Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 49, 20 June 1930, Page 13

Notes and Comments

B

SWITCH

as ~ evening with an instalment of a "yel‘A. WELLINGTON beginner has 4 pressed his disappointment "Switch" at not being able to receive A, Auckland, throughout each afternoon. He lives in the inner area of e city, and he cannot understand why YA, Christchurch, is so loud any time f the day, while 1YA is available ‘only te in the afternoon, Firstly, 3YA is only half the distance that 1YA is from Wellington and transmission from the Christchurch station travels over the Sea for 94 per cent. of the distance to Wellington. On the other hand, 1YA’s transmission travels across land all the way, and because of the highlands, forests, and mineral deposits encountered, a considerable amount of power is Jost in absorption. = * * STATION 8LO, Melbourne,’ is now inflicting listeners every Tuesday low" drama, in serial form, entitled "The Jazz Spider." Melbourne is the Boston, or cultural centre, of Australia, and one can easily visualise the reception of a radio drama which follows the machinations of a gang of "dope" smugglers. Plays of this elevating type invading homes where there are boys of an impressionable age must prove a strong rival to the much condemned "Deadwood Dick" stories universally proscribed by parents and school teachers. s * . JT. direct contrast to some of the nonsense broadcast by 3L0, Melbourne, was a recent lecture from a station on "What we should do to protect our eyes," by an accredited authority. The eye is a most precious organ -the most treasured of all-and yet the average man or woman knows practically nothing of its care. "Switch’’ highly commends such a radio lecture. * * * RECENTLY Mr. H. P. Brown, Government head of the Commonwealth National Broadcasting Service, and Mr. Stuart F. Doyle, chairman of directors of the Australian Broadcasting Company, took part by radio telephone in the annual conference at Lausanne, Switzerland, of the Union International de Radiodiffusion, which controls international wavelengths and other phases of international broadcasting. Mr. Brown spoke from his suburban home in Melbourne, and Mr. Doyle was in his home at Sydney. A lengthy conversation took place, and several broadcasting notabilities conversed with the two Australians. & * * THE writer is informed that a New Zealander’s invention respecting loudspeakers, which some people believed was going to make a fortune for them, has failed to make good. It was taken abroad, but its inventor was unable to impress the "trade" or anyone else sufficiently to take it up. * x * A BEGINNER came to "Switch" the other day with the complaint that on the shorter wavelengths where the "B" stations abound reception is seriously interfered with by all sorts of noises from electrical leakages. These noises, he stated, are scarcely audible

above 300 metres. When-a listener is located within the precincts of a city in any part of, the world he is certain to pick up these noises on the shorter wavelengths of the broadcast band. In some areas they are much more pronounced than in others, bd + a LISTENERS in various suburbs of Wellington claim that their own areas are the worst for howling valves. Kilbirnie’s claim for championship honours are now keenly disputed by Ha~ taitai. In the latter suburb one gentleman appears to have adopted the plan of permitting his valve to howl continuously for five minutes on one station until hé has driven all other

howlers away. This scheme is apt to bring a prosecution down upon the inventor. Let him beware. as % * A FEW weeks ago a radio telephone service, which was inaugurated between Sydney and London, received considerable notice in the Press. The Sydney short-wave station, 2ME, which carries on the telephone service from Australia, has now been allotted new commercial call letters, VLK, and the British station is now known as GBP. * at * BRoavcasr listeners will find much to interest and assist them in the "N.Z. Radio Guide and Call Book" of 1930, recently issued. It is a sate bet

that the majority of listeners in New Zealand now are not interested in radio technical matters, and in this respect the "Radio Guide" exhibits a due regard for this large section. livery broadeast station likely to be heard in this country is listed, with full particulars as to its location, power, and wave-length, The "trouble-tracking schedule" is invaluable to all listeners. + % Ba "HERD is something radically wrong with the gramophone equipment at one of the minor broadcast stations not very far from Wellington. The records do not run at a uniform speed, and the most distressing result is the sudden change of pitch. Surely the operator must notice these vagaries. . * & "WITCH" has procured undeniable evidence that two of the Japanese stations, JOHK, Sandai, and JOAK, Tokio, are sometimes linked together by either land-lines or by air. The other night he checked up these stations and found gramophone items were being transmitted simultaneously by them. This, then, would account for the prolonged argument in the N.Z. Press, some time ago, as to whether JOHK was JOAK. As a matter of fact

oa both sides were deceived. Sometimes the announcer at JOAK would be heard ving his call-sign through JOHK, as the stations were linked together. * * + [HH Melbourne Wholesale Radio Association has drawn up a set of rules governing "service." The hope is expressed by the association that both wholesale and retail houses will fall into line on what has been one of the "trade’s" greatest problems. * * * So Dr. Hinstein, the famous scientist, is extending his investigations to embrace electro-magnetic phenomena. This has an important bearing on broadcasting, and ere long some new and startling theories may be pyropounded by the eminent investigator. % * ¥ STATION 2FC, Sydney, has a peculiar practice in making "calls" to grown-ups as well as children during the kiddies’ evening session. The juveniles should not have their session intruded upon in this way if the sessions are really "children’s sessions." x Bo a "THE "Radio Record’s" Spelling Beé, to be staged early in August, promises to attract widespread interest. The idea made a big "hit" in America recently and was mentioned in the Press Association cables. A good idea in the "Radio Record’s" Spelling Bee is the provision for seven different sections, which should create interesting rivalry. x bd % BROADCAST station 3UZ, Melbourne, is stated to be the highest station in that city. The actual height is not given. 2YA, Wellington, is the highest station in New Zealand, being perched on a hill nearly 600ft. in height, overlooking the metropolis and the harbour.