RADIO RECORD

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1937, Page 9

RADIO RECORD

NOTES FOR LISTENERS-IN

(By

“Reception”)

POLICE WIRELESS POCKET SET LEADS TO JUSTICE Criminals have learned to steci clear of Brighton (England) owing to the outstanding success of the town’s .wireless system in bringing wrongdoers to quick justice (says ‘News of the World’). This fact is revealed by the Chief Constable of Brighton (Capt. W. J. Hutchinson) in his annual report. Capt. Hutchinson states: — “The knowledge of the existence of a wireless system in a police force has a deterring effect on evildoers. One housebreaker, when seen by a detective in regard to certain happenings in Brighton, stated, ‘We have more regard for your wireless and cars which fly about. We haven’t done any jobs in Sussex at all.’ ” Brighton was one of the first towns in the country to adopt the police pocket wireless system. The broadcasting station is situated on the Town Hall roof, and every constable on duty within the borough is equipped with a miniature receiving set.

The Chief Constable reveals that last year 1,428 messages were broadcast, and representatives from police forces in all parts of the country and from abroad came to the town to study the system. Capt. Hutchinson gives the following outstanding examples of police efficiency which wirdless has made possible.

“A house in the Preston (Brighton) district was broken into shortly before midnight. The occupier telephoned a description of the burglar to headquarters, and this was immediately circulated by wireless. A few minutes after receiving the message a constable saw the wanted man in the vicinity of the railway station and arrested him. That morning he appeared before the justices, and later in the day at the Borough Quarter Sessions. He was sentenced to three vears’ penal servitude. “The Recorder, Mr. J. I). Cassels, K.C., complimented the police, saying that the case was a tribute io the pocket wireless system, and that it showed how rapidly a man could be brought to justice in Brighton.” “At 3.25 on a certain afternoon a jvireless message was circulated to patrols respecting a motor cycle which had been stolen in London. “At 4.15 a constable saw a motor cycle bearing the number in question being driven from the direction of Lewes road, but he was not in a position to stop it. The constable notified headquarters, and the operator got in touch with patrols on the route which the motor cycle was likely to take. A sergeant picked up the message and at 4.20 took a man into custody in possession of the stolen motor cycle.”

RADIO JOINS OFFICE STAFF. This can happen in any office soon. Executive sitting at desk, turns to a little box, a radio-control unit, and says (says the “Christian Science Monitor’’): Miss Brown, will you, please, give me the figures on that last report?” Miss Brown, in an office at the end of the hall, hears the voice coming from a remote radio unit on a. table. She goes to the file, finds the report, and without moving from her position, reads the figures in a natural tone of voice. The executive takes down the figures at his desk, and the conversation is closed.

The new intercommunication radio system is competing with the telephone in connecting offices within a building. Much time and waste motion is saved, it is claimed. It was exhibited at the Rotary Business Exposition recently. The radio system is also useful in the home, it is pointed out. Other commodities recently put on tho market were exhibited at the exposition. One was a new milk container. Bottles are going to be outmoded, the manufacturer says . The container is made of fiber and is heavily waxed, and as soon as it is emptied, is thrown away. Milk bottled in this way already is on sale in New York city, it was reported. Airplane luggage is said to be in great demand. Suitcases made of rawhide and those’ covered with canvas contain luxurious fittings, pockets, and zipper fastenings. “How light is it?" not “how long will it wear?” is tho universal question, according to the exhibitor. In the airplane exhibit it is learned that heavy travel is expected this Summer. Airplane lines which formerly catered to executives in a hurry to get some place on business, now arc going into vacationing advertising. MUSIC WHILE EATING . Two investigators from Hamilton, U.S.A., recently carried out some curious experiments with a view to registering the effects of sound on the digestive organs. tn most houses nowadays radio music seems to have become the necessary complement of every meal: but, on the other hand, proof has been made long ago that a constant noise may have a bad influence on the productive energy of man in this respect. The two men, desiring to investigate the report of noise upon diners, made the following experiment: — They asked a man to swallow a small india-rubber ball, the interior of which was put in communication with an accurate registering apparatus by means of a small tube. They found out, in that way, that in the normal position the digestive organs are slightly contracted, specially during silence; but under the influence of a continuous noise or even of some powerful music transmitted by a loud-speaker, the contraction ceases; the organs slacken, ami the digestion is somewhat interrupted. Tlte same reaction:; were registered when a person was experiencing a great fear or was under the influence of a strong emotion. >

Moral. —Do not listen-in to radio music when having your meals, or, if you cannot help it, lower it to a minimum. You will eat better!

, SHORT-WAVE INTERFERENCE ( VARIETY OF FACTORS Short-wave broadcasts are liable to partial or complete interruption from a variety of sources. The probable extent of interruption due to some of the factors can be estimated with reasonable accuracy, but the effect of others cannot be foretold. Of the predictable factors, seasonal and diurnal variations of the conditions of the transmission paths arc known with some degree of accuracy. The experience of many years of operating commercial and broadcasting circuits, together with information derived by research organisations, has enabled fairly precise estimates to be made of the chances of a successful broadcast when the date, time of day, and wave length are known. The changes made in the times of the 8.8.C.’s two-hour No. 1 transmission from Daventry is an example. Other transmissions from Europe, although heard well in the late evening in our summer, are practically useless in the winter, while those which are made in the early morning come in well during our winter and cannot be heard at the same time of day in summer. Another example of the application of this knowledge is given in the case of shipshore telephony, as, for instance, in transatlantic shipping communications where wave lengths are changed as the ship moves across and as night succeeds day. There are unfortunately further unexpected variations which may occur at any time. Most of these appear to be due to sun spots, which have been held responsible for all sorts of sudden and unexpected effects, such as the complete cessation of signals above a certain frequency for short periods. Signals will cease suddenly and just as suddenly return. They are probably the cause of many other aggravating phenomena, but as the conditions affecting transmission are complex, it will take a long time to classify the various causes and effects. The number and areas of sun spots are always varying, but long observation has shown that about every 11 years they reach a maximum. The next is due in about a year, and with it may be expected an improvement in high frequency transmission. Apart from this slow rise and fall in activity, there are many intervening variations, and experience has shown that any sudden or excessive activity will affect transmission conditions across that part of the earth that is illuminated, and will also give rise to magnetic disturbances that will interfere with cables and other forms of communication. Direct observations have shown that well-marked changes in the form of certain solar eruptions ha,ve occurred simultaneously with a variation of radio signal transmission conditions. The sun rotates on the average 27 days, so that the influence of any spot or group of spots upon the earth should be felt at like intervals, but the major effect on wireless signals seems to take place at twice this period, every 54 days. By a happy chance sun spots were comparatively inactive at the time of the Coronation broadcasts, and this left the radio engineer free to concentrate upon the problem of seasonal . influences, which in the early evening at this time of the year in New Zealand are such that it is difficult to receive steady and clear short-wave signals from England and Europe. The broadcasts were picked up successfully as a result of the unrestricted co-operation of wireless and broadcasting authorities everywhere. This multiplicity of channels, direct, and indirect, was arranged solely to overcome the normal difficulties that were expected, and to make sure that the best results were obtained. Sun spots might have caused trouble, but on the occasion they were not noticed. ENGLISH LICENSE FEE It is understood that an increase in the price of wireless licenses from 10/- to 12/6 a year is being considered by the English Government. Figures have been prepared for the Chancellor showing how the additional revenue could usefully be spent by the 8.8. C. (writes the political correspondent of a London paper). Some of it would go to develop the television services, which many 8.8. C. officials feel is being stunted by shortage of money. The remainder would go towards ordinary broadcasting ex- , penses. The plan is not universally favoured in Whitehall. The increase would operate against the poorest class of the community. Against this is put the plea that television must be helped to perfection. Television, in the meantime, may have an additional grant this year of £150,000.

The actual amount will be decided by the Treasury. This amount would enable the 8.8. C. to: — Transmit better television programmes. Engage more artists. Increase programme hours. The Alexandra Palace staff could also be strengthened. “HUMAN RADIO SETS” LONDON, July IG.

Investigation has failed to explain how the two Czech artisans recently ’ reported as “human radio sets” ’ achieve their feats. The men arc *• Kranz Sykora, aged 21, and Rudolf 1 |Vitavsky, 35. I They have caused a sensation by 'ltheir ability to receive and transmit ’ I radio programmes between places as ’jfnr apart as London and Breslau. appear to do this through the ’| mediumship of their own bodies, and I I without the aid of any radio set. 3 j After 20 minutes’ deep breathing, '(with severe contraction of the body ■'muscles, a trial is made with head- ■ |receivers to ascertain if their bodies ' I Eire “charged with enough electricity.” i The men hold each other’s hands, and also a loud-speaker. After a few 1 minutes, others present are astonished 3 t<> hear the music of a radio programme coming from the loud-speaker. 3 ■ When the men breathe more strongly, reception is louder.