RADIO RECEIVERS.

Shannon News, 7 September 1926, Page 2

RADIO RECEIVERS.

CHEAP AMERICAN SETS,

Under the heading, "New Zealand as an American Dump," an English wireless journal has taken exception to tinfact 'that American radio sets and parts, are finding greater favour with the New Zealand public than the corresponding English components, writes "Thermion" in the New Zealand "Herald." This, is due to a cause overlooked by the journal that regretable as it is, the American wireless 'equipment is better suited to our requirements than the greater part of the British apparatus. For one thing the majority of the .circuits used by the English manufacturers are prohibited by New Zealand regulations, whereas the American sets comply with them. It is stated that the sale'of British wireless sets in the Dominion must be held up while the "absurd" regulations are amended. Of course regulations designed to reduce the radiating receiver nuisance would not be considered by the authorities, nor would it be asked for by the listeners Avho are, in fact, urging still greater restrictions to be imposed in rendering compulsory a stage of neutralised radio frequency amplication in all valve receivers. We must deplore the attitude of the majority, of British manufacturers of wireless apparatus in waiting for the impossible while not taking progressive measures to capture a promising market by making apparatus suitable for our requirements.

The article referred to indicates correctly that American manufacturers of wireless sets are experiencing a slump in their own country, one large concern having over 100,000 unsold sets and many"of these are being sold to New Zealand impo'rters at prices considerably below" the cost of manufacture. The statement is made that "it is possible to purchase a o-valvo set, complete with loud speaker, for £4,"-in New Zealand. It is urged that the Government put a heavy customs duty on such-sets. Listeners hope that, no such measures' are taken provided the sets are really efficient, but of course every effort should be made to prevent the importation of cheap "junk"" into the Dominion. There may be some possibility of and opportunity for the unloading of cheap and inferior wireless rsets on an approach of a wireless- trade boom. A prospective listener should he wary of purchasing cheap American receiving sets, not the products of, the well known manufacturers.