Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 32, 20 February 1931, Page 8

Notes and Comments

B

SWITCH

"GWITCH" is now receiving the new Tasmanian broadcast station, TLA, Launceston, The newcomer is of good yolume and pleasing tone. * ea * "]}REQUENOY" (Taihape) asks: "Is the modulation of 2YA, Wellington, rated at 100 per cent?’ 2YA ‘works at a point which gives 100 per cent, modulation on the loudest notes. If it were fixed at 100 per cent. for notes or sounds of average volume it would result in the louder notes or sounds being distorted. The modulation of 2YA, according to practice, is .100 per cent. modulation. bg * et 1A GAIN "Switch" has to thank Mr. Earl T. Haynes, of Christchurch, for information concerning the auditory powers of snakes. He admits that his previous statement-"the fact that they have no earpits or ear-drums, would affect them from hearing’-is not quite.correct. Myr. Haynes is still doubtful whether the story of a snake being intrigued by music from a loudspeaker is true. ie * * ; LETTHR is to hand from Mr. D. McLaughlin (Karori) confirming "Switch’s" statement, that the station

Mit" OM which clashes nightly with 3AR, Melbourne, is a Jap. The only call-sign Mr. McLaughlin has heard from the mystery station is the familiar JOAK. That, of course, indicates that the strange Jap is relaying, or, perhaps, rebroadcasting JOAK, Tokio. "Switch" hopes, before long, with the assistance of a Japanese friend, to identify the new Jap. station. ‘ * . * = R. McLaughlin also writes: "On Sunday (1/2/31) at exactly 4 a.m. (not being asleep like sensible folks) I tuned in to 3AR’s frequency and lo! a station broadcasting a boxing match came in at R 45 very clearly. The fight was between Firpo and what seemed to me im opponent named Moran. The tuning on the dial was very broad, the station covering two points. However as there were rather loud bursts of static { had to close down (as the family were all asleep), without identifying him. It is obviously an American, don’t you think? To revert to 8AR, I would like to know if you have experienced this station’s irregularities in frequency. Previously on my dial it came in at 774; lately it hopped to 804, and now is at 78, Or is my set irregular?" * $ * * yy reply to the above queries "Switch" thinks it possible that the American station heard by Mr. McLaughlin was in the philippine Islands. The time, 4 o’clock in the morning, would preclude the broadcast being an actual ringside description of a fight in America. The time in Chicago would be 10 a.m., in New York 11 a.m., and in San Francisco 8 am. In Manila (Philippines) the time would be midnight. Theatres run very late in the Philippines, and possibly the fight was on a film, with a ringside description. "Switch" attended a vaudeville show in Colombo, several years ago, which commenced at 10 p.m.! = "# * T is not known to many that the transmitting station of 2YA, Wellington, has an elaborate "earth" system involving about two miles of 7-16 copper wire buried about a foot or so underground, radiating in spider-web fashion to a distance of nearly 200 yards from the station house. To lay the wire a plough was employed to cut deep furrows in the hillside. * oak * R. J, T. Mosley (Ohai) writes :-"It ‘Seems that everyone comes to you when in doubt. Therefore I wonder if you could answer me a few questions.

(1) Who was it at about 11 o’cleck p.m. N.Z, time, from 8LO. Melbourne, offered the sincere sympathy of Victoria and a very touching prayer for all injured and bereaved in the tragic occurrence in the Napier district? An organ recital was being broadcast at the time." "Switch" regrets missing that incident from 8LO, Melbourne. = = = . ME. MOSLEY asks another: "(2) Is the Performing Rights Association composed of active producers and

> \- performers, or is it a combination of smart people who pay the producers and performers for a song’ and then charge the publie an exorbitant rate for their works? If of the latter kind, then they should be treated as the ‘Bolshies’

-A treat them." The Performing Rights Association is composed of music publishers and others who have acquired the copyright of various musical compositions. _ # * * QTILL another from Mr. Mosley; "(3) Is the standard of Hy-Wide and Handsome the standard of American humour? It may amuse children. The announcers of these electrical transcrip- . tions do not suffer from any undue sense of modesty in announcing themselves, do they?" It is an old American custom to boost one’s self when opportunity offers. Humour is largely: geographical, Japanese spectators laughed uproariously when a dead man was being carried off in a film dram in Tokio not so long ago. . "y t , * * ‘* FuNALLY, Mr. Mosley writes: "(4) Congratulations to the staff of 2YA ‘for the wonderfully creditable manner in which they kept us all posted up on Black Tuesday. They must have been. working at a tremendous disadvantage. This was the first time I have heard © our Mr. Drummond falter in his announcements. He must have been working under a terrific strain and would be a very tired man when he signed off on the Wednesday morning. It was very hard being so far away and not to be able to do anything to help those ‘who needed help so sorely." "Switch" echoes Mr. Mosley’s praise of the services rendered by 2YA.. Mr. Drummond’s faltering, however, was not due to any emotional strain or fatigue. Some people who wrote in to 2YA asking the whereabouts of missing rela- / tives or friends scribbled long, wandering letters before getting to the point. Mr. Drummond had to scan these lengthy epistles hurriedly to get the names for broadcasting purposes, and there were dozens of such voluminous letters. Ed > , * ; R. BINGHAM, radio engineer of the Broadcasting Company, has been paying a visit to Wellington to give the 2YA transmitter its periodical overhaul. Probably listeners who have been sitting up into the small hours of the morning have heard strange sounds . on 2YA’s carrier. This was Mr. Bingham carrying out frequency tests. 2YA is now noticeably. increased in volume, and there is a wonderfully natural tone in the transmission. f