RADIO NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 1210, 7 January 1925, Page 12

RADIO NOTES

(By "Q.R.M.")

No Jess than 800 applications were received for the position of announcer at 3 Alt, Melbourne's new station. By way of experiment two radio signals were flashed from, New York in opposite directions, : one day recently. The east-bound signal won by one. second, taking C seconds to complete its journey. Otago Radio Association's station 4XO, now frequently stirs up the ether. It includes music in its programme now and then. ■

According to report, 6000 radio amateurs a month are applying for licenses in England. In making your own coils one most important thing is to have as thick a, gauge of wire as a reasonable size of coil will allow. This is important not only because it reduces the internal capacity of the coil, but also keeps down its resistance, and hence the damping of any circuit in which it is used. This matter is of greater importance than one would think, for much efficiency may be lost by the use of unduly fine wire. The following table is a good guide:—Wave-lengths 300-1000 metres, No. 22 gauge; wavelengths, 1000-5000, 24-26 gauge; wavelengths, 5000-20,000, 30 gauge. Fine wire is recommended for long waves; thicker wire for short waves.

Sir Oliver Lodge is very interested in loud-speakers and lie has some new ideas which he thinks will help to overcome distortion in the loud speaker. A caso of carelessness nearly resulted in the death of an amateur in Australia last year. He left his earth switch still connected to his aerial while having tea during a thunderstorm. A flash of fork-lightning struck his aerial with the result that his high tension battery was blown to pieces. It was preceded by a violent report. Different parts of is set were flung about the room, though strange to say everything was smashed except his valves. All his insulators were charred and numerous wires fused. Had ho had his earth connection to a gas pipe a serious fire would have resulted. A fleet of armoured cars equipped with wireless sets have been commissioned by the Detroit police. Americans have also beei experimenting in regard to controlling tanks by wireless.

Small details ;hat count:—Loose leads account for many little troubles, such as crackling, loss of strength eleven fading. Keep your set clean; clean the valve sockets occasionally. Terminals should be kept strictly clean, knife switches especially should often be scraped. Both A and B batteries should be wiped every day so as to keep them free fiorn dust and dampness. Care should lie taken that the "juice" in the A battery is Jin above the plates. Add only pure distilled water. The coils should be placed- on the rack now and then to ensure perfect dryness,

Broadcasting seemed to be upside down during the Christmas holidays. Most of the stations appear to be swinging back into their usual course now, however. The new Adelaide station commenced its operations on January Ist. It was heard faintly by those who listened for it at 10 o'clock on 375 metres. Weather reports are trausmited by the following N.Z. coastal stations:— VLW at 9 p.m. every night; also time signals at 8.29 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday only, and every morning except Saturday and Sunday at 10.29 a.m. N.Z.M.T.; Awanui, VLA, at 10.12 p.m. N.Z.M.T. each night; Chatham Islands VLC, weather report at 4 p.m. N.Z.M.T. daily.

WORLD OF WIRELESS. DOMINION BROADCAST SCHEME. It is said everything is ready to launch the scheme that will provide all parts of tho Dominion with a broadcast service. Those interested, however, are still waiting for the Government to decide the conditions under which it wishes the broadcasting service bo conducted. The service, as is generally known, embraces the erection of a 500-watt broadcasting station in each of the four centres—Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin—and the maintenance of a satisfactory broadcasting service. The control of broadcasting will rest with a board of eight members—four representing the wireless suppliers, three the Government, and one the listeners. These will be eral operation of the scheme and the maintenance of a satisfactory service. The necessary money will be forthcoming from the annual tax of 2os on listeners and the tax on the suppliers, j