Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 35, 15 March 1929, Page 12

Notes and Comments

By

Switch

HE modulation of 2YA, Wellington, has been giving great pleasure to loeal listeners for some time past. A beginner, nevertheless, asked "Switch": to listen to his outfit, as he thought 2YA had a rasping tone. The invitation was accepted by "Switch," and sure enopgh, te tone was anything but agreeable. A little testing and a tryout with another loudspeaker showed that the trouble was in the beginner’s speaker. Still, he had been going about telling folk that 2YA was "potten." OME Wellington radio dealers report a marked slackness in trade. It is thought that there are too many in the business having regard to the normal demand at this time of the year. Things are expected to liven up, howeyer, with the approach of winter. The greatest falling-off in business is in ready-built sets. The sale of accessories is steady.

LISTENER up in Japan reports hearing 2YA, Wellington. Writing to the Melbourne "Listener-In," he says: I am Minoru Nakamura, of Yamate, Oslo, Yangawaken, Japan, and I well understand that there are many DX hunters who picked up some Japanese stations in Australia. I have log: ged 37 stations in the following coun tries (I have received some Chicago, U.S.A., and some Buropean stations since October, 1928, besides those given hereunder) :-Australia: 2FC, 2BL, 3LO, 3AR, 4QG, 5CL. China: COMK, Moukden, 410 metres, 2k.w.; COHB, Kharbin, 445 metres, 1k.w.; COTN, Tientsin, 475 metres, 500w.; COPK, Peiping, 320 metres, 100w.; GOW, HongKong, 300 metres; KRC, Shanghai, 388 metres, 150w.; NKS, Shanghai, 350 metres, 50w.; SSC, Shanghai, 370 metres, 50w.; CRC, Tientsin, 280 metres, 50w.; GEC, Tientsin, 300 metres, 50w. India: 7CA, TBY. Japan: JOAK, JOBK, JOOK, JODK, JOFK, JOGK, JORK, JOIK, JFAK (333 metres, 1k.w.). Kwangtung: JQAK. New Zealand: 2YA. Philippine Islands: KZRM (KZRQ). Siberia: RL20. U.S.A.: KGO, KFI, KNX, KJR, KOMO. Germany: Lagenburgh. Burma: 2HZ (under investigation). My receiving set is a six-valve receiver, consisting of three stages of radio frequency amplifier, employing the new shield grid valve, followed by a regenerative detector and a two-stages audio amplifier. NEW broadcast station has been erected at Johannesburg. It is situated on the highest point of a range which surrounds the city. The wavelength of the station is not announced. New Zealanders cannot hope to hear this station until the winter months, and then just before daybreak, as Johannesburg time is about 12 hours behind that of New Zealand. . HE other night 2FC, Sydney, put across a rather paltry competition, the first prize being a piffling 10s.! A young female played seven items on the piano, and listeners were requested to send in a list identifying these items. The forwarder of the first envelope opened at the station containing the correct list was to _ receive 10s. "Switch" identified five out

of the seven items. They comprised: "When Other Lips," "Daisy," "Wait Till the Clouds Roll By," "The Man Who Broke the Bank of Monte Carlo," and "Two Little Girls in Blue." The other two numbers were excerpts from wellknown musical comedies, familiar enough to the ear, but the writer could not identify them. [TN Australia, nearly every evening the broadcast stations send out a "missing friend" announcement by request of the police. This sort of thing is seldom requested in New Zealand. The Australian announce ments generally refer to a sa, bro4 ther, or father somewhere up country, who is requested to come home promptly owing to a death or serious sickness.