RADIO INTERFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 27 November 1935, Page 8

RADIO INTERFERENCE

OSCILLATOR BLAMED OFFICIAL STATEMENT [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Nov, 26. . The Director-General or t-iu I'cst and Telegraph Department has announced, in connection with lira intei ference of radio reception at Auckland on bunduy night, that au experimental oscillator arrived ut Auek.aud on Saturday morning last from Wellington and was installed that afternoon in a room at the Newmarket telegraph workshops. The apparatus, whic-h is not equipped lor transmitting telegraph or tclephoue signals, was l.’c-r use in making field strength measurements in preparation for radio beacons and the -range lor aircraft communications. The tuning up took place from approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, when apparently it, caused no interference to anyone. On Sunday afternoon the tuning up was conliaued until somewhere about 9.39 o’clock, when the officer closed down This was three-quarters of an hour after IZB js stated to have closed down, but no repoit of interference elsewhere has been received. As it is an unmodulated oscillator listeners would not be aware that it was radiating, except when its frequency approached that of another station. The oscillator is provided with an ‘auxiliary tuning oon.deuser for the purpose of lowering the frequency io that used for aircraft communication. Due to an inadvertence this condenser was not correstly co-n--nectcd, with the result that the oscillator operated in the broadcast band. This was not realised at the time, but it is now regarded as ihe source of the interference. Alter tuning up the oscillator was disconnected by the officer, who was from Wellington, and who left Auckland at about 9 a.m. on Monday to make preliminary arrangements ici the associated field work. AV hen the matter came under notice, ihe officer was recalled to Wellington in an endeavour to ascertain the position. He has reported that before he left A tick land he learned that during ihe tun ing on Saturday afternoon he had caused interference to a slight extent with the transmission from IYA. The officer arrived at 11.30 this morning, and this explanation is issued 10 account for the unfortunate happening. It is not likely that any further interference with any broadcasting station will arise from this source. TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WAS THE WIRE TAPPED? [ Per Press Association. 1 AUCK-LANID, Nov. 26. Following the interference with radio station IZB on Sunday and last night, the Rev. Mr. Scrimgeour this morning alleged that the studio telephone wires were tapped yesterday and practically every conversation was interrupted by remarks in which male voices suggested that the station would not be on the air last night, also thAt “Scrimgeour thought he was clever.” and added remarks more or less of the same kind, slighting and sometimes of an insulting character. Responsible officials of the P. and T. Department denied complaints that tapping had been made as suggested by Mr. Scrimgeour. declaring that they, know nothing about tapping. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION. [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. In connection with the j nterferurce with .he b r o'-.dcast from station IZ3, the Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department sent the following telegram to Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates at 6 p.m. to-night; “It is nowsuggested that an experimental wireless set which was installed in the Newmarket telegraph workshops at Auckland on Friday or Saturday last to enable the department to carry on an investigation in connection with the proposed aircraft services and for emergency purposes was possibly, during tuning up, responsible for the interference with the broadcast last night. It is now learned that the room has been locked up all day owing to the occupant being called away on account of a fatal accident in the family and the departure from Auckland of the installing engineer. If the assumption proves correct, to-night’s broadcast will be free from interruption.’’