WIRELESS NEWS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19168, 26 November 1927, Page 10

WIRELESS NEWS

(By Listener.)

The Post and Telegraph Department is "out after" those people, especially those in country districts who hold the telephone line for interminable jwnods with a loud speaker, at one end and an interested group at the other. The telephone is not to be used as an adjunct for spreading radio entertainment. * * Much of the noise in valve circuits is chic to the grid leak. Those variable carbon varieties are a source of trouble from the beginning of their life to the end. Although they will give service for some little time, as soon as tho resistance is lowered the carbon discs become packed and cracked, and the leak Incomes ineffective. Such noises are sometimes termed "tube noises." which is incorrect. Tho use of metallised filament fixed grid leaks is recommended. * * The tone quality of the receiver may be often improved by shunting a condenser across the speaker or head phone terminals. The proper capacity of this shunting condenser is best found by trial. Anv capacity from .005 mfd to .02mfd. will give excellent result*. The uso of a condenser for this purpose will decrease the volume of the receiver to si very slight degree, but tho added quality of reproduction fully compensates for the loss in volume. * * Applications by 3LO, Melbourne, for broadcasting licenses for South Australia, West Australia, and Tasmania have been lodged with the Postmaster-Gen-eral's Department. This is one of the most important wireless developments since the inception of broadcasting in Australia, and if the applications are ■granted 31/), Melbourne, will establish a chain of stations throughout the States mentioned, each of which will provide a broadcasting service of equal efficiency to that of 3LO, Melbourne. * * Taranaki listeners have realised that the failure of 2YA to reach Now Ply--mouth and its neighbourhood is due to Mount Egmont. "The analysis of the Taranaki fading reports," writes "8.C.L.." in the ""Taranaki Daily News," "shows that fading starts about Inglewood, increases in New Plymouth, decreases towards Bell Block, and increases round the coast, till clear of the mountain again. The only remedy left as far as 'B.C.L.' can see. is to start a 'working bee' and shift the mountain." * * The chief engineer at 2BL_ (Sydney) uses aj 14-<valve receiver for his distant reception. Built on the super-hetero-dyne principle, this set has three detector valves. With this set stations can be heard whose existenoe before was never suspected, while those which were just audible are received with tremendously increased volume. For re-broad casting purposes, as this set is used extensively, it has the advantage .of amplifying the signals without distortion. * * Short-wave enthusiasts will be interested to know that extensive improvements are being made to Station PCJJ (Holland). The station is closed for two months for complete overhaul," and replacements are now being made with larger and more powerful apparatus. The station power has been variously rated, the latest reports being 40 lew. output, and the station, with the new apparatus and its increased power, is to l>e on the air probably early in December, so that next winter should see better relays coming from the Old World. * * The proposed broadcasting station for the Auckland Anglican Diocese continues to arouse comment, and its advent on the air is being confidently looked forward to (says a writer in. an Auckland exchange). A sum of £BOOO was mentioned as necessary for the installation of a plant efficient, and equal to IYA in power, but it is stated that such a plant is procurable for half that sum or less. It is hard to see how a license could be refused for such a station, though restrictions placed round such a license will be watched by all devotees of broadcasting: In Australia the "B" class stations receive no revenue from listeners' fees, but secure considerable from advertising, and are allowed a certain freedom for propaganda work, political and otherwise. * ' * Times for other places when it is 8 p.m., New Zealand summar time, are: —Adelaide, 5 p.nv.; Bombay, 12.30 p.m.; Brisbane, 5.30 p.m.; Cape Town, 9.30 a.m.; Calcutta 1.30 p.m.; Halifax, 3.20 a.m.; Holland, 7.30 a.m.; Honolulu, 9 p.m. (of previous day); l.jondou, 7.30 a.m.; Manila, 3.30 p.m.; Melbourne, 5.30 p.m.; New York, 2.30 a.m.; Ottawa, 2.30 a.m.; Paris, 7.47 a.m.; Perth, 3.30 p.m.: Quebec, 2.30 a.m; Rome, 8.30 p.m.; Sydney, 5.30 p.m;. San Francisco, 11.30 p.m. (of previous day); Tokyo, 4.30 p.m.; Vancouver, 11.30 p.m. (of previous day); Vienna, 8.30 a.m.; Washington, 2.30 "a.m.; Winnipeg, 1.30 a.m.; Yokaiiama, 4.30 p.m. For general guidance, tho following approximate relations may be taken in •iimparison with New Zealand summer time .—.Western U.S.A. is 20* hours earlier; Eastern U.S.A. is 17 hours earlier, Australia 2} hours earlier, India 6 to 7 hours earlier, South Africa 10J hours earlier; Western Europe llj hours earlier; Great Britain 12£ hours earlier. * * The Secretary of the General Post Office, Wellington, advises that under no circumstances is the telephone or earth wire attached to a telephone instrument permitted to be used as an earth connexion for a radio receiving set. It is also advisable to warn listeners that no earth connexion through an electric light socket is advisable owing to the potential danger to users of the radio apparatus unless a special device made for the purpose is used. This device is perfectly safe to «se ; being certified tested up to SoOO volts. It consumes no current, and does not affect the electric light in any way. But unless such an appliance is emploved it is highlv dangerous to make any connexion to an electric lighting installation. * * An opportunity was recently given a "Press' f man to learn the number of "listeners-in" using crystal sets and J.I.S. 2 stage amplifiers and so get loud-SDeaker strength. This information proved that the large majority of Amplifiers in use have been supplied by J. I. Smail, pioneer radio firm. —6

Notes From Far and Near.

SUMMER TIME RECEPTION. NEED FOR "SPRING CLEANING" SETS. Just as the family car must be prepared for the winter driving season by undergoing a thorough overhauling, so must the family radio set be groomed for summer time use. In cither event the preparations are simple enough and should not stand in the way of enjoying to the utmost both these onetime hobbies which have now become almost everyday necessities. It is useless to claim that summer time is as favourable to radio reception as the cool and cold weather of late autumn, winter, and early spring. It is not —and we all know it. Yet the situation is no different from that of the motor-car; winter timo is not as conducive to motoring comfort as the three other seasons, yet most car owners today drive all the year round. A 9 regardß radio receiving equipment has during the past year been developed with an eye—or shall we say an car? —to lessening the static effect while increasing the apparent signal strength. In all, remarkable advances have been scored against summer time obstacle. A large field for improvement still lies in the homes of the set owner. With this in mind, a few suggestions are offered in the hope that they will be helpful to the radio enthusiast in getting the maximum enjoyment from his receiving set during the summer months. Satisfactory radio reception depends primarily upon what radio engineers call the signal-static ratio. In other words, static is present, in varying degree to the signal strength from the broadcasting station. With the advent of warm weather, particularly in humid, uncomfortable weather that presages the thunder storm, the static level rises and becomes evident in a raspy background to broadcast music or speech. Fortunately, however, it ia very rare that the static is sufficiently powerful to interfere with the signals of present-day broadcasting stations within their service range. It is obvious, then, that the signal strength must be of sufficient strength to override static interference by a fair margin. Broadcasters have long recognised this fact. Transmitting power has been steadily increased from the early days, when a 500-watt rating was considered ample for broadcasting over a wide area. To-day, the 500-watt rating is recognised only for purely local service, with a limited service range throughout the year. Many times that power must and is being employed in summer time for a servico range of about one hundred miles and over, reaching out into the rural districts. The first essential in summer time radio, then, is to tune in the most powerful signals available when conditions are least favourable. Given- a sufficient ratio between signal and station levels, the radio listener can reduce the ♦ undesirable background by being satisfied with smaller volume'from his loud speaker. Another effective method is to employ a smaller antenna. The antenna, normally 60 to 100 feet in length, may be cut down to 30 or 40 feet with sufficient pick-up to intercept powerful local signals during the summer months. Or an outdoor antenna may be substituted, consisting of 20 or 30 feet of wire stretched about the room behind the picture moulding, or otherwise placed about the house. A small fixed 1 condeser ot .0005 mfd. capacity, should be placed between the antenna and the ground binding posts of the receiver, to compensate for the reduced wave length of the antenna, without material change jn the dial settings of the receiver. Interesting experiments may be performed with underground antennas, which are less subject to static pick-up. Ordinary No. 14 rubber-covered wire, such as is used for exposed wiring, may be buried several feet deep in a straight trench, and then covered over, with the end brought to the antenna binding post. Sometimes the ordinary gas pipes of the home will serve as a satisfactory summed time antenna. In the early days of radio communication, two ground connexions made at different depths underground so as to tap two different strata were employed with fair results. The loop-operated receiver, particularly the super-heterodyne, provides an ideal means of favouring signal aB against static interference, because of its sensitive directional pickup, enabling the operator to swing away, from undesirable noises. Aside from altering the receiving conditions, the volume of the loud speaker rendition may be lowered so as to make the static background less conspicuous. In fact, most radio listeners do employ too much volume, and this is especially true in summer time reception. The average radio receiver haß a satisfactory volume control that may be employed in reducing the loud speaker volume to the desired degree, to drop out the static background. If the receiver is not provided with a volume control, then a variable high resistance of at least 0 to 250,000 ohm range may be connected across the secondary of the first audio transformer as an effective and non-distorting volume control. Turning the filaments of the receiver up or down does not constitute an efficient volume control. It should be noted that filaments must be operated at the proper voltage at all times, irrespective of the volume desired. Dimmed filaments may result in severe distortion, while excessively lighted filaments lead to greatly shortened life of tubes. Distance never fails to add greater realism and maximum enchantment. If we may take this point with our summer time radio, do not fail to experiment in loud speaker placement. The loud speaker should be tried out in different rooms, with the listeners' sitting at various distances. A marked improvement will be noted when the distance between loud speaker and listeners is increased. Or, if weather per mits, the loud speaker may be brought outdoors on the porch, or even placed on the lawn of the country home. There is a positive thrill of "freshness" which never fails to arouse even the most blase radio listener-in when the radio is brought outdoors for the first time. These suggestions will help greatly, but it is taken for granted that the receiver is in good operating order. After the long and steady use over the indoor season, it is obvious that the receiver should be gone over and put into first-class condition. First of all, the batteries, if the receiver operates on this form of power supply, should be checked over. It is well to remember that dry batteries dry out quicker in summer than in winter, and if the batteries have already been in use for many months the warm weather of summer may soon exhaust them. Start out with a complete set of fresh dry batteries. In the case of the socket-power receiver, the rectifier tubes should receive

BROADCASTING. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMMES. IYA, AUCKLAND. (333 Metres.) 3 p.m.: Afternoon session, selected studio items. 4: A literary selection, by Mr Culford Bell. 4.30: Close down. 6: Children's hour. 7: Close down. 7.15: News and sports results. 7.45: Close down. 8: Chimes. 8.1: Kelay of Municipal Band concert from Town Hall (bandmaster, Mr Christopher Smith). 9.3D: Weather forein6t. 9.31: Kelav of dance music from Click-Clack Cabaret bv the Click-Clack Radio Orchestra, under .Mr Walter Smith. 11: A thought. 11.1: Clod Save the King. •JYA, WELLINGTON'. (120 Metres.) 3 p.m.: Afternoon session, selected stiiWo items. 3.30: Available sports results, o.oi!: Relay of Manuel Hyman's Exhibition Band from" the Adelphi Cabaret. 4.15: Selected gramophone items. 5: Close down. 6: Children's hour. 7: News session, market reports, and sports results. 8: Chimes of the (Jeneral Post Office clock, Wellington. 8.1: Ovorture, Prelude, "The Rhine Gold" (Wagner); Negro Spiritual Evening. 8.4: Quartet, tho William Rcnshaw Quartet, "Do Kingtail'd Coon" (Scott-Catty). 8.7: Banjo. Mr Chas. Brazier, "Beat As You Co" (Grimshaw). 8.10: Baritone solo, Mr Thomas C. Wood, "Go Down, Moses" (Burleigh). 8.13: Soprano solo, Mrs Amy Dunn, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (Burleigh). 8.20: Instrumental trio, Symons-Elhvood-Short Trio, "First Movement Trio in C Major" (Reissiger). 8.30: Tenor solo, Mr Wiiliam Renshaw, "Ma Little Banjo" (Dickmont). 8.33: Hits and harmonies, the Glad idlers, (a) "Sleepy Time Girl" (Whiting), (b) "When the Love Bird Leaves the Nest" (Wade), (c) "Sitting on Top of the World" (Henderson). 8.40: Contralto solo, Miss Nora Greene, "Mn Curly-Headed Baby" (Clutsam). 8.43: Quartet, the William 'Renshaw Quartet, "De Ole Banjo" (Scott-Gatty). 8.46: 'Cello and pianoforte duet, Mr George Ellwood and Mr Gordon Short, "Andante" (Greig). 8.50: Baritone solo, Mr Thomas C. Wood, "Deep River" (Burleigh). 8.53: Soprano solo, Mrs Amy Dunn, "Piccaninm. Mine, Good-night" (Trotere). 8.56: Tenor solo, Mr William Rcnshaw. "Nuthin' " (Carpenter). 8.59: Banjo, Mr Chas. Brazier. "Tune Tonic" (Grimshaw). 9.2: Contralto solo, Miss Nora Greene, "Honey, If You Only Knew" (Ball). 9.4: Quartet, the William Renshaw Quartet, "Good-night" (ScottGatty). 9.7: The Glad Idlors, in further hits and harmonies, (a) "You Never Seem to Look My Way." (b) "Kitten on the Revs" (Confrey), (c) "Sweet Child" (Whiting"). 9.15: Relay of Manuel Hyman's Exhibition Band from the Adelphi Cabaret. 11: Close down. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH. (306 Metres.) 6 p.m.: Children's hour, Uncle Sam. 7.15: News and reports. 7.30: Sports results. 7.45: Close down. 8: Chimes; relay of orchestral selections from Grand Theatre Orchestra, under the direction of Mrs Black. 8.15: Baritone solo. Mr E. A. Dowel!, "The AVorW is Waiting for the Sunrise" (Scitz). 8.19: Instrumental trios, Christchurch Broadeasting Trio, (a) "Air de Ballet" (Adam), (b) "Scherzo" from "Trio, Op. 50" (Reissiger). 8.27: Duet of happy songs at piano, Miss Dorothy Johnson and Muriel Johns, (a) waltz song, "To-night You Belong to Me" (David); (l>) fox-trot song, "A Lane in Spain" (Lewis). 8.33: Scottish bagpipes, Mr Angus MacKintosh, "The Old Rustic Bridge by the Mill" (M.S.). 8.36: Talk on the modern girl, Mrs E. J. Temple, "The Flapper at Graball and Guys's" (Searson). 8.40: Instrumental trios, Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, (a) "The Countess of Westmoreland's Delight" (Shield), (b) "Waltz, Op. 66, I*o. 6" (Tschaikowsky). 8.55: Contralto solos, Mrs D. W. Stallard, (a) "An Old-fashioned Town" (Squire), (b) "Stimmung" (Henriques). 9: Relay of orchestral selections from tho Grand Theatre. 9.15: Baritone solos, Mr B. A. Dowell, (a) "At Peace With the World" (Berlin), (b) "A Dream" (Bartlett). 9.22: Scottish bagpipes, Mr Angus MacKintosh, (a) "Bonriy Dundee" (M.S.>, (b) "A Hundred Pipers" (M.S.). 9.26: Duct of happy songs at piano, Misses Dorothy Johnson and Muriel Johns, (a) waltz song, "So Blue" (De Sylva); (b) fox-trot song, "He's the Last Word" (Donaldson). 9.36: Instrumental trios, Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, (a) "Celebrated Nocturne" (Chopin), (b) "Waltz" from "Copellia Ballet" (Dolibes). 9.44: Contralto solos, Mrs D. W. Stallard, (a) "My Roses" (Murdoch), (b) "Longing" (Murdoch). 8.50: Some more humour, Mrs ■B., J. Temple, (a) "A Cottage Training" (M.S.), (b) "When Flossie Found Her First Grey Hair" (Clay-Smith). 9.56: Relay of dance music from Dixieland Cabaret (by kind permission of Mr J. Dickson), music by Les. Marston's Orchestra. 11: Close down. 4YA, DUNEDIN. •v (463 Metres.) 12.15 p.m.: Description of the Forbury Park Trotting Meeting. 5.30: Close down. 8: Town Hall chimes. 8.1: Contralto solos, Miss Gwen Cooper, (a) "The Old Garden," (b) "Daddy" (Behrend). 8.8: Pianoforte solo, Miss Helen Wilson, "Valse Arabesque" ('Rees-Newland'). 8.14: Flute solo, Mr O.'E. . Gibbons, "Maaaniello" (Amber). 8.20: Light vocal, Mr Billy Gay, with ukelele accompaniment, (a) "Just Wait Till You See," (b) "Cecilia," 8.27: Recital, Mr A. Gorrie, selected. 8.31: Humorous song, Mr Chas. Rowland, selected. 8.35: Pianoforte solo, Miss Mario Tucker, "Rustle of Spring." 8.39: Flute solo, Mr 0. E. Gibbons, "The Harp that Once Through Tara's Halls" (arr. Young). 8.44: Contralto solos, Miss Gwen Cooper, (a) "Just a Cottaee Small," (b) selected. 8.50: Recital, Mr A. Gorrie, selected. 8.55: Light vocal, Mr Billy Gay, with ukelele accompaniment by himself and Mr A. Bradley, (a) "Drifting and Dreaming," (b) "Don't Sing Aloha When I Go." 9.2: Flute bolo, Mr C. E. Gibbons, "Martha" (Floiow). 9.7: Comic song, Mr Chas. Roward, selected. 9.12: Relay of dance music from the Savoy. 10: Close down. 2FC, SYDNEY. (442 Metres.) 7.40 p.m.: Programmo announcements. 7.45: Mr M. H. EIHb, a- talk on a trip from England to Ind'in by motor-car. 8: "Big Ben"; the Leoni Instrumental Quartette. 8.10: Results from the Speedway Royal. 8.16: From the studio, Gwladys Fimister, soprano. »8.20: Shirley Cooke, soubrette; and Harry Whyte, novelty pianist. 8.26: Charles Lawrence, entertainer. 8.32: Wally Baynes, comedian. 8.36: From the Speedway Royal, progress results. 8.42: the studio, the Leoni Quartette. 8.50: Progress results from the Speedway Royal. 8.55: From the studio, the Leoni Quartette, instrumentalists. 9.5: Late weather forecast. 9.6: The '"Radio Revellers." 10.15: From the Ambassadors, the Ambassadors' Orchestra. 10.30: From the studio, vocal numbers by Len. Maurice. 10.38: From the Ambassadors, the Ambassadors' Orchestra. 10.57: Late I news and announcements from the studio. 11: "Big Ben"; the Ambassadors' Orchestra. ( 11.45: Close down. SUNDAY. IYA, AUCKLAND. (333 Metres.) 3 p tn.: Afternoon session, selected studio items. 4: A literary selection, by Mr Culford Bell. 4,30: Close down. 6.55: Relay of church service from Beresford street Congregational Church; preacher, Rev. Lionel Fletcher; choirmaster, Mr W. Gemmell. 8 30- Relay of organ recital from Town Hall- organist, Mr Maughan Barnett. 9.30: A thought. 9.31: Close down. 2YA, WELLINGTON. (420 Metres.) 6 pm.: Children's service, conducted by Rev E R. Weeks. 6.55: Relay of evening £rvice from St. Andrew'. Presbyterian Church; preacher, Rev. R. J. Howie 8.A.; organist and choirmaster, Mr Frank 815 • Relay of band concert of the Port Nicholson Silver Band from the Grand Opera HOUS6 ' 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH. (306 Metres.) 5.45 p.m.: Children's song service from 3YA Studio, by Uncle Sam. 7: Relay of

attention. In time these rectifier tubes become exhausted, irrespective of type. The best test is to have a fresh rectifier tube on hand. When there is a marked difference in reception between the old and the new tube, then it is time to change rectifier tubes. The other valves of the receiver should also be checked over, again using one or more fresh valves as the basis of comparison. Nothing will improve results quicker than fresh valves in all the sockets. However, it is usually possible to switch the same valves from the audio-frequency pockets to tte radio-frequency sockets for longer ufe, while placing the fresh valves in the detector and audio-frequency sockets, where good tubes are most important. The power tube should also be checked with another power tube of the same tTpc. Finally, the receiver should oe thoroughly cleaned and tightened up. The condenser plates may be dusted carefully with an ordinary pipe stem cleaner. The other parts should be brushed clean with a soft brush. The binding posts and screw terminals should be tightened. Wire connexions should be tested to make sure they really connect. With our receiver in pr°P er &&]& and "hitting on all six," and with operating skill in keeping with the conditions of summertime radio, you are now prepared to enjoy what the broadcasters have in store for the next few months.

evening service from Holy Trinity Ohurch, Cnurch of England, Avonside; preacher, Rev. Petrie, of Lyttelton; organist, Mr Arthur Lilley. 7.45; Instrumental selections from 3YA Studio; instrumental trio, Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, (a) "Allegro" from "Horn Trio" (Brahms). 7.53: 'Cello solo, Mr Harold Beck, "Hamabdil" (Bantock). 7.59: Instrumental triost Christchurch Broadcasting Trio, (a) "Mazurka" (Mailing), (b) "Autumn" (Tschaikowsky), (c) "Czardas" (Copellia Ballet Music), (Delibes). 8.12: 'Cello solo, Mr Harold Beck, "Scherzo" (Van Goens). 8.15: Close down. 4YA, DUNEDIN. (463 Metres. ) 7 p.m.: Relay of evening service from the Trinity Methodist Church; preacher Rev. H. E. Belhouse; organist, Miss E. Hartlev. 8: Relay from St. Kilda (weather permitting) of concert by the St. Kilda Band; conductor, Mr James Dixon. 9.20: Close down. _ 2FC, SYDNEY. (442 Metres.) 6: "Big Ben" and announcements. 6.5: Mr W. F. Kay tells of Australian-born actors. 6.20: From the Congregational Church, an organ recital by Mr A. F. Gibbs. 6.43: Violin solos, Mr Donald McDonald. 6.53: Organ, "Serenade" (Widor). 6.57: Vocal solos, soprano, 7.5: Organ, "Russian March" (Scotson Clark); chimes. 7.15: Evening service from Congregational Church, Petersham S.S. anniversary. 8.30: From the studio, Fraser Coss, baritone. 8.37: Mischa Dobrlnski, violinist. 8.43: Madame Lilian Gibson, contralto. 8.54: Paul Vinogradoff, pianist. 9.5: Margaret James, soprano. 9.12: Mr Arnold Mote will talk about Westminster Cathedral. 9.25: Fraser Coss. baritone. 9.32: Mischa Dobrinski, violinist. 9.38: Margaret James, soprano. 9.45: Paul Vinogradoff, pianist. 9.56: Madame Lilian Gibson, contralto. 10.4: Close down. ISSUE OP LICENSES. A statement was obtained from the Secretary-General of the Post Office in regard to the number of wireless licenses Issued up to Saturday last. The number issued in each district was as follows: —Wellington, 12,973; Auckland 12,944; Canterbury 7520; Otago 2031; total 35,468. I On the same date, tho number of radio dealers' licenses was as fol- J lows: —Wellington district 735; Auckland district 481; Canterbury district 285: Otago district 171; number of transmitting licenses 129; grand total 37,269. The increase in receiving business for the week ended November 19th, over the week ended November 12th, was 803. This shows that there is still a keen demand for licenses, and the Department expects the increase to continue for a considerable time. The indications are that during December many sets will be purchased for tlie purpose of making Christmas presents.

The first Dominion conference of radio dealers was held in Wellington on Thursday, when matters of importance to the radio trade were discussed. The Christchurch dealers were represented by Messrs J. I. Smail (chairman of the local radio dealers' association) and L. B. Scott. One of the remits discussed by the conference dealt with the question of dealers' liability for service to a receiver after a purchaser had taken possession of it in good order and condition. It was pointed out that in no other class of merchandise did a purchaser expect free service after purchasing an article. It was further pointed out that when a man installed electric light in bis home he did not expect the contractor to replace any tamps which burned out, yet the same man if he purchased a radio set, usually expected free replacements of valves if any fault developed. The opinion of delegates was that all service subsequent to the installation of a set should be paid for, dealers not being responsible for faults which might develop owing to careless usage on the part of set owners. The opinion was expressed that dealers were to blame for the present unsatisfactory state of affairs owine; to their failure to take a firm stand and insist on payment for all repair work and general servicing of sets.