Crystal Owner Hears 2YA At 375 Miles

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 14, 21 October 1927, Unnumbered Page

Crystal Owner Hears 2YA At 375 Miles

Result of "The Radio Record" Competition Astonishing results have been revealed by owners of crystal receiving sets who have taken part in the prize "Crystal Reception Competition" conducted by "The Radio Record." The £1 1s. prize has been awarded toMASTER JACK BURDETT (aged 17 years) Hoanga, North Wairoa (6 miles north of Dargaville, 375 miles from 2YA Wellington).

Master Burdett listens for a haif an hour every evening to 2YA, Wellington, on his crystal set which cost him only eight shillings. The competition was for the best long-distance crystal reception recorded during Septe~her of 2YA. To stimulate interest in erystal work and secure knowledge of the records possible therein "The Radio Record" offered a prize of £1/1/- for the authenticated record of the reception of 2YA from the greatest distance in New Zealand throughout the month of September an a crystal set, preferably home-made. The following simple conditions were applied:-

WV waco aad = ww ~ -- + SS LLL LLL DAO OR ES IS _-_~ 1. The reception was to be certified to by some reputable: person, whose name and address, together with that of the successful entrant, would be published. 2. The reception must take place in September, and entries closed with us on October 10. 8. Only New Zealand entries accepted. 4, Cost of crystal set to be given with brief description, and whether home-made or not, 5. In the event of difficulty in adjudicating the winner on distance alone, the other factors of merit in the equipment and cost would be taken into consideration, the principle being to secure the maximum results at the lowest cost. 6. Decision as to airline distance from 2YA would be based on the "Radio Record" map as published in our issue of August 12. Master Burdett writes: "In entering for the "Radio Record" long-distance crystal reception competition, I enclose particulars of the reception I received with my set for the month of September, also a description of the set, with the testimonials of friends I have asked to listen. "Kivery evening for about half-an-hour I listened to 2YA, and every time I tickled her up she was there with splendid volume and clarity, often quite audible on the speaker at a distance of 6 to 10 feet. Fad- ' jing is not very noticeable and static is barely audible at all. "The best items are soprano solos, and of course, bands. I did not miss one children’s session, and your carrier was there while no one was talking. Every word of the news was clear and quite loud

exought to be heard with the ‘phones about two inches from the ears. "On one or two occasions I have received the whole programme from 2YA without a hitch. (My people have a neutrodyne, so you can understand that I could not use my crystal all the time.) "The set which I purchas . for eight shillings consists of 120 turns of 24 gauge enamelled wire on a two-inch Exelon former, a rod and single slide, and an enclosed detector, with a brass wire cats-whisker in. contact with a chip of Hertzite crystal. "The horizontal portion of the aerial, which is suspended between four large insulators, is 88 feet long and 50 feet high. The down lead, which is thicker than the horizontal portion, is 46 feet long, and passes through a lead-in tube to the set. The earth is another 8 feet in length and is soldered to a galvanised pipe driven three feet into wet clay. The whole aerial circuit is 146 feet in length. "The stations I have received at ’phone strength on an aerial 120 feet long are 1YA, 2YA, 8YA, 2FC, 2BL, while 2GB was heard faintly, but unfortunately 2BL was too much in evidence.-Jack Burdett, "P.S.-2FC at about 10.30 is as loud as 1YA, I am six miles north of Dargaville by air line.-J.B." Complete endorsement of Master Burdett’s fine achievement is supplied in letters from: Mr. E. G. Appleton, Victoria Street, Dargaville. Mr. William Kay, Hoanga, North Wairoa. Mr. Roy Bathurst, and Mrs. Florence E.. Bathurst, Hoanga, North Wairoa. Mr, Appleton testifies that he has heard 2YA, Wellington, six feet from Master Burdett’s loudspeaker,

SECOND BEST RECORD. The second best performance is that of MR. J. J. LAMBERT, Upper Waiwera, (80 miles north of Auckland), 330 miles from 2YA, Wellington. Mr. Lambert writes: "I am situated noz-2 of Auc.Jarz 30 miles, and . hear 2YA at good strength, at times as loud as 1YA, especially band music, but fading is greatly experienced. I also hear another station which I believe to be 3YA, though speech is not distinct enough to hear the station’s name, but this does not concern 2YA, so I will give further details about aerial, etc. "My aerial is about 40 feet in height and 100 feet long, lead-in, 15 feet. The earth-wire is fastened to a water-pipe

which stands out of the earth three feet. The wire from the crystal to the. pipe is about two feet six inches in length. The earth wire is only bound round the waterpipe. The set is called "Brownie No, 2 model." My brother bought this set for me, said it cost 17/6 without ear phones. -J. J. Lambert." Complete endorsement of Mr. Lambert’s claims is embodied in a letter from: Mr. Alfred C. Bechar, Tahekeroa. UNFORTUNATE OMISSIONS Mr. J. H. Gill, Awanui North, whose home is located 450 miles away from 2YA, Wellington, reports goed regular reception of 2YA on his crystal set, but has omitted to comply with the first conditions of the competition that reception must be certified by some reputable person. No letter certifying Mr. Gill’s reception has been received, and thus he, unfortunately misses winning the first prize. Mr. W. J. Hughes, Puka Puka, Rodney County, about 330 milzs from 2YA, Wellington, reports that he receives 2YA in the evenings with his crystal set, but he omitted to forward the necessary certificate of a witness. He states that he has on one occasion received 2YA in the after noon. Seemingly several of the reports received were not intended for competition, and therefore no care was taken to send an endorsement by a witness. This would account for the omissions mentioned above. Quite a large number of Auckland enthusiasts report reception of 2YA, Wellington, with crystal sets. Among the most notable are the reports of Mr. John

A. Waring, Montrose St., Point Chevalier, Auckland; Mr. Walter Wilcock, 14 New Windsor Road, Avondale, Auckland; Mr. Leslie G. Watts, 23 Pah Road, Epsom; Mr. B. Clark, Matai St., Avondale South, Auckland; Mr. L. J. Foster, Rama Rama, via Drury, Auckland; Mr. S. H. Beckett, View Avenue, Onehunga, Auckland; Mr. E, W. Thompson, Panama Road, Otahuhu, Auckland; Mr. B. Davis, 98 Eden Terrace, Auckland. Mr. J. G. Waddell reports good reception of 2YA at his home in Pukekohe. WITH A VEST-POCKET SET. Some excellent reports come from the South Island. Included among these is that of Mr. F. J. Parson, New Brighton, Christchurch. He writes:-‘‘With a low loss set of my own construction, which I carry in my vest pocket, I can hear Christchurch without an aerial or an earth. When, however, I am at my father’s place at Governor’s Bay I can hear 2YA anytime Christchurch is not on the air. But sometimes even when 8YA is going, 2YA can be heard through Christchurch at quite distinct strength. One outstanding example was when one of the two ladies who toured Australia in a motor car gave an account of their adventure from 8YA, a cornet solo from 2YA entitled "Answer" came in, almost cutting Christchurch out. The announcing could be just understood. At any time when Christchurch is off the air I can get 2YA-not once have [I failed to get it under any conditions, the afternoon being equally good for reception, "The aerial was a straight lead from a 62 foot tree, 40 feet away-not one of the lengths of insulated wire joined together leading into the house being soldered, just twisted once. The earth was a three foot pipe driven into-the ground, "Christchurch can be heard on the whole tuning band, while 2YA has an easy tuning of its own. At first I thought my success was obtained from a radiating set in the harbour somewhere near, but I am convinced it is not, for, as I previously stated, every time I was successful. When 3YA, was off the air, and all was still, the announcing was quite distinct, every word being understood, while the volume was constant, there being no sign of fading, or of any interference whatsoever."