Wellington Radio Society

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 23, 21 December 1928, Page 9

Wellington Radio Society

General Meeting et Instructive Lecture Mr. C. C. K. Fear ; i aaeeeendenl

f FlFsvy continuous rain militated against a numerous attendance at the general meeting of the Amateur ’ Radio Society of Wellington at the Congregational Church schoolroom, Cambridge Terrace, on Tuesday evening, December 11. About two dozen were present, and the chair was occupied by Mr. Byron Brown, president. A general discussion took place on the question of the talent heard from 2YA, Wellington. Various opinions were expressed, and while some urged that better talent would be regularly available if the Broadcasting Company inereased its payments for performers,

others said that they were well satisfied with the programmes from 2YA. Speakers expressed great pleasure in listening to the very fine assortment of gramophone items put on the air by 2YA, in fact, they said, they much preferred them to the usual studio numpers. A trader said that ‘the generality of his customers were well pleased with the quality of the programmes by 2YA. One listener advocated the inclusion of more educational items such as lecturettes on economics, but otherwise he had no fault to find with programmes. Complaints were made that the transmission by 2YA, Wellington, varied very much in quality and volume, While transmission during one session may be excellent the transmission in the next one would be harsh and inclined to blast. A motion was earried that the general manager of the Radio Broadeasting Company be written to complaining about the quality of the transmission by 2YA, and requesting that the trouble be rectified.

A LECTURE, illustrated by blackboard drawings, Was then given by Mr. 6. C. K. Fear, on the subject of aerials and earths, particularly in connection with their use with erystal sets. Mr. Fear strongly emphasised the advisability of employing long aerials, which should be as high as possible, for crystal sets. Tle susgested an aerial of about 140 feet in length, including the lead-in, and not less than 30 feet above all obstaclesfences, sheds, trees, etc. The nearest to an ideal aerial was a vertical wire attached to a very high mast, but this was seldom practicable. ‘The next best was an aerial of the inverted "LL". type. He adyised listeners to use not. less than two good insulators at.each end of the aerial, and they should he so, inserted that the actual aerial is not eloser than three or four feet from each mast. He was greatly in favour of glass insulators, as opnosed to the small "shell" type porcelain type. In bad weather, owing to the proximity of the wires which pass through the "shell" insulators, there was some leakage. There was also & +! 4 eartain amount of "condenser

a ies ee in the case of "shell" insulators whicn also meant loss in signal strength. Ele advoeated a good soldered joint where the junction took place between the lead-in and’the aerial. The lead-in should also be kept three or four feet away from the side of the house until it entered the lead-in tube. The earth wire should be of heavy gauge wire, and as short and direct as possible. It should not be fastened to a gas-pipe, but to a water-pipe or a sheet of galyanised iron or kerosene tin buried in the ground, which should be kept well moistened. He preferred enamelled wire, as it lasted very much longer than plain wire. Though it used to be believed that aerial wire when corroded set up a resistance to radio-frequency currents it had now heen definitely established by laboratory tests in the United States that there was no difference in the strength of reception when using a new wire aerial or an old one which was badly corroded. However, the corrosion had a tendency. to render the wire brittle. Mr. Fear warned listeners that it was an infringement of the law to run an nerial over electric wires. There was also a potential danger to the listener in doing this as, in the event of his aerial falling on a live electric wire he may be severely shocked if not killed.

In mentioning risks from lightning, Mr: Fear said that a well-installed aerial was actually a protection against lightning. This had been proved by actual happenings. A lightning-arres-tor, however, was essential, being required under the Underwriters’ Association regulations. Mr. Fear gave details of how to instal the arrestor, and he said he preferred to see it located on the outside of the house. Talking on the subject of crystals, Mr. Fear favoured galena in preference to all others, but there were other excellent crystals. °-He found carborundum splendid up to a _ limited range. but when the distance was extreme it was less sensitive than galena. Vor coils to embody in crystal set he gave preference to silkcovered or enamelled wire, but cot-ton-covered wire was suscepttible to becoming moist in wet weather. The diameter of the wire for these coils should not be less than 20 eange or more than 24 gauge.

On the conclusion of his lecture Mr. Fear answered several interesting questions. On the motion of the chairman Mr. Fear was accorded a' hearty vote of thanks with enthusiastic applause.

At the request of the chairman, Mr. I. M. Levy, vice-president, on behalf of the society, presented the retiring honorary secretary, Mr. W. H. Taylor, with a handsome solid silver

cigarette case suitably inscribed as a memento of esteem and appreciation of his services. Mr. Levy explained that owing to his promotion in his business Mr. Taylor’s duties in future would take him out of Wellington almost continuously, so that it would be quite impossible to continue his duties as. honorary secretary of the society.’ While they warmly congratulated Mr. Taylor on his advancement they greatly Teeretted his resignation as. honorary secretary, 2 position he had occupied with great ability, discretion and enterprise. It was through his efforts that the society had taken a new lease of life. In thanking the members for their presentation Mr. Taylor expressed appreciation of what Mr, Leyy had said, and assured. the members that he would continue to take a close interest in the doings of the society. He advised the society to continue its en-

deavours to secure more memoers aha large attendances at its meetings. The newly-appointed honorary | secretary, Mr. A. G. H. Laws, was then introduce ed to the meeting by Mr. Byron Brown. Mr. Laws said he would do his utmost to carry on the good work of his predecessor. . .