Television Several Years Off

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 15 March 1935, Page 18

Television Several Years Off

Present Broadeast Sets Will Be Needed For Many Years — Reception of B.B.C. Shortwave-Tramcar Interference — Young Auckland Violinist Surprises.

ELEVISION has been prominent in the news lately, and the writer therefore discussed likely developments as far as New Zealand is concerned with a friend connected with the science of radio. He considers that television is still several years off. existing reecivers would be quite useless for television purposes, but will be needed for many years for aural reception. The probable line of development in. New Zealand will be transmitters working below 10 metres to be erected at the four centres. These would have about a 80-mile radius. It would necessitate using special visual and aural type receivers. The sound part of the television service will doubtless be broadcast on an adjacent short-wave channel. It is clear, according to the expert, that unless some new discovery is made the broadcast sets at present in use will be needed for many a year yet. It is equally clear that present-

day receivers are not suitable for adaption for television purposes, RECEPTION from the B.B.O. Empire station on 31.5 metres was very fair during last week, while the 25.5 transmission has been good. Best results have been achieved using a haifwave receiving aerial strung well clear of the house, the lead-in being of the neutralised-transmission tvpe. The other aerials tried out were 19.8, 25.5, 81.5 metre doublets; 19.8, 25.5, 31.5, Marconi’s.. A switching system and two separate receivers .were used. during the test. The results would seem to encourage the New ‘Zealand Broadcasting Board to irvestigate the possibility regarding special reception points and rebroadeasting transmitters as suggested in these notes last week. S previously stated on this page ‘ vecently, the experiments carried out by the Auckland Transport. Board with four tramcars specially fitted with filter apparatus to reduce: interference, on the Point Chevalier routé, have been very successful. However:: listeners will regret to hear that the Transport Board, at a recent meeting, deferred temporarily the matter of ff. ting all other trams with filters because of financial reasons. The board owns about 250 tramears. As each filter fitting would cost £5 to install it Will thus.be seen that the total amount involyed is considerable: FTER hearing the great Australian tenor Lionello Cecil from 2YA and 3YA last week, hundreds of Auckland listeners are eagerly looking forward to next week, when he is to broadcast from 1YA. Unfortunately static was rather bad on two. of the nights when the distinguished singer performed from the southern stations. Still,. he could be heard quite well, although not nearly as clearly as we will receive him from our own station,

HAROLD TABERNER, the young Auckland violinist, surprised listeners by his fine playing from 1YA last Friday night. He excelled himself in his: rendering of Wieniawski’s "Concerto." There is no doubt that he is a brilliant violinist, his matured tone-and his handling of the difficuit concerto; amazing experienced ‘violin players, who consider that he’ will develop into a virtuoso, 1 2s transmissions have been partly spoilt for city listeners lately, either by radiation from superheterodyne receivers tuned to 1ZB or by heterodynes from Aiistralian’B stations. 1YA’s second harmonic, al: though still fairly loud, is well below the field strength of 1ZM, Manurewa, Which has a 50-watt carrier, Comparisons of this station must of course be made on,a receiver not fitted with automatic volume control. [®@ is believed that action is shortly to be taken by Auckland. underwriters and insurance companies to in- . sist upon better aerial installations. The standard of aerial installations in Auckland is ‘said to be deplorable, and that fully 90 per cent. do not comply with the insurance requirements, Very few aerial. wires are of sufficient thickness and few have fitted the approved lightning arresters. In accordance with insurance regulations. the down lea/ls must be of adequate ‘cross sectional areas and the earth lead from the lightning arrester must be at least of 14 S.W.Q. ; ; ALTHOUGH a frightfully busy.man . over on the North: Shore, where he practises his profession, Dr. Trevor De Clive. Lowe manages to find time to practise on his beloved ’celio and also to broadcast occasionally from 1YA. With Mr. Leo Whitaker, the Auckland pianist, Dr. Lowe is to play "Sonata for ’Cello and Piano" by Dereste from 1YA on Wednesday next at 8.36,