RADIO NOTES

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 19 November 1928, Page 3

RADIO NOTES

ELECTION RESULTS. RADIO FASTEST. >j By Audiotron. Radio was far superior to telegraph on election progress reports, and the Broadcasting Company is to be congratulated on the excellent service provided on Wednesday last. The Telegraph Department, using clumsy official channels, and Alorse code telegraph, sent progress reports which reached Patea about half an hour to three-quarters of an hour ’after the same reports had been heard by wireless from station 2VA, Wellington. There was a waste of time and money incurred and hundreds of officers held on duty where only a small number could have handled the results, which were of no interest, being second hand. Better organisation would have resulted if the head office had ascertained what offices would be receiving results by radio, ami eacli final result shown on a screen or blackboard. The local organisation was very good. The Town Hall was fully equipped with a modern all-electric radio set, using three loud speakers, and at the Post Office there were an efficient radio sot and an electrically operated screen projector. Early in the evening a strong buzzing sound marred the radio reception at the Post Office and Town Ha-11, but by using scientilic methods the whereabouts of the source of interference was soon tracked down by Air. G. W. King, and, with the cooperation of the borough clcctnicai engineer, the exact place located. This proved to be r, street lamp close to the Town Hall and interference was caused by the lamp making faulty contact with the mains. This caused sparking, which sent out powerful electrical impulses, ami these were picked up on the sensitive radio sets in the vicinity. Patea is fortunate in having entchiprising citizens, through whoso initiative hundreds of electors were ■able to hear the election results at the same time as they wore heard in Wellington.

CONGIIRNING SOLDERING

Probably there is none of the radio experimenter's tools which is more abused than the soldering iron. This is .continually left in the flame to 'burn and is then subjected to a drastic and ruinous filing in order to remove the consequent scales of oxide. Not only is tho copper 'bit soon reduced by this treatment but tho tip of copper becomes pitted and altogether unsuitable for good work. This raises the question as to the, correct temperature at which the soldering iron should he used, and also how the experimenter is to know when the iron has attained that temperature. Of course, as in so many practical -matters, an experienced eye is the best guide, and anyone who has done much soldering is able to tell at -a glance when a soldering iron is getting beyond a safe temperature. If the temperature of the iron is about right it will be noticed that the flame is BEGINNING to be tinged with a characteristic greenish yellow colouration. (Those readers who have some knowledge of science will know that this is duo to tho vapourisation of the metal and constitutes an elementary experiment in spectroscopic analysis.) If, however, the greenish yellow colouration is masked by an ordinary whitish flame, this shows that the iron is -burning and it should bo withdrawn from the flame or Arc. If the iron has become red hot it is quite useless to attempt to use it in that state, and even it you can succeed in getting the solder to wet it } the solder itself will be immediately burnt. It is necessary, therefore, to cool the iron to the right temperature, then to file and clean up the tip, and finally to “tin" the iron by moans of flux and solder. An excellent method of ensuring a bright, clean iron for soldering is to dip the iron for a moment in a solu lion of sal-amouiac and water. (The same liquid as used in Lc Clanche cells, used in telephone batteries.) After a quick dip in this solution the iron will >bo seen to be bright ami perfect for soldering.

ULNLRAL N'OTk'tA Station 2FC } Sydney, has been coming in very weak lately but 2BL, Sidney, has volume to spare, 4YA, Dunedin, lias faded away lately, ami probably will remain weaker during the days of longer sunlight. The “ Diggers ’ Night ; ■’ put over from 2V A on Saturday last was agood “stunt," although at least one of the “diggers" performing never saw a trench outside Note Zealand.