Radio Review

Evening Star, Issue 20137, 30 March 1929, Page 20

Radio Review

Flashes from Everywhere.

——[By “ HENRY.”]

A CURE FOR MICROPHONIC NOISES. One of the most effective methods to cure the shocks received by tubes is to use a rubber sponge upon which the valve socket is mounted. To do this two machine screws are mounted in the sponge by simply pushing them through. Those screws should be on opposite sides of the sponge and placed 'so that they will readily mesh with the holes in the socket to be used. The sponge is then screwed to the baseboard of the set, using two wood screws. In all cases it is a good plan to use washers under the heads of both the machine screws and the wood screws, to make sure that the screws will not cut through the rubber.

The lighter felt is sometimes suspended between small upright blocks and tlie sockets fastened to the felt. In this way vibrations are not passed from the set to tho valves, being absorbed by the stretch of felt between the blocks (which, are fastened directly to the baseboard) and the socket. This distance to be effective need not be over a quarter to a half inch. Other sockets are being manufactured nowadays which embody the spring principle in the socket jitself. The springs and sub-base to the socket are nil part of the socket, and enable tho whole unit to be placed in the set easily and securely.

One frequently used method still remains. We have many sots in use which arc subject to this valve vibration, and there is apparently no way to fix the sets without almost rebuilding the entire set. In this case a felt pad may be placed under tho whole set, and table shocks and shocks from tho house as a whole will not bo transmitted directly to the valves within the set, SMOOTHING CONDENSERS. Following the production of high capacity dry electrolie condensers for smoothing purposes in filament battery eliminators, successful high voltage l olectrolic condensers are now being I made for use in high-tension battery eliminators. These condensers possess the advantage of being more compact than the familiar forms of paper and tinfoil smoothing condensers. A unit capable of working continuously at a pressure of about 300 volts is being built in the form of a small copper cylinder, about oin high and 3in in diameter. It has a capacity of | between fifty and sixty microfarads. ! The unit, although containing a semiliquid electrolyte, is carefully scaled, and can be used easily as a paper condenser. The principle of the electrode condenser is an elaboration of that of tho aluminium olectrolic recti- ! ficr. It consists of two aluminium I plates in a solution o| ammonium ! phosphate, borax, or one of several I other compounds. 'When a current is I applied across the plates a very thin | insulating film forms over their surface, I preventing the current from passing, and the plates and the solution then form the poles of tho condenser, while the insulating film constitutes the dielectric. Tho condenser has the virtue of being self-healing that is, if through the application of an excessive pressure it is broken down, it can be repaired simply by reducing the voltage and allow- ; ing the film on the -plates to reform. This process takes less than a minute. In various forms, electrode condensers similar to those now being manufactured for battery eliminators, hut capable of withstanding greater pressures, have been employed in the past as smoothing condensers for transnutting units. FIJIAN BROADCAST. An important page of Fijian history was written on December 31 last, when, for the first time, New- Year greetings and a programme of music were broadcast from Suva to listeners throughout the Pacific. The broadcasting was in the nature of an experiment, and the Governor (.Sir Eyre Hutson), Lady Hutson, and a party of citizens assembled at the house of the senior radio officer of tho .Suva radio station, at Vatuwaqa, where a microphone and other wireless apparatus were installed, and the land lino between tho house and Suva radio utilised. Throughout the colony, in Tonga, and in Samoa, hundreds of listeners were awaiting tho broadcasting announcements from Suva and reports ironi all over the Western Pacific show that tho results were very satisfactory. The speakers included the Governor and Lady Hutson, the Colonial Secretary (Mr A. W. Seymour), Sir Maynard Hcdstrorn, Sir Henry Scott, Mr Henry Marks (mayor of Suva), and Mr Alport Barker, M.L.C. The speakers referred to tho prospects ot a successful new year for Fiji, and also the development of wireless, special attention being given to tho service broadcasting could render to Fiji in the way of disseminating market, stock, _ and shipping reports, and in providing musical programmes. A little later Suva Radio came on the air with a musical programme given voluntarily by Suva artists. LURE OF HIE MICROPHONE. Thomas L. Masson, contributing to a recent issue of the ‘ Listener In,’ tells what lie- got out of broadcasting, and suggests a method of getting the best out of programmes. He writes; “ When I was asked to talk irora WEAF and nine other stations lor nothing I was horrified. “ It seemed to me ridiculous, especially as I was made to believe that the broadcasting company had all the money in the world. I declined. Finally it was suggested that I try it once or twice, just for fun. Of course, 1 will do ‘anything for fun, and I tried it. It was terrible. My voice, never good, went back on me. I threw up my hands, and said 1 would never do it again. Meanwhile I began to get letters, as I had been warned I would. To my surprise I discovered that in a large measure they came not from morons entirely, but from very intelligent people as well. “ Some were from heads of big businesses. One was from a prominent mayor. They gave me friendly advice, asked me questions. My talks had been light, had oven been classed by some kind radio reviewers as “ witty,” but in the face of these radio writers, who seemed to understand that beneath my lightness 1 was really in earnest, I determined to give them the best 1 had. So 1 sot about digging into the books ] and writing out talks that were in a j way somewhat highbrow—at least, serij ous, interspersed with asides. These 1 talks brought mo letters from nearly ■very State in the Union. “There was an English writer who , had never been very successful in this country,” he says, “ I read one of his books and liked it, and said so. Ho wrote to me from England asking mo ! wily his books did not go in America, ■specially when 1 had praised one that didn’t sell. 1 told him to come over uul sec. To my amazement in two . weeks’ time he wrote: “‘Tam taking the first steamer.’ ”

The reason for using but two machine screws and two of the wood screws is so that the different pairs will come on opposite side of the sponge, allowing freer play once the socket has been mounted. After the sponge has been fastened to the baseboard, simply slip the socket over the two machine screws, fasten the nuts, and the socket will be riding on the sponge, very loosely and freely, and no matter how violent the vibration about the set it will not be transmitted to the valve to be placed in the socket. In making the connections to the set, bus bar should be run to within one-half an inch of the socket terminals. Very thin brass strips seem to make excellent connections for the remaining half-inch, as they will enable the socket to go from side to side freely without spoiling the contacts. The brass strips are to bo soldered on to the bus bar connections and also soldered to lugs placed under the binding posts of sockets. Ho sure the thin brass strips are very thin, or else the whole purpose of the shockproof socket will be spoiled; for it will transfer mechanical vibrations from the table or from the set itself to the valve, causing a ringing noise. Another method, entirely satisfactory, but requiring a little more mechanical ability and mechanical work, is the method of using springs under the socket. These springs may be constructed from fairly heavy spring brass, so that the socket will rest on these springs. They should be bent under the socket in a gentle curve, the top being bolted to the socket - and the bottom being screwed to the baseboard.

Adaptations of the latter plan enable the whole complete socket sets of two, three, and even six valves to be mounted together with ono set of two or four spring brass springs supplying the entire support and the one-spring arrangement for the whole “gang '’ of sockets. Several of the sets on the market use the plan just outlined, and it seems very satisfactory, especially where several sets are being made in quantity. The rubber sponge method, however, seems the best for the average layman who has only three or four sockets to mount. Another method sometimes used is the one whereby long rubber strips support the gang of sockets. The rubber strips support the sockets quite rigidly and yet will allow them to take up any of the set vibrations gradually. The method of using rubber strips is rather hard to put together, and is another method used mostly where sets are made in quantity. At one time it was feared that these rubber strips would soon wear away and have to be replaced. The writer has seen sets like this, using the rubber strips, which have been in use over three years, and they seem to be in ns good shape as when new.

A felt pad may also be used. The socket may be mounted in a method similar to the way in which the socket .Was fastened to the rubber sponge. Heavy thick felt padding is especially satisfactory for tins purpose, and may <bo procured from almost any typewriting company, as it is used under to make them silent.

•"Henry" will b« pleased to answer any questions through this column relating to the fascinating hobby. Each oorreepondent must sign his name and address (not necessarily for publication). Newsy items will be welcomed.

These letters, the good ones, were enough to encourage Mr Masson to keep on, even without pay—except the payment' of thanks for work well done. Ho had fallen a victim to tho lure of tho microphone—to what ho calls “ micromariia,” but he was astounded at tho results of his talks.

“Not so long ago I read Fannie Hurst’s late book, didn’t like it, and prepared to say so. The radio people didn’t let me know that she was going on tho air that night right alter my talk, and when I got to the studio 1 was horrified to make the I was on at 7.15, and she followed a few moments later. When 1 chided them about the bad taste in panning an author just before she herself spoke, they acknowledged it. I saved myself in time, and put tho panning oil until later. Maybe nobody but Fannie would have noticed it. Maybe she would have liked it.

“ 1 was handicapped greatly by the commercial stuff that followed my talk. The performer before me would overlap, so that instead of fifteen minutes 1 would suddenly find myself with only twelve minutes. If 1 ran into the commercial stuff they would cut mo off. They were getting paid for this commercial stuff, and I was paid nothing. Then, again, the time was never regular. 1 don’t think it ever will be, because sudden people are arriving on the scene all the time who have to be worked in, and commercial people are constantly being taken on. At present tho programmes are almost all commercial. Business, business! “They sent for me one day and asked me to do a commercial tiling, 20dol a minute, i prepared it, but the people who were paying tor it insisted that I. put in the name of the thing they were selling. It was explained t<> them that this was not good business, as the most successful advertising on tho air is pure entertainment, with no taint of tho corporation that pays, except tho announcement and the name. They were greedy, however, and spoiled the goose, as the papers quite properly slammed them for using their name in tlio midst of entertainment.

“ Tho worst of it is that, in a large measure, people on the air are shooting in the dark. All sorts of expedients have been suggested to find out. Of course, at present there is only one way to find out, and that is to produce the witnesses, and these can only be produced on their own volition. Hence the frantic appeals Iron, broadcasters for letters.

“ [ have mentioned the good letters —enough to make mo keep on. But the bad ones! They tell me my average was very much higher than many others.

“ I have seen many of tho others. Aro they terrible? They are. “ Now, any one of us who has had even a moderate experience with what may lie termed an audience —by which i mean those who either hear or read —knows that the response is from three kinds of people. “ 1. Those idle souls, often incredibly foolish, who have little else to do. Among these so many write; ‘Do tell me something to read.’ (1 always ieel like replying: ‘Try Webster’s dictionary—it’s wonderful.’) “2. Fee,wle who nourish a sort of grudge, ol'ton but thinly concealed, ami just love to be sarcastic. You have, often inadvertently, hit them on some tender spot. They generally assume tho high and mighty air ot critic while venturing their spleen-. “3. People who "really want to know, who are genuinely seeking something that yon have, and are always courteous in their demands, and take care to send postage and to frame their requests carefully. “But these are all wo know about, and experience tells us that the most valuable critics are those who never as a rule, the busiest people are the best critics, are possessed of the highest grade of common sense. Alas! These silent ones are negotiable. We can only guess at them. “You see, then, at once, the mam difference between the motion pictures and the radio. Even at that, the motion picture producers are continually under-estimating tho intelligence of the ,’veople. They are constantly trying to go below their level instead of trying to go above it. They do not understand that the body of people will rise immediately to a great work, it it is one. Tlic main trouble is that it is not a great work; it is too - often a trick work of art.

“And that is true of so much ot the so-called education stuff, which, as they say, ‘doesn’t get over.’ Why should it? It isn’t really educational. It is simply dull. “ And so we -have on tho one hand a group of financiers who control tho radio trying to find out just what tho people want, and, on the other hand, a hodv of people, inarticulate as a body, submitting to all sorts of punishment, always Imping that something new will turn up next week. Meanwhile enjoying, no doubt, with great intensity, many of the ‘ features ’ which have been demonstrated to be popular. “The whole thing is really in the hands of the people, or in their ears. And with patience wo shall find out more accurately what they really like, and also what is best for them. For what is best for them, in the long run, will bo what they like.”

REALLY, 4YA! During tho week several people spoke to the writer regarding yesterday s broadcast from 4YA. At the time oi writing (Wednesday) tho three stations in the north were to broadcast morning services on Good Friday, as weu as e\cning programmes, but according to tho advertised programmes 4YA was not tr open up until 8 o’clock in the evening. The writer is therefore prompted to ask the question; “Why does not Otago and Southland get the same service from 4YA as northern provinces get from their stations?'' Of course, there was a reason for the station not being on the air, but what was that reason? However, 4YA has done some good work in the past m many ways, and nothing seems to cotne of “ kicking over the traces,” so to speak, so let us take what is given and ho thankful.

THE POST lE'S BAO 10 Begg street, St. Kilda. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am just writing tins line to ask you it I may loin your happy little band. I was very disappointed that • could not go to your picnic. 1 have written to you three times now, but you did not answer the letters. My big sister, (iwenda, has written to you. 1 will be ten on April 22, and I am in Standard ilia. Wo are getting ready for our examinations now. Last year I got first prize, and the year before I got second prize for class marks. I must close now —With best love, Evelyn Viney. [I am sorry that your letter has been missed three times, Evelyn Vinev, but the third time pays for all, and "here it is in print. There is another from Gwcnda this week, and she does write nice ones. Yours is a nice letter, to be sure, and I specially like that bit that tells of the prizes you won last year. The best of good fortune tins year, Evelyn. May yon do better even than last. By the letters received, there seem as many people disappointed at not being at the picnic as were made glad by being there; it certainly promises to be a giant of a picnic next year. 1 shall hope to see you there.]

preparing beetroot. The next time yon are preparing beetroot, pour a little White-Cottell’s English Malt Vinegar over it after it sliced. Let it stand _for_ a while, and then notice the pleasing improvement. New flavours are brought out appetising flavours which tempt you to eat a hear metil. ].Ad\ t. J