Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 49, 22 June 1928, Page 13

Our Mail Bag

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Joseph IF. (Mokauiti): We wonld like proof of the disinteresteduess of your letter. It seems to have a trade inspiration. Several Questions. Cevep any of your readers pieuse inform me as to the identity of the following stations:-One midway between 2BL and 3L0, heard about 7 o'clock on the evening of Friday, June 8. Another about 2 degrees below 1YA (about 340 metres), heard on the game evening, at the same time, On several occasions, mainly about 7 o'clock, I have heard a station on 2YA’s wave-length. Where could this be? Then, again, I heard, at the same time, a station about 236 metres. Another stranger was heard mid-way between 3DB and 4ZB. Has anyone els? heard these stations? I also heard a station on dial setting 95.-‘Youthful Enthusiast." The Flight Relay. AS one keenly interested in the recent transpacifie flight of Captain Kingsford Smith and his companions, I feel I cannot let the occasion pass without writing to express the appreciation of at least one listener of the rebroadeast of Station 2FC, Sydney, by Station 2¥A, of the description of the arrival of the Southern Cross at Brisbane, Judging by the enthusiasm displayed here in connection with this rebroadeast, the writer ventures the opinion that there are several thousand other listeners in New Zealand who are in accord with him in compli-

menting the Broadcasting Co. on their policy of progressiveness, It is oeca‘sions such as this that demonstrate (forcibly that the possessor of a radi» iset is the owner. not of 2 mere "muse ‘ical box," but of something which enables him to learn of events all over ‘the world, either as they are taking place, oy shortly afterwards. In this connection, Inay we expect an attempt to be made to rebroadcast -a description af the Heeney-Tunney contest. to take place on July 26? ‘his fight is naturally of especial interest to New Zealand listeners. The thanks of listeners is also due the Broadcasting Co., who are now announcing at 9 am. on Sundays the résult of the preyious day's mateh between the A

3lacks and the Springboks.-

G.C.

H.

; Though somewhat dubious as to the ‘intentions of the company at its incep- ‘ With, and not only that, but we have ‘vot more than the contract demanded. ' 1923, and since then have made a few The Position Reviewed. Micur I through the medium of your paper voice my tribute of appreciation of the progress being made by the Broadcasting Company? tion, I now do not think that anyone could possibly but agree that considering the income of the company in ¢comparison to some of the Australian stations, listeners are getting all they could expect, and more. There seem to be a few who bear in mind that a contract was drawn up setting out certain conditions which the company had to fulfil, and there is now no doubt that these conditions have been complied Of course, the success of broadcasting to a very great extent depends on listeners themselves, and it is up to them to see that there are no "pirates" and to enlist as many new listeners as possible. That the company will do its share has, I think, been amply demonstrated by the rapid progress made. I first bought a one valve set in sets, and used a few factory ones, and I still think that the old three-coil set with one stage of "tuned-anode" was the best for distance, though possibly not for quality. KGO was my first American station, which I picked up on January 3, 1924, when using 6XG as an experimental call-sign. Since then I have heard sixty odd American stations, and with a shortwave set have heard most of the more important short-wave stations, I have not yet noticed in your paper any recognition of some of the earlier stations in New Zealand such as 4¥YO, 4YA, 3AC, 2YB, 2YK, 2AH, 2AQ, 2YM, LYA, 1¥B, and several others, and such names as Messrs. O'Neill, White, Stevens, Coutts, ete. That they sacrificed much time and money in ¢arrying onbroadeasting under initial trying conditions there is no doubt, Of course there are the amateur transmitters who early made a name for New Zealand for long-distance work.

' 2YA is not received at all well in this district, and this applies to a fair number of localities, acearding to some of the .reports in the "Record." Of eourse it is well known that 2YA is received very well in the majority of places, but it seems possible that some experimenting might be done at the station relative to the wavelength. of 2YA, It appears to me strange that so many people expect to get far better reception in the winter’ than in the summer, So far as I have been able to see, there is very little difference between the summer and winter as res.rds fading, distortion, statics, and volume, and long-distance reception, ‘but that there are disjointed periods «* good and bad reception is, of course, obvious. Recently I visited the 2YA studio, and was much struek with the comfort and surroundings provided for performers, and the eonrteonsness of

| the station staft.-

Gum-tree

Herhert-

ville,

Rebroadeasts of Racing. S a reader of the "Radio Record" since its inception, I wish to consriutulnte you on the high standard of your paper. It certainly "delivers the goods." Also I have no doubt that the N.Z.B.C. are dving their best to i improve the standard of programmes. | One thing thet might he done to improve the popularity of radio is this: We all know how popular racing broaidlcasts are, and we would all like to hear the broadcast of the winter meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club. The meeting is being broadeast all right, but as you know, it is very hard to pick up Auckland in the daytime here, even with a 5-valve, which I have. Conld the meeting not be rebroadcast from Wellington? Hoping that the suggestion will be noted.Cathedral City. ‘Faranaki Reeeptian. SEEING in the "Radio Revara? of June 15. page 4, that Mr. o. W. Morgan had heen in New Piymonth investigating fading of 2YA in certain areas of Taranaki, I would like to say I used to live in New Plymouth years ago, and I remember seeing in the papers there that copper ore had been found in the ranges or hills behind Oakura, about 9 miles from New Plymouth, towards Cape Egmont. Do you think that the copper ore would cause fading? I remember the paper saying that there was plenty of ore there, but it was in a rough place, and would not pay to mine. I have a 38-valve radio set with an outside aerial 100ft. long and 40ft. high. We get 2YA very clear, but it fades at times. 1YA is clear, but fades at times, B8YA is good at certain times; some nights it is herd tu gef. other nights quite good. IT: must congratulate 2YA on their progres 225. Remember it is hard to satisfy everyone Nobody has done it yet. So it is no good 1YA, 2YA, SYA, or 4¥A tryine to do it. Give us the hest you

Ci un, and satisfy some.-

J.

W.

Appreciation of Opera. A is ST a line in appreciation of the tine service extended to the listeners by the Broadcasting Company. The special feature of 1YA’s programme of last (Tuesday) night, the opera presented by Madam Ainsley, was delightful, it being the best to date. Especially fine was the singing of Madam Ainsley herself, and we have been delighted to hear her again to-night (Wednesday) on relay from the Town Hall. Judging by the applause the audience have enjoyed her solos a8 much as we have. A much appreciated innovation is the introduction of the "Hebrew Two," who are, I believe, the best duo of its kind on the air, in either Australia or New Zealand, their local hits being greatly appreciated, . I should. also like to congratulate 1YA and 2YA on, their enterprise with regard to the transpacifie flight. The reports and rebroadcast were eagerly followed by listeners all over the country. May I also congratulate 2YA on its very fine orchestra, and I hope that similar orchestras will be intro"duced to 1YA and 8YA in the near future, By the way, may I ask what ‘has become of the Beckenham Male ‘Quartet ef 8YA? I always looked forward to them on Monday nights. ‘Wishing the Broadcasting Company, ond-also-vour greatly .valued paper,

everv success

A.

Papesch

(Puke- |

koli' ) .

Fun With the Amateurs. I DON’T agree with "Switch" about erystal set owners wanting the silent night cut out, The wife and I get quite a lot of fun on a Wednesday night listening to amateurs. Last night we held some chap from 8 until 9.30 pam. His call was 2AW-some-thing. Who is he? XY have also heard 2BL conversing with 2BY or R. Replies just too weak to understand, 2Zi with a little concentration just audible. I am going to add an RR. 2-valve amplifier to my set at the end of the month to see if that will bring them in any better, Just here I would like to say how much we enjoy 2¥A’s orchestra. What wonderful music they give us, especially the deseriptive selections. We would like to hear more of them. I have just purchased the "Listener's Guide’ and am anxious to get buried in it, Wishing the "Radio Record" and 2YA every |suceess---I am, yours to a_ ¢at’s

whisker,

H.

McLennan

(welington ) _

Honorary Listeners. Pas is the way I interpret the Broadeasting Company’s scheme: When the Broadcasting Company has

completed its network of listening posts throughout New Zealand, each one a fully aceredited official listener, the company will haye an advisory council, which will speak for the whole of New Zealand. Hitherto listeners’ leagues have been purely local organisations, in which a few men (in one or two cases not even licensed listeners) have heen the moving spirits, and professed to speak for the great inarticulate body of listeners. The result has been the absolute failure of listeners’ leagues in New Zealand, Just as they have failed in America and elsewhere. "But the Broadeasting Company's scheme opens the way for a large number of listeners throughout New Zealand, from Bluff to the North Cape, to write to the company describing how the transniission reaches them, and expressing an opinion on the quality and nature of the programmes. The gentlemen appointed as official listeners will all be radio enthusiasts, and their views on broadeasting will, I presume, be given careful attention by. the company. Such views as they ex: | } press, too, will be expressed independently of each other. | — *One has only to consider the nature | of some listeners’ league meetings to -venlise how useless they are as an indication of listeners’ real opinions, One | has ouly to refer hack to the history | of the Auckland Radio Society, from | which the Broadcasting Company re-| ceived numerous communications over the signature of Mr, G. McB. Salt, Mr. Salt long afterwards caudidly admitting that the society had been practically defunct for two years-during which it was made to appear to be a real live organisation, meeting and passing resolutions in an orthodox manner. Is it any wonder that very little faith was placed in the subsequent transactions of Auckland and other Listeners’ Leagues? "It has to be remembered, too, that an very false atmosphere was often ¢re-ated-and probably will be created again by Press correspondents and others-perhaps, for instance, gentlemen ‘with hobbies.’ ‘The company’s new scheme will not in any way debar the ordinary Listeners’ Leagues from carrying on their operations, but the company will know from a hundred or more different sources throughout New Zealand, what is the general opinion of the ‘average listener,’ and this consensus of opinion throughout New Zealand will carry more weight than will a purely parochial resolution. It might happen that a local Listeners’ League’s opinion is endorsed by the majority of the honorary listencss, in which case the | company Will make haste. to the best; of its ability. to give effect to the x- | pressed wish. "The Broadcasting Company's desire is obviously to sutisfy the great majority of listeners most of the time, and it is evidently of the opinion that if it can secure and analyse ‘regular reports from a small army of ‘ordinary listeners’ scattered throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand, it will be able to size up fairly accurately how the programmes are received, what listeners think of them, and what listeners really do want."--Khyber Pass. Gisborne Station at Work. HAVE noticed in your columns lately that a South Australian writes to Melbourne "Listener-in"? as regards a station operating in the Wellington district using the call sign of 2ZM, on 278 metres, approximately. This station is not 2ZF as announced, but the old Gisborne station 2YM, started up again. I located him myself one Sun-

a, i" day night putting over several gramophone items, and another night during the week at about 5 p.m. I located him. He was playing a gramophone item, "Wifty Million Frenchthen," and after the item announced 2ZM, and then said to someone else in an undertone "We'll repeat that one," and did so, closing down without any announcement. Hag anyone had the same experience? While I have the opportunity.I will take it in saying how much the rebroadcast of 2ME, Sydney, was appreciated ‘here. It was received at good strength, and came in at unexpected clearness for such a rebroadeast. A : | little more of these rebroadcasting short-wavers would be also appreciated, especially from 2YA, if not other stations. In ending I would like to ask the Editor what is all this we are hearing about relay stations? [We learn that 2ZM, Gisborne, has recently had new equipment installed and will shortly be on the air regularly, Recently that station has been testing, With regard to relay stations, our impression is that idle rumour has been busy.-Ed.] ‘ Moa: Lecture Appreciated. WE have just been listening to Mr, Andersen's lecture on the moa, which was exceedingly interesting, ‘May I suggest that Mr. Andersen give ‘his lecturettes earlier in the evening, as I find that the children enjoy them ‘so much, and they are generally after they have gone to bed. Both our children and our neighbours’ children always beg to be allowed to get out of bed again to listen to them. They ali belong to the Society for the Protection of Native Birds. I would also like to,tell you how very much we enjoy the Sunday afternoon gramophone records, ‘They are indeed a great joy and well chosen, Some of the items that we have enjoyed very much lately are those contributed by Miss J. Briggs and Miss N. Coster, who both have beautiful voices, and Mr, Stanley Warwick’s recitation, "The Secret of the Machines" (Kipling), we very much enjoyed. The orchestra is, of course. a never-ending

source of pleasure.-

C. M.

Boyer

[The suggestion is being referred to the company.-Ed.]