RADIO NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 6, 4 December 1926, Page 3

RADIO NOTES.

INFORMATION SERVICE. [By “Q.R.M.”] Mr Prentice, late of 2BL Sydney, has been heard ovor the air from the New Zoaland stations during tho past 10 days, and a wide improvement is expected in tho four centres shortly. Tho Postmaster-General has given tho Now Zealand Ra/dio Broadcast Company tho necessary six months’ notice to have an up-to-date high-power broadcast station in operation in Wellington. Tho fourth big station should bo on tho air ; therefore, about the beginning of next wintor. Local interference in tho way of squealing sets is beginning to go a little too far again. This kind of thing was comparatively quiot during tho winter months, but an epidemic appears to have broken out amongst certain listeners-in, and they aro playing havoo with recoption. It is a pity listeners do not control their sets properly. Surely the throe big stations can bring in enough volume without forcing a set. Tho rule for prevention is simple enough. If when tapping the aerial terminal a sharp click is hoard, tho sot is squealing badly, and the coils, if any, must bo moved further apart, failing which the rheostats must be turned lower. A very slight loss in volume may result, but tho reception will be much clearor. 2ZF’S BROADCASTS. The schedule for the broadcasts from the Palmerston North Radio Club’s station 2ZF is as follows: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.; Sunday, 6.45 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Tho station is run on a wavo length of 230 motres on a temporary power of 50 watts. When the station ig in full swing, an imporlunt part of the programme will bo children’s bedtimo stories. These will be on the samo line as those from tho Australian stations. Endeavours are being made to provido musical programmes by local artists in place of tho gramophone items as used in tho tests, as tho studio is now equipped with a fino piano. A number of local artists have already expressed their willingness to provido items, so that no trouble is anticipated in this direction. Landlines are to be run to various places of entertainment after the New Year, if the necessary funds are on hand. As soon as the motor generator is paid off, land lines can bo run to tho station. RADIO’S SEVEN WONDERS. At the National Radio Exhibition, which opened at Olympia on September 2, tho sev called seven radio wonders were on exhibition. They aro as follow: Sir Oliver Lodge’s new “M” circuit which eliminates completely all howling from neighbouring 6cts; a small instrument less than a foot squaro which transmits and receives wireless photographs; a piece of crystal quartz tho size of a postage stamp, which will control the wave length of a high-power broadcast station so that it will not vary a fraction of a metro either way; a fourvalve “room-to-room” set which will work when carried under the arm, upsido down or on its side; valves that can bo dropped without breaking and will even bounce; five-valve sets that fit in a business attache case; and loud speakers that look like ordinary framed pictures hanging on tho wall. Simplification is tho main feature of all the receiving sets on exhibition, tho idea being that women can operato tho most powerful sob with as much ease as a wireless expert. Tho “room-to-room” set is very simple to work. All batteries, etc., aro switched on by simply pulling over one switch which is also used as a lock for the

lid, and it is tuned by only ono dial. No aerial or earth connections are required so that this set may be worked anywhere, in a tram, at homo, in tho street or on a launch, without the awkward conveyance of batteries and aorial apparatus. Tho great London broadcast station 2LO will broadcast from Olympia at intervals throughout the exhibition. Sir Oliver Lodge’s "M” circuit for eliminating outside interference in tho form of howling sets has caused an enormous amount of interest to visitors from all over the world. It was first demonstrated to the public at Charing Cross on October 31 last. A number of sots only 20 yards away were made to “howl” as much as possible. Reception on an ordinary receiving sot was utterly impossible, but with tho set employing Sir Olivor’s circuit which wa% working at tho same time no howls could bo heard at all, even when tho howling sets wore moved up to within a few feet. A few weeks ago 2LO London for tho special benefit of a Cumberland brido broadcast Mendellsohn’s “Wedding March” played by Mr Eric Hunt, organist of St. Lawrence Jewry, London. By means of two loud speakers the “Wedding March” was heard while the wedding breakfast was in progress at the bride’s home. Tho whole party stood during the rendering, and as the strains died away tile couplo were toasted, the 2LO announcer wishing them “Good-luck” before ho signed off. CARE OF THE A BATTERY. Now that the summer months aro drawing near, the accumulator or “A” battery requires special attention. An ill-treated A battery will generally cause crackling and other noises in a rccoiver that aro often mistaken for static so that this instrument should always receive special caro if good reception is wanted. The value of the current taken from these batteries must never oxcoed tho maximum specified by the makers. The voltage of a cell when in use should nover bo allowed to fall below 1.85 volts and tho specific gravity below 1.170. An accumulator with a specific gravity below that mentioned will invariably cause interference in reception and a great decrease in volume must, result As soon as a cell shows signs of sulphating it should be given a Jong slow charge, tho slower tho bettor. It any foreign matter is allowed to fall between tho opposite plates in tho coll unequal action will be set up, and a consequent twisting or buckling of the plates ensue. Evaporation of the liquid in tho cells will occur very rapidly during tho hot days so that a constant supply of pure distilled water must ho kept at hand. Tho liquid should always bo kept about half an inch above the level of the plates or disastrous results to tho plates may occur. Tho acid does not evaporate, but if any be spilled, dilute of correct specific gravity must be added. • The colls should not be allowed to remain discharged any longer than necossary, and tho charging rate must not exceed that specified by the makers, violent gassing being avoided. Tho terminals should bo coated with vaselino to prevent sulphating. If the battery is to bo left idlo for a timo it should he well filled with distilled water and given a full charge, with a short charge every month. If the specific gravity drops considerably a prolonged charge must ho given until tho coll has been gassing for a while. A common practice that will harm a battery often beyond repair in a very short timo is that of “testing” tho battery by “flashing” it with a screwdriver. Short-circuiting in any form is very foolish as violent buckling of tho plates will always occur, tho battery then, of course, becoming useless as far as radio is concerned.