RADIO RECEPTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 2 August 1941, Page 6

RADIO RECEPTION

ITo the: Editorl Sir,—l read with no little intcret and very great sympathy “Buzzcd's” letter of Wednesday regarding “manmade static.” I think, however, a reply is called for, inasmuch as then appeared to be an assumption that the radio inspector is not doing his utmost to combat these troubles. That officer is precluded, by virtue of hi position, from replying hence tin letter from me, which I hope will enable many suffering listeners to realise that a very determined effort indeed is continually being made to remedy matters. I have been closely associated with radio since 1925, when, believe me, there were not occasional nights, but often night after night when one could hardly use the set at all. It v. a: due to the determined efforts of a small band of listeners that the Government at last consented in 1932 to appoint a whole-time inspector for the district Unfortunately, the district, which includes Takaka and Murchison, is far too large for one man adequately to cope with the many troubles. This tracking down interference has been a hobby of mine for years and I have probably put in more complaints than any other listener in Nelson. In consequence I have learnt a great deal of the difficulties that the inspector encounters. Let me relate one experience alone: Terrific interference had been experienced for some weeks. Unfortunately it was intermittent. Sometimes lit would last five minutes, sometimes one, sometimes half an hour. Nor did it occur at any regular time —it was just as likely to start up at 10 p.m. as 5 p.m. The result was that the inspector made six trips up to me before he was able to hear it. With his I direction-finder he was then able to get a rough idea of the direction of | locality of origin. Then it stopped; land although he waited until 11 p.m. j it did not occur again. We werq out three weeks, night after night, before [the actual street could be located. But this was one of those very frequent cases where the mains act as | a source of distribution of the noise—that is, they act like a broadcast station’s aerial. The result is that any part of the street shows an equal intensity of strength on the inspector’s “noise meter.” Every house, in j the street was visited, and where there were electrical appliances they ' were tested. Still no result. Then with {the co-operation of the City Council j electrical engineer a listening post j was established and one of his men stood by waiting for the interference |to come on. The electrician would I then have to pull the pole fuses out i that connected up each house. But I as soon as the man climbed the pole |he would find the trouble had stopi ped before he could pull a fuse. | Eventually alter three weeks of vain endeavour the house was located—- • because as soon as its particular fuse I was pulled out the noise stopped. There was no electric appliance in the house and all switches were perfect. ’Tests showed that all insulation was I in good order. Eventually it was discovered that a gas pipe was touching a conduit ancl that when it was moved ithis particular noise began. Even I now it is not known what was pre- ! cisely the trouble—but anyway it \va> ; fixed. That particular trouble, on account of its intermittent nature (and : unfortunately nearly all these troubles are intermittent) took six weeks tc find a cure. During that time the inspector was off and on looking for 1 the trouble and was ably assisted by the electrical engineer. I would like to say here that I am writing this entirely of my own initiative and not at the behest ol tlie inspector. I have, however, been to him for certain information, which I give, to enable listeners to know the efforts that are being made. During this month, which the engineer describes as a “quiet month,” 37 source.-; iof interference were discovered and ; remedied. They arose from the following sources: Trees touching electric lines, trees touching aerials, loose hardware on electric poles, vacuum cleaners and electric sewing machines salt incrustation on the high voltage ' line across the mudflat, barbers and beauty parlour machines, fuses or electric poles, ruptured house wiring neon signs, faulty sets, faulty j switches, domestic irons, i A great deal of trouble arises, too from lack of co-operation of householders. Some will deny point blank that they have any electric apparatus in the house. Other people, who evidently know they have faulty ap- ; paratus, will turn it off as soon as they see the inspector coming. I could write several columns or ' this subject if space permitted. One thing could very well be improved upon and that is the intricate form that is supposed to be filled in when ! making a complaint—it's almost as ; bad as an income tax return and certainly seems to be printed with the ; idea of repelling disgruntled listenjers. But I have found every radio I inspector hare eminently approachable and very sympathetic. But he is only human, ancl, apart from the assistance given by the City Council when power line trouble is suspected, lias to work entirely on his own. , Nominally his hours are from 8 to 4.30, but he very seldom has a 40- ' hour week. Most of the interference ! is strongest at night and consequently jhe is out night after night chasing jup some elusive trouble. I Few things are more annoying than I to have an interesting item, spoilt by ! interference and I have gnashed my teeth just as much as I imagine “Buzzed” did—but I can assure him and other sufferers that the inspector is doing all that is possible.—l am, etc.. J. E. ALLAN.