Interference Problem at Denniston

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 36, 20 March 1931, Page 7

Interference Problem at Denniston

Listeners Form Radio Society

LARGE meeting of radio enthusiasts was held at the Denniston Hall on Thursday evening, March 5. The chairman explained that the meeting had been convened at the request of licensed owners of sets and dealers. For some considerable time reception had been poor, due almost entirely to local interference, in the form of. howling, and to the effect of battery chargers being used during broadcasting hours. The purpose of this meeting was to, devise ways and means of relieving the position, to request the authorities that some regulations be framed to give local radio inspectors authority to examine sets when there was suspicion that they were the cause of interference. Were a society set up it would receive more recognition through its members than an individual responsible to the department. Some cortespondence was. read, showing there was no regulation to enable the local postmaster to deal with any offender. It was explained that there were 57 licensed radio set owners at Denniston and Burnett’s Face, who were paying an annual fee of 30/-, and that in the majority of cases the sets owned by these ran into from £40 to £90, and that of late it was common for all to forgo the use of their sets through local interference,

The Broadcasting Company was powerless to assist, as were the Postal authorities, owing to there being no legislation to assist them. Mr. W. Hanstock moved that a Radio Society be set up, this being seconded by Mr. W. Henderson and carried unanimously. The following were elected to the official positions :- Ohairman, Mr. J. Brownlie; secretary, Mr..*W. Hanstock; committee, Messrs. J. Adam, 8. Morrow, G. Ourry, H. Smith, V. Hanstock and Whitehouse, with the chairman and secretary. as exofficio members. Mr. Hugh Smith suggested that there were several present who were thoroughly qualified to examine sets -and by their findings be of considerable assistance to owners of sets whos _were not conversant with the technical side of radio, and he felt sure the latter would welcome advice and services. In many instances it would be found that those who were offending were doing so quite unconsciously. The meeting decided to appoint Messrs. H. Smith and V. Hanstock, who will, in company with the postmaster, call on all set owners on the Hill. It was decided that the secretary communicate with the PostmasterGeneral, through Mr. H. BH. Holland, M.P., and the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand Limited, requesting that legislation be enacted to deal with local interference of all de-

scriptions which handlosps radio reception, An effort is to be made for the es ‘ tablishing of one or more transmitting Stations on the Hill, The wisdom of this latter idea was shown in the Hawke's, Bay district during the disastrous earthquake recently, when it proved the only means of communication with the outside districts after the failure of the ordinary means of telegraphic communication. The society igs very much indebted to Mr, Curry, the local postmaster, for his attendance and information and willingness to assist in every possible manner as local radio inspector. In connection with the above the committee appointed at once set to work. In the first ten sets inspected one was found to be causing a great deal of interference. It was also found that two battery chargers were being used and the owners were requested to confine their use to outside broadcasting hours. A method-of preventing interference from the vibratory type of battery chargers was also suggested. The committee is inspeciing all the sets in the district.

From 4YA, Dunedin

Pioneers’ ight To be Relayed from Early Settlers’ Rall, Monday, March 23 2.30--S peeches & Music. 745-Conceri arrgd. by OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSN. On the occasion of 83rd Anniversary of

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