Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 19, 25 November 1927, Page 14

Our Mail Bag

Sunday Concerts, Metre: I wish to place on record my appreciation of the concerts broadcast from 2¥A, though I think a few more light items than we get at present would not be amiss. I read your "Mail Bag" with interest, and in connection with the Sunday night concerts I am of the opinion that it would be a pity to eliminate them. I listen each Sun‘day, and, contrary to ‘Listener, ChristRee eeeeeeeeaeaeaeaeeaeEeeEeEOeEeeeeeeeeeeeEeEeeG-w_eeeeerrl eee eT EE eee tt i i it ttt i tt tt i tit ia church," I find nothing "questionable" about them. Most people I know derive a lot of pleasure from these relays. I suggest to "Listener, Christchurch," that he exercise radio’s special privilege, that is, to switch off af. ter the church service. His feelings will not then be hurt by the innocent pleasure of the multitude, and, moreover, he can observe all the "silence" he desires. Double Aerials. T.B., Lower Hutt: When reading this week’s issue of your most helpful paper I came across an error re doublewire aerials, ‘Switch’? says that they will sot give better results than the common or garden single-wire variety. I beg leave to differ with him. He may have got his information on very good authority, but the best authority is your personal experience. I had a single wire and got fair results (the longest 1 could possibly get was fifty feet), but on erecting a double wire, four feet apart, my reception was very good. Perhaps "Switch"? would say that conditions had improved, either at the statious or in the air, but I made the change-over at night during a concert, and you conldn’t doubt the improvement. Just a word or two about the concerts at 2¥YA. I think they are just fine, but I agree with "Grandma," Petone, it would be a real treat if the Symons-Hllwood-Short trio could give us some old songs and popular numbers. Surely the few people who understand high-class music are getting the monopoly. I have never noticed the least sign of fading from 2YA. The Racing Broadcasts. "Sport" (Wanganui): The racing broadcasts at the recent Cup meeting were not up to the previous standard, a standard which had left ample room for intprovement. I notice in this morning’s paper a protest from the Church, and if broadcasts are not improved these protests are going to have an effect, because so many more of the listeners-in will be indifferent as to whether thev are cut out or not. You must interest the person who is not particularly interested in racing and this point should be borne in mind when considering my suggestions. 1. From the time he switches in, 5 minutes or more before the race, the announcer should keep talking until he switches off. There were far tno many "gaps in the air’? last week. 2. Repeat the horses, riders, positions at post, order of favouritism, colours, and atiy comments as to what went wel! in the preliminary, etc., and keep on repeating the horses and riders, or some coimtnents till the race starts. On several occasions, I had three or four friends in the house to hear a race, the band would be playing, it would stop, after a wait we would be told that the tote. had closed, and possibly tlie Ist, 2nd, and 8rd favourites mentioned, then a long wait when you were not certain whether you were still on the course or not. The next you would hear would be "They’re off."’ No chance for each one of us picking a horse against each other. Everyone who listens has not a race card. 8. After the race, give some brief conunents on the race, and how the mnplaced horses ran: This was done sometimes, but not often.

4. After giving the starters and riders, there is no harm, to my mind, in the announcer briefly reviewing the field. It will also give him some food for cominent wlren he switches on again hefore the tote. closes down, as to why his prophesies have or have not been fulfilled. It must not be forgotten that many fistetiers-in are not especially interested in racing, but nevertheless atly race or contest can he made interesting to the listener-in, if the announcer goes about it in the right way. Your sports announcer is excellent oft football, and quite alright in describing the races, especially the trots, but faited this last mecting in giving tlie detailed information and connnents necessary and essential to make the broadcast interesting to others than those keenly interested in racing. T trust this attempt at constructive criticism will be received in the right spirit, as my only wish is to improve the sport broadcasts so that their popularity will be the cause of a shower of protest if there is any organised attempt to stop them. Comment on Programmes, J. B. Dovedale: I feel, in view of the criticism that frequently appears of New Zealand wireless programmes, that I mist write to say how I appreciate these programmes. It is hard to say which of the three stations I prefer, hut I thiuk I am most often listening to Auckland or Christchurch. There seems to be less jazz uoises and more ttusic from these two than from Wellington. HH I had any complaint it would be that there is too much of these noises. The bleating of saxonhones T / cannot stand. But JI realise that some people enjoy this kind of thing, and I am content to close down on Saturday nights when it begins, though sotmetines I wish that one of the three stations would contifime with music The afternoon concerts from Ancklatd fre very enjovable, and always inchitde very good records. I never ntiss Mr. Bell’s reading at 4 p.m, if I catr be at home for it I must thank him for those, ‘Though I have read imauy of

the selections. I thoroughly enjoy listening to them again, and I hear him perfectly. Wellington I don’t worry about in the aftertioon, except sometimes on Tuesdays, as there are ladies’ lecturettes and jazz orchestras which don’t interest me. At night, Christchurch is perhaps my favourite. I think the opening chorus or sotg is a very good inhovation, and I always try to tune in for it. The operatic selections and songs there (as elsewhere} are much appreciated. I wish we could have more of them. ’ This place must be very well situated for reception, as I seldom notice any. fading from Wellington or any other New Zealand station, though sometimes Wellington is blurred or distorted. My set is a five-valve, and I have to work on only four valves for the N.Z. stations, 1, 2, and 3YA, in the evenings, as they are too loud with five valves. Besides, the Australian stations, I frequently listen to KFON, California, from about an hour before sunset, on the loudspeaker. There is’ another American about four points below KEFON on my dials. I would like to know what it is. I have never heard this station call. One suggestion I would like to make. It is about the weather report.. This appears to be very elusive, and often I miss it altogether. Could it not be given as near 9 as possible? Sometimes about 9.10 I switch over to another station in hopes of getting it, and probably miss it at both. Christchurch frequently omits it altogether. In conclusion, I add my congratulations to the New Zealand Broadcasting Company, and hope they will carry on as they are doing. Their fare is a great hoon, especially to us who live out in the country. P.S.: I have picked up a station, 2ZF, Palmerston North, several times. What is this station?

a Mh: British First. R. YT. Marshall (Nelson): In your issue for next week I noticed a short article on a new type of valve whicli you say has been developed in America, but is not on the market yet. I would like to point out that a similar valve which has been developed by the Marconiphone Co. in England was described in ‘‘Popular Wireless" for September 3, 1927. It appears that the Marconi valve was on the English market before this date. From the description given in your article, the principle seems to be the same in both cases. This is evidently a point in which English engineers are not behind the times, and should therefore be given credit for their product. Recharging A Batteries, A. W. Nisbet (Pelorus Sound): Just a few lines to express my appreciation of your excellent publication and of the many interesting articles published therein, with special reference to ‘‘Megolim’s" page, and "News and Notes, ’ by "Switch." Being a ‘"backblocks" listener Megohm’s article on the "A Battery Problem," was of special interest. This article was published in answer to a query from a listener who said he had heard a broadcast on the subject, but wanted further particulars ; the broadcast referred to was probably one that the writer got some few weeks ago from 8L0, Melbourne, being a lecturette by Mgr. H. K. Love on "Battery Charging for Country Listeners." Mr. Love stated that owing to the difficulty of securitig porous pots for making up the Daniel cell, he recommended the use of Leclanche cells for this purpose. The lecturer explained that the ordinary type of bell-ringing Leclanche cell was quite useless for radio A battery work, for the reason that immediately the loudspeaker is placed on this type of eell it polarises, but that a recent development of the Leclanche cell known as the Sack type will not polarise quiclsly, and will deliver a very fair current when used in the 4 battery circuit. The lecturer further stated that the

type O of this form of Leclanche celf had the following characteristics :- Overall dimensions, olin. x 8Stin, Weight, 10lb. : a Voltage. 1.5 per cell. Vacuum discharge rate, .6 amp. ‘ Capacity, 170 amp. hours. It was stated that this type of cell would be quite satisfactory ‘as’ an A battery used on its own, but for those who already possess accumulators it was strongly recommended that this cell, or, rather, battery of cells, be floated across the accuthulator ‘circuit as ex+ plained in ‘"‘Megolim’s" arti¢le. 8 According to Mr. Love, ‘this ‘type’ of cell requires about half a "pound' of sal ammioniac, at Is. 8d. per: tb., to: recharge, has-a very low internal re-' sistance, and is capable of giving long" and efficient service without’ requiring more than slight attention occasionally. : Personally, I think both the lecturers‘ quoted above and ‘‘Megohm’’ failed to’ make one point clear, namely, that this' is not a method of recharging a rure down acctimulator, but rather a meéans’ of keeping a charged accuniulator up to strength, a distinction with a dif. ference. : The only fly in the ointinent is that’ ‘to date I have been unable.to locate... any merchant in Wellington. who stocks + this type of Leclanche cell. Trusting:: the above note may, prove of-intgr-st ta other backblocks listeners.. godt yes Christmas Eve." oy, 43349: May I suggest tlat it would: give a great deal of pleasure if your station could arrange a special pro- ° gramme on Christmas Kve? What I have in my miud is thet ther are matiy thousands of eideriy people in the Dominion who cherish fond memories of the old-fashioned Christmas as they knew it in England in their younger devs, with Christmas songs atid seasonable music usually remlered by choirs | an the etrecia. MWhece lands of singers aa, i

eee _ aera ee always commenced at midnight with "Ohristians Awake," ond if capable, in addition to hymns other appropriate selections, stch as glees, etc., were rendered. If the suggestion is favourably received, perhaps the best timie to begin would be 10 o’click, lasting for about an hour, but, of corrse, this is for you to decide.-VYeour suggestion has beett passed ott to the Broadcasting Compatty for consideration.- Ed. Children’s Sessions, A.E.B. (Auckland) : Being a subscriber to your valuable paper, I wish to ask if it is not possible to announce when the children are having concerts at their sessions itt the four stations of the compativ. We have a nephew who sang at the last children’s concert at TYA, and we did not know about it-The suggestion is not practicable, nor is it the aim of the company ‘9 feature individual performers during children’s hours, but rather to interest atid eficourage as mani children as possible. These gessiotts will he kent as informal as possible, as thev are for children, sot adults, and formalitv would detract from their value.-Ed.