KAIAPOI NOTES

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 5, 19 August 1927, Page 12

KAIAPOI NOTES

THI? AMATEURS DEIENDED, Lhe Japanese station mentioned in your Jast number has apparently -already increased its power, . One. hears a whistle on 31,0, Melbourne, and one evening I succeeded in separating him completely on a five valve Gilfillan Neutrodyne for a few minutes, when he was almost loudspeaker strength, though the aerial used was only 18 feet up at the free end. Mr. R, j. Logan, who complains about the amateurs at Rangiora interfering with his crystal reception, should learn to tune his crystal. Unfortunately, he is situated right across the road from one amateur. In fairness to these amateurs, it must be said that their sets are carefully tuned and eyen on short wave sets one wants a vernier dial to get them. Besides, they are doing noble work. ‘There is hardly any part of the world they have not been in communication with and getting a two-way conversation with South Australia, using only a five watt tube and telephone microphone is a feat that Marconi might well be proud of. Reception.-2YA has, a long way to go before its reception is up to the standard of a 5 kilowatt station. Oftentimes IYA comes. in far better, thougl it is three times further away and onetenth the power. I have on occasion complained in the local press of the quality of 3YA. May I take this opportunity of cotigratulating them on their wonderful improvement during

the last three weeks.-

R.F.

J.

Kaiapoi.

"They Never Blame Themselves." An experienced dealer writes: "You will get all sorts of criticisms in regard to the broadcast stations. Most faulty, reception is entirely due to faulty accessories. As a dealer, I have met case after case where the batteries were practically on their last legs and the owner wondered why his set gave sucli poor reproduction, ‘It must be the broadcast station,’ of course he ‘said. ‘My set gave wonderful results five or six mouths ago,’ and so on, In connection with the-reply re the autoplax circuit, this is certainly easy to construct, but it is a champion howler in the hands of a novice, and in afiy: case the circuit is a prohibited one. Away back in 1922, I experimented with this type of receiver and in conjunction with another radio bug learut that it was .quite ati easy matter to transmit over five or six miles with the antoplax, using a loop. Naturally, this interference maker was discarded as on unreliable receiver, chiefly on account of the howling nuisance.