Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 32, 22 February 1929, Page 25

Our Mail Bag

Will correspondents please practice brevity, as heavy demands are now made on space, All letters must be signed and address given as proof of genuineness; noms de plume for publication are permitted. Address correspondence Editor, "Radio Record," P.O, Box 1032, Wellington.

Ne } = soe ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Jakeman, Huntly.-The station you heard operating from. Christchurch was 2YB, the new plant for New Plymouth, testing on 244 metres, Crystal v. Tube. ‘ALTHOUGH not on the official list of listeners, I thought you might like to hear my experiences with the‘ tests from 2YA. I got splendid volume with crystal. clearness on the speaker from a pentode valve and a galena erystal during 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. transmission, Thursday. At the change-over I found the volume apparently the same, and though the clearness was about the same, I would say that I preferred the crystal. I think that the crystal was louder and more clear on studio transmission. Yet, strange to say, the gramophone items seemed to come in more clearly, or, rather, at greater voluthe than they had done from the erystal, This point would require further tests. For instance, "God Save the King’ came in at great strength on the second playing, without distortion, but that appeared to be due to volume controls being manipulated at the station. In all probability, the volume would have been as good from the crystal had the controls been used at the time. The point is, the gramophone section appears to be OK now. On the last playing of "God Save the King" I heard the carrier wave. This I do not usually hear, for the speaker dampens it out. To-night, on the news session, I have 13 v. in the filament, and the volume is still good and the announcer is perfect. To sum up, crystal control gave loud and clear reception, positively perfection. With the tube results were not quite so good, in my opinion. Ordinary erystal listeners here thought that there was no difference, or, strange to relate, that the tube gave best results. I must confess that it is extremely difficult, without a special apparatus, to record the amplitude from the varying L.F. frequencies on tape, for anyone to say definitely one way or another, but we have recourse to the observations from other lands, who definitely say that crystal rectification (and naturally transmission is thereby included) is the most perfect means of getting undistorted signals. One cannot go past this statement. It is borne out by all who are crystal set listeners. Personally I would not have a "wireless"? on my mind unless it was as I have it. The pentode valve is well worth while, even if run at 50 v. on the B. It gives results that are as near perfect as can be gotten at present. A point that I may mention is that the assertion that the C plus must be connected to the A minus (which way

I have it now) is a dogmatic statement. I found that it could also be connected to the A plus with equal results. The choke condenser filter I have always used. I do not think that it can be improved upon. I have not tried the special tone filter for that valve. This may be a transformer with a specially wound input to match the secondary coil of the transformer. Another point is the schematic plan, and the actual connections of, say, the transformer. A beginner might have difficulty over the difference. Using straight-out amplification (two transformers and two ordinary valves) another listener reported distortion coinciding with my experiences (this was the other day when 2YA had something faulty in the gramophone section). Our observations were therefore similar. Strange to say, another listener using two transformers and two ordinary valves, with regeneration, reported he could not’ see anything wrong with the signals. This points to the fact that I have seen recorded by authorities in other lands-that wherever there is regeneration there is also distortion. This statement is subject to reservations dependent upon many factors, but it must be conceded that there is truth in the statement. It is a matter of degree that may be questioned. I do not say that my reception is perfect, but if it appears perfect to me it must be of a very high standard. Likewise, if I get distortion there must be distortion somewhere outside of my set. The point is, when I listen to the ordinary wireless set I am filled with a wonder that the owners haye_ the nerve to criticise the station’s transmission. An agent was trying out a pentode valve at the time there was something faulty in the gramophone section, and he was blaming the yalve and the set. The studio transmission has now commenced and it is at great volume and very clear. I think the crystal control wins, but if you said, for instance, that it was the tube I could not contradict you! It is a very difficult question indeed to ask the ear to tell one. Personally I **‘»k the question can onl~ be decided wit: instruments of the utmost precision. There is a gramophone selection on now and it is as good as the studio almost, but quite satisfactory. The volume was not quite so full. and it had a slight woolliness, but that may have been in the recording or in the record. The volume from the studio is first rate

and as clear as a bell.-

O.

STEWART

Hospital Patients and Radio. GPARD me a few inches of your valuable space to give you my impressions of radio broadcasting in New Zealand from the viewpoint of a patient in hospital. I have just been discharged from a private hospital in Christchurch, after lying on my back for nine months, and I can tell you that radio was the one bright spot in my existence while in that. institution.

One thing that struck me while in the hospital was the great disappointment felt by the inmates at the action of the racing and trotting clubs in barring the broadcasting companies from broadcasting running descriptions of the race meetings. I can tell you it was hard to miss those graphic accounts by Mr. Allardyce, and we hope that when the next meeting of the Conference takes place this hardship will be dropped. The thanks of people in hospitals are, however, due to the YA stations for the manner in which they have given the race results under

difficulties.-

RADIOLA

Subsidy for Music? "THE statement is often made that listeners are getting all their programmes for "a penny a day," and this is even mentioned by some broadcasters in soliciting sales. The suggestion is mooted that the "penny a day" be slightly increased to provide subsidies for orchestral societies, ete. Here are the expenses experienced in two years’ listening :-

Raise the listening fees and buy back the sets of those who cannot bear the last straw.-*BACKBLOCKS LIS-TENDR-IN." Freak Reception. Y dispensing with loudspeaker and headphones, I am able to tune in any station (providing the signals are moderately strong). Speech and music come from inside the set very clear and as strong as if there were headphones concealed. Can anyone with the same experience offer a suggestion

of the cause ?-

R. O.

BOYENS

(Inver-

eargill).

Aiternoon Programmes. HOPE that I will not be numbered among your numerous complainers, but I that attention might be directed to watch the afternoon programmes. At one time this programme was most enjoyable. I wonder who suggested that items should be announced

after they had been performed? Half the enjoyment of an item is hidden in the title. May as well go to the kinema blindfolded. I know in this case I will not be unsupported, and would be somewhat surprised if you have not already had several complaints. For those people who take a delight in operatic music, it is most annoying. I know, I always refer to a book for the story of the piece, and if the title is not made known till after the performance, well wireless will not do much towards the furthering of love for good music, As I am writing this, the radio is belching forth some song about a "Rainbow on My Shoulder." I understand that this kind of musie was barred until four o’clock; the time is now 3.40 p.m. At 3.50 p.m. the first piece of music is coming through; it is called the "Skater’s Waltz." What a relief! God save us from another half-hour of "Rainbows." When 2YA was first opened it was suggested that a day should be set aside for different types of music. Could not a day be set aside for a gramophone performance of. some opera, once a week, and in compensation for this the rest of the week could be devoted to ballads, jazz, and other light items. It takes all sorts of people to make a world, but only three classes in musical appreciation-highbrows, mediumbrows, and lowbrows (or jayz fiends).

HIGH-MEDIUMBROW

2A Sporting Service I HAVE been asked to write you to express the great appreciation of several Wanganui listeners, at the wonderful sporting service given by 2YA. The service is indispensable to listeners and is a godsend to us in the country. The company are indeed fortunate to have a gentleman so well informed in sporting generally, and his reviews of racing are being spoken highly of in sporting circles. In fact, his selections of winning candidates since the Christmast racing began, has been nothing short of marvellous. 2YA’s sporting summary at 10.45 p.m. on Saturday is greatly appreciated. Carry on, 2YA, although your high-brow music does get on one's nerves sometimes. von are

delivering the voods.-

A THANKFUL

LISTENER

(Wanganui) .

A One-Valve Log AS many have doubted me when saying that I have logged so many stations on a one-valve (home-made circuit), I am writing just to see if any other one-valver has had as many. My total is 21, including JOAK (875), JOAK (845), JOCK. Besides these I have heard two Americans. One Long Beach, California, and the other somewhere in California-but could not vet

their calls.

NIDRAY

(Bay of Islands),

T is reported from Russia that a man with the name Zlotnikov has been granted a patent for a master wireless clock, by means of which, it is claimed, any number of clocks or watches, which are adapted for the purpose, can be kept going and synchronised.

£s. 4. 2 sets of 5 valves (one bought with set) over ..........2. 6 0 0 3 sets of B batteries (£3 5s. a set) ..ceceeees cocvsoee DIB O 2 sets of C batteries ........ 09 0 1 A battery (old one just replaced, new not included) . 6 0 O Charging A battery every 3 weeks, at 5s. a time (3s. 6d. charging, 1s. Gd. freight) .ccscccccesccovese S810 O £30 14 0 Expenses for one year ...... 15 7 0 "Penny a day" ...... ecoseee LIO O Grand total .......... 1617 O