RADIO AND ITS RECEIVERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 487, 17 October 1928, Page 18

RADIO AND ITS RECEIVERS

Conducted for THE SUN by R. F. HAYCOCK. Radio and the .Flight OPERATOR’S SPLENDID WORK Excellent Relays by IYA

RADIO again played a most important part in the return flight of the Southern Cross to Australia, and it is certain that everyone fortunate enough to possess a receiving set was tuned in to one station or the other listening to progress reports, and the news of the departure and arrival.

Those who were unable to understand the Morse code, had to be content with listening to the broadcast stations’ progress reports during the day and early evening, but the broadcasting company had made such excellent arrangements for catering for listeners that interest was well sustained and crystal set-owners were almost on a level with those possessing multivalve sets. The relay of the landing and events Just prior to it. from 2BL, by IYA and 2YA, was a triumph for the Broadcasting Company, and so excellent was the transmission that every word was clearly heard by crystal set owners in Auckland. IYA had a big day of it being on the air for 24 hours, and the station officials and staff are to be commended for the manner in which they carried out their work. Commencing at 4 a.m. the station relayed preliminary information from the airdrome at Blenheim. Static was terrific, but nevertheless the announcer’s description of the take-off from Blenheim was clearly heard here, including the roar of the plane’s engines, and the cheering of the crowd.. The operator on the Southern Cross, Mr. McWilliam had a big part to play in the successful accomplishment of the flight, and it was pleasing to see that the co-commanders in their story paid a well-deserved tribute to his

work. Throughout the long and trying 24-hour journey the note of his carrier was audible. His messages were difficult to read, as his note was very rasping and at times—especially in the afternoon—was purging up and down, while it was exceedingly difficult to distinguish his dots from his dashes. What with private. Press and other messages he must have been kept very busy, and the time with him must have passed very quickly. On Saturday night he was kept so busy with messages regarding the landing that he had no time to give us his position or to send out Press messages, and consequently it was somewhat of a surprise when it was heard that the plane was actually over Australia. Messages from the plane were evidently not received so clearly during the day in Australia as they were here, because for some hours at night Mr. McWilliam was engaged in correcting and filling in gaps in messages sent to Australia during the day. These messages, however, were received in most cases in their entirety here. If it had not been for the radio it is hard to say what might have happened to the plane. Had it not learned by radio that the lights at the drome had failed it might have flown blindly on only to meet with disaster because of an unlighted landing ground. It is certain that the plane was hopelessly lost for a time, and the messages from Sydney helped to put it on the right track again. Radio messages also gave very useful weather reports which enabled the airmen to dodge the bad spots, and to take advantage of the good ones. The operator came through a trying ideal with flying colours, and is to be congratulated on keeping up his end of the stick when his services were desperately required. Events such as the flight of the Southern Cross fire the popular imagination. and must have a very beneficial effect on the radio trade. Many who would not listen to ordinary broadcasts of concerts, etc., will want to hear descriptions of similar, events to the flight, and it will not be surprising if there is not a big increase in the number of radio licences taken out in the near future.

SHORT-WAVE TESTS Owners of short-wave receivers will be interested to listen to the shortwave telephony tests being conducted this week by 2ME Sydney and 2XAF New York. On Monday 2ME was heard calling 2XAF, and asking the latter to reply on the usual wave-length. Sydney, however, was apparently not picked up. Last evening 2XAF was heard telling 2ME that it would continue sending out phonograph records. The latter went on with its bed-time stories for some time, but later picked up the American station and both maintained two-way communication for some time. Both stations were very clear and loud, and using a Mullard Master Three receiver the writer had no difficulty in picking them up. SEEKING NEW TALENT Recognising that the success of broadcasting lies in a,n ever-changing personnel of artists, the New South Wales Broadcasting Company, Limited, is again carrying out a comprehensive drive for new talent. On this occasion the company has decided to cover practically every avenue of its entertainment programmes, in the Radio Eisteddfod to be carried out during the me iths of October, November and December. The total prize money runs into approximately £BOO, and will not alone cover an actual cash distribution at the time of winning, but will ensure engagements to the successful artists over the next six months. The competitions are to cover choral work for church choirs, mixed choirs and male and female voice parties. Mixed quartets, soprano, mezzosoprano. contralto, tenor, baritone and bass soloists. In the instrumental section, pianoforte, violin and ’cello solos have been included, also contests for brass and military bands, cornet and saxophone solos, while a further section has also been established for dance bands. On the elocutionary side, radio sketches and plays, debates and impromptu announcing will be catered for. A popular section has also been arranged for vocalists, male or female, comedians, radio revues and entertainers. An Australian composition section has also been included in the syllabus, when prizes will be allotted for the best original song, best original pianoforte and violin compositions. A feature in some of the sections will be the arrangement of facilities for the winners to make phonograph and player piano records, and these will be ultimately offered for sale through the trade channels, with the accruing benefit in royalty to the winning competitors. If a similar scheme were adopted in New Zealand, some excellent talent might be revealed.