Notes and Comments By SWITCH

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 9, 12 September 1930, Page 9

Notes and Comments By SWITCH

SWITCH

Miss HDITH HARRHY, the Australian composer-vocalist, who ap- ‘ peared at 'the various "YA" stations in New Zealand last summer, broadcast ‘lately from 3L0, Melbourne. She gave a short recital of her own compositions and of modern classics, s * s A LISTENER, comparing programmes in Hurope with those in this part of the world, writes: "Imagine an organ solo extending over a period of 120 minutes, the piece being ‘Rock of Ages,’ This is typical of a German programme. American jazz is invariably réndered in march time by German orchestras. What would happen here if there were unexplained silences extending from 5 to 60 minutes or more? hese silences are common affairs with EWropean stations. And then, what ‘about speeches to the people? There would no doubt be an all-round ‘moan’ if one of our politicians were to speak for over an hour from one of our broad casting stations, yet this happens in France, while in Russia propaganda comprises most of each station’s programme," + s z= F W.4. (Tadmor), in last week’s "Record" mentions having received 2FO, Sydney, on a two-stage amplifier and a crystal, per medium of a nearby-seven-valve set, which was oscillating. "Switch" had reported that a Wellington listener had received 2FC on a twostage amplifier and a erystal. "Switch" is not in a position to state that reception was or was not due to the oscilla‘tion of a valve set. This subject evoked almost endless correspondence a few ‘ years ago in New Zealand, as well as in America and Wngland, and there ap pears to have been little doubt that reception with a erystal unassisted by a nearby oscillating valve had been accomplished over almost unbelievable distances. e bs ww "QWITCH" has overheard several ~ chats between 2ZM, Gisborne, and 4ZP ,Invercargill, of late, after broadeasting hours. Both stations were testing, and it was interesting to- compare notes. 4ZP complained that 3DB, Melbourne, was interfering with reception of 2ZM, Gisborne. "Switch" can avoid 8DB and receive 2ZM without a shadow of interference, but the slightest move of the dial tunes 4ZP out and brings in 8DB. The stations round about that wave-length are certainly rather cpowded. : : : "TWIN" (Petone) sends particulars of the reading of his dials when tuning in a distant station after 10 p.m. The station, he says, "has a buzzing like an aeroplane." This is. without ‘doubt the Newcastle station, known in Wellington by its excessive hum and distortion. The writer derives entertainment from nearly 40 stations each week, but has not discovered one with such persistent distortion as that of the Newcastle station. This will probably be rectified before long. * * 2 WING to a prevalence of local electrical noises, "Switch" has found it difficult to identify those American stations which are audible just after darkness closes in. One

American station which the writer finds quite loud enough for loudspeaker entertainment more often that any other from the States is KFWB, Hollywood, California. This station operates on a wavelength of 315 metres (950 kilocycles) and uses a power of only 1000 watts, according to the latest list. It is owned by Warner Bros.’ Broadcasting Corporation, and is heard best on Sunday evenings between 6.30 and 7 o'clock. "Switch" finds it on a slightly longer wavelength than that of 2GB,

EER F Sudney (316 metres), although the position should be reversed if both stations are on their published wavelengths. e od * Me. FRANK D. CLEWLOW, the talented HEnglish dramatic actor who toured New Zealand a few years ago with the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company, is heard occasionally from 3L0, Melbourne. Recently he gave some extracts from the works of the London poet, Henry Munro, includa war poem, selected from "Strange Meetings." Mr. Clewlaw will be particularly remembered by New Zealand theatre-goers by his fine interpretations of the role of Henry VIII. SoM Wellington listeners who oper-. ate erystal sets have been experiencing interference from radio-tele-phony transmitted on test from the new Wellington short-wave ‘phone transmitter to Sydney. Listeners who haye difficulty in tuning out the short-

wave "phone station should communieate with the Chief Radio Inspector, Wellington, and he will direct one of his officers to give advice on how to cut out the unwanted station. On one evening, by some peculiarity, "Switch" found the tests from this station coming in on top of 2F0, Sydney. e x * SUGGESTIONS are again being made in Australia that occasionally the Parliamentary debates in the Commonwealth House at Canberra should be broadcast. "Switch" recalls Some years ago the broadcast of a debate from the New South Wales Lower House. In Wellington reception was almost perfect, but various members, knowing that their speeches and ejaculations were being put on the air, were obviously "playing to the gallery." A veritable "war" in the House developed as certain members became heated, and the Government wisely decided to ban further broadcasts of Parliamentary debates. As one writer put it, "The pbroadeast disclosed how the public money was being wasted in the House." * * s Me. H. P. BROWN, Director of Commonwealth Postal Services, and chairman of the Federal Wireless Committee, in an article published in the Melbourne Press says: "Much work has been done in eliminating from broad-

e* tu easting reception those parasitic noises which have their source in electrical machinery, apparatus and power transmission lines. In the near future a nation-wide campaign will be launched still further to minimise these disturbing influences. Already there has been in evidence a willingness to Cooperate with the department in applying the remedy in particular cases, but it will be necessary for all those authorities and public bodies who have any control over the undertakings which are responsible for creating the disturbances to give their wholehearted co-operation to the solution of the problem." Possibly something of the sort will be organised in New Zealand. The annual conference of power boards’ engineers would be a fitting occasion for the matter to be brought forward. * * * HE Japanese stations have been very much in evidence during the past week. There is, however, an excess of talk from these stations. Through an interpreter, "Switch" has heard lectures on ancient Japanese poets, on great Japanese statesmen, and on military and naval leaders.: Radio plays are also rather too numerous. Still "Switch" has.heard some pleasing musical numbers from JOHK, Sendai, lately, including "On Wings of Song" and other Western vocalisation, sung by 2 Japanese girl with a light soprano voice. The words were in Japanese. One wonders what the Japanese performers would say if they knew they were audible throughout a home 5500 miles away.