RADIO

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 532, 16 May 1933, Page 3

RADIO

"Triode..")

(Notes by

Reports from various parts of the country show that overseas stations are coming in well. When static and iriterference permit, reception locally has been igood. - f Morse signals are giving some trouble, and' on several evenings have in- ' terfered with the reception of 2BL. In one German town all the wireless dealers put a notice in their windows, reading: "The programmes are bad." v Commentdng on this, an English writer said "If the sets were good the listeners would discover that for themselves." — In New Zealand " we have! The writer was recently speaking to a visitor to New Zealand who has his own portable set. After speaking about the ;exceptionally high noise level in Rotorua, he said: "I suppose you know that with possibly the ex- | ception of 3YA your programmes in New Zealand are "punk." I now ' switch straight on to Australia." This remark recalls to mind the editorial notes in the recent issue of :a New Zealand radio paper. The writer stated that in compiling the programmes the wishes of listeners as shown in the results of the questionnaire were being closely followed. From results published at the time, band music headed the list, yet during the seven concert sessions from 2YA last week two records were the only band music supplied. In the same notes the Broadcasting Board is given the whole of the credit for the increase in licenses. No allowance is made for the natural advance of radio, the ability of radio salesmen, or the important fact that over.seas programmes can generally be received at better tone and volume than our New Zealand stiations, and provide a superior entertainment. There is no doubt that a large body of listeners are not satisfied with the quality of the entertainment provided by the YA stations, and it is to be hoped that the board will soon wake up to the fact. ) An interesting pamphlet has been issued by the engineering department of the British Post Office dealing with' interference. It is interesting to note that the first instruction to their inspectors is to check for faulty re- | ceiving apparatus. It is pointed out that a well constructed two-valve set can easily give better results than a poorly made three-valve one that has been neglected. Bad joints in the aerial and .earth equipment or in the set, or a faulty component can easily be mistaken for outside interference. The book then deals with interference from oscillating sets, other transmitting stations, both amateur and commercial, and lastly various electrical troubles.. It is safe to sa.y that in Rotorua the last group would easily come first. ; We get more than our fair share of noise from neon signs, brush motors in household and commercial equipment, etc. One hlears that the inteyferefnce committee may soon have something to report. If the interference was as quiet as the committee have heerKtbere would have been no need for the committee. Listeners are now paying nearly £150,000 per annum in license fees and it is to be hoped that the Broadcasting Board will soon decide to spend a portion of this in curing some of the major sourc.es o? noise. Electrical engineers h'ave found that the increasing use of all-electric ■receivers has I'esulted in a substantial increase in the load on the generating stations. ^.ti Leghorn, Italy, the engineer reported an increase of 24 per cent. While the reception of the Empire short-wav.e station in New Zealand has not come up to expectations, it is reported that when this station is transmitting for the Indian zone the reception in Western Australia is almost perfect. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Russell, who were lcnown in Wellington as the " Joy Germs," are now living in Auckland. They will lead the community singing at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, and the programme will be broadcast on relay by 1YA. On Saturday at 9.2 p.m. 2YA will broadcast the first two of a series of igolfing talks r.ecorded by Archie Compston, who is acknowledged to be one of the world's leading golf authorities. The first two talks are on "The Secret of Long Driving" and "The Secret of Good Iron Play." After broadcasting a recording, an Aussie B announcer said, "That was a German recording, but I cannot pronounce the name — so that's that." W e thinlc that, xight or wrong, "Clive" would have had a shot at it. While an Aussie paper gives "Clive" the credit, we cannot guarantee that he was the 2YA announcer who recently stated that "Steady rain was falling of a very wetting nature." Some humorous slips made by Aussie announcers. — 2UW : "The time is almost exactly 12 o'clock." 2CH: "The time by cloclc is half past a quarter to eight." While from 2BL came the announcement that "The Piccadilly Orchestra will play 'For Ever and Ever."