Radio Digest (Oct 1923-July 1924)

RADIO DIGEST — Illustrated February 16, 1924 COMMERCIAL FIRMS CUT INTERFERENCE VOLUNTARILY AGREE TO QUIT 450 METERS Will Use Tube Instead of Spark, Representatives of Big Concerns Decide NEW YORK. — Radiophans in the East have been bothered since the start of /•casting by spark interference which v knowing' ones recognised but which blamed on youthful amateurs by millions of listeners. Then Uncle Sam de1 that the amateur-owned transmitters must stay off the air during broadng periods and the boys kept quiet. However, the interference still persisted; the dah-de-dah-de-dah continued to break up soprano solos and syncopated dance music. The complaints were so numerous that Radio Supervisor Batclrellor asked the big commercial companies to send representatives to a conference to talk things over. What Caused the Trouble For years the traffic between ship and shore stations was carried on at 300, 450 and 600 meters. With the arrival of broadcasting 300 meters was abandoned. Broadcasting was confined to 360 and 400 meters. Then the Department of Commerce extended the broadcasting range to above 500 meters, and interference between broadcasting and the commercial code traffic on 450 and 600 again caused trouble. One of the chief causes of trouble was the old spark transmitter in which a high voltage transformer caused a crashing blue spark to jump an air gap. To tune it sharply so that it could be heard only on a narrow band of wave lengths was practically impossible-; leaving it broadly tuned meant that it eould be heard over a range of one hundred meters. Commercial Companies Co-operate Since the companies had already begun the replacing of transmitters of the spark type with modern vacuum tube outfits it was decided to rush this work. Although continuous wave or interrupted continuous wave transmission would cause but little interference it was deemed advisable to carry on traffic at higher wave lengths. The meeting and resolutions were entirely voluntary and unofficial but it is likely that legislation will be made to adopt the rules voluntarily accepted by the commercial companies. • Radio Wire and a Dog Save Fan from Flames Swings Self and Pet to Safety on "Fire Escape" DETROIT. — A Radio wire and his dog recently saved the life of Julius Flath at Escanaba, Mich., from death in a fire which destroyed his home with a loss of $7,000. The dog awakened Flath, whose wife and children were visiting in Minneapolis, after the fire had gained considerable headway. He found every exit cut off by flames. Taking his dog under his arm he swung himself out on a Radio wire that hung near his window and slid down to safety. It is apparent Mr. Flath makes substantial outside Radio connections or otherwise would not have escaped so successfully. It might be well for others to follow his example, not necessarily as a means of fire escape but of preventing contact with high voltage electric wires. Husking Bee Gives Way to Radio Parties on Farm LONDON, OHIO. — The quilting party and husking bee of the nineteenth century has given way to the Radio party of the twentieth century in the homes of Madison county farmers. Instead of the hum of conversation which always accompanied the gathering of neighbors at the farm house in the days gone by, the casual observer now finds a death-like silence among the small groups which gather nightly around the Radio outfit. In a recent survey made by the United State Department of Agriculture Ohio farmers were found to be among the leaders in Radio activities. The advantage of getting up-to-date market reports and weather charts via the ether route has met with great favor and in addition the high-clas musical and entertainment programs have done much to remove the farm home from the isolated position that it once held. BUSH TERMINAL, WNY, REFORMS The Chatham stations of the Radio Corporation of America, WCC and WIM, are now using tube transmitters on 2300, 2200, 735 and 600 meters, far out of range of broadcasting. Bush Terminal, WNY, for months bugbear of Manhattan listeners, is now on good behavior operating on 600, 680 and 2,000 meters with tube transmitters. Shipowners Radio Service, The Inde pendent Wireless Telegraph Company and Tropical Radio Company also agreed to the suggestions made and will do everything possible to eliminate interference by their stations. It is declared by a representative of one of the companies that 75 percent of all ocean-going vessels are now using tubes on 1800 to 2500-meter wave lengths and that therefore broadcast fans should be experiencing little trouble. LONDON LECTURER TALKS FROM WOR i William Montgomery McGovern Tells Adventures on Trip Over Himalayas NEWARK, N. J.— Dr. William Montgomery McGovern, Ph.D. (Oxon), member of the Royal Geographical and Royal Asiatic Societies and lecturer at the University of London, at present on a tour of the United States, stopped off to broadcast from WOR recently a highly interesting travel talk describing an adventurous trip to Lhassa, over the Himalayan passes, 18,000 feet high. This trip was made by Dr. McGovern in January, 1923, at which time were taken the only motion pictures ever made in the Forbidden City. Unaided and even hampered by the British authorities, after much suffering and in peril of his life, he penetrated to Lhassa in disguise. Encounters Countless Difficulties Hourly vigilant of his every gesture and intonation of the difficult language, Dr. McGovern painfully trudged these cold, barren heights disguised as a, Tibetan coolie. His entire body was stained with walnut juice and iodine. The color of his eyes was camouflaged with lemon juice and glue. He nearly lost his life in the snowdrifts. His native companions continually gave trouble. Then, after entering the Forbidden City, he was confined for weeks by the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist Pontiff of Lhassa, in order to protect him from being torn to pieces by the fanatical monks. Industrial Adds Transmitters DETROIT. — The Michigan Alkali company, one of the largest manufacturing concerns here, is increasing its Radio equipment to facilitate handling ship-toshore communication on the Great Lakes. Seven 1,500-watt sets have been purchased foi this work. Type CR-14— A 3 tube dry cell Regenerative Re ceiver $11000 ('Accessories extra) Very Simple to Operate /tis* member of the family can tune in the Q/± delightful radio concerts from near and far when you own a dependable Broadcast Receiver Supplied in two types, each an Instrument of high efficiency, in a walnut cabinet that will add charm to any room. Hidden compartments accommodate all necessary dry batteries. Every detail of craftsmanship is an assurance of trustworthy performance. Ask your dealer for literature or write us A. H. GREBE & CO., Inc. RICHMOND HILL, N.Y. Licensed under Armstrong U. S. Pat. No. 1,113,149 Type CR-12 — 4 tubes. Combines Regeneration ^ _ nn andTnnedR.F. ?175H f Accessories extra) immmiiuiiuiiMiimiiiii^M ..