Notes And Comments

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 12, 3 October 1930, Page 9

Notes And Comments

By

SWITCH

OME years have elapsed since "Switch" experienced such a wonRderful night for radio reception as that of Thursday, September 25. Although static was by no means quiescent, the signal strength of the New Zealand and Australian stations, even including 6WF, Perth, was so high above all other noise levels that they could be tuned down till searcely a crackle could be heard from the loudspeaker. After midnight 6WF could be heard all over the writer’s house, _A strong north-westerly wind was raging, and some heavy showers had fallen in the early evening. * * * ON -that phenomenal night the Australian "B" class stations maintained a volume equal to that of 3L0, Melbourne, on a normal night. The new Adelaide "B" class station was excellent. 7ZL, Hobart, came in with exceptional volume, and the singing of choruses from a public hall in the TasfSanian capital was loud and clear, witht- fading. It was interesting to pass from station to station, comparing the items and methods of announcing, The Japanese stations were astonishingly loud. It-was necessary to subdue JOHK, Sendai, dt times, in order to tolerate it. ‘ @ * ON such nights when long distance reception attains such extraordinary volume, it is inevitable that new stations are stumbled across. The writer, in the early evening, found five American stations coming in with sufficient volume to be entertaining... The announcements, however, although definitely spoken with an ‘American twang, were somewhat smothered by local electrical noises, and the call Ietters could not be distingished. The stations, however, closed down in the early evening, consistent with the difference of time between America and New Zealand. . * s a ORE station heard*by "Switch" late on Thursday night, September 25, which mystified him was found on his tuning dial midway between the wave lengths of 3AR, Melbourne, and 4YA, Dunedin. This station was first noticed shortly after 10 p.m, when 2YA, Wellington, had signed off. The writer re turned to the stranger at various times, but eventually lost it somewhere about 10.30 p.m. Orchestral selections and dance music were clearly heard, but the announcements were too weak to be intelligible. "Switch" would like to hear from any listener who has identified this station.

JAPANESE station very seldom _ heard by "Switch" was also picked up on that notable night. Although no eall-sign was given, the writer, through an estimate of the wavelength, considers this Jap station to be JOJK, Kanazawa, 423 metres, with a power of 3000 watts in the aerial. The language was identified as Japanese, and the music was exclusively Japanese. Considering that seven of the Japanese stations employ a power of 10,000 watts in the aerial, JOJK, with only 3000 watts, performed very creditably. * * * wr some nights should provide such phenomenal long-distance reception is at present a mystery to radio scientists. ‘On such nights the writer checks up the weather reports from the Australian stations, and he has found that on these occasions, with few exceptions, fine weather has prevailed at the transmit‘ting end. On the other hand, when a tempest is raging in the vicinity of the broadeast stations reception is nearly always extremely poor. Foggy weather at the receiving end has generally been associated with weak long-distance reception. & © Es [HH approaching partial eclipse of the sun offers broadcast listeners in the Dominion an opportunity of testing the effect of long-distance reception. Of course, if the eclipse were total, conditions would be more favourable for the experiment. During the last eclipse of the sun, observed in America, broadcast listen-

ers noticed that during the brief period of total darkness, long-distance reception increased in volume as though it were night-time. & * * AMONG a group of Wellington listeners recently talk fell upon the subject of wireless pirates-people who are listening-in without paying their license fees. One of the speakers mentioned that he knew of a number of cases of pirating in Wellington. If listeners would only realise that broadcast listening is a community affair, and that broadcasting can only progress in a ratio to the number of licensees, the identity of these pirates would be disclosed to the authorities. These thieves are not only robbing the authorities, but are robbing their fellow listeners. ry s * HWS has been received from a brother listener in Melbourne that the copyright charges for the broadcast of gramophone records by "B" class stations is about to be applied throughout Australia, This has, he states, created quite a wave of consternation among the proprietors of Australian "B" class stations. He concludes with: "Negotiations are now in progress between the copyright people and the "B" class station proprietors, but what the upshot will be no one appears to know." x » (THe portable wireless set is making steady headway in New Zeland, and a Wellington dealer informs "Switch" that he is just able to keep up with the

demand for them. The approaching summer months, he anticipates, will give @ further impetus to sales, as holidaymakers, whether, by motor or yacht, are realising what a. boon broadcast listening is when away from the cities and towns. A statement issued by the U.S.A. Federal Radio Commission estimates that of America’s listening public, fully 78.8 per cent. use portable wireless sets when on holiday. = * HILE on the subject of portable wireless sets, "Switch" recalls meeting in Wellington a Sydney business man who carried a portable set wherever he went. In the evenings, after a strenuous day, he went to bed in his hotel about 8 p.m., and listened in to the various N.Z. stations, having procured a o, . > ,

--_-- * 9 In other days, one of J. C. Williamson leading musical comedy actors brough his portable wireless set with him to New Zealand and tuned in while waiting in his dressing room between his "calls." special license on arrival from AT HANNA, formerly a Wellingtog signwriter and _ black-and-whi artist, whose amusing "cricket sermon™ gramophone records have been heard from the "YA" stations, took the chair recently at a humorous’ studio smoke night at 3LO, Melbourne. Pat Hanna is a man of many parts, and besides being the leading light in the well-known "Diggers" theatrical company for years, is also a first-class diver. He won more than his share of prizes in diving competitions at the Te Aro baths when a resident of Wellington. * cd * WBHLLINGTON listener who owns an a.c. set, was anxious to purchase one of the latest a.c. power valves, and asked "Switch" for his advice on the subject. An examination of the set, however, promptly revealed that it was not constructed for the newer type of valve and that it would be a costly undertaking to adapt the set to it. The power valve he was using, however, was nearly exhausted, and when he replaced it the set functioned perfectly.

637 7 7 7 5 Grin 7 5 2 Hu Tl ~ 74

The Wellington Boys' Institute Military Band, who, under the conductorship of Mr. A. Iremonger, will present a studio concert from 2YA on October 9. —Photo, Crown Studios.