TIMARU RADIO CLUB.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18848, 10 April 1931, Page 5

TIMARU RADIO CLUB.

FIRST MEETING HEED. INTERFERENCE DISCUSSED. The first meeting of the recentlyformed Timaru Radio Club was held last night. Mr D. N. Adams presided over a good attendance of members. The chairman said that Mr S. J. Taylor, of the Post and Telegraph Department, and Mr E. A. Watkins, Borough Electrical Engineer, were present by invitation to have a talk with members chiefly in regard to interference. Mr Taylor said that two or three weeks ago a loop set was sent to Timaru, and this was tested out. As a result of information supplied to him by Mr Watkins, he had tested most of the motors on the eastern side of the railway, but found no interference in that quarter. He had then visited the various dental parlours, and had found considerable interference, in some cases of a vicious nature. In four parlours vibrations were used, but further examination would have to be made before it was known what the cost of elimination would be. As yet he had not visited the Electric Institute or the Hospital. He did not know what the position was in regard to power circuits.

Mr Watkins said that one big source of interference was the rectifier on the wharf, but machinery was being secured from England in an endeavour to smooth the trouble. Experiments in this direction would be carried out next week. There would always be trouble from noisy motors, but the Council had no power to force the owners to put rectifiers on. He was quite prepared to do all he could to eliminate interference if it was brought to his notice.

The secretary (Mr S. Gibbs) informed the meeting that Mr A. R. Harris, general manager of the Radio Broadcasting Co., had stated that the company had two cars fully equipped for the purpose of detecting interference, and he would be glad to send the cars to Timaru to assist in finding the sources of interference. Mr Marsden said that the Government had a machine for detecting interference, but, as stated by Mr Taylor, it was not as effective as it might be. He wondered if the Government would be agreeable to the set being improved, and left in Timaru permanently. He went on to say that it was not the smaller interferences which were worrying them, but there was one interference which had them baffled. It was a distinct roar, and was most pronounced between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and sometimes between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. It was known definitely that this roar was not coming from the rectifier on the wharf. It had been stated that the Post and Telegraphic Department themselves had a machine which was causing interference, and he asked Mr Taylor if he knew of any such machine. One radio enthusiast, who had a short-wave set, had told him that the big interference stopped when he used his telephone, and perhaps that might be a guide. Mr Taylor said the set he had used was a three-valve loop set, and was very sensitive. He did not think a too sensitive set was the best to use, because it would register a number of interferences at the same time. He had made tests at the Post Office, particularly on the ringer, and there was slight interference, but this was soon rectified.

In reply to Mr Adams, Mr Watkins said that it was possible that some interference came from power mains. If they could locate times, he could soon find out if the trouble was on the Council’s mains. A good deal of discussion ensued in connection with the interference referred to by Mr Marsden, several members indicating that they had been troubled by the same noise. Suggestions were made as to the probable cause of the interference, but almost in every instance the probable causes were ruled out of account of the time the interference was most pronounced. It was agreed that all members should log the times of the main interference, and communicate with the Club. The information is then to be handed on to Mr Taylor and Mr Watkins to endeavour to trace the source of the trouble. Mr Taylor informed the meeting that in the event of the trouble being located, and it proved to be a machine, there was no law to compel the owner of the machine to remedy the trouble. Some arrangement as to the cost of remedying the trouble would have to be made between the party concerned and the Club. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Taylor and Mr Watkins for their attendance. The chairman said that there were many sets in the town which were continually howling, and the committee had decided to call for volunteers to go round and interview owners of such sets, and instruct them how to work their sets correctly. Mr Marsden said that there had been a lot of complaint about howling, and there was no need for it. It was most pronounced on Saturdays and Sundays when young fellows were remodelling or rebuilding sets. The trouble could easily be eliminated if it was simply a matter of tuning. If they came across a set which required some further attention, then it could be handed over to the right quarter. It was not intended that the trade should be interfered with in any way. Arising out of Mr Marsden’s remarks, a resolution was carried that any trade member using the Club to further his own interests be expelled. It was decided to make inquiries in regard to a room suitable for a Clubroom.