RADIO IN GERMANY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 628, 3 April 1929, Page 14

RADIO IN GERMANY

MULTIPLE VALVE POPULAR OSCILLATORS ALMOST UNKNOWN The Individual character of every human being is different, and this difference becomes all the greater if we compare two individuals from different surroundings and countries. Although broadcasting has done a lot, and will be doing more in the near future, to facilitate the understanding of one’s national neighbour, the individual characteristics are bound to remain. Listeners all over the world have one thing In common —they all have the radio disease in smaller or greater degree. Still, there remain individual characteristics. Everybody does not get the measles in the same way. When broadcasting first started a little over four years ago in Germany the listener was only allowed the free use of crystal sets. Valve sets were restricted to a waveband of from 250 to 700 metres, reaction on the aerial circuit was forbidden, and every set had to be sealed by the Government officials. Those hardy amateurs who wished to build their own valve sets had to become a member of a recognised radio club, and then had to pass a more or less rigorous examination in theoretical and practical knowledge of radio sets and fundamentals of electricity. Then, proviedd he passed (nearly all those who plucked up courage for the examination did pass), he received a special licence "Audionversuchserlaubnis” and was allowed to build his own (valve) set. Fewer Oscillators Than Here So at the beginning mere was no oscillator nuisance to speak of. But about a little over a year later, in 1925 the Audionversuchserlaubnis was buried, the whole waveband was free for reception, and anybody could build a set. One can safely say that the oscillator nuisance is, as everywhere, rather bad. but I Co not think quite so bad as in New Zealand. The German policy is to cater for the crystal-set owner. Therefore, the great and still increasing number of the German stations (Kaiserslautern is the latest addition, on 279 metres). The need for greater selectivity in valve sets has, as on the greater part of the Continent, greatly increased. However, these sets are still in the large minority, although valve sets permitting of the reception at good loud-speaker strength of the local station and, after that has closed down, also of other stations have become extremely popular. The Loewe valve is the reason for this. It, in connection with a small, unselective set and a loud-speaker, has become, next to the crystal set, the most popular means of broadcast reception in Germany. This small Loewe valve set only costs about £2, includ-

ing the three-fold valve; so that even those of modest means can easily acquire it. The other types of multi-valve, such as pentatron and the multi-valves made by nearly all the leading German valve manufacturers now, are quite popular and used to a large extent in valve sets; the Loewe "Volksgerat,” however, far surpasses them. The average receiver is mostly used only for reception of the local station, though the desire for other stations Is best shown by the great popularity of relays by wireless link of other European, American and even Australian stations. Munich, in Bavaria, has, in fact, made quite a speciality of this type of relay. And any number of listeners actually do sit up till all hours when an American relay is to be "put over,” and great is the disappointment if atmospheric conditions prevent a successful relay. Three and Four-valve Sets Valve sets usually run to three or four valves. Since the advent of good battery eliminators working off alter-nating-current mains, the multi-valve set has become more and more popular with those living at a distance

from any broadcasting centre. Still, the single-valver holds its own, but will hardly be bought ready made. Four and two-volt valves are equally popular, with the balance slightly in favour of the two-volt type. Valves working straight off the elec-tric-lighting circuit are in existence, and are capable of excellent reproduction. A number of manufacturers already build sets working exclusively with this type of valve. More H.F. Amplification High-frequency amplification has always been popular, usually one stage being used. Recently, with the advent of neutrodynes and shielding, high-frequency amplification is being used more and more. The general mod eof coupling low-frequency amplifying stages still remains the transformer, though in the case of multivalves the resistance-capacity method is exclusively adopted. High-grade sets in connection with power valves now mostly use this latter mode. Power valves, or last-stage valves, as they are called, are nearly always employed where a loud-speaker Is to give good results. Germany is going to be our most serious competitor in the world race for the greatest number of licensed listeners.