Radio Interference

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 10, 18 September 1931, Page 12

Radio Interference

Trouble in Hawke’s Bay Wits the increase in the number of powerful sets, complaints regarding interference from power lines and

other electrical apparatus are becom ing frequent. Power boards, tramway authorities, and other bodies are constantly being asked to do something to rectify faulty lines and apparatus. At a meeting of the Central Hawke’s Bay -Hiectrie Power Board held recently considerable amount of time was spent discussing the question. The matter wis introduced by a. petition signed by twenty-eight owners of wireléss sets. The petition read: "We, .the undersigned wireless license-holders, do hereby demand that the Central Hawke’s Bay Power Board remedy all faulty switches and wiring in this district, as these are causing great inconvenience with power leaks and interruptions." The chairman of the board, Mr. A. C. Russell, expressed the opinion, based upon experience in Wellington, that many of the interruptions were due to the owners of the wireless sets béing unacquainted with wireless. Faults may lie more with the owners than © with the leaky power line, although it was possible to trace a leak to a transformer. Whilst in Wellington, the chairman had made arrangements for a complete report of power interruptions. "Very few radio enthusiasts," he said, "know how. to manipulate their wireless sets, and they are continually cutting the waves." Harthing was a great factor, but it was seldom carried out properly. Moreover, if a wireless set was turned on gradually there was practically no. trouble. Mr. Russell said that he thought radio proprietors should have inspectors, whose job it would be to teach wireless. enthusiasts how to manipulate their sets properly. Mr. R. R. Fraser disagreed with the chairman’s arguments, considering¥ them weak. It was ridiculous to sug-/ gest the power leaks did not interrupt reception. It was an casy matter to blame the radio owners for the installation of the machine. "If your radio expert does not think that a leaky power line can ‘interfere with radio, then he knows nothing about it," The board engineer stated that at an executive meeting held recently various wireless regulations were discussed, and most of them were thrown out as useless. An expert had stated that, if the capacity of 2YA were increased, practically all the power interference would be eliminated, as was now. the case in Wellington, where the strength of that station was great enough to overcome the interfererice. He added that he did not think it would be a fair proposition to ask the board to go te the expense of scrapping material and installing new apparatus when the trouble was a common experierice everywhere. Filters were very costly. . The secretary remarked that the trouble had occurred in Canterbury, where thorough investigation liad been made. It was found that 90 per cent. of the interference was not caused by the Power Board apparatus. Under the Broadcasting Act, inspectors were appointed to invesigate the trouble, but they had not come to Waipukurau. It was agreed that the Power Board was not justified in spending its money in sending out inspectors at night to . investigate the trouble. He moved a } motion that the radio license-holders ’ concerned be advised that the board was dealing with faults as they ocCurred, and that if petitioners so desired they could meet the board officials to discuss the matter with a view to seeing what could be done.