NOTES AND COMMENTS

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 27, 20 January 1928, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

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"elyin’? (Wellington) has dropped ne a line on shortwave reception. He writes; ‘‘About 1 o’clock on Wednesday morning of last week I picked up 2BL, Sydney, relaying the English short-wave station, 5SW, Chelmsford. Switched over to my shortwave outfit and got SSW. direct. He was relaying 21,0, London. . ‘There was a dance orchestra and vocal items. I tell you it came in with good loudspeaker volume with only slight variations’ in strength. ‘The transmission was crystal-clear, and on the whole reception was the best I have yet obtained. ‘YThis looks like great things in the near future." _ Yo the people at QYA, Wellington, permit me to pay my humble tribute for the way they rose to the occasion on the ‘luesday the airmen were expected to arrive at Trentham from Sydtley. It was no tault of the 2YA folk if the reports were incorrect that the aeroplane had been seen at this place and at.that place. The public wanted the very latest reports, and they received them promptly. The description of the scenes at the Trentham racecourse was admirably done. Radio received a supreme advertisement on this occasion, for the man in the street was shown that the fellow who owned a radio »et had the advantage over him. Up till 2.30 o’clock on Wednesday morning 2YA, Wellington, was still on the air, Hundreds of listeners sat by their sets all through the night listening to the latest reports about the transTasman aviators. One Wellington radio company operated a loudspeaker at their shop entrance and held an audience on the footpath until 2YA signed off at 2.80 ain. It was an epic performance by 2YA, and the radio company availed themselves of it, Well done, 2YA! Well done, Natcla! Deserving merit so often goes unsung, that one appreciates being in a position to give due credit to "Auntie Dot,’ "Uncle Sandy," and "Uncle Jasper," those delightful children’s entertainers at 2YA, Wellington. { have received several brief notes commending my praise of those worthy persons, published last week. Exigency of space precludes publication of ail these appreciative communications, but room can be found for a couple which are characteristic of the sentiment of » my correspondents. "Alfred T. N.? (Kelburn) writes: "All who listen to the children’s session at 2YA,° Wellington, are not juveniles. It was with deep gratification that I read your eulogy of the kiddies’ entertainers, ‘Aunt Dot,"’ "Uncle Sandy," and "Uncle Jasper.’ This trio, I, too, believe, are the most conmipetent I have yet heard, and my toudspeaker has brought in all the Australian and New Zealand children’s sessions for three years past. Voice modulation is not the least evidence ot the art of those three enjoyable entertainers at 2Y\. Then, also, there 's no slurring of syllables, and a due regard for correct intonation evidences a degree of .perfection seldom attained hy broadcast speakers. Yet, I cannot ‘ overlook the announcer at 1YA, Auckland, whose cultured, though rather higher-pitched voice and pleasing dictton place him prominently among the announcers in this part of the globe. To the trio at 2YA, I say, "Carry on vour noble work; continue to brighten the golden hours of childhood; for vour kindly natures are bound to find quick response." "Mater" (Thorndon) writes: "May I endorse your praise of the accomplished children’s entertainers at 2YA, Wellington. ‘hose gifted people contrive to’create an ‘atmosphere’ which in our home js completely successful. ‘The little ones have accustomed themselves to an intimacy with ‘Uncle Sandy, ’ "Aunt Dot,? and "Uncle Jasper,"’ which is quite indescribable They are "ot ordinary mortals to our little ones. Yhey are surrounded by the glory and ‘ysticism of imaginative childhood, shared by the heroes and heroines of the fairy tales. Could we bnt all go back to those bewitching days, just for "ne brief hour, when those who peopled the tales of Anderson and Grimm were very real to us! Will "Uncle Sandy" kindly wave his wand and restore to 3 some of those tales of enchantment through the air. He will have a‘rapt wdience in one little home. We grown-ups, too, would relish the telling Sy him." "IL." also writes: "While cordially "greeing with your commendation of ‘Aunt Dot’ and ‘Uncles Sandy and Jasper,’ I regret that mention of ‘Uncle Ernest’? was omitted. I and my family thoroughly enjoy his session which is ilive and vital to a degree. His personality comes through the microphone very very successfully and I would like him to know that his efforts for the "hildren are enjoyed quite on a par with that of his able colleagues," . The "mixing panel" through which New York gets its Broadway theatrical production is an apparatus which . is moved into the basement of the theatre from which the play is to be broadcast, and by the ingenious use of switches {1d numerous microphones the voices if the performers are always heard

clearly and muever appear to retreat irom or come tov close to the miucrophone. In the intervals between the lines an observer deseribes what is happening. Qne of the most successful and realise lic ‘interludes’ ever staged at aG, Brisbane, was put on the air one myght recently under the wtle "All Aveard."* The "effects"? were exceptionally well carried out, and mauy listeners, 20 donbt, closed their cyes aud iuought they were being taken on a picasure trip to Sydney. The trams i1 (Jueen Street, the motor-cars, the crowd talking at the wharf, the ship’s peils, the creak of the gaugway, the revelry in the music room after dinner, and the lauding in Sydney, all had their place in the playlet. ‘The only effect missing was the roll-of the ship as she entered the broad Pacific from the calm of Mores ton Bay. Seventy-five people participatcd in a radio telephony talk between New York and London in the early hours of a recent November morning. ‘The demonstration of the Transatlantic service was made in connection with the visit to New York of the delegates to the Washington International Radio Conference. Each conversation was necessarily brief, but every word was heard clearly on both sides of the At lantic.

Sensibly used, a five valve receiving set will save its cost many times over by entertaining the family inexpenstvely and giving the youngsters better mental food that they are fed ordinarily in places of amusement. Games can be organised, based on distance cover: ed and numbers of stations brought in by the different members. Evenings at home can be made as thrilling by such means as many of the outside attractions, A.whole neighbourhood group may be held together and safely led through the perilous years of adolescenice. Very often a nut is removed from some terminal in a radio receiver for the insertion of an extra soldering lug or wire. The experimenter, suddenly possessed with all thumbs, is often aggravated by his inability to get the nut back on the screw. An extremely simple method of replacing the nut is to take a wooden pencil, which has the lead point broken, and forcing its pointed end into the nut so that it is securely held in place. By then placing the nut over the threaded portion of the terminal, it is a comparatively simple matter to revolve it a few turns, so that the threads wilh mesh. The use of a pair of pliers or a "spin tite" wrench will then tighten the nut so that a good contact is provided. Dry-cell valves can be used in some positions in a set and the larger valves in other positions. ‘I'rying different valyes in different positions is one of the favourite indoor sports of the experimenter, The new poer valves have opened new possibilities mm both volume and clarity of reception. A dry-cell valve is excellent as a radio-frequency amplifier in a set with 6-yolt valves.

The old practice of mounting most of the parts of a receiving set on the upright panel is disappearing. Now, as many parts as possible are placed on the base or sub-panel. The adyantage is obyions. Parts that might be affected by the body capacity of the operator are farther from him. Heavy parts that once placed considerable strain upon the thin upright panel, because of the leverage that an unbalanced weight has on its point of support, now sit securely on a firm foundation. If a modern set should slip from the hands of a man who was placing it on a table, and fall a few inches, it probably would sustain little if any damage. A heavily Joaded panel might be split by the same kiud of mishap. Considerable confusion often results in Wiring a receiver from a blue print, due to the fact that difficulty is experienced in remembering just. what circuits have been completed. If the home constructor will obtain a blue crayon and cross out those wires and connections which he has made, from the blue print, he will have an accurate check as to which wires and connections have been made. This method has its advantages and after having once been used, will be resorted to at all times. . A convenient method for connecting batteries to a receiver is in the use of a valve base from a burnt ont valve and a standard valve socket. The glass portion of the tuhe is removed by heating the sealing compound and breaking the glass away. Four coloured wires are then soldered to the valve base prongs, sealing wax poured into the opening, and flushed off at the top of the hase. The four wires are then cabled and connected to the "fA" positice, "A" negative, "B’’ detector and "B" amplifier terminals of the batteries. A socket is then wired into the receiver, using the same polarity on the terminals as has been observed in the tube base and battery cable. This makes an extremely simple battery cable and in the event that more than four wires are fiecessary, it is possible to double the arrangement by using another tube hase and socket for attv extra connections. The jumper between the "A’"’ and ‘RB hatteries may he either connected internally or externally from the receiver. Perhaps no safer, quieter or more satisfactory source of power is a good storage ‘"‘A"’ battery, a storage "‘B’"’ battery with enough cells to deliver ninety volts or more, and an efficient battery charger. A trickle charger will take care of a battery and keep it in firstclass order. Some chargers will deliver either a trickle charge or a higher charge as may he desired. The majority of loudspeaker cords have one of the wires equipped with a red tracer, ‘The wire, thus marked should at all times be connected to the ‘B" positive of the loudspeaker output of the receiver unless an output transformer is used. Damage may result to the speaker +f the "B" battery voltage is applied to the wrong terminal, A cotivenient method for testing whether or not the polarity is correct, is to connect the speaker to the output of the receiver and observe the quality and volume of reproduction, Then reverse the terminals and tepeat. If the yolume and reproduction is of a better ofder, it is safe to allow the connections to remain. If, on the other hand, a decided decrease in quality and yolume is observed, reverse the terminals to their original polarity.

fr ‘The polished surface of a_ bakelite panel should be protected by home vonstructors at all times when the holes are laid out. A convenient method for protecting the surface of the panel, as well as furnishing a surface upon which pencil lines may be drawn, may be foand in glueing a piece of papet to the panel surface. hefore laying it out. Holes are located, centred and drilled before the paper is removed. After the panel is completely drilled, it sliould be soaked in water and the paper removed with a stiff brush. The water will dissolve the glue or paste used and a perfect finish will be preserved as far as the panel is concerned. Experiments and tests with the Himpire short-wave broadcasting station have almost been completed, and the new station is expected to be on the air officially early in 1028. The B.B.C. reports that it is proceeding with the erection of "‘spaced receivers’? for the reception of-programmes from Amertiea. The power of the new station will be anything up to 25 k.w., and the wavelength between 20 and 40 metres. It has already been proposed that the King should be invited to inaugurate official Empire broadcasting. The recent inactivity of Philips Company’s short-wave broadcast _ station, PCJJ, following the successful. transmissions which stimulated short-wave broadcasting throughout the world, has heen due to additions and alterations to the Netherlands station. Philips Lamps Lid. state that the famous short-wave station has been moved from Itindhoven to Hilversum, where the station will be erected with larger studios. ‘Tle power will probably be increased. It is hoped that the station will be transmitting again early in the New Year. ae Oa OOO OO 0 0

reel eller el el ti ‘Home constructors will find it is sometimes necessary to have a particular capacity in a fixed condenser which is not available at the time. If two condensers are conuected in parallel, each laying the proper value, the desired capacity may be obtained. The resultant capacity of two condensers connected in parallel is the sum of their individual capacities. In this respect, it is possible to get a .0U03 mfd. condenser by connecting two .00015mfd, condensers in parallel. Many prefer the low-voltage valves lighted by dry cells. Others like the more powerful 6-yolt tubes lighted by storage batteries. Dry cells are easier to handle and safer than storage batteries, but a good storage battery with a battery charger will give very little trouble after installation. Some of the best records for long-distance reception in New Zealand have bcen established by dry-cell valves. The old method of reducing volume — of a radio set was to cut out the last — stage of audio amplification; and con--sequently most old-style sets were provided with jacks, so that you could plug the loudspeaker into either the first or second stage as required. The development of special power valves for use in the last stage has changed all this, so that the best practice now is to keepeall the yalves in the audio amplifier end of the set working at all times and to control the strength of the signal before it is fed into the audio amplifier. ‘There are several ways of doing this, perhaps the simplest being a rheostat control of one or more of the radio-frequency amplifier valves. Practically no loss in the quality of the signals received is noted when this type of control is used. The writer never uses his radio frequency valve for receiving the local station. The tendency to-day is toward simplified control of iuning units and filaments, for most radio receiving sets must be sold to persons who want to avoid all inconvenience in operation. One-hand tuning seems to be in demand, though what the operators want to do with the other arm is not quite clear in these days, when the closed car has taken the placé of the parlour sofa, It certainly does not increase the efficiency of valves to control five or more filaments with one rheostat, nor does it improve the tuning of a set to turn all the condensers with one knob. The two-control tuning system, however, will be found efficient.