Radio Round the World

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 33, 1 March 1929, Page 5

Radio Round the World

TY Mexico City arrangements were made to broadcast the proceedings of the trial of Jose Leon Toral, accused of the assassination of General Obregon. This is probably the first time in which a murder trial has been broadeast by the State, and the step was taken in view of the tremendous interest shown in the trial. f: TELEGRAPH wire last month s operated two newspaper type-set-ting machines at Rochester, N.Y. Telegrams by wire were transferred mechanically into lines of metal type, with the human touch eliminated. The possibility of operating these machines by radio has been discussed, but this feature is still in the experimental stage. "THE directors of the B class Melbourne station, 3DB, are beginning experiments with television apparatus. Several sets of equipment operating on the Baird principle have been obtained and installation is nearing completion. Demonstrations of moving picture transmission with this equipment are expected at an early date. Preliminary transmission is expected to be over land lines, and not actually by wireless. A NEW type of radio beacon is now being erected by the British Air ‘Ministry at Orfordness. Whereas other radio direction-finding systems require two bearings to obtain a position accurately, this only necessitates a wireless réceiver, and a stop-watch. The transmitter is a rotating loop which makes a complete tfevolution each minute giving maximum and minimum signal strength from which the observer calculated his bearings. A LITTLD while ago a controversy ranged in New South Wales as to the desirability of cutting out the echureh services on Sunday and replacing them with services held in the studios. The controversy has been reawakened, and all we in this country can do is to await developments. An Australian magazine points out that the magnificent organ music from the 4 churches eould not be replaced in the + studio. N order to instil a love of music in the souls of young children radio concerts for boys and girls are being broadcast: over a network of -stations covering the entire United States as far west as the Rocky Mountains. The concerts are controlled by Walter Damrosch, a well-known musician who has received many communications showing the appreciation of children, parents, and teachers. A boy living in Staten Island, near Cape Horn, wrote saying that he had made a set for his classroom on which he was receiving the programmes. Where schools are without a radio, parents who own sets have been opening their homes to whole classes, AUTOMATIC lighthouses, or more properly, "radio houses,’ have been, and are being, erected around the English coast. These stations, with a range of about 100 miles, automatically send out wireless signals at speci:

fied intervals. Each station has a distinctive call sign, and their radio signals are easily identified by all vessels fitted with radio direction-finders which enable them to take bearings and find theiy true positions. The United States coastline has about 50 of these radio beacons in operatioa, and over 1000 vessels-apart from naval boats-are equipped with the necessary radio compasses. HROUGH the National Broadcasting Chain in America a wellplanned attempt was made to conduct a course of musical appreciation for children, with the result that one hudred and two thousand classrooms throughout the States were equipped with receivers for this course. In very many cases the cost of this equipment

was borne by parents’ associations. Now WYW, the 50,000-watt station in Ohio, is embarking upon a daily school broadeast, for which the State will foot the bill, and which will serve the requirements of 198,000 pupils. Nine hundred schools within reliable reception range of the station are equipped with receiving apparatus in over 6000 classrooms. AR away off the north-east coast of Scotland there lies a _ small group of islands, known as the Orkney Islands. Many of the islands are inhabited, but there are some so desolate and wind-swept that they are totally deserted. Kirkwell and Stromness are the only two towns of note. A stretch of water known as the Pentland Firth separates the islands from the mainland, and very often the sea is so rough that no boat can cross. Before the introduction of broadcasting these islands led a very drab existence and had to rely on their own re-

sources for amusement. Now all is changed. Every evening those of the inhabitants who have wireless sets, tune in to Glasgow, Aberdeen, or even London, and listen to the latest news and dance to the strains of the Savoy bands, playing hundreds of miles away. People living in cities who are used to theatres and kinemas have no idea what a boon broadcasting is to. isolated islands such as the Orkneys, N American broadcast expert says of women who talk to the microphone: "Most women are so used to talking, it comes so easy to them, that talking on the air doesn’t embarrass them at all. They do not realise that to get your air audience you must do real, intensive work beforehand. Then, again, women do not have the voice depth. They are too likely to ryn their words together, to be shrill. It is almost inevitable, even in excitement that you are not conscious of, to raise your voice. The true radio voice is down in one’s boots. The words, so to speak, drop on the ground one by one."

WHEN listening in, absolute quietness is often of assistance, although this is not always possible or necessary. On the other hand, of course, disturbing noise is fatal to enjoyment of a musical item. A background or foreground of noise does not seem to disturb some listeners. A plebiscite taken in America revealed that a large percentage of listeners used radio merely as a background to their activities, such as dinner, a game of cards, and or other diversion. The radio stations of the North-west of the United States have tried numerous ways of determining the desires and needs of the listening audience. The American Broadcasting Company even went so far as to sponsor a pro-gramme-planning contest through each of their four stations, and discovered that, when all the votes had been pooled and analysed, 75 per cent. preferred lighter instrumental programmes, with occasional singing; 5 per cent. preferred light vocal programmes, and 5 per cent. leaned toward readings and dialogues.