Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 43, 9 May 1930, Unnumbered Page

Notes and Comments

(By

Switch

BEGINNERS not infrequently are mystified over the measurement of a metre. A metre is approximately 40 inches. To convert. metres into feet it is necessary to multiply the number of metres by 40, and divide the result by 12. a Eo * "[TNQUIRER" (Kelburn) has sent in a query as to whether it is possible to employ a loudspeaker separately. in conggction with a console receiving set eng@@ lying a loudspeaker. The vendor COWS. without much trouble insert connections for a separate loudspeaker. * Pd % STRANGE how insistent is the listener with the howling valve. The music of one of the New Zealand private stations heard in Wellington at midday is generally mixed up with piercing shrieks from some oscillating valve. *& te * pus Japanese stations have returned lately, and after 11 pm. can be heard through the static, not loudly, but are clearly audible from the loudspeaker. A Jap. station provides a faint background to 38LO, Melbourne, laté at night. : . % a x A GIFTED children’s entertainer is Miss Edith Harrhy. The other evening the writer was listening to the

TTP eT Le) kiddies" session at 2YA, Wellington. when Miss Hurrhy dropped in to the studio to give the juveniles a few of her own vocal compositions. Her items must have been a delight in many a home. it * wt T ATELY 2FC, Sydney, put on an unusual "act" in the form of an imaginary visit of two Australians to London. The Australians visited the "theatres, 4 gambling den in Limehouse, other places, and kept up a deSetiptive running commentary on what they saw. _ Music,, including an excerpt from the "Carmen," provided by gramophone records heightened the illusido. The thing was decidedly well carried out.

"THE heavy downpour of rain last week, which marked the breaking of the drought, ushered in a ‘general improvement in long-distance reception. Static on some nights still maintains a ratio too high in proportion to reception of the Australian stations. * xe ¥ THE Sunday night band concerts re. layed by 2YA, Wellington, are immensely popular. The opinion expressed by several listeners who have commented on these concerts to "Switch" is that Sunday is now a "red-letter" night. There is some pleasing psychological effect also to listenin to a public performance, apart from the merit of the concert. ae Po ae SEVERAL listeners have asked "Switch" from where the raucous note heard late at night recently emanated. This was merely due to the efforts of the 2YA technicians to bring that station up to concert pitch again. The 2YA transmitter has developed trouble lately, and this had to be overcome, * ae x OWNERS of particularly sensitive sets will find it an advantage to reduce the volume to at least half when reaching out for the Australian stations. In the case of the louder transTasman stations, there would still be ample loudspeaker volume with a marked decrease in the racket created by static. * = * HH past month has been quite a busy time for the Wellington radio dealers. The A.C. set has been a potent factor in popularising radio. as the former intricacies of batteries and tuning kept many people from becoming owners of sets. * a = A RECORD which made a lasting impression upon the kiddies who listen to the children’s sessions of BYA was "The Laughing Policeman." The other day "Switch" was asked by a family to urge that this mirth-provok-ing record, if possible, be revived. * = ie Pur writer finds it more desirable to use old valves when statie is excessive, and thus save his newer valves for more fayourable nights. After all. valyes enjoy a lifetime measured by. working hours, and they do not deteriorate in the slightest by being put away on the shelf. They can be put into work when static is weaker, and then their efficiency will be a delight to those who want to get the best out of the Australian stations. a ne Eo frRom what "Switch" can guther. Wellington listeners on the average are entirely in accord with the strictures of the London "Radio Times." published recently in the "Record," regarding the banefulness of broadcast: ing advertising matter as in America. In Australia the minor broadcast stations are filling their air with advertising matter. and the trouble in partieularly annoying to listeners who have a difficulty in cutting out these stations owing to their proximity.