Radio Round the World

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 27, 17 January 1930, Page 5

Radio Round the World

QNE of the "tallest" wireless stories on record is related with a due unt of scepticism in "Time and ‘Tide." It appears that in the early. hours of a recent morning a listener endeavouring to get America was surprised to receive. at exceptional strength a programme of classical music. This roused his curiosity, as American radio programmes at this time are usually devoted to classical music, and it was increased when he heard the items announced in English 2s spoken in England. He wrote down the particulars of the music performed with the object of identifying the transmitting station. The mystery deepened when he obtained proof that the programme had not emanated from any station working at. the hour he heaya it. His astonishment may be jud@%ed when, after what ‘must have been & weary search, he discovered that the programme ‘tallied exactly with one broadcast from 2LO in 1927, two years previously! Here, indeed, was an echo from the depths of space which might well frighten the boldest. For how many programmes could we endure twice? ? PROBABLY the best cables in the world for. broadcasting purposes are those noW in use in Gérmany. The German Post Office has worked hand in hand with the broadcasting authorities in the production of cables specially suitable for musical transmissions, and the result is the evolution of a new form of cable inthe centre of which are several heavily insulated lines reserved exclusively for broadFasting purposes. It is stated that teuys with the new cable, which runs from Berlin to Cologne, are singularly free from extraneous noises and distortion. The British Post. Office. is watching the ‘experiment with interest, and it is highly probable that similar tests may be carried out over here. LTHOUGH doubts are frequently expressed as to whether television will at any reasonable-date become a practical proposition, many of the Jeading radio and picture concerns in different parts of the world are taking time by the forelock and are forming alliances which will put them into a favourable position should television ever be éalled for by the publie. According to the president of the Columbia Radio Broadcast concern, radio broadcasting and talking pictures, together with the development of television, will bring about a state of afs between radio and movies similar tothat which exists between the gramophone and radio; in other words, it eannot, in his opinion, be very long before radio, gramophone, kinema and the television interests are merged tor gether. A merger of this kind onens up a tremendous vista as to what the future may hold in store. Already it is possible by radio, and in a perfectly simple and practical way, to "tell the world," and if it should become possible for a world audience not only to hear, but simultaneously to see, it would mean, in a very real sense, the annihilation of space. A DISCUSSION has lately been taking place in some of the French radio journals on the question of multiyalve sets (up to seven or eight valves) as against the three-valve and four-valve sets which enjoy such popu-

larity in. Bngland. Apparently the contention ,f the French papers is that multivalve sets are: not really necessary, although French listeners ‘seem to have been led into the belief that they are necessary owing to the broadcast system not being efficient. The French papers are now urging that these multi-valve sets are being forced upon the public by the manufacturers, whereas. three and. fourvalve sets as used in this country would be amply sufficient for the needs of the average listener, notwithstanding anything that may be said about the broadcast system. The controversy has assumed quite a l{vely character, and it seems likely that the upshot will be that the manufacturers will have to accommodate themselves to the now enlightened public. HE ordinary methods having failed, the South African Government has decided upon a drastic measure to secure adequate reyenue for the broadcasting services. According ‘to "South Africa," the Government have in view the abolition of the present licerce fees, substituting a 25 per cent. duty on the importation of all wireless goods. While the Government will retain 8 per. Gent., the balance will in all probability be handed over to the African Broadcasting Company. It is felt that a system-on these lines will not only. popularise wireless, but compel the erstwhile "pirate" to contribute indirectly to the broadcasting service or give up listening altogether. a IRED RADIO" will shortly be a household term in America if suc eess attends the plans of the néw Wired Radio -Corporation which is about to launch its scheme publicly at the Cleveland Electrical BExhibition. The company will there display for sale a small box-shaped attachment, containing a frequency filter, which ean be attached to any existing radio receiver and permit its owner a choice — of three programmes sent over the ordinary electric light wires by threephase high-frequency transmitters. One of the inducements offered to the listener is the absence of all advertising matter in the -wired radio programmes; it is also pointed out that the trdnsmissions will be completely free from atmospherics and other forms of disturbance. [TH trans-Atlantic telephone service has just lately been extended in Canada to include Saskatoon, which is in the province of Saskatchewan. It is a eomparatively short time since the service was extended at the Huropean end to include Dublin, Belfast, and the Isle of Man. As time goes on this service will be extended to include various other parts of Hurope not yet

accessible, and it is intended to bring into the scheme the more remote parts of Canada. Mvce has been heard about the installation of radio receiving sets on long-distance Continental trains, but the latest from Berlin is to the effect that even the buses running out into the suburbs are to be equipped. similarly with-receivers and loud-speakers. One would have thought that the noise of the bus itself and also the general street noises would have precluded any chance of entertainment from loudspeakers whilst the bus was in motion. Possibly the buses are very, silent, or the loud-speakers very loud. A WELL-KNOWN American lighting engineer, Dr. Luckiesh, has worked out an ingenious system of lighting whereby, at the touch of a switch, he can apparently "convert" the scenery in the broadcasting studio, so’ that whereas at one moment it may represent the interior of a church, at the next moment it résembles an amphitheatre.° U.S. broadcast engineers and producers seem to attach great importance to having the right "effects" in the broadcast studio, as, although these cannot have any direct effect upon listeners, they believe that they play an important part in giving the right atmosphere which indirectly affects what gets over the microphone. ONE of the latest contracts secured by a well-known British radio manufacturing concern is for the erec-

tion of a high-power broadcasting sta~ tion at Reykjavik, Iceland. A special feature of this station is that it will be used not only for broadcasting but also for the transmission of telegraphy. The power in the aerial is intended to be 15 k.w., and the circuit is specially arranged for the dual function of broadcasting and telegraphy. Incidentally, the thousandth anniversary of the discovery of Iceland is due; and it is hoped to onen the new station on this auspicious occasion. ORK in connection with the ¢onstruction of Broadcasting House, the B.B.C’s. new headquarters, is progressing rapidly. The studios will not merely be studios, but superstudios. The biggest will be a concert hall, where there will be room for 1000 people, in addition to-an orchestra of 100 members. There will also be two more studios twice the size of the biggest now in use at Savoy: Hill, as well as two suites of four studios, for drama, a suite of six smaller studios for broadeast talk, news, gramophone, ete. There will also be four large rehearsal rooms, which could be used, if the necessity arose, as studios. Direct telephone communication will be established with Brookman’s Park, and, in all, Broadcasting Hvuuse will be the _ finest example of its kind.in the world. NH of the first hotels to have its own broadcasting studio is the Chateau Laurier, at Ottawa, belonging to the Canadian National Railways. The enterprising management of this hotel have had a complete broadcasting studio fitted up in the hotel, together with a public address system; this is intended in the ordinary way to_provide a service throughout the hotel itself, so that entertainments enacted in the studio can be received by visitors who so desire. At the same time, however, the studio may be connected up with the Ottawa broadcasting station or with any of the broadcasting stations operated by the Canadian National Railways between Halifax and Vancouver.