Hawke's Bay Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 20, 30 November 1928, Page 9

Hawke's Bay Notes

"PRESSURE of business,’ mostly concerning the elections, has prevented the writer from keeping readers up to the mark with news from sunny Hawke’s Bay of ‘late, but now that things have quietened down, for a time at leasct, a-few more notes will perhaps not be out of the way. Of course the outstanding feature of late in the radio world was the YA broadcast of the election results, and

on behalf of all local listeners the writer says "Thank you," and don’t forget the capital "T." It was a great effort on the part of the company, and it was honestly appreciated, not only by licensees, but by a large section of the non-radio public, for one of the Llastings dealers had a set, an exponential horn and amplifier working in town in conjunction with the local re- . sults. Fortunately that night static was on good behaviour, and the publie heard radio on one of its best nights. That broadcast must have made a lot of friends for radio. N more than one occasion on election night distortion took the place of static, and this question of distortion is one which is causing a lot of eoncern locally. Never since the big Wellington station ‘was opened has this distortion been SO: bad, or at least so eonsistent. . Night after night it has been impossible to hold 2YA steady for more than a couple of minutes at a time, and lots of fans came to the conclusion that their sets were out of gear, until, they conferred with neighbours or tuned into Auckland or Christchurch. 'These stations get distorted at times, but only a fraction as compared with Wellington. The strange part of it, though, is that on ‘almost: any afternoon reception from 2YA is almost perfect, but as soon as darkness sets in along comes the distortion. Perhaps the "Radio Record’s" technical experts can give some explanation, more especially as the writer ean vouch from experience reception

at Napier is perfect when it is badly distorted in Hastings, and Hastings ss only a dozen miles from Napier. Another strange feature in connection with this distortion was provided last Tuesday night, when 2YA put on its competition programme, Up till about 10 p.m. reception was almost perfect--no static, no distortion-and yet over the last half-hour distortion was there every two or three minutes. The prohlem should take some working out. rou CHING on that competition programme, the writer for one wishes to offer congratulations on the excellence of the selection of items, and it is a safe bet that if all programmes were on a par there would be no cause for complaint. The programme also proved that "canned music" properly flelivered is the goods. The music was elorious and the singing as good. Practically every item deserved full marks, and a similar gramophone recital, say once a week, would be very welcome to listeners, up this way at any rate, Y the time these notes appear, the Hawke’s Bay Radio Society, which,

by the way, has its headquarters at Hastings, will have decided on the set which is to be installed in the Hastings Hospital. On Monday, the 26th, there is a meeting of the society when the selection will be made, and it is expected that the equipment will be in full working order before Christmas. It should be a nice Christmas present for the inmates. As this hospital is only a "baby" at present, the installation does not need to be exceptionally large. The cost will be about £160, this sum having been raised by the Radio Society. RECEPTION of laté has been nothing to rave over. Apart from the distortion of 2YA, static has had a good innings, and although the New Zealand stations have been fairly reliable for strength, the Aussies have been well below standard. In fact, they have not been worth while at all.