WIRELESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19721, 11 December 1926, Page 22 (Supplement)

WIRELESS

By

The Grid

Broadcasting Technique. Wireless broadcasting has, even in such an out of the way place as little New Zealand, almost ceased to be a thing of wonder to the average person. A few years ago the possessor of a wireless set was looked on as a dabbler in occult mysteries, and to have heard actual broadcasting was a mark of distinction. To-day radio sets are b3coming almost as common as telephones and motor cars, and before -long the sight of a set will excite no comment at all. The writer was concerned h few days ago in a transaction affecting a large property, and the purchaser asked whether the vendor would take his wireless tiway, the reason being that the purchaser had one himself and did not wish to take over another. Very soon aerials will be installed as a matter of course on new houses, and the fact that la house is situated in a good area for reception will be an inducement to prospective tenants or buyers. One may ask what all this has to do with broadcasting technique. Simply this, that the change in the leceiving end has been paralleled by a tremendous change in the attitude of listeners towards programmes. A few years ago the scratchiest gramophone record played on the tinniest gramophone was quite good enough for transmitting purposes, to some extent because of the crude apparatus employed in the transmitter and receiver, but mainly because we wished to hear broadcasting and not necessarily music. To-day the fact of broadcasting is u.eceptcd by everybody without comment, and a wireless set is expected to produce music, and other items with fidelity and certainty. Not only this, the artists and speakers must be of high merit, or a flick of the wrist will switch the receiver across to some other station where better items are being given.

The result is that broadcasting stations are being compelled to improve the quality of their transmissions. Apart from the actual items themselves, which of course depend on the artist and not on the station, there arc many fine points which make or mar the whole programme, and which may perhaps bo called the “technique” of broadcasting. For instance the announcing has a tremendous influence on the average listener. Compare the announcing of Uncle George and Uncle Jlack from 2BL with that of many New Zealand announcers. Uncle George’s voice is the voice of a friend, and never seems to irritate. But the feebly humorous remarks and utterly unnecessary interjections made by a recent announcer at 3YA positively grated on the ears of most listeners. The job of Un announcer is to tell listeners briefly, clearly, and smartly the name of the station, the items it is transmitting, and such other information as it is essential to supply in the way of weather and other reports. Attempts Ut humour are almost invariably disliked by listeners. Promptness in opening up the station and in proceeding with the items is another point W’hich some stations seem to overlook. Ixing pauses between the items annoy most listeners, especially those who wear phones, and a great deal of howling is due to impatient 'listeners swinging about from one station to another during pauses. Of course where a concert is being relayed tho matter is out of the hands of the broadcasting station and the pauses must be endured. But in studio work there is no excuse for delav.

Careless switching frequently mars programmes from one New Zealand station. Cross talks are very often overhetard, and in some cases fragments

of outside telephone speech have been picked up. In tho case of relays the timing of the items is sometimes bad, aiid an annuoncement of a certain item will be followed by the sound of instruments being tuned, chairs being shifted, and similar undesirable sounds. After a delay of several minutes the item will start. All these points have a very great effect on the success of broadcasting, and we consider that every station director will find it essential to watch such details in order that his particular station will keep its popularity. Broadcasting has got beyond the day of experiment and rough and ready operation. It must now aim at and endeavour to maintain a high and ever improving standard. $ ❖ ❖ Eadio For Farmers. New Zealand is a country depending almost entirely upon farm products for its existence, and the improvement of flarm life and conditions should be the aim of everyone. The isolation of farm life is one of its worst features, and radio offers a means of alleviating this to a considerable extent. In the United States of America the Department of Agriculture maintains a radio service which is essentially for the farming community, and about one hundred broadcasting stations in all parts of the country co-operate in the service. It should be understood that there is no attempt ot confine the stations to farm information only. Musical entertainment is the most popular feature of radio programmes to the farmer just as to other listeners, but by selecting suitable hours for broadcasting farm information, so that it does not interfere with other entertainment, an interested and appreciative audience is assured. We are interested to note that IYA and 3YA have obtained the co-operation of tho N.Z. Department of Agriculture in arraying lecturettes for farmers, and it is to be hoped that further developments in „his direction will take place. <s•<»♦ General Notes. A meeting of radio licensees residing in and around Wellington is to be held next week with the object of starting a combined movement to obtain better broadcasting. Wanganui listeners will Assuredly be with the meeting in spirit if not in person. The service provided by IYA and 3YA is becoming less and less effective as summer conditions approach, and on three nights out of each week on an average good reception is impossible. A local dealer who has constructed a valve-testing lapparatus draws attention to the large number of dull emitter valves which arc ruined through the filaments being over-run. The voltage specified by the manufacturers should never be exceeded if long valve life is desired, and it is good practise to fit a voltmeter on multi-valve sets for checking purposes. The .06 ampere type of valve seems especially liable to injury from over-running, and should be particularly watched. The Australian stations seem to vary a lot in strength at the present time, and good reception on a given night cannot be guaranteed. Last Monday night static absolutely prevented reception, but Tuesday night was very clear and 2BL and 2FC came through with great volume. 2FC seems to have improved considerably in the past week, and is much clearer than formerly.. The sudden changes from night to night are apt to make one think the set is faulty, but in nine cases out of ten, weather conditions are entirely to blame.