcast was transmitted to all stations. Arrangements were made to do this entirely by land-line. _ The main line ran direct to Wellington, from New Plymouth, where it was distributed to Auckland and the South Island. The running commentary itself was remarkable for the fact that there was not a moment’s pause, not a mistake, and not a word inaudible. Moreover, the announcer told the audience —all New Zealand —when he was going to turn away from the microphone to watch for the aeroplane. In short, the whole thing was a model of organisation that will might be taken as a standard of what an outside broadcast ought to be.