Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 7, 31 August 1928, Page 30

Notes and Comments

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HE committee of the Amateur Radio Society of Wellington, fortified by a resolution adopted at a recent meeting of that body endorsing a proposal to organise a spece ial concert to be broadcast by 2YA, Wellington, are considering plans for making the event worthy of the Society. | ‘A SUGGESTION has been made that the fees earned by the performers in the Wellington Radio Society’s broadcast programme be devoted to either that body’s funds or to a new fund to extend the broadcast receiving installation throughout the Wellington Hospital. MNHE patients who listen-in at the "~~ Wellington Hospital have no "silent" periods. When 2YA, We!lington, is off the air, one of the hospital patients goes to the central receiving set, and, by the aid of a gramophone and the electrical pick--up, "broadcasts" throughout the radio circuit choice gramophone records, so that the patients can lay in bed with their headphones on listening to the world’s best artists. NE must not omit to mention that in every ward in the children’s hospital large cone loudspeakers are installed and the kiddies are able to enjoy the items just like the grownups. One little girl was jocularly asked by a hospital visitor could he take the loudspeaker away. She was very emphatic in’ declaring that he could take anything but the loudspeaker. HE. male patients in the hospital -are much disappointed at the ,action of the Racing Conference in debarring the running description of the races. They state that listeningin to the vivid descriptions of the progress of the races brought thera back into the great outside world and made them forget their suffering. The action of the Racing Conference has also reacted on many ex-soldiers ‘who-are bed-ridden, and they express keen regret at the course of the governing body of racing. ‘HE writer has no interest in horse racing and never attends any of the race-meetings, yet he feels that the Racing Conference has taken up an unsportsmanlike attitude. In Australia all race-meetings are fully described from the course, and there has been no complaint of attendances falling off. On the contrary all the evidence available points in the other direction.

R. W. M. DAWSON, lecturing at the recent general meeting of the Amateur Iadio Society of Wellington, mentioned an important feature in connection with audio transformers. He said many cases of failure of transformers are due to the primary windings becoming corroded and eventually breaking. It is certainly correct practice to disconnect all batteries from a receiving set when it is not being used. This saves deleterious electrical action inside the transformers. ANOTHER point stressed by Mr. Dawson was the importance of using the correct type of valve in each position in a radio set. To get the best out of a valve the impedance of the windings of a radio-frequency transformer should match the impedance of the radio frequency valve. Also -the. same holds good with respect to the audio stages and the impedance of the loudspeaker. }iXPERIENCED listeners agree that the calling out of slogans from broadcast stations for the benefit of those listeners who cause interference through making their valves howl is ineffective. A more practical suggestion was made on behalf of the Broadcasting Company at the recent meeting of the Wellington Radio Society. It was urged that the society appoint lecturers to speak once a fortnight from 2YA, Wellington, on the subject of the correct manipulation of a radio set to prevent howling valves. HILE some folk advocate the . extension of the Sunday night sessions by 2YA, Wellington, until 10. pam., there are not a few who are well satisfied with the present custom. When 2YA is on the air it more or less blankets some of the best Australian stations for listeners within a mile or two of Wellington’s station. Besides on Sunday nights particularly good programmes are available from Australia. Those listeners who have paid upwards of 50 or 60 guineas for a receiving set to get Australia should not be altogether ignored. HE reason why AC valves have given trouble in a few areas in c + & #4 . New Zealand is almost invariably the

heavy fluctuations in the electrical main supplies. These valves are constructed to carry a certain voltage on the filament, and when this is appreciably exceeded trouble is bound to result. In areas where the electrical main’s supply is fairly steady the AC valves are lasting well and are proving most efficient. HOSE who have had AC valves burnt out at a tender age should get a qualified electrician to test thoroughly and at different periods the voltage of the electrical main’s supply. If he detects heavy fluctuations he should report same to the Power Board responsible. The burning out of AC valves is a costly mishap to listeners, and the Power Board responsible should be told about it. HE AC valves on the. Wellington market are a high-grade product made after ‘exhaustive laboratory tests on a scientific basis. Each valve is tested before packing, and the makers can do no more. It is therefore up to the public who use the valves to see that the valves obtain fair treatment. An overload of 10 or 20 per cent. on an AC valve filament means unfair treatment. AFTER the honorary secretary of the Hospital Radio Fund had made his report on the success of the Wellington Hcspital broadcast receiving installation at the recent general meeting of the Amateur Radio Society of Wellington, a gentleman present spoke of the unqualified success of the installation and the pleasure it had given him while he was a patient in that institution. He said that not only was the listening-in a most enjoyable pastime, but it made him forget his pain. MELBOURNE writer, commenting on the broadcasting of the correct time, says:-"‘The farmer may not consider the correct time, to the minute, as important as the city man who thinks in terms of trains, boats, and trams, but he does want to have the correct time for one reason among others, so that he will not be late for his favourite item on the broadcast programme. Thus he has become accustomed to regarding the correct time as more important than in the past. Travellers in country districts will tell you of the quoting of correct time by. a reference to the broadcasting station, and there is no dispute about it when that authority is quoted." — ITH the approach of spring, _ yachtsmen and motorboat men own radio sets should set about contriving a scheme by which they can keep in touch with broadeasting while afloat. What could be more suitable than a good radio set for life aboard a yacht when night sets in? ANY yachts and motor-boats run across to the Marlborough. Sounds during the summer. Those who operate their sets with wet "B" batteries would find it better to take

-, a set of dry "B" batteries when they go away with their yachts. The dry "B" batteries are now comparatively -inexpensive and are par excellence for portable purposes. T'HE erection of an aerial when yachting in the Marlborough Sounds is not a serious problem. It is advisable in some cases to take a spare spar to act as a second mast for erecting when the yacht ig anchored snugly for the night. A little ingenuity and broadcast reception could be enjoyed every night in the Sounds. In addition to the entertainment available, radio brings to the yachtsmen the latest news of the world which is very acceptable in the Sounds away from communication with the world. ONE Wellington listener, who is at present on a trip to England, has for years kept his motor-launch in the Sounds, and during the summer spent much of his time over there. In his motor-launch he had his radio set clways, and, in addition to broadcast listening, he read morse code and was able to rake in news from all over the globe. HE holiday touring motorist is not confronted with any problem in the form of erecting an aerial when camping out. Suitable trees are easily found for holding the aerial aloft. The writer has met many motorists who have taken a radio set with them when camping out during the summer holidays and they have said that they would never think of going camping without their radio set. Again dry "B" batteries are required owing to their easy portability. ANY sad cases come under the notice of the Wellington Hospi-. tal Radio Fund during their visits to the hospital. One bright little boy of about fourteen years of age ‘‘ran’"’ his own crystal set before the hospital ‘radio installation was put in. He was well-informed on the activities of 2YA, Wellington, and was a constant source of information to neighbouring patients. Once his set wouldn’t work and he was much disappointed. However, Mr. Preston Billing. technical adviser to the radio fund committee, who was making his rounds with the committee, quickly put the little patient’s set in working order. HEN the hospital broadcast receiving equipment was being tested the radio fund committee looked for their little friend to gather from him how he liked the new installation. The little fellow was not there, and inquiries from the nurses disclosed that he had since passed away. The committee moved on in silence.