Radio Round the World

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 30, 7 February 1930, Page 34

Radio Round the World

SHORTWAVE messages transmitted by Major Court-Treatt, the famous British explorer, from a portable radio equipment in the wilds of Sudan, have been received as far afield as America. Though often eamped in some of the wildest and most remote part: of the Western Sudan, the explorer and his wife have been able to maintain communication with the Sudan Government wireless stations throughout their twelve months’ travels in the jungle, where they were making the British instructional film, "Stampede." Thus they were in regular touch with London, and on a number of occasions their transmissions, on a wavelength of approximately 30 metres, were heard at a distance of more than 5000 miles in Detroit, Michigan, and Boston. The wireless transmitter used was a specially designed set of extremely small’ power and weight, the power being supplied by turning the handle of a small generator, TPE aspirations of the long-distance listener ure certainly not being considered by the B.B.G. or any other European authority; on the other hand, ambitious schemes are afoot for the development of a European unetwork of relays not unlike those at present in operation in’ America. Broadcasting organisations on both sides of the Channel are now seriously considering the project for a new Anglo-Bel-gian cable which will embody the latest improvements in amplifiers and repeaters, A PORTABLE short-wave transmitter was used in a new role recently in an experiment conducted by the French "Office National de Tourisme" in an endeavour to stimulate public interest in touring. A representative of the organisation motored through several beautiful districts of "La Belle France," and at a prearranged time set his short-wave transmitter in operation, and broadcast an alluring account of the places he had visited. The transnuission was picked up on a receiver situated in a Paris suburb, and relayed to a broadcasting station nearby. ONE of the subjects to be discussed during the present session of the English House of Commons is the future of political broadcasting, for there is a widespread feeling that since the General lection the habit of broadcasting political views has been growing steadily, and some sort of a list of regulations should be prepared. Some critics say that the facilities for political broadcasts have been abused, but the B.B.C. recently sent out a state- ment saying that controversy, political and economic, will be admitted on

clearly defined occasions, with adequate safeguards for impartiality and equality of treatment, the subject being dealt with in such a way that the main opposing views can be presented, clearly contrasted and linked as closely as possible. However, the general opinion on the matter seems to be that the B.B.C. has been extraordinarily successful in maintaining a balance of impartiality und fairness in connection with all forms of controversial talks, although it is admitted that some definite rules for the guidance of the B.B.C. should be formed as a matter of course. "THE controversy concerning the moral obligation the B.B.C. is under to provide a high-power short-wave service for the convenience of England’s colonies is still continuing in Mngland. Certain sections of the Press are decidedly in favour of the adoption of such a policy, but another section of the Press, and a very large section of the public, maintain that the listeners’ money should not be spent on building a new short-wave broadcasting station when there is so much to be done about the regional scheme improvements and programmes, and other means of spending listeners’ money for the benefit of listeners in England. JN the United States it is comparatively rare that a station transmits on a power in the region of the maximum power permitted (that is, 50 kilowatts). Station KNX (Los Angeles, Jalifornia), belonging to the Western Broadcasting Company, has, however, been granted permission by the Federal Radio Commission to operate on this maximum power, the power previously having been only one-tenth of that amount, 5 kilowatts. When this station comes into operation on full power it will have a wave-length frequency of 1050 kilocycles (285.5 metres). K)FFORTS are being made to extend and popularise radio broadcasting services in India, and the Burma Legislative Council has recently allocated a large sum of money for installing receiving sets in a number of villages within a fairly large area surrounding =

OO — Rangoon. The broadcasting from the Rangoon station is carried on under rather a peculiar arrangement, the Burma Radio Syndicate making itself responsible for this service on a Cooperative basis. The wave-length of the Rangoon station is 398 metres (752 k.e.). HE percentage of the population who interest themselves in radio listening in Norway is still comparatively small, not. more than about 60,000 people out of a total population «f about 2,500,000 possessing radio receiving sets. In Sweden, on the other hand, the percentage is considerably higher, for out of a population of about 5,500,000 there are close upon 500,000 listeners. Incidentally, the Swedish listeners have the choice of some 30 broadcasting stations, HE French police are following closely the methods adopted by Scotland Yard in utilising radio as a means of crime detection. For this purpose it is proposed to erect a special police radio station in Paris, powerful enough to be used for communication with similar stations in England. The operators will also be in constant touch with the main ports'and frontier stations, as well as provincial police stations, so that the escape of criminals or suspected persons should be made virtually impossible. "THE popular fallacy that wireless affects the weather has been exploded by research work conducted ow ver was

— — along these lines by the French Academy of Sciences. The results ab-/{ tained endorse the statements o&€ 4’ Sauson, meteorologist of the Seine-et-Oise Department, who says: "The development of wireless broadcasting has produced absolutely no effect upon the climate of France during the past 20 years." So we must turn elsewhere to find a reason for the poor weather Wwe are experiencing this summer. ADIO "pirates" in India are shortly . to have the shock of their lives, according to the Calcutaa "Statesman," which reports that the Post Office is about to commence a campaign against the 10,000 persons in Calcutta alone who are known to be listening-in wWithout licenses. Hitherto, it is stated, the postal authorities have been hampered’ by doubts about the exact legal position. These, however, have been entirely removed as a result of a case in the Alipore Court in which a "pirate" of high social standing has been fined £10, or, in default, a month’s imprisonment. WO radio experimenters residing in adjoining houses in Manchester, England, have received a considerable amount of publicity with regard to their method of reproducing broadcast programmes by means of headphones not directly connected to the set. The inventors recently gave a demonstration in which two persons placed headphones over their ears, the cords being connected in series and the open’, ends held in the hands. A tinned y" copper strip was placed under the carpet, the means of connection to the set being described as peculiar to the invention, which is not yet fully protected. Reception at good headphone strength was obtained. A similar idea was demonstrated some years ago in London, and until further details are disclosed it will not be possible to pronounce as to the novelty or otherwise ‘of the invention. wy