Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 32, 24 February 1928, Page 12

Our Mail Bag

Releys and Other Things "Quite Contented" (Dunedin) .-I notice in the mail columns of your excellent paper, "Radio Record,’’ that daylight saving seems to be annoying some listeners-in, especially in the country. I notice also that someone suggests the relaying of stations Well, Y would like you to have my opinion on both these subjects. I wish to say, first, that davlight saving doesn’t bother me in the least where New Zealand stations are concerned. I have been enjoying the benefits of radio for three years now, and I fail to see how one hour is making a _ difference Naturally, the Aussies aren’t quite the same, but why worry? The New. Zealand concerts are just as good asthe Aussies’, I think it is just that *‘distance-getting ability" that is worrying some folks to-day. My set is a four-valye Browning-Drake, which I built myself, and gives excellent results. I had the set with me_ at Queenstown during Christmas; the daylight reception from there was perfect, BYA and 4YA being the stations listened to. Now for the relaving of stations. I see it is a Wellington suggestion, Well, all I can say is this: that I hope 4YA doesn’t attempt it, I have heard 8YA relaying quite nicely, but 4 YA’s relay of the Maori pagom =

CPT a a) eant was very poor. 1 am sure there is room for improvement in 4YA. My aerial is two miles from 4YA. I get 8YA and 2¥A good during the day. 8YA fades rather badly at night, whilst ‘OVA and 1¥A are good. 4¥A, of course, doesn’t fade here, but he stops quite a lot for adjustments However, taking radio reception as it is, it’s riot bad. ‘ I for one would be absolutely lost without it; it takes us old chums to appreciate the improvements, so here’s to wishing the B.C.C. the best of luck. Sidey Time. FB. Carter (Bay of Islands).-I have been waiting for someone from this district to write to the ‘‘Record" on the question of "Sidey’? time in regard to reception by country listeners. { have yet to hear of a five-valve set "that can get 2¥YA in this district before 7.80 p.m. That is to say. speaker strength and intelligible. Personally, I have got a fiye-valve set, with a 60 feet aerial and 40 feet high, and a good earth, and at 7.30 p.m. I can just hear @YA on the speaker, and only just, but I certainly couldn’t write down what the announcer was saying. Although it is bad for-wireless, I hope "Sidey" time has come to stay, on account of its advantages to the great majority of workers in New Zealand. In this week’s ‘‘Recor/l" T see there is a suggestion by 48349 Wellington’ re a ‘dictionary column." I would = -e ae eS

like to congratulate your correspondent for his suggestion, as I think it is a splendid idea for beginners, like miyself. I notice also that some of your readers have been asking for the "silent nights" to be done away with. | Surely, Mr. Editor, the station staffs are entitled to one night off out of seven ? Bad Reception. C.P.S, (Shannon): As reception from ZYA continues to be mushy and distorted, L would be please1 to kuow if the new land line that was spoken of shortly after the opening of 2YA, has ever been stalled, and if so, when? Cutil about a month ago the station was fairly succesful as a source of enter‘tainment during the afternoous {though useless, at times, of a night). Latterly the afternoon session reception is the most distorted. Doubtless, the class of artists employed leaves little to be desired, but the type of music played by the best, the famous trio, is not altogether appreciated. ‘‘Home, Sweet Home’? was never too humble for Dame Melba to sing. ‘Killarney,’ etc., etc., are pieces that the multitude understand and appreciate. A few of such as the pieces mentioned, or even more recent ones, would be hailed with delight, This locality would welcome a visit from | someone in authority from 2YA to report on its reception here, and a dozen machines of six or seven makes, would be at the disposal of such a representative, as it is the desire of local listeners to assist all we know how in the endeavour to improve on what seems at present a waste of good music as far as here is concerned. Just one more point I ould like to touch on. About twelve months ago, a special programme was broadcast from 1YA, a sample of

what we were to expect when the licenses reached 40,000 in number. Special attention was drawn to the fact that only one artist appeared on the programme twice (or was it two artists?). As the number of licenses is now in excess of the above-mentioned number, local listeners are asking-each other when do we get the programmes promised. I cannot belicve that the Broadcasting Co. made the undertaking lightly, but it would be imteresting to know when to expect the change. A musical comedy was also broadcast from LYA about twelve months ago, and it was announced that there was a likelihood of more such relays. When? [We would welcome reports from other districts regarding reception of 2YA, so that it may be determined whether this is a local or general, trouble. What adjustments were necessary in regard to equalising equipment have heen made,-Ed.] Sydney Heard. Mr. D. W. White, Elizabeth Street, Wellington, reports increasingly good reception of Sydney. This was particu-

larly the case on February 14, whew QC was received at good loudspeaker strength on 4 valves. The major part of the programme was listened to with great interest. Other listeners report increasingly good reception of Australian stations, with the lengthening of the hours of darkness.