Is Mast Strong Enough For Lights?

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 1 February 1935, Page 18

Is Mast Strong Enough For Lights?

Engineer’s Opinion on Big Neon Signs Above 1YA Studio — Trouble in Higher Power Transmission to be Corrected — Logged Easily in U.S.A. — Reply to Criticisms. ~

four big Neon electric signs have been completed, and are all ready to be placed in position on top of the 100ft. lattice mast which was recently taken down from George Court’s building in Karangahape Road and re-erect-ed on the roof of the new 1YA studio building in Shortland Street. Hach letter is 12 feet in height backed by galvanised iron, and it is expected that there will be a considerable amount of wind resistance, as the signs cover almost the whole area of the mast at the top. An engineer. not connected: in any way with the Broadcasting Board expressed the opinion that the mast would need strengthening if it was to carry such large signs, He pointed out that the mast was never ‘designed to be so fitted. HOSE who criticise the board’s radio programmes came.in for a little criticism by Mr. J. H. Owen, chairman of the Advisory Council ‘during his address from 1YA last week. He said he was quite sure many comMaints were the result of indiscriminate listening-people listened to programmes very often when they were not in th humour to listen. In such circumstances nothing would please

them. In many homes, he added, sets were turned on first thing in the morning and switched off last thing at night. "Only by discriminate listen--ing can one obtain full enjoyment from radio," he said. ‘Credit the programme staff with a little common sense and you arrive at this conclusion, that nothing.is broadcast unless it is to satisfy the wants of listeners. When you are listening to something that does not appeal to you, just take it for granted that it is specially broadcast for the other fellow." OR the first time the new l1YA transmitter was switched on. to the full volume of 10 kilowatts on Tuesday night last week. ‘The result was much interference with other stations, and many complaints were received by the station officials and radio inspectors from listeners who found that they were pulling in 1YA all over the dial and could not get a number of stations, .among these being 2YA and 8YA. The trouble is definitely on the fundamental and covers nearly 100 kilocycles with 650 kilocycles as the centre, The second harmonic, 1300 k.e.’s, is even stronger than the 40watt carrier of station 1ZJ. Spurious

radiation is most noticeable on 1310 ke’s, As 1YA is using its maximum output and the modulation is 100 per cent., the trouble is in the transmitting apparatus elsewhere. The experts of Amalgamated Wireless (Australia), Limited, which firm does not hand over the plant to the board until the three months’ testing period expires, are making great efforts to remedy the trouble. ONLY three speeches were broadcast from 1YA on the opening night. Mr. H. D. Vickery, chairman of the board, and Mr. J. H. Owen, of Christchurch, chairman of the board’s Advisory Council, following the Hon. A. Hamilton. For the first time every studio was used, the Bohemian Orchestra of 50 players being accommodated with ease in the large concert hal. Those who visited the studio building later on in the week- were struck by the beautiful decorative work and the lighting and furnishing of, the whole building. A special programme for the opening night delighted listeners, those who contributed to it being Mr. Frank Hutchens, the distinguished New Zealand composer-pianist, who is professor of music at the Sydney Conservatorium, the Bohemian Orchestra under Mr. Colin A. Muston, Mr. J. Alexander Browne, baritone, Miss Dawn Harding, mezzo contralto, and Mr. Vincent Aspey, violinist. , WENTY covers were set atthe Grand Hotel on Wednesday of last week when the board entertained at dinner a number of those associated with the building and fitting of 1YA. The chair-. man of the board, Mr. H. D. Vickery, presided, and congratulated the builder, the architects and others responsible for making such a fine job of the studio building and transmitting station. All the members of the Broadcasting Board and also the Advisory Council were present, also the Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, Mr. J. R. Smith, chief engineer to the board, Mr. W. Cookson, of Amalgamated Wireless (Australia) Limited, and the station director of 1YA. The affair was rather rushed, as everybody had to be on deck at 1YA for the opening ceremony at 7.80 p.m. GQTATION 1ZB has made. arrangements to ‘broadcast on relay from Gloucester Park on Saturday next a running description of the motor-car races.