RADIO NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 278, 19 July 1932, Page 5

RADIO NOTES

Kathode.)

(By 1

Local eonditions. haye beeh fair during the past week, a.nd Australian stations have returned to normal strength. The YA stations have gone up in volume though fading is still present on 2YA. Interf erence in the town area is becoming rapidly worse, and unless something is done very soon, reeeption will; be impossible at any hour of the day or night. Until recently one could at least rely upon clear reception on Sunday afternoons and evenings, but during the past two week-ends high-frequency interference has been almOst continuous. ."Eathode" switched his, receiver on last Sunday afternoon, hut reception was absolutely impossible. From* 5.30 to 7 p.m. the air was free of noise, but at about 7.10 p.m. all radio reception was completely blotted out. This lasted until 7.30 p.m. when ,the set was switched off in disgust. The interference in tKis case was caused hy a violet ray machine or by an antlquated electric motor. The Rotorua Radio Emergency Corps have a port.-.hle receiver in their equipment, az.d Kathode would suggest that listeners interested in the ' tracking down of interference, interview the equipment supervisor, Mr. J. D. Shearer, who would probably arrange to have the receiver placed at their disposal. • Mr. Shearer's address is the Public Trust Office, Rotorua. A Field Day. The Rotorua Radio Emergency Corps held a field day last Sunday and took a portable jjeceiver and transmitter to* the nortnerri sliore of Lake Rotorua. The test was of a Dominion-wide nature, and communication was estabiished all over New Zealand. Messages from the portable station' were relayed through the base station in Rotorua, and replies were received through the same channel. The base station was in charge of Mr. J. D. Shearer (equipment supervisor), and the outpost portable was in charge of Mr. D. W. Tapp (deputy section leader). Mr, H. C. Smith (deputy equipmept sup--ervisor) was in charge of all equipment at the outpost, and assistance was given to both by Mr. J. Talbot (section secretary). Gisborne and Auckland outpost stations reported dull or showery weather though the Rotorua station experienced brilliant warm sunshine. The Rotorua Emergency Corps are a self -supporting body with a total strength of five members, -which, no doubt, is the smallest number Jn any single unit in New Zealand. Special thanks we?e expressed by the members to Mr. L. Shaw, who generously supplied transport for the portable station.. Long or Short. Not so long ago listeners were advocating the change of 2YA from ; the 400 metre band to a wave length j below 3YA with the idea of giving j greater coverage. This idea was sup- ' ported by the fact that some of the j low powered B class stations were | received with greater volume over [ longer distances when working on 1 short wave-lengths. Contrary to ! these facts though, 2YA would have j a . greater reliable coverag-e if it ; transmitted on 1000 or 2000 metres i because the ground wave would he pushed out over a greater area. Captain Eckersley, the genius hehind the British Broadcasting Company has made exhaustive tests to prove that the long waves are most reliable and his finaings were later proved to be correct by Lieut. Wenstrom in the U.S.A. No doubt the future trend in radio will be in the direction of long wave-lengths, though the change will have to be made gradually. Modern sets will not become obsolete because adaptors will change the reeeivable wave-length just as short- • wave adaptors are used to-day. Points to RemeiTiber. Short wave listeners regret the absence of the Lutch short wave transmitter PCJ. This station was j closed down a short time ago, and i it will be some time before it is heard j on the air again. . j It is not generaily known that it i is illegal to operate an a.c. receiver j without an earth. The regulations \ state that every metal body liable | to becoming alive must be efficiently i earthed. This includes all metal ! casings of step up or step down | transformers, therefore listeners j should see that these are grounded. : Kathode has had several com- i plaints from listeners that they can j receive the same Australian station i on two or more dial readings. This is quite in order and is accounted for by the fact that several stations frequently relay the same programme over an international network. A Scotchman was once asked the ! difference between an indoor and an j outdoor aerial. His reply was "just 30/-." When the old type a.c. receivers using 226 or 227 type valves have been in use one or two years, the tubes need renewing. In niost cases a falling off in volume will be noticed or the set will oscillate on certain stations. Re-neutralising will bring the volume up and cure the oscillating for a time, though the writer would recommend a new set of valves if possible. A dirty earth contaet is frequently the cause of noise in a receiver. The earth wire should be soldered to the earth contact or a good clip. should be used. If a clip is used, the wire should be remoYed from time to time and thoroughly cleaned.