THE "DUCON"

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 25, 6 January 1928, Page 12

THE "DUCON"

For those who live in apartment houses or situations where an aerial cannot be erected there is .. handy device called a "Ducon." This is a small" accessory that is plugged into any electric light socket, and utilises the electric mains as an aerial and earth Tke essential portion of the device is a pair of ‘ixed condensers of suitable capacity. Each of ihese is connected to a manis contact with a tiny fuse. The other end of each condenser leads to a terminal. One of these terminals is connected to the aerial terminal of the set, and if no proper earth connection is available, the other side may be connected to the earth terminal. After tuning in, the "Ducon" should be removed frcem the light socket and plugged in the othe: way round, as sometimes there will be a difference. For use at night it is best to provide an extra socket to allow of the light being used at the same time. In the day time the wall-switch must be "on," so the lamp can be removed. There is absolutely no canger from this attachment, as no through connection is established for the current supply, but the condensers allow a free passage of the highfrequency aerial currents. The ‘Duccn" is not recommended for crystal sets where the mains are underground, but in New Zealand they are mostly overhead, and it works well in most localities. The "Ducon" is chiefly used for local reception, but the writer bas experimentally ta!sen both E.T. and aerial currents from the mains and received Australian stations quit: well. Five years ago, upon their appearance, "Megohm" imported a "Ducon," and by means of it and two Marconi D.E.R. valves could sometimes receive KGO (California) at weak speaker strength, which five valves can seldom accomplish at the present time.