RADIO REALM.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 249, 20 August 1928, Page 8

RADIO REALM.

NOTES AND COMMENTS Public or Private . Something more regarding New Zca- ■ land broadcasting is bound to be heard during this session of Parliament. Mr Jbfdan’g request for a publication of the company ’s balance-sheet was ruled out of order on the grounds that the company was a private one. The ruling hardly coincides with statements made at different times by the managing director himself, who has stated that the R.B.C. is a public utility. Besides, it has the use of £15,000 of the Government’s or rather, the people’s money, and it has the use of a public, service for collecting its revenue. Truly, it is a wonderful concern, and seems to be aldo to become cither “private” or “public,” according to which suits its interests. At Breakfast. It is quite possible for receivers of the six-valve typo to bring in the two big Sydney stations at 8.30 a.m. Not great strength, of course, but pleasantly audible. Getting Best Results. The best important factor for getting the best results from a receiving set is soldered connections. Every point should bo carefully cleaned, and then securely soldered. Aerial joints should be carefully soldered, and a proper ground clamp installed. There are at least 22 contacts in a five-valve set which cannot even be soldered. Twenty of them arc valve prong contacts, and the other two arc the battery switch and the rheostat. Dirt on any one of these will be a fruitful source of noise. Many valves have solder (lead alloys) on their base prongs. This solder rubs off on to the socket contacts, oxidises, and makes a high-resistance noisy connection. The battery switch is often liable to “dirty up” after continued switching, and must be cleaned. The same with the rheostat. A dirty switch or rheostat causes noise in a receiving set.

Batteries & Battery Chargers. For the first time in the history of 'wireless there is available a combined H.T. accumulator battery and charger which enables anyone possessing electric light in their homes to carry out their own H.T. battery charging without even moving the battery from its accustomed position.

This combination of battery and charger metaphorically kills two birds with one stone, for not only is the weary journey to the charging station cut out, but the owner is also assured that, by the simple movement of one switch, his battery is obtaining just the right amount of charging currrcnt at the right and most convenient times. Many accumulators are ruined because they are- allowed to run down and to stay in that condition owing to the trouble involved in re-charging. The life of an accumulator is greatly increased by giving a freshening charge at regular intervals before the cells begin to show signs of exhaustion. The combined H.T. accumulator and charger is made in two distinct types, one for A.C., and one for D.C., electric light mains. Both charger and battery arc completely enclosed by a mahogany finished cabinet.

Connections to the electric light supply are made from the socket mounted on the side of the cabinet to a convenient electric lamp holder or wall plug. An entirely new electrolytic rectifier is employed in the charger which gives off no fumes, remains perfectly cool, forms no sediment, is non-poisonous and non-corrosive, and requires no attention. The charger is independent of the frequency of the A.C. supply, the charging current being regulated by the use of an ordinary metal filament lamp inserted in the holder mounted inside the cabinet.

Also made by the same firm is a A battery power unit. In a handsome, mahogany cabinet is a National 80 amp., hour’ six-volt battery and a' chargor. The charger, which employs a ‘‘dry” rectifier, has a small switch on the outside engraved bakelite panel, with three positions. One is for when the set is in operation, the second for a trickle charge of .7 of an amp., and thc> third for 3 amps., or a boosting charge. From one side comes a cord to plug in to the power point or electric light socket.

Both the above are made by B. Hawley Smith, an American radio manufacturer of high repute, and Messrs G. B. Brunton and Co., now have stocks to hand.