Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 26, 9 January 1931, Page 12

Notes and Comments

B

SWITCH

WELLINGTON listener asked "Switch’s" advice on the positions of the valves in his a.c. set. It appears that he had had their characteristics tested with electrical meters. and found that some of them were down a little. In such a case it is always advisable to place the best valve in the first radio-frequency stage, th: next best in the second r.f. stage, and sO On, BA * [THE above acts as a reminder tha’ all listeners should have their valves tested periodically by an expert. Many radiotricians are now equipped with meters for testing a.c. valves, and, generally. speaking, are. willing to test any listener’s valves gratis. Valves which do not show a 70 per cent. standard of efficiency should be discarded if the listener desires to go in for long-distance reception. A rearrangement of the valves in their respective sockets in. the set should be adopted after the characteristics of each have been read and noted. Was : static was quiescent on New ‘ Year’s Eve and early on New Year’s morn, it came back with violence two nights later. The only station that could be tolerated on the night of January 2 was 20, Sydney. This station is on a wave-length which suffers less from static interference than those on the higher frequencies. * * " NE "dud" valve in the most perfect receiving set acts as a brake on long-distance reception. After all, the best of receiving sets are only as good

as their valves. Then again, occasionally valves of even the highest grade will sometimes not come up to standard, and will drop in efficiency in a much briefer period than they should. The only method of knowing exactly how one’s valves are standing up to their work is to have them tested by an expert. 2 * * GHORTLY after 1.80 o’clock the other morning "Switch" heard a strange station on the wave-length of 3AR, Melbourne, broadcasting music. 3AR had been heard signing off an hour previously, so that it was not the Melbourne station "Switch" heard later. Besides, the volume was-only about 50 per cent. of that of 8AR. "Switch" endeavoured, but without success, to pick up the call-sign of the stranger. For some time past a station has been heard heterodyning 3AR, and possibly the stranger was that station.

"THE perennial question was put to the writer a few days ago, "Can static be overcome?" A well-known expert writes on this subject: "Atmospherics have been with us ever since we first saw radio, and probably it will be a number of years yet before we can outwit the natural phenomenon, ‘static,’ as it is called. The use of a small indoor aerial and‘a high gain receiver may often bring in a particular station better than with an outdoor aerial, but it can be safely said here that there is no remedy for static,

and we must take it as it comes, shutting the receiver off when the noise is particularly bad." P2ERFORMIN G rights charges are now a serious menace to the wellbeing of broadcasting in New Zealand. The Russian authorities (whatever their sins may be) are carrying out their principles even in radio administration. It has been officially decided that musicians, authors, and artists will receive no additional compensation for broadcasting, nor royalties for the performance of their works. It is argued that if a miscrophone is placed on the stage, the musician makes no extra effort; and, instead of expecting compensation, the composer should be grateful for the advertisement given his works.

IR DOUGLAS MAWSON’S Antaretie exploration ship Discovery, n0w far to the south of New Zealand, carries a short-wave Morse transmitter. The eall sign is VPNQ. The wavelength is about 30 metres, and the Discovery may be heard in the evenings from about 11 p.m. onwards. It is not quite clear from actual listening-in whether a regular "sked" is kept every evening, but a watch at that hour and on about that wavelength will bring reward. The Discovery’s signal note is about 500 to 800 cycles, and signals come through strongly and are easy to copy. (CONCERNING the projected English short-wave "Hmpire’-or "World" -broadcasting, a Melbourne writ says: "I venture the opinion that will be some considerable time befoz’ this can become a definite and accomplished fact. The Hmpire Marketing Board is now discussing a scheme for sponsoring the programmes, which, to a great extent, will overcome the financial difficulties, but the technical difficulties remain, and they are,tremendous. But what an alluring prospect. To think that the lone settler in Hast Africa may hear, say, Big Ben striking in London -take part in the Armisticé service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, or for a tea planter in Ceylon to be able to listen to a running commentary of a cup final -for British listeners the world over to be able to hear the King’s Speech at the opening of the Imperial Conference -what a wonderful strengthener to the links that bind us to the Empire! Difference in time in the various Dominions and colonies is a serious: factor which will have to be considered. Many important transmissions take place in London at a time which corresponds to 8 a.m. or 4 a.m. in Australia-a time at which the radio audience is practically nil." 2 s

(THE latest Australian returns show that there are now no fewer than 827.684 licensed broadcast listeners. Following are the details for each State :- Vie. cooee 142,221 Vic. seseese 7.99 S.W. Ww .. 117,680 N.S ee 4.74. Qld . 24,157 Qld. cocee 2.57 oeese 8,200 S.A, eee 4.86 W.A. on »757 W.AL cece 1.86 TAs. woos. 7,669 TAS. ceseoes 3.57 C’wealth . 327,684 C’wealth .. 5.10 e e * YOUTH who recently purchased 2 second-hand single-valve regenera: tive set asked the writer how to avoid interference with other listeners. A Yeceiver, if allowed to oscillate, can often cause interference in neighbouring receivers. The single valve regenerative set in particular is a very bad offender, and can cause just as much trouble as a bigger receiver, so have a thought for others, and do not allow the set to "whistle". when listening to any transmission. By wetting a finger and touching the lead-in wire it can be ascertained whether the set is oscillating. A loud click will be heard in the headphones or loudspeaker when the finger touches the lead-in wire, if the set is oscillating, and thus creating interference.