RADIO NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 December 1926, Page 8

RADIO NOTES

(By

Audio)

The Theosophical Station 2GB came in with fine strength last evening and broadcasting a line programme of instrumental music this station surpassed both 2BL and 2FC for volume. The broadcasting of Derry’s Band from 3YA was up to the usual standard. t 3LO Melbourne is running a 3LO girl competition the winner of which will enjoy a six weeks’ tour of New Zealand. Mr. 11. J. Manson, agent for the New Zealand Government in Victoria, and for many years a-resident of Greymouth, has great praise for this tour. He says: “New Zealand has been justly described as a world in miniature possessing as it does in a comparatively small compass, and in striking forms, sights which the average globe trotter will travel thousands of miles and spend fabulous sums of money to see.” Don’t disregard the importance of cleanliness as a factor in preserving the efficiency of a receiving outfit. Keep your instruments free from dust and moisture. Don’t leave your instruments connected to your aerial during thunderstorms. The electrical charges collected by your aerial may damage your set. It is advisable, therefore, to disconnect your aerial down lead from the aerial terminal and connect it direct to the earth wire. An aerial to earth switch can be purchased for a few shillings; this enables you to earth your set at a moment’s notice. Don’t use a frame aerial with a crystal set and expect to work a loudspeaker. You will need at least two valves to work a loud-speaker. Don’t use very’ high resistance, 'phones if you are working with three or more valves.

Don’t waste filament current .unnecessarily when your set is in use. When first switched on a valve requires slightly more ■ current tffan when it has been going a little while. In this latter respect'you can liken the starting up of a receiving set, to the starting up of a motor-car. When you take out a wireless receiving license, your residence—the address stated on the license—becomes a “station.” You must obtain | the sanction of the District Radio Engineer if you wish to move your set ' temporarily away from its “station”; or from the Postal authorities if you desire to transfer the set permanently elsewhere. A very good “earth”—ilferhaps the best—is what is called a “counterpoise.” Those who are troubled by induction noises due to the presence of nearby fiigh-teusion cables, power i stations, electric.trams, etc., will find relief by the use of a counterpoise. This' is simply a second set of wires insulated and suspended between the aerial masts not less than two yards from the ground. It should contain the same length of wire jas the aerial plus the lead-in, be of the same size wire and be the same number of wires. If not convenient to run it directly under the aerial, it may be run in any direction. It is taken into the house through a giuund lead-in tube insulator ami is connected to the ground terminal of the wireless receiver.