Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 42, 29 April 1932, Page 8

Our Mail Bag

Morse On 2YA. io your issue of 22nd instant a correspondent, "Disgusted 2YA Listener," complains bitterly of alleged amateur Morse interference on the broadcast band. In order to clear up any misapprehensions he or other listeners may have, L would like to make known the following facts :-- 1. Amateurs in New Zealand do not transmit in the broadcast band at any time whatsoever. We have definite wavelengths allotted us, and the highest available is 175 metres. Even then this band is seldom used in this country, due to the remarkable suitability of our 80-metre band for local work. City amateurs, especially, very rarely use it. 2. Amateur transmitters pay exactly the same fee (30/- per year) for their licenses and are entitled to the use of the air just as much as any listener. Many, however, remain silent during broadcast hours for the benefit of their

le neigmpours. 8. Amateur transmissions on 80 metres are heard in the broadcast band only by inefficient receivers. A modern set will experience no trouble whatsoever as numerous tests have proved. 4, 2YA’s wavelength interference from ZLW is more probable than from -amateurs owing to his higher power and his proximity to the broadcast band. Also,; when ZUW changes his wave to the 800-metre band, his second harmonic comes uncomfortably close to 2YA. This may account for some interference. Té your correspondent is really certain that his trouble comes from an amateur transmitter, I would appreciate it if he would get in touch with me (phone 27-626) as our association is anxious to clear up any such problems. Tf he is using a crystal set, as I suspect, there is undoubtedly room for improvement in his receiver.-TI', A. MeNeill, Secretary, Wellington Branch, N.Z.A.RT. HAs "Disousted 2YA Listener" attempted to find out what station the QRM comes from? If the interference is really loud enough to be objectionable anyone who can read Morse will soon tell him the station’s call. Let him then complain to the operator of the station responsible. He will find that man only too willing to co-operate with him in eliminating the clicks or other Morss QRM. Also, has it occurred to your, correspondent that it may be his receiver | which is at fault? If it is unselective it will bring in any QRM going for miles round. In this case it’s up te him to get it fixed. I must take exception to a rather sweet expression, too. He says, "Foi a small fee these pests are allowed te pollute the atmosphere." He would worry if his receiver-ah-polluted the atmosphere. The Ham has to pass 2 fairly stiff exam. before he can pay his "small fee" for transmitting, and he has to know how to eliminate QRM from BC sets. Isuggest that your. corre spondent should be reasonable and go to the "pest" concerned. I can testify to the trouble taken by one Ham I know to eliminate QRM. He is in the mid dle of a large number of BCL’s. The interference has*been cut out from all but one, and the operator of the. transmitter is still working most evenings ts clear up the last one. He has spent most evenings for the last week or two (and a good eal of hard-earned cash) doing his best for the BOL’s. Let the BCL’s give the Hams a fair deal,"Not a Ham-Yet." KFT and 4YA. HAVE read with interest the opintons ‘ot "Red Bird’ and ‘"Weonomic"

about the closeness of KII, Los Angeles, to 4YA, Dunedin. I quite agree with "Heonomie’s" views that it is impossible to get clear reception from KEI with Dunedin butting in, as it does at present. I certainly know several here who would like something to be done about this problem also. "Economic" will have the satisfaction of knowing that someone else is leaning on his side of the fence."Justice" (Wanganui). THE question of heterodyning of 4YA and KFI was discussed at the Christchurch meeting of the New Zealand DX Club. We were wnanimous that it was possible to tune in 4YA without KFI but not KFI without 4YA. From -reports it appears that 4YA "shifts" in frequency. This corroborates the letter of 1420C in "R.R."--DX-28MC. , \ye

wz: not give Soccer enthusiasts some consideration? I have had my radio for seventeen months and have never had the privilege of listening to a Soccer broadcast. I wonder if any other old Soccer player feels as I do about it? -T, Cristle (Whangarei). 2YAleans Appreciated. -® have never enjoyed a broadcast better than the one recently put over by the 2YAleans; they surpassed all expectations, to say nothing of the © play, "The Black Spot." Indeed, the company deserves everyone’s thanks for endeavouring to put over such a good programms.-G5 (Nelson). Better Recordings’ Wanted. } AM unfortunately a listener who edn appreciate good music. I have a very happy recollection of the first recorded Wednesday night programme from QYA. It was beautiful, and we had hopes that during one evening of the week, those who love the higher class musie were to be catered for, but alas, were it not for Dr. Scholefield and his always interesting lecture. and just an oceasional good record, the evening is as so many others, so very ordinary."Perfectone" (Levin). News Service. At present country people find it difficult to make ends meet and most of us, after working hours, want" principally the weather report and news. To get "news" from 2YA one has to listen to racing results and names of scratched horses, cricket seores from all over the Dominion, golf, yachting,

fiunnine, broadsiding, and even croet Winners’ names, and tennis scores and rowing results. Personally I grudge the battery current used, and few farmers have either time or money for racing, yachting or croquet. These lists of winners’ names are merely dreary rubbish. Could not news be given first so that one could turn off the set or turn to a B station. Wishing for news of the Sino-Japanese war one night I put up with over half an hour of these "sporting" results, and when the items of news from. the "Hvening Post" came along these consisted merely of a few political items of information about Mr. Veitch, Mr. Taverner and Mr. Stallworthy so far as I remember. If we get television in our homes no doubt our entertainment will begin and end with pictures of Mr. Veitch playing golf. Mr. Tayerner yachting, and Mr. Stallworthy playing croquet. Interesting events ure happening over the world, and although town dwellers have their morning ang.evening papers, we only have one mail per week. Surely it should be possible to give one or two items of news in addition to information regarding politicians and rowing results -W. Southern (Tokomaru Bay). [ WAS greatly amused at a par by Spark" this week: "Have you returned your questionnaire?" No, because there are none available at this P.O. I paid my license on March 27. There were none available then, or on April 8. Is economy the reason, or is it that they are only handed to those who agree with the present programmes? I don’t. They are surely rowing worse, and soon will be all gh-class music. I am a musician myself, in that I play seven instruments, but must say I am fond of humour, of which we now get none. Being an old master mariner, I have travelled the whole world from China to Peru. I do not belong to New Zealand. I am Manx, and am living only here on account of my health, I have never met in all my travels such an utter lack of humour as in this country -A. Torrance (New Brighton).