Radio for New Plymouth Hospital

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 3, 31 July 1931, Page 3

Radio for New Plymouth Hospital

Modern Installation P rovides Radio, Gramophone and lalks for Patients

FTER about nine weeks’ work the. , installation of probably the most modern radio equipment of its kind in New Zealand has been completed at the New Plymouth Hospital and: successful tests have been carried out. The purchase of the plant, at a cost of about £800, was made possible by the efforts of a committee of New Plymouth people ;in raising the necessary money. At the official opening of the ( installation, which is to take place shortly, Mrs. H. E. Ayckbourn, " who took a leading part in the raising of the funds, will be asked to switch it on. The splendid apparatus now in use will be a lasting monument to the work of those who set out to provide it, and who, in doing so, overcame many serious difficulties. In the main the installation consists of two separate power amplifiers, each capable of driving the whole hospital system. To either amplifier any one of radio, gramophone or microphone can be ‘connected. The radio set is supplied by a set employing three of the new multi-mu and one ordinary s.g. valves. The gramophone section is supplied by a well-known British pick-up specially rewourid for the purpose, and the microphone is a high-class broadcast one, fitted to an extending bracket, which enables it to be ‘brought to any position over the cabinet desk. The amplifiers each consist of three stages of push-pull amplification terminating in an output stage delivering over 15 watts undistorted output to the eleven speakers, and 171 pillow-phones of the hospital system. _

LMS System Consists of five main wards, the children’s wards, and the doctors’ and matrons’ quarters. Any of these circuits can be switched at will on to any audio channel, without affecting the load on either amplifier. Thus, while the men’s wards may be receiving a description of a wrestling match, per me--dium of the radio, the women folk can be entertained with gramophone music, or a talk through the microphone. This is done by moving switches on the control anel. In ‘each ward, the yolume from either the speaker or the pillow-phones is under the control of the sister in charge, who can also switch off altogether if necessary. All volume controls are such that changes of volume can be made in any part of the hospital system, without affecting in the slightest degree, the quality or volume, in the rest of the system. It -is believed that this is the first installation of its kind in New Zealand where this feature has been properly achieved, without

resorting to separate audio systems or output circuits. All the volume controls are graduated ‘in even steps of three units of volume each, similar to the standard talkie "fader." The sister in charge is thus able to make a definite and known increase or decrease in volume without the necessity of listening-in herself at one of the pillow-phone points. Each ward circuit is also fused, so that should a short circuit occur, it cannot affect the rest of the hospital system. The whole of the distribution is done by means of low impedance lines which minimise distortion, carried in screwed galvanised con-. duit, and comprises some 6000 feet of conduit, and some 15,000 feet of wire. | The terminal boxes for the pillow-phones are of cast aluminium and each contains a compensating coil which automatically replaces the load of the pillow-phone should it ‘be withdrawn from the circuit. Thus, whether the full number. or only one pillow-phone is plugged in, the volume in each remains the same. The power panel contains the switches for the two amplifiers, the radio set and the gramophone motor, each switch being fitted with a pilot light which glows red when the accompanying " switch is in the "on" position. It is therefore unlikely that anyone would go away and accidentally leave any part of the apparatus switched on. The power panel is also fitted with a meter, and an ingenious voltage control device. Space is provided under the deck for the storage of gramophone records and spare equipment, etc. ~The cabinet is built

completely of steel, finished with olive green baked . enamel. A roller slide front is provided which automatically locks when lowered. Loudspeakers are provided on the verandas and pillow-phones in the in‘side wards. The patient listens-in -by lying on a pil-_ low containing the headphone. ‘The set was unofficially opened last Tuesday night, when Mr. E. J. L. Payne, vice-president of 2YB, gave out a programme which, although primarily for the children, was enjoyed by. all who listened in. At the request of Maori patients a number of Maori records were played. On Monday night last the patients listened to a programme from station KFT (Los Angeles). The radio installation is particularly appreciated in the isolation ward, while the nurses in the children’s ward find that the children are much more contented now that they have the new service to interest them. ~ At present interference is being caused by what_is.. (Concluded on page 30.)

Hospital Radio (Continued from page 3.) thought to be a defective insulator in the power system nearby, but it is hoped to trace this. The X-ray and electrical equipment in- the hospital affect reception also, but it will not be difficult to arrange that the two are not in operation together. The contractors for the installation were Messrs. Lightband and Wann, New Plymouth, and the builders if the equipment were the Stewart Hardware Co., Wellington, whose engineer, Mr. J. M. Gifford, has been supervising the work. ‘The equipment is all. New Zealand made.