Radio Progress During the Current Year

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 23, 20 December 1929, Unnumbered Page

Radio Progress During the Current Year

ITH the development of broadcasting the whole subject of radio has been made a fascinating one for millions of ‘people throughout the world. Experts are constantly experimenting and discovering how to apply new ideas to construction methods and equipment. Incidentally they have almost invented a new technical language, familiarising strange words-and deedsto peonle who. not so long ago, knew only: this of

electricity-that it "ran along wires." Perhaps the principal achievement of research workers in radio is, however, that they have put into the hands of non-technical people complicated and wonderful sets that are easy to control. The Radio Exhibition at Olympia was a witness to that achievement, and the recent Radin Show held in Manches-

-ter gave further proof of it. ; ; Helped by the latest gadgets the listener can, trouble or mistake, tune in to the station whose programme he has promised to produce. The trend is toward one-knob .control. Some of _the powerful sets, having ranges equal to the old type of five and six valve sets of eighteen or twelve months ago, are so simple that it is not straining the truth to say that a child can tune in ‘to a number of stations. Another feature of modern wireless is the increased use of electricity mains as a source of power for receiving sets. A year ago development in this direction was forecast, and now attachments can safely be made to the ordinary wall plug or electric light socket. It will often be noted that the eliminator is built into the set, providing a compact unit in all, with only three outside wires, the aerial, earth, and the connection to the mains -a contrast to the tangle of wires in old-time sets. The allelectrical wireless set takes its place with other domestic electrical apparatus, | ‘ It is not every house,. however, that has electricity, and the needs of the multitudes of battery users have not been ignored. Many of the manufacturers have alternative models for~"mains and battery operation. Conversion may be achieved by taking out the batteries and using an eliminator. Receivers that are not quite up to date are enabled to work from the mains by means of eliminators.

There are far more’ varieties of portable sets on the market now than last year. When first introduced these sets were designed chiefly for outdoor pleasures and were enclosed in large-sized dispatch cases, but the manufacturers to-day place them in cabinets to match house decorations and in other guises, such as dummy books bound: in leather, and handsome suitcases. « Owing to their convenience they have become very popular in the home. "She shall have music wherever she goes" is becom-

Ing tne reirain or the modern housewife... The transportable sets are robust and attractive in appearance, good for use in the home, and not too heavy or bulky to take out in a car or to figure as a contribution at-a_ picnic. Compactness is fully demonstrated in the layout. It is claimed for these sets that while the running cost is very low, their efficiency is amaz-

. ing. inis 18 propaply aue iil most cases to the incorporation of one or more stages of screen grid high frequency amplification. Careful valve design has resulted in improved results, and many manufacturers are now producing a wide range of A.C. valves for adapting battery sets to the mains. The moving coil type of loudspeaker is still in the front rank position for faithful reproduction, and improvements in the designs of cone speakers, such as the double cone and balanced armature units, have produced an instrument which, to the ordinary ear, gives excellent results, Numbers of receiving sets are now fitted with plugging attachments for the reproduction of gramophone music. The extension of radio gramophones and the perfecting of internal appliances and simplification of control is, in fact, a notable develanment of the year. Some of the cabinet radio gramophones are entirely operated from the mains. Radiovision is opening up another field of inquiry and investigation, and radiovision receivers offer a new hobby for the advanced experimenter. When. the advances in the last few years of radio telephony are considered the possibilities of this new development can scarcely be visualised. Though at present only an experimental stage has been reached, yet progress is sufficiently far advanced to permit of the statement that a fresh era in broadcasting entertainment and education is commencing.

PITTI TTT EEL LUG Since the invention of radio, development in all branches of this science has proceeded steadily, and, in latter years, with increasing speed. Perhaps the most outstanding year in regard to the amount of progress achieved is the current one. It is highly probable that in the near future broadcasting will, for all practical purposes, reach its final stage of perfection; and the world will accept without question the incursion of radio into many branches of everyday life. > — TORULLELEEPEEL EE LECEEE CLLR LOCO LUE EEE LL HEEL bg SUTTER TELE LTLE