Wellington Amateur Radio Society

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 44, 18 May 1928, Page 16

Wellington Amateur Radio Society

Appreciative Comments at Annual Meeting

TIE annual meeting of 1 the Amateur Radio Society. was held in the Conference Hall, Dominion Farmers’ Institute, on the evening .of Monday, May 7, there being present G60 people, including a sprinkling of ladies, Mr. Ivan M. Levy, vice-presi-dent, took the chair, in the absence of Mr. Owen, president, now on tour, , In his opening address Mr., Levy paid a tribute to the enthusiasm or Mr.. Owen in working for the cause of radio. The society had benefited very considerably by his activities. He had been given 2 complimentary farewell by the executive and friends, and carried with him the best wishes of the society. During the year a large number of meetings had been held, and a campaign embarked upon to increase membership. This had been successful in raising their total from approximately 100° to over 300. He thought, however, that an even larger membership should be enjoyed by the society, and the work of agitating for better broadcasts, which had in the past fallen upon a few, should be more generally supported by listeners. Mr. Levy briefly referred to the early history of broadcasting, and the aims of the society to benefit listeners by arranging for lectures by experts. These were calculated to reduce the amount of interference due to howling valves, by informing the listeners of the ‘correct manipulation of their sets. The society was also desirous of inducing

the Government to employ experts with the necessary equipment for the location of power-line leakages in the Wellington area, This work was keenly undertaken by power companies abroad, as they recognised that such leakages Were annoying, not only to listeners, but also indicated a source of inefficiency in their own service. Possibly as the Government’s revenue from broadcasting expanded this service might be undertaken. The society had advocated the appointment of a techmical expert from abroad by the company, but the company held that their staff was competent and that it was desirous of pleasing listeners by giving adequate service. Efforts had also been made by the society to continue broadcasting on! Sunday evening till 10 o'clock, and he sincerely hoped the efforts would be successful. It was pleasing to note that Sunday afternoon transmission had now been agreed to by the company, and for this they must express: their gratitude. The society had also advocated the provision of dinner music, and this was coming in the near future. It was recognised that the company had been very much restricted in its operations by the gmount of money available. Listeners must remember that New Zealand had to maintain four stations of about 40,000 listeners, whereas Melbourne had 140,060 listeners on which to maintain only two stations. Melbourne stations, therefore, had a very handsome reyenue compared to the New Zealand stations. The society had also expressed 2 desire for the cessation of the silent

ight at 2YA, but it was represented, on behalf of the company, that this would mean a duplication of staff, and involve expense which the company could not at the present time face. In the circumstances he thought this claim might well be waived. The Annual Report. The financial report of the year: was read by the secretary, Mr. R. Leslie Jones, and adopted on the motion of Mr. Sellens, seconded by Mr, Salek. The secretary also presented the annual report, which stated that the membership now consisted of 310 members, Traversing the year’s operations, Mr. Jones said he desired to acknowledge courtesies received from ‘Mr. A. R. Harris, Mr. Davies, director 2¥A, Mr. Ball, and Mr, Bingham. A ‘number of conferences had been held with Mr. Goodfellow, Mr. Harris and Mr. Bingham. In his opinion, the company was definitely out to do its very best for listeners, and now that the stations were equipped and the staff fully engaged, he understood Mr. Harris intended concentrating more on the programme side. Ona recent tour he found that Wanganui received 2YA perfectly, and had no complaint, but that in New Plymouth reception was not satisfactory, and he had undertaken to give support to the desire of New Plymouth for an experimental broadeast by 2YA on the wave-

length of LYA, He had been informed | of an American station which had suffered from distortion and had tried erystal control, and thereby eliminated distortion and fading. It was possible that something of the same sort, if tried by 2YA, might eliminate further complaints. It was satisfactory that they now had a good orchestra, and also that talks were barred after 8 p.m., except for very important subjects. In regard to an expert, the company now had a very authoritative technical expert in America, who kept it informed of all modern developments. He had encountered a widespread desire for relays from Wellington picture theatres, and negotiations were in train and he hoped success would be achieved. The howling valve nuisance was being ‘tackled by a series of talks to be given over the air by Mr. Billing. He regretted that he could not carry on any longer as secretary, but he wished to acknowledge the courtesy ¢xtended to him by the Press. The "Radio Record" had also been most helpful, and was desirous of doing everything possible to help listeners. On the motion of Mr. MacQuarrie, seconded by Dr. Robertson, the report was adopted. Office-Bearers Elected. The following officers were elected + -President, Mr. Byron Brown; vicepresidents (active), Messrs. WwW. Roche, Ivan M. Levy, R. Leslie Jones, and D. Robertson ; (honorary), Sir Joseph Ward, Sir John Luke,, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Jion. R. A. } Wright, Mr. G. A. Troup, Rey. Ernest Weeks, Dr. Anson and Dr H. FE. Gibb, Messrs. Kirkealdie, F. Wood, T.

Forsyth, M.P., D. A. Aitken, 5. G. . Nathan, H. McInnes, ©. G. Turner, E. Ww. Ackland, and Captain YJoster; committee, Messrs. G. W. Morgan, W. D. Dobson, L, Salek, W. P. Billing, W. A. Glover, and W. Taylor;. hon, treasurer, Mr. W. J. Roche; hon, secretary, Mr, Phil. Billing ("acting provisionally), Mr. Levy to officiate in the inerval. An honorarium of 10 guineas was voted to the retiring secretary. In acknowledging his election as president, Mr. Byron Brown said that he appreciated the honour accorded him, and hoped to be of some service to broadcasting and listeners in return for their confidence reposed in him. He had had some part in radio as "Unele Sandy," but he was resigning from that position because it tied him too much. He accepted the position of president with pleasure. He had heard it said that the Broadcasting Company and the listeners were enemies. He could not agree with that at all, and could only accept the position in the hope of working on a friendly basis with the Broadcasting Company. The interests of ail were mutual. Orchestra Appreciated.

Mr. Salek moved a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the Broadcasting Company for the very fine orchestra now established at 2YA. This was unrivalled in New Zealand, and they as listeners were particularly pleased with it, and thankful to the directors for the innovation. He wished to say that he wanted to work in with the Broadeasting Company. In his opinjon the company was very decent to them. He had always been accorded every. courtesy at the station. Listeners had. to remember that New Zealand was not Australia, and that our population was small, and having regard to that, there was not very much to complain about. A few items might not appeal to some, but other people liked them. When it was remembered that a great number of individual artists appeared each week, the performance was very good. Mr. Byron Brown seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Howling Valve Nuisance. Mr. Preston Billing gave an interesting talk on the question of the howling valve nuisance. This radiation was caused, he said, mainly from: sets which were imperfectly constructed, and also from those of an illegal nature. If listeners took pains to understand their sets and circuits, this trouble would cease. In his area, Brooklyn, there was practically no trouble, because the owncrs of highclass sets in that area were mostly experienced and taught incoming listeners how to handle their sets properly. As showing the area that could be affected by howling valves, he mentioned that a test showed that a valve howlin Brooklyn. It was not so much the power radiated by an individual receiyer that caused the trouble, as the ing in Seatoun could affect reception way it was pulled in by an adjoining receiver of a powerful type. It made

very little difference if radiation was taking place by a one-valve or a sixor seven-valve set, One thing to be remembered was that many imported journals which circulated in New Zealand contained circuits which were illegal in this country, and should not be used by listeners. One of the most popular sets for constructors Was known as the Browning-Drake circuit, This was a very powerful set, but it had a high transfer of energy, and if built by an amateur, and not perfectly neutralised, could cause more annoy~ ance than anything he knew of. People puilding this type of set should neutralise them so that there would be no kick whatever in the dials, They should not hear the carrier wave of a station, but if they did the set was oscillating. Yet it was possible for a set to oscillate and cause trouble without anything being heard at all. The remedy was to adjust the neutralising condenser, and reduce the pressure and not use too much voltage’on the radio frequency valve. The old Arm--strong three-coil circuit had been very popular in the early days, but it was a set which frequently caused trouble, and the people still using this machine were doing an injustice to their fel-

low-listeners-In. A popular owil Lypr | was another one which was one of the worst offenders. It had a couple of small coils which could be closed in and make the set whistle. A set that was radiating was distorting, and listeners themselves were not getting the best out of their sets. In such eases it was not the company which should be blamed, but the listeners’ own sets. The men with one, two, and three-valve sets should realise that Australia was too far for them to get, and it would be far better for them not to try. Their attempt was similar to that of a gmall motor-car trying — to climb a hill on top gear, though in the process it strained itself and frequently plocked the road and caused trouble to others. he modern neutrodyne, when correctly neutralised, did not oscillate. A good way to tell whether a set was ‘radiating was to touch the end of the aerial, particularly: with a wet finger. If it was oscillating a distinct pop would be heard. He recommended listeners not to use too much B yoltage on their valves. With the 201 A type valves they should not use more than 67 B voltage; with the 199 type they should not go beyond 45 volts, and from 22 to 45 volts for almost any type of detector valve in use to-day. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Billing for his address, Various Proposals. A desire to have 2YA broadcast relays of boxing contests was mentioned by Mr. W. Pechy, but Mr. Ball mentioned that this had already been provided for, and, accordingly, on the motion of Mr. Pechy, seconded by Mr. Byron Brown, 2 vote of thanks was accorded the company for its action. Mr. Jones asked that the Broadcast: ing Company consider the possibility of transmitting on Sunday till 10 p.m. It was the most important night in the home, «nd to close down at 9.35 was too early. A resolution to this effect — ert aE

moved by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mr, Dobson, was carried. . Points mentioned by other, listeners embodied a desire to hear St. Peter's on the air; that a number of songs should not "follow one another on the programme; and that more piano iterys should be heard; further, that the broadcast of the Wellington Town Hall organ should be arranged. On this point Mr. Byron Brown mentioned that some of the most enjoyable items that came from Sydney were organ recitals; and Mr. Salek. suggested that if the city organist would not permit broadcasting without payment, could’ not someone else be found to play the citizens’ own organ? The suggestion was also made that race results should be read over twice, and that. the third horse also should be given. Company’s Point of View.

Mr. J, Ball, in speaking at a comparatively late hour, acknowledged with appreciatio® the remarks made concerning the service being given by the Broadeasting Company. .’ It was particularly pleasant to note * the appreciative tone of the meeting and the~ spirit of co-operation. This ‘was the note that would make radio what they all wanted it to be, and wliat the company was determined it should be. There were such things as limitations, as had been noted by the meeting itself during the evening in connection with their own finances. (Laughter.) The company was doing the, best it could with the money at command, and was in the position of having to give the best possible service in order to satisfy listeners and maintain business. The Public Relations Committee scheme was working and, as Mr. Jones had pointed out, was working very well. They now had a Church Committee, a Musical Committee, and a Children's Committee, each of these covering representatives closely interested in the success of the particular branch. These committees were in a position to speak authoritatively for listeners on their several subjects, and the programmes ultimately evolyed would be programmes bearing: the hallmark of the committee qualified by knowledge to speak effectively. After dealing with several requests advanced at the meeting, Mr. Ball mentioned that it was the practice to give race results twice when time permitted, but they had to bear in mind that every word added to the news session pushed out something else, and that farmers required market reports and a general resume of news, as well as racing results. Repetition of race results was eliminated only when they had a particularly full budget of news. There was a reagon ‘at the back of everything. Suggestions made regarding musical items, | ete. would be passed on to the station director for consideration by the Musical Committee. The same applied to the suggestion regarding St. Peter's. This would be considered by the Church Committee.