Editorial Notes

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 11, 23 September 1932, Page 4

Editorial Notes

Wellington, Friday, September 23, 1932.

‘THERE are parts of New Zealand where listening to other than the local station is an impossibility, due to interference caused by power leaks. Christchurch and Auckland appear to stiffer most and in the former, complaints have been made that‘in certain areas even 3YA is interfered with. The rectification of the trouble is essential if radio is to make rapid progress, but the great problem is where to start and who is to make that start. There are four parties concerned-those owning the offending apparatus, those who supply the programmes, the listeners, and the Post and Telegraph Department. a i) S FROM the viewpoint of those owning the apparatus, the situation is more or less satisfactory. They are concerned only in installing’ the apparatus which will fulfil their requirements, and whether or not it interferes with anyone else is not their concern. Certainly H.F. noise implies waste, but the suppression of noise would in many cases involve scrapping much valuable apparatus or installing expensive filters, and this involves capital expenditure. Capital is scarce just now. But this point of view is not altogether justifiable. Ifa band decides to practise when it will cause continual annoyance to even one neighbour, the law can be brought to

bear and the band shifted. Yet it is legal to instal apparatus that will interfere with hundreds of neighbours. Clearly legislation is called for in this respect, though the enormots expense to which local bodies for instance would be put may make the enforcing of such legislation difficult. The point is, however, that legislation could prevent the further installation of apparatus likely to cause trouble. It could be applied to apparatus entering the country in such a manner that. only the non-radiating type could pass. the Customs. An instance of new apparatus making the existing _situations much worse, is that of the trolley buses in Christchurch. These bus-trams, we understand, employ 600 volts which they derive from two overhead wires, the result being that sparking takes place between each trolley pole and the wire. The ordinary trams use lower voltage and have an earth return. It is stated by residents along the route that the buses can be heard from town till they reach their destination and that even 3YA is interfered with. Clearly this is a case where legislation should be brought to bear. % % % HE Broadcasting Board receives a major portion of license fees and its responsibility is to supply. the greatest number of listeners with a trouble free or class A programme. It is in its interests to eliminate the trouble as far as possible in order that it may get more listeners. We are assured that the Board will take active steps and it is understood that the committee recommended by the Coverage Commission to investigate interference is now in the process of formation, and that in the next week or so will be functioning. They will no doubt go thoroughly into the matter and make recommendations, and they may call together representatives from the affected parties. They may even organise machinery for the. location of interfering leaks, but of course the rectification is another matter to be achieved only by co-operation. Listeners can help materially. As users of electrical apparatus, ranging from vacuum cleaners to certain types of battery chargers, they can prevent radiation by the installation of proper filters. These in the case of smal! articles are not expensive and would have an appreciable effect on. their

a ~ own tadio. They can help, too, in the matter of definitely locating the troublesome apparatus and drawing the attention of the radio inspector to it. : L7] ur 4 THE Post and Telegraph Department is doing steady work on the problem and in some cities has had the noise suppressed to a considerable degree-Dunedin is a case in point. In others they have been less effective, due probably to. the

oa greater magnitude of the field of their operations. At the present it seems that little more can be done. The task is one primarily for the committee to report on and until its recommenda~tions is available, each listener can only go his quiet way doing all he can within his own sphere. That a definite policy will have to be adopted by the Government, who have the final word in matters such as this, is clearly evident.