Radio Round the World

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 27, 15 January 1932, Unnumbered Page

Radio Round the World

'FAWN advance of 43 -per cent.-in. the number of receiving licenses issued in Canada during 1930, as compared ' with 1929, is reported by the Canadian Bureau of Statistics. The 1930: total amounted to 559,116. oe tat a * s "THE League of Nations is going full speed ahead with the construction ‘of its own short-wave station at Pran- . gins, near. Nyon, Switzerland. "RadioNations," as the station is to be called, will have six 130ft. pylons arranged for yeam transmission. * * * TA LISTENER in the Argentine wrote to the B.B.C.:-"‘Just at the in-, stant that Big Ben (Westminster) announced miduvight in London my clock announced 8 o’clock in Ensenda. This evidence of Big Ben’s accuracy may interest you." ; r Ba * wN GERMAN ex-convict has been entertaining readers of a European ‘contemporary With an account of how gaol-birds enjoy broadcast programmes without the knowledge of the authorities. Miniature sets, he declares, are obtainable in most prisons, the hiring fees ranging froma quarter of a packet of tobacco for a valve set to half that amount for a crystal. There is no demand for earphones, as these would be easily detected and the wearer would

get a week or a fortnight on "bread and. water." A single earpiece suffices, as it can easily be held in the palm of the hand. . The bars of the cell usually provide a good enough "aerial," while nearly every cell contains a waterpipe which serves as an earth. All of which goes to explain why the German convict "gains his freedom with a sigh." bd * ca SWEEPING reallocation of American commercial and experimental wavelengths will take effect on February 3 next by order of the Federal Radio Commission. In general, the order puts into effect the new so-called "tolerancies,"’ or separations between channels, of one-tenth of one per cent., in lieu of the old standard of two-tenths of one per cent. In effect, it practically

doubles the number of available frequencies, increasing the number of channels between 10 kilocycles and 28,000 kilocycles from 1814 to 3025. Broadcasting stations are not affected. * * ® THE aggravation of interference on the broadcast. band in Europe has led to renewed interest in the stenode principle of reception. In a recent interview, Mr. Noel Ashbridge, chief engineer of the B.B.C., said that "a set designed to cut out all the interference of the type now ‘being experienced

SOD SRO 1 ED RS would have a complete ‘cut-off’? at about 3800 cycles," entailing great sacrifices in quality. Dr. James Robinson, who developed the Stenode, in a letter of reply to the press, pointed out that with the principles utilised in this type of receiver "it is possible to accommodate all European stations in the available waveband and still allow first-class quality production." "IKLANK EN BEELD" (sound and Picture) exhibition which is scheduled to take place at Amsterdam in May next will be run on international lines and will embrace the closely associated fields of radio, gramophones, television, film production and photography. The presentation under one roof of all the products of these important modern industries is expected to result in a very substantial show. RECENTLY the British Broadcasting Corporation began experimental local transmission on a wayel.ngth of seven metres. The Telefunken Company in Germany are also doing the same thing, for it has been realised in both countries that there are many possibilities in ultra-shortwave wireless. .The B-B.C.’s effort will be purely experimental for the time being, but possibly as a.result of these experiments a good many of the existing problems due to interference will be cleared away. In a recent interview,

Mr. Noel Ashbridge, chief engineer of ‘the B.B.C4 pointed out that if these experiments proved Successful there is « chance that a seven-metre broadcast ing system could be sed as an aux¥P iary to the Regional Scheme. "The ungle of the ray is limited to a few miles," said Mr.. Ashbridge,. "and comparatiyely small power is required, but the transmitter has to be-placed at as high a point as possible, . The waves are then sprayed over the’ surrounding district." The fact that’ the waves

completely. disappear ‘and ‘are not reflected: back to earth,.as-is the case with long waves, makesit pdssible to use any’ number of-staticixs without the chance of their interfering with éach other.-~ ~ : u3 aot ° 2 ON July-1, 1931, there were 8,719,594 licensed listeners: in Germany, or 494,650 more than on July 1, 1930, Included in the total are "168,560 ) war cripples, -blind or unemployed, péeysons, and ethers; who are given freé, : ses. (GERMAN listeners are feeling the strain of having to pay ttl eir license fees quarterly, instead of once a month, as formerly. Over three hundred. Germans have recently gone. to. prison through inability to meet the démands’ of the Reichpost. 2 g HE League of Nations has recéived a request for a general stoppage vf all broadcasting during a period of five or six weeks in order to determine whether wireless is responsible for the prevailing wet weather. The signatory to this demand suggests that a "competent commission" would examine the climatic conditions during this téniporary lull and publish a report whicn would either condemn or acquit the radio waves. 2 * * HE Danish Board of Broadcasting has decided to engage five "radio inspectors," whose duty will be to trace interference. with radio receivers caused by electric motors and other electrical machinery. They will also instruct users of sets how to adjust. them without oscillating. Listeners themselves can call-in the aid of the inspectors to traek down the sources of interference, but they must make a small deposit, which will be forfeit if the complaint proves to be unfounded. Moreover, the complainant will be required to participate in the expense incurred in installing apparatus to overcome She interference. ® * a HE "Daily Mail’ (London) states the biggest drive yet undertaken by the United States to secure the wireless trade of Great Britain has begun, and that American travellers are going the rounds of wholesalers and retailers throughout the country. In one day recently three representatives of different United States radio firms called at one of the larger London stores,

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