Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 4, 9 August 1929, Page 12

Our Mail Bag

The Radio Exhibition. . INDLY permit me to make a little friendly criticism in respect to the Radio Exhibition just lately held at the Town Hall. In the first place, the Town Hall, to my mind, was not suitable for an exhibition of radio exhibits ; the stalls were too small and easily got very congested. The consequence was three or four heard and saw everything, the rest nothing. When the crowd got around, one could neither get in or out. Secondly, 99 per cent. of the exhibits were, complete valve . sets, the other one per cent. a few transformers and valves. As regards general accessories connected with radio, I saw nothing in that way. Much more would have been seen in any radio shop window. Why was there not a good display of crystal sets, valve amplifiers for same, one valve detector sets, two-valve sets, and plenty of radio parts? I believe quite a lot of the aforesaid varieties would have been sold on the spot. Of course, all these things can be bought at any radio shop, but when exhibitions are held to create interest, and put people in a spending mood, it is only: logical to cater. for the person. whose purse is limited. My individual impression of the recent exhibition is that too expensive sets seemed to dominate the whole showat least as far as the average working man’s pocket is concerned. I find that Auckland firms are much more interested. in the cheaper side of radio than

Will ‘correspondents please practice t made on space, All letters must be. ‘of genuineness; noms de plume for | correspondence Editor. "Radio Rect here in Wellington. -One_only has to look at their catalogues. Popular sets at popular prices are made a speciality of. The concert itself was splendid, and will do a great deal to further the interest of wireless, Our very own Mr. Drummond looked the right man in the right place. I am sure the ladies were very much interested in him. His own speciality on the good-night is very amusing, and is only done for amusement, as any intelligent person well knows. Most announcers say goodnight in a tone which seems to imply

revity, as heavy demands are now signed and address given as proof ublication are permitted. Address rd." P.O Box 1032, Wellington. "T’'m jolly well glad to get the business over." Not so our Mr. Drummond. His farewell is an affectionate one. It is well to remember, too, that our Mr. Drummond is, as far as Wellington i> concerned, a pioneer in radio matters. I conclude these brief remarks by saying, "Long may Mr. Drummond be our announcer."-A Friendly Critic. Thanks for Radio. I HAVD much pleasure in writing my appreciation of the wireless. It is a "marvel of the age," and I do not think we value it enough. To. think only a few Sundays ago we had the privilege of hearing our beloved Archbishop of New Zealand at 11 a.m, and 9.30 p.m., the Archbishop of Canterbury, and various other Bishops during that day. The Westminster Abbey service came in wonderfully well, good volume and clear, the invisible bond between New Zealand and BEngland. Our thanks are due to all who try and make the programmes a success. If people are not satisfied with one station, there are always nine more to tune into! Cheerio!-New Plymouth, Thanks and Criticism. JN sending my annual subscription for the "Radio Record’ I felt I eould not let the opportunity pass without letting you know how much we appreciate the service rendered by the

Broadcasting Company. AS we were listeners before either 2YA or 3YA opened their new stations, we realise how the company is making every effort to satisfy the majority of listeners. Personally, I do not know what we would do without radio now. There is_one thing which I think could well " be done without, and a few listeners round here are of the same opinion, and that is the weather reports from the various places in New Zealand. I suppose it is of interest to some or it would not have been started, but I think you will find’ that to most of us it is a meaningless jumble of words. Wishing every success in the future.Satisfied Listener.

Here’s a Surprised Person. I AM writing to you to protest about the dance programme the Broadeasting Company are putting over. Why not give us some old-time dance music? A good dance band could be engaged for a moderate sum, and I feel quite sure the Broadcasting Company’s effort would be loudly applauded, The announcer could act as ‘M.C., and call out the Alberts, and so on. I am surprised some of the lis‘teners have not mentioned it before. I must close now, hoping to see more letters in your columns about itJ.T. (Kaitangata.) . ‘ Racing and Writers. I HAVE read your leader in this week’s "Record" criticising the"? attitude of the Racing Conference ia continuing their ban on the broadcasting vl running events, 4nd must say. that I .cordially agree with the attitude the Broadcasting. Company have taken. Speaking as one who takes a keen, though rarely a financial interest in horse -racing, I for one am quite in favour of the abandonment of the present system, which, while being very creditable on the part of the R.B.C., is a very poor substitute at best for the distant country listener. Also, should the. telegraphing of totalisator be.s become legal, the racing clubs would get a totally unmerited advertisement. -- Before concluding, I would like to chang the subject and:expr 3s astonishment at the rambling epistle of "Lux Cum Amore," who places his finger on 2YA’s announcer as the weak spot in the R.B. Co’s organisation. Ye gods! The crowning note of the whole letter’s idiocy! Who, among all our announcers, has a voice of. such personality and so suitable for delivery of the greatly-varied matter that he has to put over the niicrophone? Consideration for the p ‘inter, which "Lux Cum Amore" undoubtedly lacked, alone prevents me from saying more than one-tenth of what I would like to say o1. this subject. As a parting shot, however, let me say that were 2YA’s announcer one-hundredth part as poor at his job as "Lux Cum Amore" is at letter-writing, then there would be room for criticism. I feel sure that when "Lux Cum Amore" was affixing his nom-de-plume. he meant to write \

"Ket’s Run Amok.’-‘Ohampion of One Who Can’t Hit Back." , Distance with a Crystal. I AM a constant reader of your paper, ~ and in last week’s issue ~ noticed an article on long distance with a crystal set. I have a crystal set, and one Tuesday, after 4YA closed down, I picked up 2YA relaying from Wanganui, I have received-2YA on other nighis, but pot so well as Tuesday. The volume was equal to that of some of the amatefrs here.-"Crystal" (Dunedin). Believes in Wave Trap. HAVE had some interesting experiences with my three-valve set. I have found that the nearest thing to a st.tie eliminator is an efficient wavetrap. By taking a tapping as far down the aerial coil as possible volume will be reduced to small degree but speech will be perfect and static reduced to a minimum, , . Last night, when a rebroadcast of the All Blacks’ football match was in progress from 4QG, I was tuned into 2YA, Wellington. I found that static ‘was bad. I tried 1YA and it was the same, so I cut them out, took the lowest tapping on my aerial coil, picked up my earphones and went over to 4QG, and to my great surprise static was almost absent. I could hear every word the announcer of 4QG, Brisbane, said. I.get good loudspeaker strength

when wavetrap is full open, though speech is not nearly so clear, All the week, though bad weather, I have found conditions from overseas simply Al, I have logged the following stations since Wednesday this week with remarkable clarity: KPO, San Francisco; KNX, Los Angeles, California; KFOX, Long Beach, California ; 2KY, Sydney, and 8UZ, Melbourne. All were clear at good phone strength, fading was the only bugbear. Do.-the "Yanks" not observe Sunday over there, as they were still going strong on jazz "when I shut them out at 8.15 p.m.. that would be nearly 1 a.m. there? I have never been troubled with static from overseas since’ the night Kings- | ford Smith was found in Derby and attempts were made to get news... I found that the tappings to give optimum results varied from time to time. I have no fault to find with YA stations, but I wish they would cut that tacet out from 2YA, The announcers from our YA stations are first elass. I think the 2YA announcer one of the best — NZ." (Otahuhu). Quality of Relays. HAVE repeatedly noticed that 2YA is much clearer when relaying from the Town Hall than from the studio. It was very marked the night "Mr. Holland gave his descriptio.. of the earthquake, ‘Again, to-night the same thing happens every time that we are switched from the Town Hall to the studio, and back--H. N. Brocas (Hokianga). ‘

Pleasing Everybody. S the time has come once more for ° the renewal of my subscription to , the "Radio Record," I take this opportunity of congratulating the company on their success. . I also :read the ~ "Record" with keen interest I often notice some letters from poor dissatisfied, and disgusted listeners. You cannot please everybody. I myself am quite pleased and contented with what is being done by the Radio Broadcasting Company, so I say, "Carry on the good work and good luck."-‘Hook" (Timaru). _ _ Band Relays. HAVE a four-valve set and get great pleasure out.of it. I have been listening to the concert from the Radio Exhibition and I am enjoying it very much, but the’ station fades a good deal, so does Auckland. Christchurch~ is the only one that keeps up to standard in New Zealand. Could you tell, me how it is you ean broadcast the’ Wellington Municipal Tramways Band from Wellington, and the Christchuych Municipal Band from . Christchurch, and the Auckland Band -!_- wants £500 a year, which is ridiculous? -"Poor Townie" ( Tangowahine). Wanganui Relay. ALLOW me to congratulate station 2YA, Wellington, for their splendid relay of the concert provided by ‘the: Queen Alexandra’s Own Band, and assisting artists, last Tuesday evening, July 30, at the Opera House, Wanganui, All the items came through with good volume. and -clarity, the econeert.. being thoroughly enjoyable, from every point of view. I must also express my thanks for the relays of the All Black football matches, recently played in Sydney, which have proved most interesting. ‘Wishing the R.B.C, of New Zealand every success.-Five-Valver (Bast Town.). ; 4