RADIO

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 520, 2 May 1933, Page 7

RADIO

(Notes by "Triode.") Except for the usual high noise level, especially in th'e town area, reception during the week has heen fair. Early in the week 2YA was faddng badly, even in daylight, but improved tov/ards the week-end. The football season is now properly under way and running commentary on the niost important nratch. in their respective towns will be broadcast hy 1YA, and 2YA next Saturday. The first part of a very interesting lecture on "How to Speak in Public" was given hy Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb, MA., from 2YA last Friday. This lecture will he completed next Friday at approximately 8.40 p.m. While listeners no doubt appreciate the Broadcasting Board's efforts to supply them with high-class entertainment, the practiee of advertising the fact at every convenient opportunity throughout the day and for days on end get3 very monotonous. Regular listeners must hy now know hy heart the announcement concerning the John Brownlee concert to be given next Thursday. Another interesting item should be the first halflhour of the Wellington Harmonic Society's concert to he broadcast hy 2YA at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Empire Short-wave Station. Two of the following frequencies and wavelengths are used by the Empire transmitter at Daventry, England, for th'e Australian and New Zealand zone: — G.S.B., 9510 k.c., 31.55m; G.S.C., 9585 k.c., 31.50m; G.S.D., 11.750 k.c., 25.53m; G.S.E., 11,865 kc., 25,28m; G.S.F. 15,140 k.c., 19.82m. Announcements are made at frequent intervals. A review of the current week's programme shows to what a large extent land lines are used for providing suitable entertainment. During the week there will be relays from St. Anne's- j on-Sea, Erdington, London, Swan sea, J Bradford, and Chester. • To those listeners who are ahle to receive this short-wave transmitter, the following extracts from the cur- j rent week's programme may he of in- j terest: — A cinema organ recital from | London on Wednesday at noon; a re- j cital by the Wireless Singers at 11 j a.m. on .Thursday, followed by an or- 1 gan recital from Swansea; the Wire- ; less Military Band will be heard on i Friday from 10.45 a.m. and the fam- j ous B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra at j 10.55 a.m. on Saturday. All the fore- I going time3 are British summer time, \ and listeners will need to add a hour to get New Zealand standard time. i

' Reference was made in last week's notes about the.big increase in saies of aufcomohile radio sets in America. English manufacturers are now making- enquiries a3 to the prospects for the sale of these sets in their overseas markets. In England, opinion is divided on the subject, but manufacturers admit that eventually automohile radio will become popular. Recently M. Fedorc Chaliapine, the famous Russian bas3 singer, completed 30 years unhroken association with H.M.V. He was presented with a - full-size replica in gold of his hest sell- J ing record.

What is known as Class B amplification has appeared on the British market and is in use hy several makers. Cossor will shortly release a Class B dual output valve for battery operation. This i3 similar to the American type in that it is really two triodes in the one bulb. Cossor, however, use the 7-pin hase and leave one pin hlank. Filament current is .4 amps at 2 volts and with 120 volts on the plate the harmonic distortion is given at 2.5 per cent. The valve will be known as type 240B and in a properly designed circuit ha3j an output of 2 watts. Osram will also shortly release several new valves with characteristics similar to the new American types. They also promise a general improvement in all their valves through alteration,; in design and construction.

i Ail listeners may not he aware that the fire underwriters require a lightning arrestor to he fitted when an outdoor aerial is used. If possible, do not purchase those that are sealed with wax, especially if it i3 to he fitted in an exposed position. In many of them the wax will harden and contract, thus allowing the, carhon elements inside to shift, or >allow dirt and moisture to get in. This will weaken reception and possihly cause an annoying ci'ackle in the set.