Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 47, 5 June 1931, Unnumbered Page

Our Mail Bag

' While we welcome the expressed views of listeners on topies pertaining to radio, we ask that these communications be kept to minimum length, as heavy demands are made upon Space. Mere reiteration of arguments cannot be accepted for publication, and we cannot take responsibility for views expressed. Address communications to the Editor, and sign all correspondence, though 3 nom-de-plume may be used for publication,

Pr 2YA Heterodyned. qs it possible to shift 2YA’s frequency . as he is heterodyning very badly down here with 5CL, Adelaide? Does this heterodyning affect the tone of a station at all,*as 2YA is very highpitched at times? The community singing which lasted for a short while last Sunday evening from 2YA was very enjoyable, and it is a wonder ‘we are not given more of it on weekdays, like the Australian stations.-

E. W.

D.

(Invercargill)

[Were the complaint general in any district it is possible that the Post and Telegraph Department would consent to the frequency. being changed. We should like to hear from other listeners on this score. A heterodyning ae will. often cause distortion.vd. e ' Good Music. , Q WING to the recent quake here in Napier we have practically no musical entertainments of any description, consequently the splendid 2YA musical programmes . are more than welcome, and I cam assure you they are much enjoyed and highly appre ciated, . First of all, if I may, I wish ~to thank 2YA so much for the excellent music supplied by the Orchestrina. This combination is generally accept: ed and considered by all true music Yovers as the most delightful and efficient organisation of its kind on the air, not excluding even other stations across the Tasman. It is verily a miniature symphony orchestra. At times "it is difficult to distinguish their playing from that of one of the good gramophone records., Last Monday might a very musical friend of mine was listening to the rendering of the "Faust" ballet music played by the Orchestrina, and it took some time to convince him that it was not a record. This should speak for itself, I shall be greatly obliged if you will convey my hearty thanks and congratulations to every member of the Orchestrina and their brilliant conductor for their ever consistently magnificent musical

fare which they provide for us all. To my mind the musical director seems to have a most catholic taste in choosing good music for his presentations, his control over his players being exceedingly remarkable. Tonal beauty, balance, pitch, precision in attack and reledse, perfect judgment of tempi and rubato, coupled with an exquisite interpretation makes this combination a really Blysian pleasure to listen to. If there is any one thing in this world that will raise man from petty and sordid events of life and lift him ont of and above himself even momentarily it is good music, and this, whether. it be listening, studying, performing or

composing.-

C.

Clef

(Napier).

2YA’s Extended Hours, "H,LECTRAD" in a recent issue has written from his point of view only. Now the winter is on us, old people find the augmented service from 2YA a great boon. Again, a large number of people cannot afford more than a local set and the longer hours from 2YA are of great advantage to them and to others who cannot leave

their homes

Appreciation

(Wel-

lington).

‘YoOuR correspondent, "One at a Time," states in last week’s issue that the increase of 2XA’s broadcasting hours is a retrogressive step. In this I think he is wrong. The time has come in New Zealand when setowners will of necessity require to make their receivers more selective. If "One at a Time" lived in Australia he would realise this.-‘Up-to-date" (Wellington). I DISAGRBHE whole-heartedly with the views expressed by your correspondent "Hlectrad"’ concerning the number of housewives who tune in 2YA. in the mornings. My work takes me to a different house on an average every second day, and I can say that when Wwe are in a house where there is a radio set we always have 2YA to help us on with our work. As for the argument tha¢ "Hlectrad" puts up about no consideration for the husband who has to find the annual fee-well, that’s all "tosh." If the husband is working, he can at least have radio from 5.30 p.m. till 10 p.m. from New Zealand, and later if he wants it from Australia (after a day’s work that ought to satisfy him), and if he is not work’ .¢ he can tune in 2YA at 10 a.m. and listen til 10 p.m. Where does the inconsideration come in? If a man wants more music than that, well, he ought

te invest in a mouth-organ.-

Static

(Wanganui).

CANNOT agree with "Wlectrad" (Inglewood) in that the augmented service of 2YA should be in the evening instead of in the morning. Owners of non-selective. sets find it hard enough to hear 5CL, Adelaide, without extending broadcast hours of 2YA at night. I think it a good idea, and is a step in the right direction to-

ward all-day broadcasts. I can ‘only say that "Wlectrad’s" set must be wrong somewhere, or his locality weak, if he cannot get Auckland at fair volume. With a four-valve battery set, I can get 1YA at volume sufficient to fill the room. Of course the locality may be better than "Electrad’s." I certainly find. 3YA poor. In fact, my best reception of 8YA is through 4YA. By the way, I notice that 4YA is not broadcasting the Leckie-Thomas fight. Why is this? I’m sure all fight enthusiasts up north would like to hear thic-

G. B.

Boy

(Dn.).

"Advertising" Talks. CORRESPONDENT, "Purist," writes contending that the series of day-time talks, inaugurated from 2YA under their extended schedule, constitutes thinly veiled advertising in that the representatives of certain firms are introduced as being ‘from such-and-such a firm. Our correspondent cites particularly a talk upon an electric comb’as being of propagandist character. On behalf of the company, it is stated that a condition made in connection

eed with these talks, which are given by the experts of certain firms, is that the matter used therein shall be applicable to the products of all firms in similar lines-ie., that any of the articles may be purchased anywhere. EKyen in the specific case referred to, no one electric comb-of. which there are a number on. the market-was mentioned, but merely the treatment based upen their use. The same applies to the shampoo. This was recommended to be any properly prepared scientific emollient, although it is true the lecturer did say some comb proprietors prepared special shampoos. Since the firms in question make their experts available freely to the station, and as those experts talk on general lines only, giving matter that is of distinct value to listeners of certain classes, it is considered that the courtesy men~ tion of the firm constitutes the irre ducible minimum of return for the service given. Listeners are entitled to know that the lecturer addressing | them has some weight of authority be- | hind him or her and is qualified to.) speak. We appreciate the ideas of our correspondent, but as a matter of practice the procedure now adopted, it is believed, puts the matter under control and affords listeners both the service desired and the protection necessary. Garbled Reception. WAS tuning in the other day when a friend new to radio came in. "Ah," he said, "they do mutilate the transmission from these transAtlantic telephone service stations, don’t they! They’ve certainly rendered it unintelligible to short-wave listeners. Just listen to that now. I guess they’re testing with the records. Can’t get a word of the song, can you?" "That," I moaned dismally, "is not a telephone "tion. That’s the great voice, that’s our 5 k.w.. station 2YA." I turned down the volume, I turned up the volume, I tried finer tuningno good, still the same rough reproduction. : "Go on," said my friend, amazed, "that’s not 2YA surely." And he opened the lid of the cabinet to see which coils were. in, { have had some experience with modulation and have succeeded in modulating the carrier much better, IT am told, than 2YA’s is being modulated at present. If you can imagine the reproduction of a receiver with the bias resisters shorted you'll gain an idea of what 2YA sounds like here. { tuned in 3YA. The modulation was sweet and full. As I have built eight receivers and have been connected with amateur, phone transmitters for some time B have gained (unfortunately!) a re putation for being an authority on radio matters, and at the local post office, where I earn the necessary shekels, I have been asked by every member of the staff who owns receivers, "What’s wrong with 2YA?"’ The "Wanganui Chronicle," in its radio notes, also deplores the tone of 2YA. and says it is time something was done, The distortion occurs mostly wn notes in the middle of the musical seale. The highs and lows do not suffer so much. The extended hours I much appreciate, but they are nofworth while if the modulation remains as it is at present. Trusting that 2YA will renew its C battery or do. something to. better matters.-Piccolo Pete (Wanganui). ‘

DX Badges wee MME request for designs for a suitable badge for the DX Club has been very well met, and some very fine designs have come te hand. As it is desired to have the design selected before the Wellington meeting, it 1as been decided to request all entries to be in by June 8e Ii is hoped to have the badges ready as soon as the DX Club is constituted. The inscription should read, "N.Z. DX Club," but entries. with other wording will not be handicapped on that. 2ccount,