CAUSES OF INTERFERENCE

Shannon News, 13 July 1928, Page 4

CAUSES OF INTERFERENCE

Despite the educational efforts, ig- I norance and indifference continue to play large parts in the radiation nuisance. ISTot that, anyone who reacts up even in a small way does, not under--stand the evil and, vaguely, the cause; but that they fail or refuse lo recognise ' the fact that they themselves often are the means of. ruining their neighbour's enjoyment—and, incidentally, their own (says an Australian publication). A radiating set never can be delivering anytmng approaching sweet musical notes or clear speech. At best there is a mushiness which thickens speech and garbles tones. , If in no other way a receiver owner can tell when his valye is oscillating ne surely can in this way. The point where the clearest reception is obtained is the proper opera Lug • point. Bringing in distant stat.ons will be a "bit L.ore dillicult but there will be greater satisfaction all around. If every listener-in were to watch his receiver carefully it would in all probability eliminate about 50 per cent of the-present interference. Occasionally a. little interference is encountered from commercial, ship, and land stations. The interference from this source is only noticeable when tuning in stations operating on wave lengths near 600 metres. Since J the nature of the business carried on by these stations is of utmost importance, the listener-in can.hardly complain. Commercial operators are only allowed to.use the transmitter for business purposes, and personal conversations are not allowed. Another source of interference frequently discussed and blamed to a far greater decree than plausible is that coming from, amateur transmitting stations. First of all it might be a good plan to tell just who the amateur transmitter is and just what he docs. Many people are of the opinion that amateurs arc a bunch of inexperienced boys if we are permitted to use the slang they choose to* apply to them, still wearing short trousers. This, how-\ ever, is a mitaken, conception which' often leads people astray. Somo of the most noted radio engineers still choose called amateurs, and many of the amateurs operating in Australia hold high positions in commercial life. Amateurs are interested in the radio art for the mere, love of it, and not for any commercial' value they might I thereby attain, and therefore they should receive plenty of encouragement.

Since the adoption of the continuous wave method of transmission by the amateurs in Australia . it is quite possible, but very'. improbable, that broadcast programmes 1 will" be broken up or interfered with from this source.

Of course, if .a radio enthusiast has an aerial within a few hundred feet of a transmitting amate ( ur it is probable that he will have a little interference. In this case, however, it will be found that the amateur is most always' willing to meet the other party halfway and do all in his power to eliminate the interference. After all, most of the interference does.not come from other transmitting stations, but from electrical devices that are in the vicinity of the receiver.