HAWKE’S BAY NOTES

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 6, 26 August 1927, Page 12

HAWKE’S BAY NOTES

_A noted improvement has been marked in reception conditions up this way uring the past week or two. The ew Zealand stations have been on the job "lot and strong, but the "Aussies" have been better than they are at present. All listeners appreciate the efforts which are being made by the Broadcasting Company to transmit all the main sporting events, and in re-. ying the races from the Cathedral. City. YA was in big demand. At the same time, this station still fades adly, or at any rate, if it is ‘tiot the Btation, the reception fades very’ much here, and until this fault is remedied SYA will not hold first place ‘with local listeners. The Broadcasting Company must realise from the many reports reteived that this fading is ptevalent nof only in this district, but all over the Dominion, and a big effort should be fade to locate the trouble, for it will & great pity if such a station as SYA is not brought up to the highest Possible pitch of perfection. No one ikes to be written down as a "growler," but‘in this respect there certainly is room for a growl. , Too Many’ Songs,’ |: : Recently reference was made in these Motes to the all-round improvement in

! the programmes from all the New Zealand statious, and in the interim the writer has questioned’ at least half a hundred listeners on the matter of programmes, and it is quite clear that satisfaction is not yet general. From most quarters the suggestion is offered that all stations concentrate too much on songs. In this direction an alteration would be welcomed. It is, of course, hard to suggest just what should constitute a first-clas radio programme, but 90 per cent. of listeners prefer listening to bands, orchestras, or, in fact, any musical number, rather than vocal solos. As far as 2YA is concerned, several listeners queried why the De Luxe ‘Theatre orchestra and the Wurlitzer organ was not put on the air. In any case, the company can rest assured that if more musical numbers and less vocal numbers were ineluded, the programmes would be more enjovable. It.seems that it is the vocal solos which do-not find favour, for duets, quartets, etc., are quite popular. This suggestion should be at least worth a try ont.-[2VA has relay. arrangements with the Paramount orcliestra, which is of first-class quality, and is frequently ‘fon the air.’’] .

Radio Society. At the annual meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Radio Society, which was held in Hastings, the Rev. F, A. Bennett was re-elected as president, Messrs, A. C Duff and J. H. Scott were elected vicepresidents, other ofces beiug filled as follows :-Treasurer, Mr. J. Strickland; secretary, Mr. If. H. Culver; auditor, Mr. R. D. Brown; executive, Messrs. A. S. Tonkin, A, E. ©’Meara, KE. T. Gifford, F. Mardon, and S. C. Rusbatch. Short-Wave Craze. The short-wave craze is taking on up. this way, and lots of experimental circuits have been tried, with more or Icss success. The circuit diagram given in last week’s ‘'Radio Record" looks good, and no doubt will be given a good thrashing before September 1. Power Line Interference. Local interference from power lines and motors, etc., is becoming a big bug-bear here now, and the Radio Society has appointed a committee to see if the trouble can be eliminated. One of the new vice-presidents of the club is Mr. J. H. Scott, the borough electrical engineer, and he has promised every assitsance in this respect, so there is hopes of .improvement. Local Station. Mattets are still moving very quietly in connection with the proposed locai Station, but in a couple more weeks or so the society should be in a position to know just where it stands. ‘he debentures are’ now being ‘‘sold," and although it is early yet to judge, good results are, expected. ‘s