COMBINED INVESTIGATION OF FADING PROBLEM

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 6, 26 August 1927, Page 4

COMBINED INVESTIGATION OF FADING PROBLEM

AN APPEAL TO "RECORD" READERS In consultation with the Broadcasting Company we have decided to invite our readers to join us in an investigation into the problem of fading. It is amazing to note, from hundreds of letters in which enthusiastic writers mention points in relation to reception, how conflicting is the experience in regard to this trouble. Here is a writer from Stratford ‘who says of 2YA: "it is the nearest thing to a perfect station received here, with practically no fading." On the ather hand many Auckland ' areas report decided fading, A writer at Port Ahuriri says: "2YA (Wellington) is being received here anything but in a satisfactory wayinclined to be distorted, and fading rapidly at all times. On Saturday the 18th inst., 3YA, Christchurch, relayed a portion of 2YA’s programme, Several times 2YA faded completély out, and on changing quickly to 8YA I found it coming through splendidly-no sign of fading at all" From the South Island also, there are divers reports, From Southland some receptions are reported good and some bad. From Dunedin a writer says: "Fading is noticeable some evenings, but reception at Taieri is stronger than from Dunedin." ‘ * Obviously where there is an effect there is a cause. ° That cause is either fundamentally at the transmitting station, at the receiving end, or in between, either in land or atmospheric influences, It occurs to us that ja useful service might be rendered by the simultaneous taking of records at diverse'points of the reception of a particular station at particular times. We propose, therefore, to select ahead, one particular evening’s transmission from 2YA, and request as many of our readers as feel inclined to undertake the service, to record the results -if possible for the full evening from 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock. To help their record a time chart will be published in the "Record" beforehand, giving space, minute by minute, ‘for the full two hours with columns for the record of fading, either slight or intense. With this chart before them, listeners can, with a pencil, Mark the exact moment at which fading begins, and its intensity and duyation. Analysis of these reports subse quently will be of extreme interest. If, for instance, 100 per cent. of records from all over’ New’ Zealand show that at 8.19 fading began and continued for two minutes, then obviously it is a fair inference that the fault was a general one and presumably occurred at the station. If, again, at a certain time all North Island reported fading and all South Island was clear it would suggest some other cause such as atmospherics, The same analysis would be possible district by district. To summarise the results we would endeavour to compile a map of the whole Dominion, and shading in the area affected by fading with an indication of its intensity, and permanent or intermittent nature. The analysis of the reports sent in would be entrusted to our technical contributor "Megohm," who is specially qualified for such an investigation. One point we would make on this investigation is that everyone can help, even owners of crystal and one and two valve sets. We want, if possible, the full two-hour’s record of the one chosen station-2YA-no variation from station to station because that introduces new directions. and intervening conditions. Records are wanted, too, from all distancesa few miles away up to the extreme points of the country. The time charts and other organising work involved are now in hand and will be published in due course. A special evening will be chosen for the test and if possible a programme arranged to be of the most comprehensive nature to test the transmission. In their reports listeners will be asked to indicate their local circum-stances-such as distance from other valve sets; and, in view of the possibility of interference from other sets, reports from isolated listeners will be particularly valuable,