Mr. Owen's Radio Ramble

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 42, 3 May 1929, Unnumbered Page

Mr. Owen's Radio Ramble

Review of World Conditions Leads to

Satisfaction with Dominion Service and Prospects

N speaking from 2YA on Friday last Mr. J. H. Owen dealt specially with radio conditions in Britain. He said :- Our radio ramble commenced last week and took us from New ° Zealand through Canada, and on to London. In this city, those who listened may remember that I hired what is known as 2 transportable set of three valves. This set is generally housed in a polished mahogany case about 2ft. high. It can be carried: from room to room, but is not intended for use out of doors the same way as the folding portable set. After a fortnight in our Piccadilly Hotel, during which time I had frequent opportunities of listening in to 2LO, my wife and 1 journeyed to the Isle of Man to stay with relatives. In this beautiful little island in the middle of the Irish Sea we stayed at a residence, by name "Ballacallin,’" some three miles from Peel. On visiting the houses of several friends who had wireless, I was struck with the excellent results that they obtained with quite small sets, and so I determined to have one in my relative’s house. A fine oak tree at-a convenient distance and a chimney made excellent vantage points for an aerial, and with the assistance of a local radio dealer, who also kept a barber’s and tobacconist shop, I installed a good little three-valve set of a well-known make, and hey, presto, we got Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, Aberdeen, ‘Daventry 5XX and 5GB. Continental stations were easily logged and heard on loudspeaker from Radio Paris, Langenberg, Warsaw, and many others. My friends. were delighted, and when I paid them a return visit some months later, they were so enthusiastic about the new joy that had come into their country home, that it remained as a memento.

FTER further visits to friends in Lancashire, Cheshire and Shropshire, most of whom had their radio sets, we made our headquarters at Surbiton, 20 miles from London. Here I met several friends who had also radio sets, and to keep in the running I again hired a transportable set, but this time of five valves with an attachment for an outside aerial. With this I could get the London concerts, and most of the. leading Continental stations. On Sunday night; when 2L0 closed at 10.30, the foreign stations were heard at their best. A few of these gave their station’s call, but’ most of them rang a bell, or chimes, a gong, or some similar instrument to designate their station, and I found it difficult to log the actual name of many of those heard. Yould could, of course, tell by the language whether your sta-~ tion was in Spain, Italy, Czecko-Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Holland, Belgium or France, but call names were seldom given and rarely repeated; or perhaps at times, not being a linguist, I failed to catch the station’s name. However, delightful music was heard from most of the countries mentioned. Grand Opera seemed to be much in favour. The syncopated music relayed from Continental Casino dance rooms is more tuneful, and bright, than our English or Colonial variety. The instruments were more musical, and the tone superior to ours. The quaint yodelling ‘of Switzerland had some fine exponents, as also the castanets of Spain in the Cachuca, and other

dances. One gentleman I heard giving an address in a foreign language was fine. I wish I could have understood what he was saying or shouting, for he menaced the microphone in strident tones, brought down the wrath of Heaven on his enemies, and sounded as though he would break a blood vessel. The language was strange and I fancy it was Russian. I CALLED one day at the offices of the B.B.C. in Savoy Hill. I asked for Major Menzies, whom I had met on a previous visit three years ago, but he had been appointed to a large station in the provinces, so I was ushered by a page boy into the office of Major C. F. Atkinson. After presenting my credentials, the principal one being an introduction kindly given by Mr. A. R. Harris of the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Major Atkinson asked me what I would like to see. I said I should much like to meet Captain Eckersley, the well-known radio engineer. He explained that Captain Eckersley was a very busy man, and that he was attending a meeting and would on the next day be going to Geneva to a conference of the International Radio Union. I then suggested a visit to the studios and control room, and if possible to Daventry where the large central English station is situated. Major Atkinson kindly consented to all my requests. Since my last visit many additions and alterations had been made, the studios were more numerous, and the equipment brought into line with the latest idea in regard to effects, acoustics, and other improvements. EXT morning to my surprise I received a note from Major Atkinson . to say that Captain Eckersley would be pleased to grant me an _ interview -Continued on page 2.

A Radio Ramble (Continued from cover.)

at 11.30 a.m., if I could arrange to come. I was there to the minute and the "Chief," as he is called, was most affable, and soon we were discussing radio from many points of view. He was intere.ced to hear reports of shortwave reception, and I was able to in.terest him in the experiences of some , Wellington friends, who make a anda hobbv of this side of radio.

sckersley, in his enthusiasm, e out of my depth in techput I gathered much infore experimental short-wave W, began its work at rd in November, 1927, and

has csninued -fiye days a week since then. So far, no guarantee of a regular world service is possible, due to the fact, though much experimenting hag been done, it is still only a "stunt." Much remains to be discovered in the construction of sets capable of receiving these short waves. When this is accomplished the B.B.C. would endeavour to give the Colonies a full and adequate service. After touching on the subject of television, and one or two other matters, I thanked Captain Eckersley for granting me the interview, and he expressed his good wishes towards radio in New Zealand. THE following week I attended at the Savoy Studios at 8 p.m. with -@ pass admitting me to a half-hour session of a vaudeville entertainment. Some twenty-five visitors were seated on chairs at the back of a small studio. It was difficult to tell who the performers were. One after another humorous songs, comic talks or recita-

tions were given by professional artists, who were seated with the guests. They were just ordinary-looking people, but when they faced the microphone they were utterly oblivious to their surroundings, and just talked or sang their clever items to the millions of invisible listeners all over the Kingdom. The orchestra in the background were ready to take up the running, immediately the items were finished, when the announcer during a period of fading music called upon the next artist. All went quietly and smoothly from start to finish. Then we left, and the rest of the performance of music was given from other studios, or relayed from some concert hall or theatre. OME of the notable outside broadeasts during the past year were the series of concerts from the Queen's Hall, under the baton of Sir Nenry Wood, the People’s Palace, and the Arts Theatre Club, Rugby Football Internationals from Twickenham, athletics from Oxford, Cambridge and Stamford Bridge. the boat race, racing from Epsom and Doncaster, tennis from Wimbledon and the Baldock Smith fight at the Albert Hall. "Abide With Me" was relayed from Webley. sung by an audience of 90.000 people to the accompaniment of massed pands, Many more of these interesting relays were given from yarious parts of the Kingdom, including the Searchlight Tactoo at Aldershot, which is a most impressive spectacle. The announcer in London rarely gives the station’s number, 2LO. He invariably says "London calling," or where a simultaneous broadcast is being given, say of the weather report. or special news, to all the stations in the Kingdom he says, "This is London calling the British Isles."

Visit to Daventry. ME visit to the great broadcasting station of Daventry was a delightful experience. Major Atkinson kindly plauned out the day, and I left Euston at 12 noon by train for Northampton, arriving at 1.30. Here a B.B.C. motorcar met me, and we arrived at Daven‘try (pronounced locally Daintree) at 2,15, leaving by car at 3.40 for Rugby and reaching Euston at 6 p.m. Daventry is situated in the heart of a rural district on rising ground, almost in the centre of England, Mr. Skinner, the engineer, who was in charge, kindly showed me round ang gnve me details of the wonderful plant. Three D.C. generators are used of 10,000 volts each. I was told that the water-cooled glass transmitting valves cost £75 each, and that 21 of them. were embodied in the transmtiter, whilst 30 of the same valves were kept on hand for emergency, This item nlone represents a value of £5800. Standing within the field of the aerial coil a neon tube glowed when held seven feet away. A half-inch spark Was created through the body wheu standing on a china insulator. The nerial, which was a T one, was 500 feet high. 5GB, which is the experimental station at Daventry, is only a few hundred feet away, and broadeasts daily at 482 metres, whilst 5XX broadcasts at 1562 metres. Alternative concerts nre transmitted from these stations so that listeners-in can have the choice of two programmes. For this reason. Daventry is referred to as a twin wave station. After a cup of tea I took leave of my genial engineer friends. nnd was driven off to Rugby, where 1 took the train back to London. The number of licenses issued this year is 2.500.000, and is always increasing.

‘, Regular Religious Service. NE feature of the daily programmnic -which I have omitted to mentiou the. broadcasting a religivus seryice from Daventry at 10.15 am. It was started as an experiment suggested by correspondence in the "Radio mes," and such was the appreciation of thousands of the public that it has been decided to adopt it as a regular feature. It is listened to by countless people, including invalids in their homes, hospital patients, and many others. This policy has the support of au vast majority. There is a Religious Advisory Committee, as we have in New Zealand, which guides in the choice of speakers and other questions; and. sectarian propaganda or argument is strictly excluded, The ser-. vice is conducted anonymousl,’:-no one know.; whence it comes. It consists of a hymn, a few prayers, a psalm, another prayer, and a closirg hymn or organ voluntary. The service does not follow the liturgy of any church. THE. B.B.C’s activities in regard to publications is The "Radio Times," like our "Radio Record," is published weekly. ""Vorld Radio," a weekly paper, features pro‘grammes of foreign and Dominion stations, and encourages listeners’ interests in international understanding. "The Listener-in" is another weekly paper devoted to te :yhnical and popular subjects. Books and pamphlets dealing with music, talks, and technical matters are published. Librettos of broadcast opera are issued every month = at 2d., post free. The B.B.C. Handbook is an annual, and is a most interesting publication. Major Menzies asked me

to accept a comprehensive set of these publications, and when they arrive I ‘hope to hand them over to our Radio }" Broadcasting Company of New Zealand. ~ A TOCR of «a mor:h was made of Belgium and France, dow}. to the Riviera, visiting Monte Carlo, Mentone, Cannes and other resorts. Seyeral visits were made to the Annual Radio. Exhibition held in Olympia, where over 200 firms exhibited their latest sets and apparatus. This enormous hall was crowded day and night for two weeks*with a yast public 1nterested in this entertaining science. I sent some details of this show to the New Zealund "Radio Record." A Portable at Sea. BeFeRE departing from the _Old , Country I purchased a por&gble wireless set of four valves, one of a sereened grid. We ieft Southam Fon on March 17 in the new liner Rangitiki of 17,500 tons. The weather was rough, and I found that, it was impossib’e to "tune in" in any iiterior part of the ship, owing to the amount of absorption by the vast fabric of surrounding metal, coupled with the interference from the large electrical equipment. On deck. however, I was able With a little ditticulty to log 5XX Daventry and Radio, Paris. In four days we reached Madeira, where a day was spent in sightseeing. Several fine hotels exist in this picturesque island, which belongs to Spain. It is-a popular health resort for tourists, mainly English, who may desire to escape the winter. Native boys dived great heights from the steamer’s decks for coins thrown. by the passengers, whilst vendors of baskets, birds, monkeys, cigars~ lace, fruit, etc., plied their calling from boats alongside.

The usual sports were held, and we reached Colon, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, after seventeen days. A note in my diary indicates that Miami Beach was logged on the set four days before Colon was reached. Here were assembled a large portion of the United States Navy, which had just returned from the Pacific side after a big review. Ten sea ‘planes entertained us with numerous flying stunts. After a few hours ashore for a drive and some shopping, we entered the canal, and were soon rising in the Gatun Locks to a height of 8dft., on through Culebra Cut to Pedro Miguel Locks, where we were lowered 27ft., then to the Miraflores Lock, where a furthed. drop of 58ft. brought us back to sea level. BALBOA Was reached ir about eht hours after steaming some 5¥ pes through the canal, Here we spent the ‘night alongside the wharf. Most passengers went ashore to visit, the cabaret, or pictures at Paname. T e Pacific Fleet of the U.S.A. made a fine searchlight display. A fancy dress ball was a great success. My last station logged was Cincinnatti, Ohio, which I held for ten minutes. It was faint but clear. In ten days we reached Pitcairn Island at midnight. Three boatloads of natives came on board, and after two hours we. left for the last stage, reaching Wellington in another ten days. After a most pleasant voyage we were glad to find ourselves back in New Zealang We had been away a year. {f Dominion Service. M4* I say here that-as a radio enthusiast I have réturned to New

, Zealand cheered and encouraged by the conviction that the broadcast. ser- \ vice of this Dominion has been wisely established on sound lines. I went away prepared to learn. Nay, more, I went away believing that possibly we had very much to learn concerning the operation and development of a national broadeast service, and, I do not mind confessing it, I went away feeling that perhaps we were not getting all the service that we ought to be getting from the Radio Broadcasting Company. After what I have seen and heard in Canada, the United States, and our Mother Country, I have returned marvelling that so much should have been accomplished in so short a time, and more than fayourably impressed wit the service that is being rendered to Neg Zealand listeners. 13 seems to me that one has to go ayy to gain a true perspective, and a ‘sonable appreciation of the difficulties and limitations against which the pioneers of such service have got to contend in a country such as this. Despite these difficulties and limitations, I believe that we have here an opportunity of developing a model, nationwide broadcasting service ideally suited to our circumstances, providing those responsible pay heed to the experience and profit by the mistakes of other countries. As I remarked in my first talk to you, the system in vogue jn Canada and the United States, with its plethora of sheer business ‘publicity and its overcrowded ether, is unthinkable for New Zealand. May our ears never be wearied by the continual "boosting" chatter of the advertising man. May he be kept off the air as ‘rigorously as we would ban the ardivai of a plague ship. As I said before,

so I repeat, that in my judgment the only sane and practicable method by which an efficient national broadcast service can be developed and maintained in our Dominion is that of unified control under Government regulation, safeguarded by private management from the exploitation of the public treasury. Given the preservation of this system, then I can forsee in the very near future a service ideally suited to our national circumstances: a service in which all the four main broadcasting stations shall be linked up with a net\,ork of efficient regional or relay stations located in all the main provincial centres and affording the boon of crystal reception to the many thousands in and around those centres; 2 service firmly based on the sound business principlés of efficiency apd economy. And now, ladies and gentlemen, our radio ramble is over, .nd I wish you one and all good-night.