RADIO NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 37, 6 October 1931, Page 5

RADIO NOTES

"Kathode."

By

Mr. Julius Hogben, lecturer on International Law at the Auckland University College, will speak on "The Confiict of Laws" from 1YA to-night. The Melodie Four will broadc'ast "a series of quartettes and solos from 2YA this evening. A f eature of these will be the quartette "Funiculi Funieula." Mr. W. W. Marshall will sing "Gipsy Dan," and Mr. R: Allwright will be heard in "The Song of the Clock." Miss Evelyn M. Robinson; contralto, will sing "Eriskay Love Lilt," "Last Night," "The Last Hour" and "Madrigal." The Salon Orchestra's programme will include some of the latest daiice numbers. The programe from 4YA will be provided by the Mosgiel Municipal Band. Assisting vocalists will be Miss A. M. Brook, Miss Dorothy Stentiford and Mr. John Davidson. Static and fading have been evidenct during the past week. The New Zealand stations have fallen a point in volume, the main reason being sudden climatic changes. The Australian stations have maintained fair volume, with 2FC holding premier place. Next follows 4QG, with 2BL a close third. 3LO Melbourne has fallen somewhat in volume. Periods of had distortion have been noticed on 2FC during the past few weeks. This is side-band distortion and is not caused by poor adjustinent of the transmitter. Too much stress cannot be placed on the importance of a good earth, particu-larly in cases where a.c. receivers are used. "Kathode" has in mind a case where bad hum could not be eliminated until a good earth contact was tried, but little or no difference was noticed until the receiver was changed over to a good earth. The first ground used consisted of two galvanised iron pipes driven well into the subsoil, but this proved to be almost useless. The receiver was then changed over to a water-pipe connection and hum was almost entirely eliminated. As these tests took place within the town area of Rotorua, listeners using the f ormer type of earth will beriefit by using either a water-pipe connection or the special earth outlined by "Kathode" in previous notes. Even if a.c. hum is not evident, or if a battery set is being used, a good earth connection will improve sensitivity of a receiver. Many people are still under the impression that radio receivers are yet far from perfeet and that enormous impovements are to be made in the near future, and for that reason are not in possession of sets. It can be definitely stated that no revolutionary improvements are near, though of course each year produces minor refinements. Those who are waiting for "something different" are missing hours of entertainment and instruction. A moderh receiver will give good and efficient service for years to com'e and the minor improvements coming up from time to time can always he added to the set. The radio serviceman is becoming the most important link between the dealer and the customer. He must be more than a repair man to-day He must know radio in all its phases and be able to repair any make of receiver both neatly and accurately. It is bad policy to allow "the man next door who owns a set" to tinker with a receiver unless he knows all the phases of radio, from transmitting to receiving. The science of radio is not easily learned. It takes years of experience and study to understand thoroughly. Modern receivers using a.c. for power supply — compact arrangements of components and wiring — short wave receivers and the critical high frequency energy they handle, talking pictures and public address systems with their exacting requirements of tone quality and continuity of operation all demand expert attention. An important improvement in broadcast .engineering is the directional microphone. This instrument may be likened to a camera, inasmuch as it can follow the musician or entertainer just as does a camera or spotlight. The directional microphone makes better balance of sound possible, and reduces excessive reverberation. "Amateur radio is unique in history. Nothing quite like it has ever before existed. It is as old as radio, the great Marconi himself , having started as an amateur and being truly typical of one. From the eai'liest days there has been something about communicating across space that has fascinated those of us who are technically inclined. There is a scientific romance to it that profoundly moves certain of us, regardless of the social or financial status to which we happen to have been born. Rich and poor, old and young, we become more selfrespecting men when, with the product of our own hands and our own brains, we are able to reach out into the empty ether and make contact with another intelligence." So spoke Hiram Percy Maxim, the noted inventor and scientist, during an address appealing for the preservation of amateur wave bands.