Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 16, 4 November 1927, Page 13

Our Mail Bag

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. £T,T2? (Hataitai): Galena is a satisfactory crystal for dorig distance reception, but efficiency does mot stop at the crystal. A-high, long aerial, good insulation, and good earth and a fayourable locality help considerably. PE." (Otahuha): ‘The station heard was probably 2FC, Sydney. "Crystal" (Christchurch): The winner of the "Radio Record" crystal set competition employs no amplifier. There are varying obscure factors that make for long-distance reception, although, of course, a high aerial of good length, first-class insulation of same, a’ good earth, and a favourable locality are largely contributory to success, "ZBT": Sorry, we cannot undertake direct correspondence, A Bandsmen’s Comments. R. Whitwell (Nelson): I would like to congratulate IYA on the excellent transmission of the Auckland Artillery Band last Wednesday; also the band on their playing. Being a bandsman myself, I can naturally appreciate this kind of programme. Judging by the balance of the band it must have been very well placed before the microphone, not to mention that the band itself must also be well balanced. I think that the studio bond concerts are better than the reluyed ones. I would like to hear this excellent band again from 1YA in the near future, and I may say we haye been hoping to hear a studio coucert by the Woolston from 3YA. Fading Test at Opunake. G. Scott (Laranaki); I thought you would like to know how we experienced the fading test around Opunake. I was not listening-in on 2YA all the time, but it was very good when I was listening, there being practically an absence of fading. I tind the ‘Radio Record" most interesting, and look forward to it. SYA is coming in with great yolume, but 1YA is unreliable. Be Moderate. "More Consideration for Staff" (Dunedin).-Many _listeners-in are always, like Oliver Twist, asking for more, but do they ever think of ‘‘the man at the wheel’? Do they realise that every time they ask for extra nights, on which there should be transmissions, that they are putting an extra strain on the staff of the broadcasting station? The stations are operating for our pleasure, but, surely, we should show consideration ‘ wards those who have to work so that we may. have it-most oi the stations are running six nights a week, and this means that the staff has only « free for their own enjoyment. i,et us remember this before we make further demands on their time, While writing, might I ask why it 1s t' at we have only had one Anglican Church service broadcast during, I think, the past six weeks?-[Our correspondent does not state which station his query refers to, but the aim is to treat ajl Churches with fairness. The absence of any particular Church from the air is not necessarily due t~ the company-no Church may be broadcast without permission.-Ed.] A Plea for Australian Programmes. W. Windsor (Westland).-I have much pleasure in saying 1..w much I appreciate the ‘Record."’ I fitid it a great help, having obtained many useful hints and ideas from its cclumins. I would like to suggest that you endeavour to print the Aussie programmes, if possible. This would be greatly appreciated by your many subscribers, and, I think, \.could~ gain you many new ones. After New ZeaJand stations have closed down, New Zealand listeners commence to "tune in" the Australian stations, one after the other, in an endeavour to find the programme most suited to each individual taste. This must cause a lot of interference in the centres, and the printed programme would »bviate a lot of this. I would like to again express my appreciation of the paper, and of the splendid programmes now being put over the air by our New Zealand stations, which are as good as, and very often better than, those of the other side-[{The Australian mail reaches Wellington on Tuesday forenoon, and the necessary >apers reach us generally on a Wednesday, but sometimes on Thursday, and occasionally not at all. We are cor pelled to print early Tuesday morning. If we printed the programmes a week late they would be applicable only for the few days affected fo nearby listesiers, We would be very glad to oblige, ut with the mails as they are we are handicapped.-lid.]