RADIO INTERFERENCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 78, Issue 7018, 11 February 1949, Page 4

RADIO INTERFERENCE

INSPECTOR CONFERS WITH MEMBERS OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “DISTRICT RELATIVELY WELLOFF” The problem of electrical interference with radio programmes was brought up by Mr J. H. Ansell at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce. The matter was discussed by the chamber at a previous meeting and it was decided to ask the chief telegraph engineer at Hamilton to have the area inspected to trace sources of interference.

Mr Ansell reported at Tuesday night’s meeting that the radio inspec-tor-—whose district was a large one extending from Thames to National Park and including east and west coast centres, visited Te Awamutu recently and discussed the position with representatives of the chamber. The inspector told them that Te Awamutu district was relatively well off as regards radio reception. In the Wanganui district, over distances of many miles, not one set will work; the chief cause of the trouble being the inadequacy of insulation on the power mains. A similar, though not so serious, problem obtained here, particularly in the Hairini area, due to radiations from the main power lines, and from certain domestic and industrial appliances. The inspector warned, said Mr Ansell, that interference was likely to increase rather than decrease when 110,000 volt H.T. lines were installed in this district. Even the 50,000 volt lines at present used are capable of feeding-back for distances up to 50 miles, giving rise to radio interference.

Height of Aerials With regard to remedial measures the inspector stated that the height of aerials was important, continued Mr Ansell. He suggested that aerials be adjusted for height until the point of maximum reception was discoveredMany sets, such as five-valve units, were not up to the standard required for reception in country districts, and it was suggested that more powerful sets be installed in such places. It was thought that the public could also do a great deal to abate the nuisance by installing suppressors or filters on worn domestic electrical appliances or workshop apparatus. Dr J. B. W. Roberton commented that householders using electrical appliances that effect their own sets could assume that neighbouring sets were affected also and take steps to have the trouble suppressed. Mr A. Duncalf said he thought the trouble would tend to resolve itself as time went on. With the establishment of a station at Hamilton, and increased power of the main National stations, signals received hero would be stronger than at present, and accordingly reception conditions in the district would tend to improve. He agreed that five-valve sets were not satisfactory 4or country reception. Sets of six valves at least were more suitable here. There could also be room for improvement in the erection of aerials.

It was stated by Mr Ansell that the authorities do not want “blanket” or group complaints of radio interference. It was preferred that complaints be submitted individually, on forms obtainable at all post offices. These forms provide for precise information, for the assistance of inspectors in locating the source of interference. There was a suggestion that advantage might be taken of an offer of co-operation made by the executive officers of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, in which the source of some of the radio interference could be traced during the board’s monthly inspections of electrical appliances. Mr Ansell said that the inspector for this district spoke highly of the ready co - operation that was forthcoming from the local power board.