Valuable Hints

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 34, 7 March 1930, Page 31

Valuable Hints

Loose-coupled Aérials, WHEN operating . short-wave set it will be found that yniess the aerial is really loosely coupled by means of a very small coil, 4 very silinil neutralising condenser, or a few turns of the grid-circuit coil, it will be im possible to obtain smooth oscillatitn, and the sensitivity of the set will be destroyed. Particular attention should be paid to this, as once the importance of correct aerial coupling is realised a few moments spent in experiment will prove that there is a harvest of’ stations awaiting the operator who knows how to search for them. Heating Soldering Iions. A GAS fire is better for heating sole dering irons than a cowl fire. becayse it is cleaner. One of the rings on a houséhold gas stove is a very cbnvenient thing for heating soldering irons. But watch the iron earefuliy, us otherwise it will be raised up to a red heat. This will cause the surfiee of the bit to become oxidised and this will militate against its proper tinning. A good indication for correct heat is | to watch for a blue flicker in the flame over the bit. When this appears, remove the iron, wipe the end quickly with a thick wad of rag and thes "tin" it in the usual way.