Notes and Comments

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 33, 27 February 1931, Page 8

Notes and Comments

B

SWITCH

‘IWITCH" is informed that he was in error when he stated in last week’s "Record" that 2YA, Wellington, had substituted gramophone records when speech became inaudible during the speeches in connection with the Pope’s broadcast. However, these records came in on 2YA’s frequency with volume about equal to 2YA’s, and thus another radio mystery is created. Tt transpires that complaints have been voiced concerning interference with reception of 2YA locally. = * * "QWITCH" finds the section of the "Record" devoted to the D.X. Club always interesting. It shows that the’ old-time pastime of hunting for’ the distant stations still finds favour among -a considerable number of listeners. "A.F." (Waverley), in last week’s "Record," reports having heard a Jap station, just a point. below 2BL, Sydney, ‘talking in English. The Jap may have been JOAK, Tokio, which on some sets comes in rather close to 2BL. * od = bd "QWITCH" was interested to note the table of reception furnished by "Sereen Grid" (Opunake) in last week’s "Record." "Switch" has often mentioned that the reception of longdistance stations varies in volume in different localities fairly close to one another. It is, therefore, to be expected that reception at Opunake differs from that at Wellington. "Screengrid" does not mention. 7LA, Launceston, which "Switch" rates as about the sixth best Australian... * * % ITH the passing of New Zealand daylight saving time on March 15, and. the shortening days listeners will soon experience a marked improvement in the reception of the Australian- stations. A half-hour makes a perceptible difference in reception from across the Tasman. Lately, Australian. reception has been most satisfactory. The new "B" class stations in that country are now crowding one’s tuning dial. ; HILE several DX enthusiasts men‘tion excellent reception from the new Australian B class station, 2MO, Gunnedah, "Switch" finds that the best of the newcomers is 2AY, Albury. This little. station has plenty of pep, and is of excellent tone. Albury is on the main trunk railway line between Melbourne. and Sydney, being located on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. ‘All passengers’ change trains at Albury owing to the difference in the gauges of the Victorian and New South Wales railway lines. — *,. i* x "QWITDCH" is inclined :to believe that ™ the Wastern: :station on a wWwavelength a little shorter than that of

7Z, Hobart,.is a Chinese. The stranger is rather elusive and is not heard by the writer every evening. After 11 p.m. he is sometimes easily picked up. * * + N all sides "Switch" has heard praise of the international programmes presented on Wednesday evenings by 2YA, Wellington. The music is superbly recorded and is rich in tonal quality. The dialogues, -too, ave entertaining and not at all likely to corrupt the Wnglish diction and accent of the community. * ; * , A FEW nights after the big -earthquake, "Switch" heard 2Z0, Wairoa, announcing that he had received reports on his transmission on the previous evening. He stated that there was some mistake as he had not been on the air on the occasion mentioned. He suggested that some other station had been using his eall sign. *s. _s s VERYONDE seems to be singing the praises of 2YA, Wellington, for its valuable assistance to those who suffered through the earthquake. Through 2YA countless friends of those who were in the earthquake area were relieved of anxiety as to the refugees’ safety and whereabouts. All public relief bodies made the fullest use of the station for spreading far and wide any notifications of interest. Appreciation of the work of 2YA is still heard on all sides, and the value of a powerful broadcast station in the Capital City is endorsed over and over ‘again. od ‘ * = "QWITCH" has been asked whether the new station TLA, Launceston, is now transmitting on full power. It is, but this is only 200 watts in the aerial. ‘The wavelength is .273 metres. This station appears to be most efiicient, for with relatively low power it js heard in many places all over New Zealand. ;

NN Sunday, February 15, "Switch" picked up the American station, KRLD, Dallas, Texas, shortly after 10 p.m, and held him till he closed down about 11.30 p.m. This was the finest reception of an American station yet logged by "Switch." The volume approached that of 3YA, Christchurch, at times, and fading, though pronounced, was not frequent and was brief. Vaudeville songs and dance

2 numbers were broadcast. , This American is on a wavelength a little shorter than that of 2UH, Sydney. cI * , " ‘ QOMETHING like eighteen Japanese ’ proadeast stations are now on the air. One has only to tune slowly on a favourable night to realise what a: host » of them are operating. "Switch" assesses JOHK, Sendai, as’ about the loudest Jap he receives. JOWK is the most dependable, and, although intermissions cause an occasional pause each evening, this station. can generally be relied on to be on the air when required.

EWS from America reports that | there has been, a decided swing in popular demand for table model receiving sets. "Switch" confesses a liking for this type of.set, preferring to | place his loudspeaker where he chooses. The cabinet and console sets are here to stay, but it would be regrettable if the table-model disappeared. * * * "THE fixst half of January, with its unceasing north-westerly gales,"has been associated with rather more static than had been experienced during the preeeding summer months, The unsettled nature of this summer’s weather hasbeen phenomenal: so far in Wellington. Static seems to be most active when the weather is abnormal. = * * QNE listener whom "Switch" numbers among his acquaintahces pecomes indignant when discussing American musie broadcast by 2YA, Wellington. It is a positive fact, though, that fully 75 per cent. of the gramophone records in the listener’s house are of American music. Another’ listener who, is perpetually condemning the broadcasting of anything which is not British is a director of a company which manufactures a certain article embodying. mechanism ‘made on the Continent, though an equally efficient substitute ‘could ‘be purchased in Hng: land. . = . . PMARKABLY favourable’ nights / ‘recently brought to light.quite a (© number of minor Australian broadcast ' stations for "Switch.". Two of them clashed with New Zealand "B" class stations; and until some arrangement between the Australian and New Zealand authorities has been brought about these clashes will continue. A conference would do much to improve matters in this respect. For instance, 2NC, Newcastle, now obliterates the transmission from a certain North Island "B" class station, so far as a large number of New Zealand listeners is concerned. , 4