RADIO NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18170, 7 November 1930, Page 10

RADIO NOTES.

AGENTS IN COMPETITION. / CURE FOR INTERFERENCE. NOTES AT RANDOM. (By “ Static.”) The many different brands of wireless receiving sets on the market have given rise to keen competition among radio agents. A farhier in a nearby district who wished to purchase a set no sooner made his intention known that he was bombarded with dealers. Over the week-end four sets had been installed and each demonstrated by their, respective agents. In another district no fewer than seven dealers participated in an endeavour to effect a sale at the same farm house. Fourteen sets were demonstrated. An Auckland radio dealer at the request of a householder recently took a set out to demonstrate in a suburban home. On arrival he found nine other sets, all of different makes, already in the house and being put through their performances by their prospective buyer. < A Californian rancher who has been troubled with poor reception from his favourite stations recently commissioned a radio engineer to locate, and if possible, cure the defects, it was found that beside having an unsatisfactory earth the set was located too near the power transmission lines, and it was suggested that the installation be moved nearer a well, thus surmounting both difficulties. Finally the rancher moved his entire house, counting interference a greater inconvenience that, had been the carrying of water from the well for twenty years. When the ‘war broke out and the New Zealand forces occupied Western Samoa, Awarua’s Telefunken transmitting set was quietly shipped to Samoa, and the station became a mere listening post, As such it did remarkable service during the war, and earned the reputation of• being the best receiving, station in the -world. The gigantic antenna no doubt had something to do with its efficiency in this respect, but probably the locality had a good deal more. The messages overheard during this special war service would doubtless make interesting reading, but doubtless, also, they will never be published.

Hamilton has been experiencing considerable interference of late and the local listener’s El Dorado would appear to be contained in the following clause of Jugo-Slavia’s new penal code: —“Whoever, voluntarily or by negiigenis, prevents or interferes with the functions of a radio installation by means of electrical installations, or who interferes with or misappropriates the current necessary to the "working of a radio installation, will be punished—in the event of a disturbance or stoppage taking place—by one year’s imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 dinars (approximately £394).”

The fair sex do not as care about studying the technical side of radio, but in America there are over forty lady amateur operators on transmitters. England boasts two; France one; Swdtzerland one; and Australia two. When we overhear males transmitting their talk is "decidedly technical and uninteresting. But of what do these ladies talk? A mixture of electrostatics and engagements, modulation and marriages, grid bias and births, filament voltages and fashion vagaries, and radio frequencies and romantic episodes.

When a German amateur cannot eliminate his radio trouble it is sufficient for him to send a postcard to the district representative of the Radiophone Society and a technician is on the spot. That is not at all had, hut another company goes one better. In the contract entered into when one takes out a license the Reich Society has foreseen cases where their technicians damage the receiving sets accidentally. If this happens the damage is made good to the set-owner by the company.

Now that daylight-saving has been introduced, and the hours of daylight are extending, listeners experience a falling-off in volume of the Australian stations in the early evening. This will become increasingly noticeable as the summer comes on, and beginners will complain' that Australian stations are not so loud as they were led to believe. It resolves itself into a question of sitting up later at night if one desires to hear the Australians at their best.

Pursuing the policy of modernising its wireless stations in the Pacific, the New Zealand Government recently opened the new and up-to-date transmitting station at Rarotonga. The installation, which replaces older equipment, was designed and manufactured in Australia, and is now operating successfully. Its purpose is to link up with Wellington and Apia (Samoa), thus forming an important link in the wireless network of the Pacific. A law was recently passed by a city council in America which prohibits the use of an electrical machine or device which has a tendency to “ broadcast noise that affects radio reception. That law only applies during the afternoon and evening, and affects mainly various electrical appliances used for medical purposes. A similar prohibition in Hamilton would be welcomed by listeners in certain localities. The local broadcasting station, will shortly be increasing its power to about 'IOO watts. The present strength of IZII is 60 watts. j A chess match' by radio was played recently between four members of the Los Angeles Club and players of the Gimnasia y Esgrima Chess Club, of Rosarla, Argentina. The Brighton police are experimenting with pocket receivers by which the men on the beach are able to receive orders from headquarters a mile and a-half ayvay. Two thousand two hundred and twenty-eight •schools in France are provided with wireless sets. > Listeners throughout New Zealand followed with interest the broadcast of the Melbourne Cup ;■ f—">-y afternoon. By special arrangement with the Melbourne short-wave station 3ME, the New Zealand stations were able to give a running description of the event from the course and the interest taken vyas apparent from the numbers who crowded round all available local sets. Radio dealers who tuned in just before the start had an eager audience on the doorstep.