Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 25, 4 January 1929, Page 30

Notes and Comments

By

Switch

RADIO friend related with great enthusiasm the other day how he found that by connecting a cone loudspeaker and large horn-type loudspeaker in series, he is obtaining superb tonal results. This bright discovery lost some of its glamour when the writer informed his friend that he habitually runs two loudspeakers of the cone and horn-type simultaneously. Tones which one loudspeaker is inclined to miss are generally brought out by the other. The two speakers should be kept close together to obtain the best effect. "THE dismal character of Boxing Day kept many Wellington listeners at home, and their enjoyment was admirably catered for by 2YA, Wellington, and 38YA, Christchurch, both of which were available at good lIoudspeaker strength with multivalve sets during the afternoon. A capital musical programme made things brighter, and the racing resutts given out from time to time interested those inclined to sporting. "T RECKON 2YA, , Wellington, has been a regular God-send to my family lately," said a Wellington newspaper man to the writer this week. He explained that his little son had been ordered to bed for three weeks, by the doctor, and to be kept quiet. The little fellow was not easily reconciled to this proposal, but when he was permitted to lie in bed with the headphones listening to 2YA by the hour he was quite satisfied. MANY people who are almost stonedeaf are able to enjoy broadcast listening with the headphones on. A Wellington gentleman who cannot hear unless he is shouted at, stated to "Switch" that with a one-valve set he gets splendid volume from 2YA, and can hear everything quite plainly. "Not a note or word is missed," he says, and he advises other deaf folk to try broadcast listening as a diversion. , Some Wellington people are saying atrocious things about a gentleman who switches into the wave of 3YA, Christchurch, and lets his valve howl continuously. Whether 2YA is on the air or not matters nothing to this merry howler; he gets on to 8YA and stays there hard and fast, with a slight see-saw in his howl. A couple of listeners. ’phoned "Switch" asking him to diagnose the trouble, suggesting. that the howl was a heterodyne note from an Australian station. However, it was quite evidently merely a howling valve.

YT a late gathering of Wellington listeners one enthusiast mentioned that he had used his telephone for an aerial in an experiment. He seemed somewhat abashed when informed that his action was contrary to the P. and IT. Department regulations, and if he had been detected he would have been liable to prosecution. This tinkering with telephones seems to be a favourite move of some experimenters. ‘ N race-meeting days Wellington daily newspaper offices are besieged by telephone inquiries as to the results of certain races. Since the popularity of broadcast listening there has been a considerable reduction in the number of the telephone inquiries about horse races. It only goes to show how handy some "sports" find a receiving set for obtaining racing information. THE Australian stations have not been a prolific source of entertainment during the past week. Unless one sits up till nearly midnight, audibility from across the Tasman is sufficiently good to warrant tuning in the Aussies. "PHE cool change on Boxing Day enabled listeners-in to Wellington to indulge in dancing to the musie from 2YA, Wellington, in the evening, and to enjoy it. The previous heat-wave had rendered dancing anything but pleasant. BIG brewing company in Sydney runs a particularly fine brass band among its employees, and the combination has been heard from time to time from one of the Sydney stations. Is there no concern in or around Wellington that can gather sufficient talent among its employees to establish a band or orchestra? The idea is really worth encouraging. AN enterprising Wellington enthusiast constructed an exponential loudspeaker horn on exactly the same lines and measurements as those of an imported exponential. He even used a plaster composition similar to the imported article. but was disappointed with the tone of the speaker. Eventually he traced the trouble to the Ioudspeaker unit, which, although of a high-class make, was not suitarle for the home-made exponential.

TALK on "First Aid’ was advocated by a friend the other day, who pointed out the prevalence of motor accidents and the general ignorance of the public as to whiat to do when anyone has suffered injury in an accident. The simplest treatment is not understood by the man in the street, and needless harm is sometimes done through ignorance. WELLINGTON suburban listener displayed a profitable enterprise in visiting a Wellington South rubbish dump in quest of something which would serve as radio masts. He found a number of old iron pipes which he took home and cleverly joined together so that he has now a couple of 50-feet "sky-scrapers,"’ the envy of neighbouring listeners. But it takes a handy man to join the piping firmly together. LYALL BAY resident received a shock a few nights ago when informed by his wife that his aerial was sparking near the lead-in end. He rushed out to investigate and found that his glass insulators were intermittently reflecting the light from a near-by street lamp! A DISCUSSION among «% group of Wellington broadcast listeners recently turned to the question as to which instrument in an orchestra or band came through with the most natural timbre, Hach one of the five present voted for a different instrument, which were: violin, brass bass, cornet, banjo and flute. They forgot that each one had a different make of loudspeaker, not to mention the question of valves and the question of "matched impedances." "W\7H admire the good work done by ; our radio announcers in New Zealand," remarked a Wellington visitor to "Switch," recently, "and I think they deserve to have their names billed as in Australia, or actually announced when the stations are signing-off, as in the United States. I have heard the announcer of KGO, Oakland, Calisornia, give his full name when closing own.

A MAN won a wager, some years ago, by offering passers-by on London Bridge sovereigns for one shilling each. He bet that no one would buy a sovereign at that price, and he won. The Wellington Radio Society offers a cordial invitation to all listeners, whether members of their society or not, to attend the interesting and instructive lectures given by the most expert radiotricians in our midst. No charge of any kind is made for admission to these lectures-in fact, something for nothing! Yet, although the attendances are large, the number present represents only the minutest fraction of the aggregate of listeners in Wellington. And we ean all learn something from these lectures. HE proprietor of Mack’s Radio Store, while endeavouring to tune in 2MQW, Sydney, to pick up the description of the Melbourne Cup meeting for relay to 2YA, Wellington, encountered three persistent local short-wave howl-. ers who spoilt "Mack’s" attempts to

provide an important item for hun- \ dreds of New Zealand listeners. On top of all this one of "Mack’s" enthusiastic admirers telephoned him from the, Hutt, telling him, "I’ve always con-~ tended you were the best short-wave tuner south of Paekakariki, but now I’m satisfied you couldn’t tune a wheelbarrow!" The genial "Mack" took the banter good humouredly, and allayed his friend’s excitement by explaining that the pig-whistles were coming from local howlers. A WBHLLINGTON listener recently purchased a receiving set which was alleged to be as good as one "costing three times as much." ‘The outfit, however, tunes so broadly that th Wellington morse _ station, splashes all round the dial and utterly spoils reception of even 2YA, Wellington. Various systems of wave-traps have been tried but they failed to prevent VLW getting through on to 2YA. The moral is that une must not expect a first-class set at a third-class price. Not infrequently the announcer at 2¥0, Sydney, just prior to signing off at night time, gives a brief deseription of the weather in Sydney on that night. The idea has proved exceedingly popular as many country listeners have relations visiting the metropolis, and they are interested to know what sort of weather is being experienced. A radio acquaintance has suggested to "Switch" that this idea should be taken up by the New Zealand stations. WELLINGTON radio traders are appreciative of the Broadcasting » Jompany’s new xtra sessions from noon till 2 p.m. by 2YA, Wellington, and extra business has actually resulted through the dealers having two extra hours during which they have been able to demonstraie their sets. The hours of the extra sessions are particularly convenient as it enahies potential buyers who are unable to leave their places of occupation during the ordinary afternoon sessions, but are uble to take advantage of the dinner hour. Signs are not wanting that we are about to experience a real "Radio Christmas." HE members of the executive of the Amateur Radio Society of Wellington are of one mind that the society should have nothing to do with any "institute" no matter how desirable the formation of such a body may be. The Radio Society functions

along definite popular lines, furthering the interests of broadcast listeners without delving into the higher scone of radio which is above the heads o the multitude. There is ample scope for an "institute," but the Wellington society prefers to concentrate on its own lines of activity, and will conserve all its resourees and attentions on its own objects. A WELLINGTON listener lately obtained a multi-valve receiving set direct from America, without valves. He purchased a set of 201-A type valves, but was unable to reach out any distance with his set despite a splendid aerial and earth system. The services of a radiotrician were obtained, and he found that the set was designed solely for dull-emitter valves. After a set of this type of valves was purchased the set performed passably well, but the owner had a set of 201-A valves left on his hands. This should act as a warning to beginners-find out whether special valves are required for the set you buy. ‘