ON the AIR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 21, 16 April 1927, Page 4

ON the AIR

Fare For Listeners-In

New Zealand broadcasting stations transmit as follow: IYA (AUCKLAND), 420 metres, 500 watts. This evening’s programme is as follows: 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., afternoon concert; 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 p.m., news and reports, etc., sporting results; S p.m. to 10 p.m., chimes, relay of orchestral selections from the Strand Theatre, under the direction of Miss Eve Bentley; contralto solo, “Glory of the Sea” (Sanderson), Miss E. Peace; pianoforte solo, (a).. “Knice and Knifty” (Bargy). (b) “Sunshine (Bargy), Mr. J. Edwards; tenor solo, “Beneath Thy Window” (“Di Capua), Mr. L. Barnes; contralto solo, (a) “Easter Flowers” (Sanderson), (b) “Beloved, It Is Morn” (Alyward), Miss E. Peace; pianoforte solo, (a) selection from Mr. J. Edwards; tenor solos (a) “Still As the Night” (Bohn), (b) “Bonnie Wee Thing” ‘(Lehman), Mr. L. Barnes. Interval. Relay of Dance music from Click Clack Cabaret, under the cotiductorship of Mr. Walter Smith. 3YA (CHRISTCHURCH), 400 metres, 500 watts; This evening’s rogramme is as follows: 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m., children’s session, Uncle Jack. 7.15 p.m. to 7.45 p.m., news and reports, etc., sporting results. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., chimes; relay of orchestral selections by Everybody’s Picture Theatre orchestra, under the direction of Mr. W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M.; instrumental trio, “Hawaiian Melodies,” Miss Elaine Moody and pupils; vocal duet, “I Wish You Were Jealous of Me,” Messrs. C. Lawrence and J. Taylor: monologue, “Yes, I Think So,” Mr. H. McD. Vincent; steel guitar solo. “I’m Tickled to Death, I’m Single,” Mr. Chas. Lawrence; monologue, “Monty,” Mr. H. McD. Vincent; vocal duet, “You Can’t Fool an Old Hoss Fly,” Messrs. C Lawrence and .T. Taylor; instrumental trio, Miss Elaine Moody and pupils; vocal duet, “It’s Too Late to be Sorry Now,” Messrs. C. Lawrence and J. Taylor. Interval. Relay of dance programme by Jackson’s Band from the Caledonian Hall, by arrangement with Mr. Reg. Stillwell. 4YA (DUNEDIN), 3SO metres. 750 watts. There will be no transmission this evening. 2YK (WELLINGTON), 295 metres, 120 watts. There will be no transmission this evening. NOTES. Atmospheric conditions were not of the best last evening, and heavy bursts of static interfered considerably with reception from overseas. There was no transmission from the Dominion stations. BROADCASTING COME TO STAY Dame Nellie Melba is to be broadcast from Canberra during the ceremonies there shortly, and no doubt many New Zealanders will hear something of her “Broadcasting has come to stay,” says Dame Melba. “It is certainly wonderful in its influence. The speeches of Mr. Baldwin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and many others, when broadcast, had the effect of bringing the settlement of the bib strike in England appreciably nearer.” RENOWN TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE. The Renown obtained daily communication with Buckingham Palace by using a short-wave plant, employing a power of 5,000 watts. Amateurs in New Zealand have frequently obtained communication with England on a power of 10 watts, and sometimes on a smaller power than that. To obtain communication with a power of even 100 watts would be no “stunt” at all to them. NO GREAT CHANCE According to Dr. J. H. Dellinger, of the American Bureau of Standard**, it will be several years at least before the present radio receiver will be changed to any great extent. “People have quit waiting for some revolutionary discovery in radio to upset present conditions,” he said, “and they are taking broadcast receivers into their homes in the well-founded belief that they are getting"! a standardised instrument, which is not going to be out of date for many years. Any doubting persons who are still postponing their enjoyment of present broadcast reception, anticipating some sweeping changes, are waiting in vain, I am afraid. Minor refinements may be expected continuously, but the basic operation and results, as found in the latest sets, will remain unchanged for some time.” _ USEFUL DATA The following data will no doubt be of use to many wireless enthusiasts:— Length of spark in air for various voltages between 'needle points: 5,000 volts, 0.225 in; 10,000 volts, 0.47 in; 15,000 volts, 0.725 in; 20,000 volts, l.OOin; 30,000 volts. 1.625 in; 35,000 volts, 2.00 in; 45,000 volts, 2.95 in; 50,000 volts, 3.55 in; 60,000 volts. 4.65 in; 80,000 volts, 7.10 in; 100,000 volts, 9.6 in; 120,000 volts, 11.85 in; 130,000 volts. 12.95 in; 140,000 volts, 13.9uin; 150,000 volts, 15.00 in. Home construction of tuning coils.— S.W.G. wire gauge, No. 16, resistance in ohms per yard, 0.075 turns per inch, D.S.C., 14, D.C.C. 13; No. 18, ohms 0.0133. turns, D.S.C. 19, D.C.C. 16; No. 20, ohms .0236, turns 24, 21; No. 22, ohms 0.039, turns 30.25; No. 24, ohms ./62, turns 38 30; No. 26, ohms 0.945, turns 46, 35; No* 28, ohms .139, turns 56, 40, turns per

cent 22, 15; No. 30, ohms .199, turns (a) 66, 45, (b) 26, 17; No. 34, ohms .362, turns (a) 55.55, (b) 34.21; No. 36, ohms .53, turns (a) 102, 64, (b) 38, 23; No. 40, ohms 1.33, turns (a) 142, 78 (b) 42.25. No. 20 has 85yds to the lb, No. 26 340yds, No. 2S 503yds, No. 30 717yds, No. 34 I,3ooyds. No. 36 1,903yd5, No. 40 4,756yd5, No. 44 10.766yd5. Wave-lengths and their corresponding frequencies in cycles per second: 50 metres, 6,000,000 cycles; 100 metres, 3,000,000 cycles; 200 metres, 1,500,000 cycles; 250 metres, 2,200,000 cycles; 300 metres, 1,000,000 cycles; 350 metres, 857,100 cycles: 400 metres, 750,000 cycles: 450 metres, 666,700 cycles; 550 metres, 545,400 cycles; 1.000 metres, 300,000 cycles; 1,500 metres. 200.000 cycles; 2000 metres, 150,000 cycles; 2,500 metres, 120,000 cycles; 3000 metres, 100,000 cycles; 6000 metres, 50,000 cycles; 10,000 metres, 30,000 cycles; 15,000 metres, 20,000 cycles. On a wavelength of about 17,320 me.tres the number of cycles or pulsations of current per second is also about 17,320. Formula for finding correct value of a filament resistance required with different value: R equals minus e divided by I. multiplied by N, where R is resistance in ohms required, E is accumulator voltage, E is ■ operating voltage of valve, I is operating current of valve, and N is the number of valves operated from the rheostat. New Zealand programmes for Sunday, April 17 (to-morrow): — IYA, AUCKLAND:— 6.55 p.m., relay of evening service from St. Mary’s Cathedral, Parnell; preacher, the Rev. Canon Percival James; organist, Mr. Edgar Randall; 8.30 p,m., relay of organ recital from Town Hall by Mr. M. Barnett. 3 YA, CHRISTCHURCH:— 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., chimes; relay of evening service front the Christchurch Cathedral; preacher, the Very Rev. Dean Carrington; organist, Dr. J. C. Bradshaw. 4YA, DUNEDIN: — 6.30 p.m., relay of evening service from Knox Church; preacher, the Rev. .Tulloch Yuille; organist, Mr. W. Paget Gale; 8 p.m., relay of band concert by the St. Kilda Band from the St. Kilda Band Rotunda (weather permitting); conductor, Mr. J. Dixon. 2YK, WELLINGTON:— 6.55 p.m., relay of evening service from St. Andrew’s Church; preacher, the Rev. R. Howie; organist and choirmaster, Mr. Frank Thomas; 8.15 p.m., studio concert. ACROSS THE TASMAN The Melbourne broadcasting station, 3LO, transmits as follows: SUNDAY, APRIL 17. 10.30 a.m., British official wireless news; express train information. 10.45 a.m.—Bells from St. Paul’s Cathedral. 11 a.m.—Scots Church. 12.15 p.m.—Close down. 3 p.m.—Wesley Church. 4.30 p.m.—Close down--5.40 p.m.—Children’s hour. Answers to letters and birthday greetings. Musical programme by “The Pied Pipers,” “Billy Bunny.” £ . 6.45 p.m.—Close down. 6.50 p.m.—Bells from St. Paul’s. 7 p.m.—St. Paul’s Cathedral. FROM THE STUDIO 8.30 p.m.—Collingwood Citizens’ Band. 8.40 p.m.—August di Gillio, violin. 8.50 p.m.—Wesley Choir. 8.57 p.m.—Collingwood Citizens’ Band. 9.7 p.m.—Elsie Davies, soprano. • 9.14 p.m.—August di Gillio, violin. 9.24 p.m.—Wesley Choir. 9-31 p.m.—Collingwood Citizens’ Band. 9.37 p.m.—Elsie Davies, soprano. Jit p ‘ m ‘ —Collingwood Citizens* Band. 9.50 p.m.—News. 10 p.m.—Close down. GENERAL RECEPTION By far the pick of the broadcasters at present is 4QG, Brisbane, his signals coming in with remarkable strength and steadiness. In fact, at the present time, this station is about the loudest which has ever been heard in New Zealand. 2BL, bydney, is well up to standard, both n n „, m o^ la « tlon and 9 ualit y of programmes, duc -re is not quite up to scratch, and many people have noticed a distinct blur in his relay work, and even in some of the studio programmes. 3LO, Melbourne, in n , , Ql i lte . as strong as usual, but after i 0 o clock is gradually returning to the old winter time strength. The Adelaide station provides some good entertainment with a good set after 10 o’clock, as does the Theosophical station at Sydney, but these stations require a slightly larger set than usual to obtain satisfactory results. 3AR and the Druleigh College sation, both at Melbourne, are just audible under favourable conditions. INDOOR AERIALS Admittedly, aerials erected inside a i?,V b f„ are , m^ ch efflcie nt than those put up outside. This nuist be the case as , sam ? general rule for efficiency freedom from screening, absorption effects of near-bv earthed "f bj " C , ?J7 aP i5 ly equally well to both types of aenal. However, there are times when it is a question of an indoor aerial or none at all. Then, the fact that an indoor aei ial is inferior to one outdoors is n P I \^?' son * at ad w hy the former types should not be made as efficient as * the permit -. Few People now * nto 4 ® error of taking the down lead from the wrong end of the horizontal portion of an outside aerial (or in ° n h ft'seTfUn/,t°/r, b6nd ‘ n E the aerial back bu 4 the aame care is not exercised when the aerial is inside the house la 4 ter caß e. the wire frequently tttists and turns in such a way that nart°of l 1 ? tory c ' lrrents Produced 'in one part of it counteract to a great extern those flowing in another part. Yet, it is nnt y hint e ? ot i an ind ? or aerial which is not bent back upon itself to anv great extent. Suppose, for instance, the set is installed in a back room on the ground floor. The aerial should then finish up in a front room on the top floor, and not be taken first toward the front of the house, and then to a back room upstairs. Similarly, if the set is placed in a g *l? un . d_ , floor front the free end l h< L ,^ door aerial should be in a top back bedroom.