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Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 5, 19 August 1927, Page 4

The important event of the time for enthusiastic amateur listeners is undoubtedly the announcement from Britain that the British Broadcasting Corporation is giving a temporary license to the well-known short-wave enthusiast, Mr. Gerald Marcuse, to undertake as from September 1 experimental short-wave transmission, principally designed Yo reach Antipodean enthusiasts. The attitude of the British Broad- _ eastitig Corporation is that at present the difficulties of reception are .such as to make it inadvisable for the Corporation itself to undertake such a service, because, while temporarily creating a good deal of enthusiasm and interest, the reaction from probable disappointment would be such as to operate against the real interests of broadcasting. ~ A period of experiment still remains to be undertaken before a satisfactory stage of efficiency can be reached. This experimental work is to be undertaken by Mr. Marcuse, and his activities will certainly be followed with considerable interest by a number of enthusiastic listeners in both Australia arid New Zealand. . The possibility of a considerable number of listeners enjoying the pleasure of broadcasts from London on this short-wave transmission is indicated by the fact that it is possible to adapt an ordinary receiving set for the reception of short-wave messages. A special article on our. front coyer indicates how this may be done. The work of adapting any valve receiving set to this class of reception is very clearly outlined, and as experimental work has successfully been undertaken with this set here in New Zealand, it is unquestionable that results will be secured by those who closely and carefully follow the instructions there given. ‘This is a most remarkable phase in the development of radio broadcasting, and we await the outcome of Mr. Marcuse’s experiments with intense interest. We will be glad to have records of reception of his transmission from those fortunate enough to receive them. Apart from this experimental work by the enthusiastic band of amateurs, it is interesting to recall the opinion of the British Broadcasting Corporation that, for the present and immediate future, the most satisfactory results of Empire broadcasting are likely to be secured by the overseas stations installing short-wave receiving sets, and rebroadcasting on their ordinary wavelengths the original London transmission. Z2YA, it is interesting to note, is preparing the way for short-wave reception, and when the — experimental work now being undertaken is further advanced, and the scientific results achieved therefrom have been tabulated and co-ordinated sufficiently to admit of the British Broadcasting Corporation undertaking a definite Empire broadcasting service, then New Zealand listeners may look for occasional novelties in the rebroadcasts of British concerts, performances, and news items. The difficulties in the way are very considerable, and under present conditions no sure reliance can be placed on reception satisfactory for rebroadcasting, but scientific developments are certain, and listeners may look for advance along these lines as opportunity offers. There’s a great difference, of course, between satisfactory expert individual amateur reception and reception suitable for rebroadcasting.