Sets to Blame for 1YA Reception

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 31, 8 February 1935, Page 20

Sets to Blame for 1YA Reception

Carrier Interference Corrected at Station- Transfer of 1YX StudioFamous Comedian in Auckland — Uncle Scrim’s Busy Year — 1ZM’s Good Strength.

"THE spreading on the main carrier of 1YA, which was referred to in this, column last week as having caused vreat interference to. listeners, was quickly corrected and everything is now normal again. However, the second harmonic at 1800 kilocycles is still there, but is not causing any interference, even to reception from IZM. This harmonic does not exceed 10 watts, which is the maximum permitted by the Radio Regulations of 1982. However, there are quite a number of listeners who are still complaining that they are getting 1YA at four different places on the dials of their sets. This is not the fault of 1YA, and in justice to this station the correct position should be stated. ' The trouble is being caused by superhet sets themselves-superhets of the cheap variety. The fact that this type of set can get any station of such power in two places on the dial in addition to the two repeat points is due to a funda-mental-or inherent fault. Generally such trouble is found in a superhet With no pre-selector, and it looks as if the matter is always going to be a big bone of contention. Many listeners | owning these sets will always experience such troubles, which lie in their own receivers. However, good superhets are quite all right. Even T.R.F. sets receive 1YA at two places, 650 k.e.’s and at 1300. Now the position is clarified, listeners who are so troubled will probably not blame the board for what is a fault set up by their own set. DeRING the coming week-end station 1YX, which has been operated from Lewis Bady’s buildings in Queen Street, will be removed to a large room in the new 1YA studio building in Shortland Street. Everything is in readiness for the transfer, and as soon as the station signs off the air on Saturday night, mechanics, working all night, will dismantie the transmitter end re-erect it on Sunday in time to continue with the station’s broadcast on the same evening. With an improved aerial transmission should be even better than from the old location, where a much smaller and lower aerial system was used. AN interesting visitor to the new IYA studio building last week was Mr. Harry Thurston, the well-known Lon-

don comedian who made Bairnsfatheyr’s famous war-time character "Old Bill’ so famous on the English stage. He was the first comedian: seen in this great role, and, apart from this, Mr. Thurston has been one of London’s must popular and leading comedians. He arrived at Auckland a couple of weeks ° ago from Sydney by the Wanganella. "aud is on his way to Hollywood, where he is to take up motion picture work. If Mr. Thurston does not have to leave for America for a week or so it is possible that he might be heard from 1YA. "LJNOLE SORIM" (Rey. ©. G. Scrimgeour), director. of the Friendly Road station, 1ZB, was a_ busy man last year. In addition _ to carrying out his important work of giving advice and assistance, in domestic and personal problems of other people, he has delivered 300 radio talks, received and answered over 20,000 letters, and set up a world’s record by conducting 209 marriages (many of them radio marriages in the studio) and Officiating at 300 christenings and 100 funerals. Whatever time there is left is his own! QTATION 1ZM is being received exceptionally well these days, and al-: though its transmitter ig 17 miles distant from Auckland, at Manurewa, and broadcasts on 50 watts power, the _ carrier of this popular B station seems to be much stronger than that of 1YX, of 80 watts, which is right in the heart of Auckland. However, the position is likely to be reversed in a week’s time, when 1YX is to broadcast from the new 1YA building. QNE of the finest programmes heard ’ from 1YA for many months was that given on Monday of last week, when the distinguished New Zealand pianist, Mr. Frank Hutchens, professor of music at Sydney Conservatorium, gave an hour’s recitai which delighted listeners, It was a well chosen programme, too, the compositions of such masters ag Chopin, Brahms,:Bach, and Cesar Franck being interspersed with those of the talented recitalist himself. At the conclusion of the recital, Mr. Hutchens, in a brief farewell . Speech, said’ it had been a marvellous home-coming, and he was sorry his tour had ended. "It has been a treat to play to you all in my native land," he added. BY the Monterey, which arrived at Auckland from Los Angeles two

weeks ago, came 20 letters addressed to the station director at 1LYA, congratulating the station on rhe quality of the reception in Ameriexn States. One listener, writing from Russellville, Tennessee, stated that he had heard. a complete programme at good volume and clarity even when other stations could not be heard. "This part of the year is considered bai for trans-Paci-fic reception, so you can imagine how: well your station is being received by me," he continned. "I can get 2Bh, but only very poorly.’ Another listener writing from Hughsen, in the centre of California, over 9000 miles distant from 1YA’s transmitrer. said that he had logged 1YA 156 times, but had never had the opportunity of reporting the station before. He enclosed the complete programme given from 1YA and. asked for a card. There were many other letters in similar strain from other parts of the United States. It is evident that the powerful trans- . mitter is going to be successful, particularly to dxers in distant parts. HE. official opening of the new 1YA transmitter and studio building was performed recently by the Post-master-General, the Hon. Adam Hamilton. The ceremony »7as appropriately enough a radio affair, no others except the chairman of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board «nd members, the general manager, Mr, BD. C. Hands, station officials and the architects and contractors being present. In declaring the station officially opened the Fostmaster-General reviewed the history of broadcasting in the Dominion and indicated the great progress made by reminding listeners that when the board assumed contro] the receiving licenses totalled 60,405, whereas at present they numbered over 150,000. He estimated that one house in every three had radio installed: and considered that’in a year or so the proportion would be two out vf every three houses. . Some of the difficulties, many of them quite unknvwn to listeners, were mentioned by the Minister, particularly in regard to copyright and patent rights. "Naturally there is considerable criticism, and possibly many complaints regarding the type of programmes submitted, but public taste in musical culture and entertainment is a matter which even the most qualified and experienced people sometimes fail to gauge," he said. "This new station is the most powerful broadcasting station in Australasia, and the studios the most modern in every respect. ‘This is as it should be. as the Auckland province is the most densely populated area in the Do--minion. It is hoped that 1YA will be received in any parts of New Zealand where: reception has hitherto been doubtful and uncertain,"