KEEN INTEREST IN SHORT-WAVE POSSIBILITIES.

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 10, 23 September 1927, Page 4

KEEN INTEREST IN SHORT-WAVE POSSIBILITIES.

The glamour of short-wave possibilities continues to attract public attention. Disappointment has certainly been occasioned by the comparative failure of Gerald Marcuse’s effort at Empire broadcasting. The public, however, can fairly well assess the reasons for that failure. The accident to the condenser was in every way regrettable, and the interference of the amateurs, in spite of his earnest request to them to "keep off the air" at the time of the broadcast, certainly prevented reception -during the few minutes in which he was operating. The real cause, however, of the failure of the experimental effort is undoubtedly the low powcr and equipment on which Mr. Marcuse is compelled to operate at this stage. It is all very well for the British Broadcasting Corporation to say that the time is not yet ripe for successful initiation of short-wave broadcasting, but the fact is that a private company in Tolland is operating a low wave station with a very considerable degree of success. Its broadcasts are received regularly in New Zealand, and it is very little to the credit of the Empire whose overseas interests are so vast that the _ way should he led by others in this fashion. The Broadcasting Corporation suffers from no lack of funds, and a much more progressive attitude would have been to make available the power and finance for the necessary experimental work. ‘The short wave era has come. 3LO Melbourne, from its healthy financial resources, has progressively led the way, and has given Britain the first full programme by means of an Empire broadcast. This was successfully received, and opens up immense possibilities.

-_ The prospective inception of daylight saving (on passage of the Bill by the Upper House) has an interest for listeners. The practical efforts of our altering the clock will be to make it possible to secure the full New Zealand evening programmes, and on their termination start in at 10.30 and hear 8 o’clock strike in Sydney and Melbourne, and follow on with them so long as the humour lasts. Another effect will be a prolongation of the daylight influence on the New Zealand transmission. This will particularly apply to distant and overseas reception. A further influence will be a probable intensification of the demand for portable sets-that is, if the expectation of the daylight enthusiasts is justified, that seaside resorts and fresh air pusuits will benefit. ‘The experiment -will be watched with interest.