RADIO NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 339, 28 September 1932, Page 6

RADIO NOTES

"Kathode".)

GOOD PERFORMANCE ROTORUA EMERGENCY CORP - HOLD A FIELD DAY , A NEW VALVE

(Notes by

The past week has been an excellent one , for. radio reception although the week-end was marred by heaVy static. Australian stati'ons have been easily'- picked up after 6 F'-ni. and several new American transmitters have been heard to advantage. The YA stations h'ave been full of "punch" though not sufficient to eliminate local interference. Daylight reception is still on the wane and a gradual reduction of signal strength is 'noticeable.

-i~ 'f *'• The Rotorua section of the Radio Emergency Corps held a field day on Sunday, the exercises proving the use of the corps in any emergency or national disaster. It was supposed that Tarawera had erupted at 11.30 a.m., cutting off all communication from Rotorua and outlying districts'. By 11.40 a.m., a portable station, undqr the command of Deputy Equipment Superviser H. C. Smith with Secretary J. Talbot as operator, were on their way to the scene of the disaster and radio communication was established with Rotorua by 12.30 p.m. The Rotorua station, under the command of Deputy Section Leader D. W. Tapp with Equipment Superviser I. D. Shearer as operator, immediately s&cured radio contract with Auckland Wellington and by 1 p.m. emergency medical supplies and foodstuffs were on their way from both centres. The Rotorua station also made contact with Tauranga and arranged for a portable station to worlc on the eastern side of the stricken area. It was supposed that all roads were impassable when approaching from the south so the Wellington station sent the following message. "Emergency ■ supplies despatched by New Zealand Air Force aeroplane'. Indicate position of outpost station by pegging sheets on ground or by smoke signals. Supplies will be dropped by parachute. Indicate reception of same by taking in sheets or damping smoke signals." — Signed Ashbridge, O.C. A message was also received from Auckland reading. "Emergency supplies sent express. Arrange fast motor transit from Rotorua." — Signed, O.C., Auckland Section. By 4 p.m. supplies had been received at the outpost and the situation was well in hand. The operating aloility at both stations was of the highest order and no delay was experienced in the reception and despatch of messages. The Radio Emergency Corps is eomposed of qualified radio operators banded together for the purpose of maintaining an emergency radio network over New Zealand. The Rotorua section is to be complimented on its efficiency and the unselfishness of members in giving their services and equipment free. The following business men have doi§ated equipment and have helped to make the formation of the corp'S possible. Mr. L. Shaw, Miss Macdermott, Mr. L. Woolliams, Schofield and Krogh, Lee Bros., and The Rotorua Furnishing Co.

The personnel of the Rotorua Radio Emergency Corps is: — Dr. B. G. Thompson, section leader; D. W. Tapp, deputy section leader; I. D. Shearer, equipment superviser; H. C. Smith, deputy equipment superviser; J. Talbot, secretary. * * * * And now we have a new radio value. This tube is known as the Magnetron valve. ;It has two plates, a filament, but no grid and is particularly useful in short-wave transmitters. We seem to be approaching an era of "fewer elements." * * * * General American stations have been logged with good strength, the best of them being KMOX, KFI, KGO, KFL and KPO. The first nanied station has been coming in better than KFI and may be located between 1ZR and 3YA. Other stations heard at low volume were KGW, KFRC, KELW, KOIN and KOA. Unusual Australian stations logged were 4RK, 3UZ, 3HA, 2CA, 2HD, 2UW, 2SM and 2AY. * * * v Kathode tried an exp'eriment with receiving aerials during the week and results were encouraging. An earth pipe was driven down under the far end of the aerial and that end of the wire was attached to it, The earthed end was then attached to the ground post on the receiver, and the usual lead-in end was attached to the aerial terminal. This form of antennae gave rnarked rise in volume though local interference was not reduced to any extent.