1927 Radio Seventh district notes
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Page 32 “RADIO” January 19, 1927,
L TR E DT h b O Db LS L YD LN EEESa L 0L DL DAY L O L O s O e LE S E Lo I N LI B U R I NI I N0 0L 000 E R T L0 RO RS R AN TS 08000 EE eI IRTN D030 AR U A S LR e N R R e R AT DR ENOR 601 EERER LIS PN E R PO IR IR IS IR OEEEOOEE
in 4WN knows that Austria is O not called upon to say a few words each, to be able to get hold of good metal
T.E. as 2YB has it. Again M is usually which they accordingly did. which is necessary for your slop jars.
associated with Mexico; but 2YB says Around eleven-thirty p.m. the meeting _ The TLA-TRS combination spent the last
no, its Mosul. Are they quite sure it's terminated, after which the Motorcycle week-end blowing up all the condensers
not Mohammed? section lined up outside in anticipation of they could find. First of all, the plate
Any QSLs or other communications a becoming and graceful start, but N.D. blocking condenser went, then the grid
for the club may be addressed to the Two of the ’busses wouldn’t perk, and condenser, and finally, the filter conden-
Assistant Hon. Secretary, Mr. H. Ste- when they eventually did one of them sers got tired of doing their job, and
phenson (4RG) Thorold Street, Wooloo- had a little trouble which was sub- noisily gave up the ghost. This afore-
win, Brisbane, Q. sequently eliminated—but by then the said combination also tried a Zeppelin
(A full list of intermediates will be others had disappeared. So endeth the nerial during the said week-end, so that
found in this issue.—Ed.) meetings of 1926. they seem to have been rather busy on
The Hon. Treasurer and Op. (ham the whole.
TOOMBUL RADIO CLUB—A-4TC. name 4AW) has constructed two weird 7BT has been quietly active in the con-
LOT has happened in Brisbane since machines, mostly small choke coils. One structional line recently and rumors of
the end of November, notably of these is a transmitter and the other something extra special in the way of
being falls of H20 (which hams a receiver, which works on 4.78 metres or wave meters have been floating around
use for grid leaks, electrolyte, and tea- so. The transmitter puts out a steady for some time. I understand that it is
making), several holiday accidents and signal, and we’ll most likely hear more to be a most elaborate affair, all bur-
a few million kilowatt hours of QRN. of his exploits later. ) nished aluminium, etc., just like those
The said QRN drives hams outside, the Some time ago the noble secretary of Schnell ones made for the Burgess Bat-
rain drives them in again; and, while the elub sat for his A.Q0.P.C., which exam. tery Co. 7TMK'’s efforts have so far not
dodging these two formidable obstacles, he passed successfully, and is now on been attended with any success as far
they presumably meet with the above- the air under the call of 4NW, and has as QSO with anyone is concerned, but
mentioned accidents. I hope to have the pleasure of report-
worked jolly near all the world on 34
During December, 4TC’s beloved pre- ing his first QSO very soon now. He
metres or so. 4NW is now the third
sident was compelled to hand in his is rather handicapped in the way of
active A.0.P.C. holder in the Club. The
resignation, which in due cqourse we power supply, having to depend on the
Club meets Tuesday evenings at the
accepted somewhat regretfully, and it lasting powers of a Ford accumulator
residence of 4AW, cr. Eton Street and
was decided to leave the vacant position which feeds his Lizzie transformer. By
Sandgate Road, Nundah. All hams and
open until the third annual meeting, the way, since that article came out in
visitors welcome,
“QST” about the choking properties of
which will be held in February or March.
SEVENTH DISTRICT NOTES the all-useful Lizzie coil, we understand
The members of the club acquired a
BQ reports having been QSO U2-
that the price of second-hand Fords
little knowledge when they discovered
in Launceston has jumped 100 per cent.
the astonishing fact that if one promises CUQ, who lives in the heart of
or so. A little while ago it was the
someone else a good “blow-out,” “feed,” New York. He was QSO for over
easiest thing in the world to get a
or, as more formally quoted, “breaking- an hour and a half, not just trying to get
second hand Henry for the askinz and
up dinner,” the said someone will punctu- through QRN or QRM, but solid rag-
with the aid of a tin opener abstract
ally arrive to share in the said dinner. chewing. That’s the stuff to give, ’em,
the coil, but now if one wants a modn-
Well, it came to pass that on the shori- om. Such QSOs do a tremendous lot to
lation transformer, speech choke, filter
est night of the longest day of the now promote those radio friendships we hear
choke, or power supply unit one has to
extinet year 1926 (December 21st), the s0 much about, and are naturally much
buy the darn thing.
members of 4TC assembled at the club- more satisfactory than the “nil hr cul
73’s” sort. Between these two stations 7PF has not been on the ether for
rooms to commemorate the conclusion
a regular schedule has been arranged very many moons now; come on, Phil,
of a successful year. Some walked light that tube up and punch out some
there, some came on push-bikes, while for each Wednesday evening, so that
some experimental work can be carried sigs.
others arrived in automobiles, but quite
out. Len was heard the other morning Did anyone see the one stage short
a number turned u;; astride their t-rusty
at 4 ogso with a Frenchman and an Eng- wave R.F. amplifier described in the
motoreycles.
lishman. FB, om. Early in the New November issue of “QST”? 7PF was
When. they were all seated, the cake
Year Len was searching the ether for heard betting a certain ham a perfectly
was cut, the “hootch” was opened, and
DX and was fortunate enough to re- good 201A that 7CS would be the first
everything was handed round in right
ceive the whole of the new intermedi- in Launceston to try it out. Well, 7CS
royal style—then, well, the rest can be ates from America, which came into now wants that 201A, as he has pulled
left for the imagination. As the clock operation from the first of this month; his Schnell to pieces again and has
crept around, the members (B.C.L’s. and another fine piece of work, Len, om. Like built up that receiver described in
hams) gradually ceased to eat (No, not 7CS, 7BQ is one of those 7% watter “QST.” What is more, she perks beau-
to go to sleep—but to make speeches). chaps who seem to get the absolute tifully, and he says it will never be
o
The chairman said he hoped the atten- maximum out of their gear, and has been altered. For the benefit of those wish-
dance would always be as large as it getting excellent reports all over the ing to try it out I am giving a circuit
was that night. and of course everyone place lately. 7AS has now left our of it, also the values of the coils and
hopes that will be so. When the chair- midst, and gone to reside at Hobart. He condensers that are in use by 7CS.
man had spoken on several interesting has been appointed assistant chemist at 7CS says the set is the best he has
subjects, a number of members were the zine works there. Say, Gill, vou ought ever tried, all the Yank stations coming
ey
January 19, 1927. “RADIO?” Page 33
ORI TR T R LTI SN N T LS LTS RS AR LS00 RO N R IO U R IR ANO N T R R IS BN R B BB T BN B U R U NS U NN S NN S BB NTNE RN CAR EA OISR S NNT LRI O AN R R U NIRRT NSRRI AN TR R RN ET TS
in on the loud speaker with one stage of
L.F., none of them being under R7 on
CALLS HEARD
the phones. 7CS was heard QSO By T. H. Harris, Enfield, N.S.W.
P1AB (T.S.F. en Portugal, Lisbon, Por-
tugal) last week, his sigs. being repor-
ted R5 with D.C. QSB. ENGLAND. FOCTN .. . R5-6 82
The only representative of the south Station. Strength. Q.R.H. FS8RBP .- R3-4 33
G2CC .. R4-6 . 43% BELGIUM.
that has been doing much lately is TCW. G2NM .
GI2IT ....
He was heard recently at some unearth- G2XY
G2SZ
ly hour the other morning QSO with 72VL
3BQ. G2SA
TCW was very loud here, but G2NH
that is only to be expected owing to
the geographical position of his station
from ours. I understand that he is now
using crystal control.
Experiments with microphone and
hydrophone are being carried out by the
British Broadcasting Company with a
view to entertaining its listeners with
novelty broadcasts from undersea. It
is intended that those listeners inter-
ested shall be initiated into the art of
distinguishing from a distance the
sounds made by approaching vessels of
various types.
Australian Distributors:
LOUIS COEN PTY. LTD,,
260 Flinders) Lane, Melbourne. O
’lfl,,' RN
Lot
Carried in stock and distributed in <
New South Wales by
MANUFACTURERS PRODUCTS
Pty. Limited,
Challis House, Sydney.
Page 26 “RADIO?” March 16, 1927.
TR RR R TEg I SL i RO IR RO LR ORI R RN R RN SRRR RO R R RO O O RO RO ORI TR IR AO R RN 0T
7th DISTRICT NOTLES learn anything which may result from been getting up at 3 a.m. for the past
it. The science of radio communication five weeks every Monday morning. CW
ES, thanks, gang, I enjoyed my holi- has reached such a standard to-day that had the misfortune to have his 50 watter
day amongst the Southern hams very the mere fact that one has been QSO “hit the hay” and had to resort to his
much, and am now back again in Timbuctoo is in itself nothing. What UX210 to do its work. He still gets just
harness. TRB Rudolph Buring is now really counts is the real experimental as good signal strength with it as he
located at the Electrolytic Zinc works, at work such as 7DX is doing. did with his 50 watter. I understand he
Risdon, and is finding that he has little was QSO Germany during last week-end.
spare time for radio. I understand that Unfortunately, it is not given to all of
THL, Hubert Lovett, who recently passed
the job of looking after the amps and us to have the experience and ability he
through the Marconi School in Sydney,
volts in the sub-station makes him so possesses, but we all can do our little is back again in Hobart and is to sit for
sick of the sight of a watt that he has bit to help, and should do it, instead of his first-class operator’s certificate soon.
not the heart to generate them in his making DX a little tin god as 7PF says.
During my visit to Hobart, THL invited
_transmitter when he goes home. DX 70M, Bob O’May, is not very often on
me up to his shack, but somehow or
other we did not arrive there, HL was
trying out different kinds of rectifier
solution as was also CS. 7PF’s. new
2000 volt generator has arrived from
England and so has something else, but
I will tell you about that later on.
Phil. is working at very high pressure
putting up a huge switchboard and also
laying the plates, ete., for the motor
and generator, and soon hopes to tear
up some huge holes in the ether or else
blow up a few more blocking condensers.
He had 7CS down on his benders the
other evening screwing up nuts while
PF was under the shack grunting and
pushing up the bolts. TMK has announc-
ed his intention of rebuilding his trans-
mitter and hopes to do wonders. Before
I forget it, MK has a real motor bike
of his own. 7MK tells me he will offer
a reward to any ham who can tell him
how to make his accumulator battery
AT LA PEROUSE.—The receiver shown in this picture was the actual one which was used last two weeks on one charge when using
in connection with the recent long-distance communication test with the steamer “Jervid same on his Lizzie coil for the plate
Bay.” W hile anchored in the dock at London the ship established communication with the supply to his transmitter. We are
station built by Amalgamated Wireless (A’sia) Ltd. shortly to have a singer in our insti-
tute. He should be a great acquisition
has gone through a process of complete the air these days; he is having great on club nights. 7BQ is the only one of
re-organisation in the shack, and now trouble with the QRM in the shape of the whole lot who is at all active now,
has the gear arranged so that you would a YL and cannot find time for both. and he spends most of his time on the
not know the old place. He is doing some TCW’s departure from the realm of Bel- 200 metre set with an occasional QSO
fine work with a split Colpitts arrange- lerive has left 7TOM in the sole posses- with America, just to keep his hand in.
ment and a Hertz aerial, and recently sion of the ether east of the Derwent, at Last week he had rather a curious ex-
completed a series of exhaustive tests least so far as transmitting is concerned; perience. Some months ago he reported
to investigate the possible effect of the but not for long, as I understand that by card to NU9AKM that he had heard
different phases of the moon on radio one of the Hobart Radio Research Club’s the American’s signals. He gave hima
reception. The amount of work was committeemen is shortly going for his report on them and expressed the hope
considerable, entailing as it did many A.O.P. certificate and he is also a resi- that they would soon connect. From this
nights of listening and noting the dent of 0O.M’s. particular little bit of a friendship sprang up, and the two have
weather conditions, signal strengths of ether. 7CW 1is doing very good work carried on a correspondence ever since,
various stations, ete., and the comparison on his crystal controlled transmitter. but somehow have never heard each
of the various items so collected. Work During my visit to Hobart I persuaded other’s signals again. This went on for
of this kind is true experimenting, and him to rise early on the Monday morning. some months until last week the hoped
we could wish that there were more of with the result that he was able to work for QSO took place. It is queer to think
our stations engaged on this important two-way fone with 5NJ in Ireland. Mind of these two, probably both of them on
phase of radio. Too often the sole ob- vou, I take half the praise of this for the air constantly during this time,
ject of some station owners seems to be myself, in being able to persuade CW never having connected wuntil chance
the eternal working of DX just for it- to get up early and it was no mean feat threw them into each other’s way again.
self, without any attempt being made to to do it, either. Anyhow, I think he has Of our two oldest hams (oldest by ex-
March 16, 1927. “RADIO?” Page 27
OT I SR RO A RS TSR AT AN AT ST IORN P EDRTAIOTRRTRORESVIOV LATRATTRURSIAIRTI REENeS
Short Waves from Queensland
perience and not by any means by years)
7AB and 7BT, I have nothing to report.
7TAB is apparently going to go out of the
transmitting game altogether, he being By Bananalander
too busy with his BCL work, and 7BT
being closed down owing to QRM from T will be remembered that in this sec- admitting that our attempts at com-
studies. The 7LA-TRS combination is tion of last issue, reference was munication at ultra-short wavelengths
also QRT for a while, having blown all made to the recent North Queens- have, up to the present, been rather dis-
the bottles, but I believe will soon be land cyelone, which did such tremendous couraging, I feel that most of us are
on the air again with a crystal control. damage to several northern towns, and not heading in the right direction.
Ron., the junior op., is now the proud to the regrettable absence of amateur
possessor of a crystal presented to him We do not expect to receive 35-metre
stations with the aid of which many of
by 7CW, and I suppose ere these notes signals over great distances without
the communication problems could have
appear in print, will be in full going some sort of collecting medium at the
been overcome.
order. At one time this little city of receiving end, not to mention a good
Launceston could boast of no less than By a strange coincidence, the need for radiating system at the transmitting
eight active transmitters, but owing to amateur assistance did arise two days end. Why, then, should we hope for
removals and various other causes, there after the notes for last issue were writ- success with shorter waves when we
are now only four whose signals may ten, and, as might have been expected, provide aerial systems which are, to say
be heard on the Launceston ether, and short-wave amateur radio was not found the least, extremely crude? No; it seems
incidentally elsewhere. wanting. Few particulars are available to me that our first endeavour should be
at present, as the full story of the work to find out more about the type of aerial
Stop Press. has not, so far, been made public by the required for five-metfre sets, and, second-
Just as I am typing these notes, 7PF authorities. Sufficient to say at this ly, to ensure that the energy from our
rushed in to tell me the news that a stage, however, that for the first time, transmitter really is going into the
junior op. had signed on at his station. it is believed, in the history of Austra- aerial system; conversely, that the ener-
Congratulations, OM, from the Tasman- lian amateur radio, amateurs co-operated gy induced in our receiving aerial finds
ian gang. with the Government in the emergency its way safely into the receiver. When
handling of important telegraphic busi- we are reasonably sure that our trans-
SOME QRA’S. ness, While sincerely regretting the mitters are making some sort of disturb--
disastrous visitation which rendered such ance in the ether, the time will be ripe
relief work necessary, we cannot help for extensive test periods—not only
but feel glad that amateur radio at last with stations in the same city or even
Sent by Mr. C. Harrisson, Rokeby the same country, but with stations at
has been given a chance of proving to
Road, Bellerive, Tasmana:—
the general public that it can play a our antipodes. Many writers have ex-
EB-4RS.—R. Pirotte, 10 Rue du Parce,
part of real usefulness in times of emer- pressed their belief that, while five-metre
Verviers, Belgium.
geney. radio waves probably will be useless for
OD-PK9.—Moree, Nakoelweg, 89, Ban- communication over relatively short dis-
doeng, Java. Five-Metre Work. tances, it is entirely possible that ex-
GES.—Reeve, W. T. Section, 84 Squadron From 4AW comes the news that, with periments conducted over very large dis-
R.A.F., Shaibah, Iraq. the assistance of 4WE, he has managed tances will be attended with success. It
CB-F2.— Robert, Kinshasa, Belgium is well worth while, therefore, to work
to receive the five-metre signals from
Congo. . 4AW at a distance of two miles. Un- with this idea in mind.
EF-8KU.—Paul Tabey, 1 Place de I’Ab- doubtedly ‘this is the best distance cov-
ondance, Lyon, Rhone), France. “Chain Letters” and Fools.
ered by a five-metre set so far in the
AT-3AA—K. Kasahara, 880 Tennoji- Fourth District, and Walz and Vining
In a letter addressed to “Banana-
Cho, Osaka, Japan. lander,” Cliff. Gold, of 4BD, waxes
deserve credit for their untiring energy
ES-2C0.—Laka Santahamina, Helsinki, five-metre righteously indignant over a so-called
and enthusiasm. 4AW’s
Suomi, Japan. “chain letter” which was sent to him
transmitter is coupled to a half-wave
EF-8KU.—Would welcome reports on his by some mentally defective person in
Hertzian oscillator, but the receiver—
signals (old call, EF-8TBY). Adelaide. (No reflection on the “Fives”;
carted about the countryside by means
we realize they’re not all like that).
of a dangerous brute of a motor cycle—
operates with no aerial. In daylight, Here is a copy of the effusion, Read,
A JAP. STATION. the signal strengths obtained were:— mark, and inwardly digest:
R4/5 at a distance of one half mile; “Dear Mr. Cliff. Gold, 4CG.
We are advised by JKZB thati he The end-
R3 at one mile, and R2 at two miles.
transmits on 20 metres and 5 metres less chain of good luck has been sent to
In these days of world-wide commu-
(500 watts input), as follows:— me, and I am sending it on to you. The
nication, two miles may seem a very in-
chain must not be broken or bad luck
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from significant distance, but it must be re-
will follow.
8.00 G.M.T., to 1300 G.M.T. JKZB membered that those few experimenters
claims to be the only active official who are at present engaged on five- “Copy this out and send it to four
licensed experimental station in Japan. metre research work, are really pioneers persons you wish to have good luck; but
QRA is Tokyo Electrical Company Ltd,, and, for the most part, they are working you must post it before twenty-four
Kawasaki, Japan. Wants QSL’s. almost entirely in the dark. While freely hours.
Page 30 “RADIO” April 13, 1927.
BRSNS RA RN E IO IO NIRRT RN RO NSs ROR OANERELOEERRENEN OO TN NNRORONN e NIRRT OTRNERS RNtaOnIR aRarIRanaANINetNIRe PRI RaNNOIEOOtEauEanntansaterisusiatsainaensuneausnunEstesiosnastisanisntiessisiereanisasseny
The Southern Suburban Radio Club QRA: De Groot, Telallegah West, from the seaside, but understand that
has seven licensed operators in 5DA, NR56, Bandoeng, Java. he is covered with frost bite and scarred
5DP, 5HS, 5KW, 5RG, 5WH and Reg. SEVENTH DISTRICT NOTES. with the force of the elements owing
M. Anthony, who is anxiously waiting for to the severe weather he experienced. I
his call to arrive. Hi! UR receiver expert, 7CS, who works
don’t wonder at the frost bite,
Ole man Stork recently visited the on the slogan “Will try anything
once,” having tried practically It’s been so cold here that the fila-
home of Jim Rowling, Hon. Sec., 5SE,
every known short wave receiver under ment of my UC210 wouldn’t light until
and left 8 lbs. of QRM and its an om., I had put 16 volts cn it. 7TMK has been
too! Congrats, O.B., and may it be a the sun, has suddenly discovered
reported by OA6SA as being received
good op. later on—or printer. Hi! another, and is hot upon the work of
QRK VY with a steady 500 cycle note.
building it up. The latest one is the 30
SIXTH DISTRICT NOTES. F.B.,, O.M,, the first report from the
metre Browning Drake receiver, which,
" By “Audio.” if it is anything like the long wave set West, I understand. “COOP” is using
6KX reports a slight activity on 90 a Lizzie coil as his plate supply, his in-
of the same name, should outdo all the
metres in the Eastern States. He heard put being about 4 watts. One report he
rest of the ham’s sets. He has also re-
received recently was pure D.C. with a
2AB and 3SA and worked 3XF. F.B, ceived a report that his signals have
o.m., things are getting lively again. been EG at R7. I notice in February note like a generator supply, Hi! 7PF
has received per 7DX a card from NU-
The Subiaco Radio Club, 6SB, is testing “QST” that the said 7Cs had a little
on phone on 95 metres, and would ap- caricature all of his own. It is rumored 3CK for TAB requesting confirmation of
preciate reports from any station hear- on perfectly good authority that one a QSO which took place in May last.
ing tests. of our best known hams, after partaking Why don’t you keep up your correspon-
6VP, the Victoria Park Club, is also of some cider of home brew at one of his dence, bcy? Last notes I was complain-
carrying out extensive tests on tele- fellow ham’s shacks, began playing ing that news from the southern end of
phony, and during the last week modu- noughts and crosses on the latter’s back the island was like oscillations in a burnt
lation has been pretty good, although with a piece of chalk. The last men- out tube, but not so this time; 7DX has
the QSB could be a little better. tioned retaliated by visiting the former written a few lines (9 pages, hi!).
The T. and R. section has not lost apparently while still under the influ- 7TDX says he has been having some
any of its enthusiasm since the section ence of cider, and blowing two tubes in fun with a five-metre receiver, and says
was formed. No. 2 test was most suc- his receiver. It was discovered, when that induction from the D.C. trams about
cessful, and reports are still coming in too late, that the tubes belonged to the a quarter of a mile away caused him a
from country distriets. owner of the cider. ' heap of trouble, and, having got that
The test was telephony transmitted I understand that 7BQ is giving up filtered out, he now finds that the arcs
on 90 metres by 14 or 15 different sta- the ham game and is taking to selling from the centre gear of the same trams
tions at different times. 6AG commene- matches. At least this is what I was require filtering also. Gee! It has
ed the test by reading out the objects led to believe when I saw the tremen- come to a pretty pass when one wants
of the test and giving the correct time. dous stock of matches which adorns one a separate filter for each class of inter-
6AG has installed crystal control for his corner of his shack. It appears that ference. Great excitement was mani-
telephony on 90 metres, and has had he gets a free box of matches with every fest when the said receiver produced
good reports from Eastern States lis- packet of cigarettes that he buys, and some sort 'of a signal out of the ether
teners and also from Borneo. The crys- as the matches last longer than the one evening. The transmitter was ap-
tal seems to impart a special clarity to cigarettes, the pile is growing. 7RS is parently being tuned, as 7DX says the
the telephony, as it is superior to the have trouble with his crystal. He signal swung past several times before
local broadeast station most times. says that the thing refuses to oscillate. being finally captured. To his great
After 6AG had given his test mes- TCW to the rescue, please. Hams in disappointment, they were so badly spac-
sage, the other hams, 6BN, 6BO, ete., the 7th Distriet were very sorry to hear ed that he was unable to read them. He
came on with their test messages, which that the popular Editor of this magazine is now looking for the station who was
consisted of a number of words suitably had met with an accident, and hope keying a five-metre transmitter on
arranged in a sentence, The listeners that he is now well on the road to re- March 4th, at 8.35 p.m.
had to write down as much of the sen- covery. 7CW has been to camp at Mona Vale
tence as was intelligible, and a certain TPF has been reported as being QSO with the Artillery, and hopes to be on
number of marks were allotted depend- with NU6BTM when his input was ex- the air again shortly. 7LJ has just put
ing on the distance of the receiver actly .0000 watts. How’s that for the ‘up a Zeppelin aerial and is getting out
from the transmitter. The results are Jewell competition? The fact of the much better than before. 7HL is on
not yet certain, as reports continue to matter is that 7PF has been off the air 30 metres with a UX210 and though not
pour in from country districts. for the last six months, so unless some as loud as TLJ locally, gets out FB to
6MU is the most consistent station pirate has been using his call the report NU. The 210 is immersed in oil and
on the 30 metre wave, and continues to is entirely without foundation. 7PF works an improved Hartley. TAH is
work American stations regularly. He has nearly completed the installation of shortly to be on the air. Gee, that’s the
managed to QSO an English ham early his 2000 volt generator and huge switch- stuff te give ’em. What a rush there
one morning last week, which was his board (his shack looks like a sub-station will be to be first QSO, especially
first contact with that country. Best at the present time), and it will not be amongst the northern hams. My most
wishes, o.m. ) long now before he starts blowing holes hearty congratulations, “Pop.” The visit
PK1 of Java wishes to be remembered in the ether or else his tube. I haven’t of the fleet to Hobart has been causing
to the gang, and notifies us of his new seen much of 7BT since he returned the hams some QRM.
Third and Seventh District: Notes
Third District Notes. he had come over for assistance on the
launch. 7CS, being the fattest ham on
(By Elpip.) GET YOUR WAR NEWS shore, proceeded to embark on the frail
DIRECT FROM CHINA. dinghy, and had a very exciting few
NEVER was there a truer sayi'ng- minutes getting on board. At last the
than that which says “There’s one launch was reached in safety, and CS
born every minute.” Some dull- and PF tried to get the transmitter to
witted individual has taken the trouble QRA’s SUPPLIED BY ERN WENSOR,
ASCOT VALE. work. Although the closed circuit was
(and all for nothing) of sending one of in absolute resonance, no radiation could
those stupid Chain Letters (‘““Banana- be got in the aerial at all. At midnight
lander” mentioned these in a recent issue they gave up until the following morn-
-of “Radio”) to SLP. According to the AC-8AG — ANDRE GUILLA-
ing.
sender, if the chain is broken, bad luck BERT, P.O. Box 1194, Shang-
will dog the intrepid destroyer to the hai. During all this the receiver was work-
end of his mortal days. Having destroyed ing on the boat, and 7BQ was amused
on board with several little ditties and
the piffle, 3LP is all primed for the AC-8EM—ED. FOUCRET, 544 L. humorous items from the station on
“bad luck,” and is on the warpath for Rue Zikawei, Shanghai.
the semi-wit who posted the letter, so shore. One particularly good item was
“Three O’clock in the Morning.” .
if you don’t hear him again, be sure his
junk has gone up in smoke, or some-
AC-8ZW—F. GHERZI, Observa- . The next morning, at about nine, PF
thing equally as hair-raising. tory of ZIKaewei, Shanghai. and C.S. were hard at it again, and
Ross Hull is now on the air under the made a systematic search to discover
call of NU-1BHW. He would like to
AC-4TO—TOSHIHIDE SATO, what was wrong with it. The first
QSO as many Aussies (particularly 80 Dixwell Road, or P.O. Box thing that was found was that there
threes) as possible, so look for him 48, Shanghai. was no earth connection to the aerial
every Sunday at 10 p.m., Sydney time, on coil; that was righted, but still no sign
36 metres. AC-XL1—T. C. LIEU, 318 Rue in the pea lamp in the aerial. The next
3DR, who bought a “devil machine” thing that was found wrong was that
Lafayette, - Passage No. 46, the grid-leak was not leaking. At least,
last year, reckons he can-style himself
a motor mechanic, and so he has opened
Shanghai. it would if it was held about six inches
a garage. I've got a couple of punctured up in the air. This was discarded, PF
tubes and an empty kerosene tin here if
AC-8XX—FRENCH WIRELESS substituting a cup filled with salt river
they are of use, STATION, Shanghai. water into which two wires were im-
mersed. That fixed that little part up,
Cork Beer, the hero of a hundred and
one love affairs, has invested in a UX- AC-8FLO—FRENCH CRUS'UR, but still no light in the aerial. After
“Jules Michelet,” at Shangbhai. winding several pounds of wire on a
210 which is, as he says, “Goodo, great, cardboard tube and making varioustap-
bonzer, f.b.,” etc., although he hasn’t pings, the thing was at last got into
tried it out yet! 3LP, while on his way AC-8FJT—FRENCH GUNBOAT
resonance all over and at last worked.
to visit friend Willie. had a violent at Shanghai.
QSO with a maniac on a motor-bike, At 12,30 p.m. the two hams left for .
escaping with a few minor bruises. AC-8FR—FRERE JULES, Ecole dinner, and as the opening of the Re-
gatta was for 2.30 p.m., it was touch
3BC, the Brighton Radio Club, seems St. Jeanne DYArc, Shanghai. and go as to whether the Regatta was
to get out very well. The station uses
to be controlled by wireless or not this
eight Ediswan valves as H.T. rectifiers, AC-8HB—H. B. WILSON, Asiatic year. The fun had not ceased. When
and the QSB from this arrangement is Petroleum Co., Shanghai. the launch proceeded some two miles
very low but quite steady. 3GF is do-
ing great work with fone. He has put
down the river for the start of the first
some R5 ’phone into New Zealand when
| AC-2FF—G. W. FISK, 303 Vic- race, it was found that the shore station
toria Road, Tientsin. could not be received on the boat on
using only 15 watts input. F.B., o.b. - account of the proximity of the two
Speaking of New Zealand reminds me waves. This was rectified by altering
of the new regulations now in force over the ship wave to 150 metres and .the
there. The poor Zedders have to park shore station- to 300 metres. Duplex
between 36 and 38 metres, and any ham Seventh District Notes. telephony was worked very satisfactog'ily.
who “slops over” this channel runs the
risk of having his ticket. suspended. By “Cascade.” While proceeding down the river, the
" boat struck some obstruction and can-
THE report that 7RS had -got his ted over at a terrifying angle. 7PF was
just preparing to send out an SOS and
Red Radio Amateurs. crystal to control would appear to
be entirely without foundation. He make a jump for it when the boat righted
There are only 37 licensed amateur discovered that it was only the power itself, and the trouble was over. The
short wave receiving stations in the amplifier oscillating on its own, 7CS captain, after making an examination,
United Soviet States Republic, writes A. was very annoyed at having to play announced that there was no sign of the
Kalachnikoff of Tomsk, Siberia. O.D.R., bowls on the occasion of the Henley craft making any water, so the pro-
Obstshostuo Drusei Radio, or - Radio Regatta held at Launceston during the gramme was gone on with.
Friends’ Society of U.S.S.R., is now re- last month, instead of being with the During this week, 7PF visited Hobart
gistering all amateur short wave re- gang. However, he spent the evening and gave evidence before the Wireless
ceiving installations, giving to their with them, so it wasn’t as bad as it Commission.
owners the title of “Radio observer for seemed at first. 7AB was in charge of the amplifier
short waves,” and official call letters pre- 7PF and 7CS had some fun with the at the shore station at the Henley Re-
fixed by R.K. Our correspondent being transmitter that.was to be used in con- gatta, and had many weird contraptions
the 37th registered station, uses the nection with the Regatta. It was situated hooked on to the loud speaker. During
letters RK37. Tomsk rhort wave trans- on a motor launch, the other transmitter the night of the Regatta, broadcast items
mitting station, formerly signing TUK,’ being on shore. On Friday night the from all the Australian stations were
now uses the call RAI9. transmitter on shore was working really put on to the loud speaker, which
This amateur, by the way, will welcome well. This was in charge of 7CS and proved to have a terrific carrying power,
cards, etc., from any amateur. His 7BQ. Suddenly, out of the darkness of the music being heard three miles away,
address appears in the “Calls Heard” the river, came a faint call for help, and as were also the announcements from
section, this turned out to be 7RS in a dinghy; the various stations.
RADIO, May, 1927 Page 67
RADIO, Awngust 15, 1927
that he hasn’t heard them when he and why don’t others follow this idea,
doesn’t come back straight away. Just and get your card for nix.
listen a bit after you call him next time,
before you switch on to someone else. On 20 metres, 5HG has cight scparate
5DA starts up now and again with a waves, and each wave has eight back
waves, each back wave has eight more
very hefty signal, and rather a queer
note. One would almost swear that he waves, which I presume are further back
used a M.G., but he is still using the than the back waves, making a grand
pair of “S” tubes he had four years ago. total of 504 waves, and all from one Iil’
station ’sposed to be on one wave.
There are a few new calls on the job,
viz., 5HP, 5JH, 5SL and 5MB. The first
three are on 200 metres, and seem to
have no difficulty in working Victoria Seventh District Notes
on two-way fone. The last one, bMB, By 7 Cork Esses.
is building his station with considerable
care, and should put out a good signal HERE was an enthusiastic gather-
on 33 metres by the time this appears ing of the hams of Tasmania on
in print. Their QRA’s are: 56HP, Hyde the occasion of the annual meeting
Park Radio Club, 18 Commercial Road, of the Tasmanian Division of the W.L.A.
Hyde Park; 5JH, V. Chinnell, Osmond on Saturday, July 30. Secretary 7PF
Terrace, Norwood; 5SL, L. Fielder, Main was a sad man, it having to be a very
Street, Woodville; 56MB, M. Brown, 24 dry dinner on account of the necessary
Northgate Street, Torrensville. rectifier solution being banned in the
5BX thought he would start up again Albert Hall, where the dinner was held,
after a long rest, but his signals are hi! hi! Lemonade is not a very good
not as good as they were when he first solution to make a speech on.
started. Most of the members, having heard it
5WH isn’t heard very much now, but so often, know it even better than he
says he will be going again as gsoon as does, and pull him up if he leaves out
he gets settled in his new shack. He any. From those of the Hobart members
recently replaced his Philips 30-watters who attended, we learned that Charlie
George R. McCulloch, of Ballarat, who is that he used in the rectifiers by a pair Oldham, sat for his exam. recently, and
conducting a new feature for hams—"Qb- of “S” tubes, but his note isn’t as pure seemed to have a good chance of getting
servations from Central Victoria’—Radio Ace, D.C. as it used to be. through.
indeed. Working mostly during the week-end,
5DX seems to be able to keep his sigs TCW gave us an interesting account of
his phone work with Belgium, France
Fifth District Notes exactly, the same week in and week out.
and Russia, while THL has been doing
3ES says he wants to see his ecall in
By Five Cee Emma. some good work in connection with the
these notes, though for the life of my
re-broadcasting of NU-2XAF and PCJJ
CM recently entered into a tube-blow- U.X. 210, I can’t, because these are sup-
posed to be Fifth District notes. Aren’t
by 7ZL. He held the station PCJJ for
S ing contest all on his own. Needless two and a half hours on a recent oc-
to say, he came out with full hénours. you in the boom with the “ECPIP"—
1s his “YL” to blame? hi! casion, while the B.C.L.’s were listening
The prize awarded him was such that to the re-broadcast on the higher wave.
he was off the air for a few weeks (in Anyway, one thing I might mention
short, he had no rectifieritis, having ‘about 3ES concerns his card. In “QST" Now that the Launceston Wireless Ex-
blown two mullard 150-watt rectifying there was once a stray re getting one’s hibition is over the shacks of some of
tubes, plus a box full of 201A’s). He is QSL cards printed, free of cost, by the the hams of this city will again resume
back again now with an “S” tube ob- local department of commerce, provided their neat and tidy (?) appearance. 7PF
tained from 5BW, who sold it because it the department could put a small ad. on has announced his intention of building
would work in a full wave rectifier; but it. Well, ole 3ES has worked on this a new 85-metre transmitter, after the
5CM says it is like most of its kind, line, as on the back of his card reads the style of the Reinartz. Phil. is shrewd;
viz., when half full, it’s O.K. hi! Al- following: “Read the ‘Argus’ and the he waits until someone else has tried it,
though using this one “S” tube in half ‘Australian’ for Wireless Notes.” fb om, and then has a go at it himself.
wave R.A.C., he seems to be able to get
a fair note. .
5BW, the king pin on 20 metres in
this State, says that just lately that wave
is the bunk. Even so, he still manages
a few QSR’s with DX stations. He com-
plains that there are no fixed condensers
obtainable in Adelaide that will last very
long on 20 metres.
5BY is building a spark coil Xmitter
in the famous low power set that 5BG
used last year. Doug. is taking this with
him when he goes for a trip round Kan-
garoo Island shortly.
CRIO and CBZ were recently in Ade-
laide, and saw a few of the gang. The
fives were very envious of the little 50
watt U.V. 203A that the former is using,
and would like to see a similar one
adorning their Xmitters. He is working
on the 19th harmonic of the ship loop
aerial on 20 metres. He says he can’t
strike a harmonic on the 40 metre band,
s0 is working exclusively on 20 metres.
Many stations who call him often miss
a QSO, because he is unable to start up
ag quickly as most hams can. It takes
him three or four minutes to start up, q] Three fourth district hams who believe that it is an advantage to be in the asir as well as
and so many who answer his CQ think on the air.
RADIO, September 15, 1927. Page 53
eaders’
Caging the Launceston Roar
(To the Editor.) few inches about every quarter of a
Dear Sir,—It is doubtful whether any mile and the bare copver bound up tight
city in the world was so troubled with to the steel cable with a copper binding
ondence
interferepce to wireless reception as was wire.
Launceston up till about a year ago. This, of course, could not be accom-
Given a spell of fine weather, with good plished without causing some inconveni-
drying winds—which one can usually ence to electricity users, and after one
rely on getting in Launceston for nine of the high tension distribution circuits
months in the year—and all that could was completely bonded in this way, the
be tuned in on any set was what ap- citizens were further inconvenienced by
peared to be the roar of a waterfall. having the whole electricity supply cut
This very soon became known far and off to put the theory into practical
wide as the “Launceston Roar,” and it operation.
will be devoted to letters is a matter for regret that a record was It was on a Saturday afternoon when
the “Roar” was particularly bad, and it
not kept of the many theories advanced,
subjects of interest to the fantastic and otherwise, as to its cause.
The most puzzling thing about this
was found that the bonded circuit in-
troduced no noise whatever into the re-
advanced broadcast listener. trouble was that a few minutes’ rain
would absolutely silence it for a brief
ceiving sets, but immegiately any of
the other circuits were switched on the
trouble started again, and when the
invited but it must be period. Usually the interference to re-
ception in any city is caused by leaks whole supply was resumed, reception was
impossible.
assumes no responsibility for from electricity supply mains or arcing
on tramway trolley wheels, commutators All of the circuits were similarly
as opinions of corresponde:ts of motors, or similar causes, which are
accentuated by wet weather; but in
bonded as soon as the work could pos-
sibly be undertaken, with the result that
not necessarily represent our Launceston the conditions were reversed,
the only time one could rely on getting
vendors of wireless apparatus were once
more able to do business.—Yours, etec.,
Anonymous letters will
good reception was while it was raining. GEO. J. McELWEE,
It had been proved beyond doubt that
the interference came from the Munici- Asst. Electrical Engineer, Launceston.
considered. pal Council’s electricity supply mains,
and after spending a great deal of time
and thought on trying to solve the mys- Five Metre Test
tery, the writer evolved a theory of the
cause of the trouble which eventually Dear Sir,—I read with interest the
enabled it to be eliminated in a very Editorial in the amateur experimental
simple manner. : seciion of June issue of “Radio,” re-
(To the Editor.) garding the possibility of running some
When the overhead high-tension cables
Dear Sir,—As some experimenters were first erected in the city in the early 5 metre tests. I am glad to see that
or, perhaps, several are continu- ‘nineties, they were put up to comply “Radio” has begun to take a step in this
ally using my call sign 2CM, will you be with the British Board of Trade Regula- direction. What is reallv needed is some
good enough to insert a small par in tions at that time; those regulations central point to make the arrangements,
“Radio” to the effect that “Station 2CM provided that the cables should have a and to my opinion, the Aussie ham paper
has Leen off the air for some months, and rubber and braid insulation, and should is the starting point.
will be off for the next year or so, gnd be suspended from a steel bearer cable You will remember that some time
request that anybody working a station by iron or steel clips at six foot inter- ago a 5 metre test was run, in which
using my call sign should endeavour to vals. To prevent the clips from chafing the following stations took part: 2IS,
trace the culprit” ?—Yours, ete., the insulation, a strip of tarred felt was 2DY, 2JY, 4AN and 4AW, with 5CM
wrapped round the cable, which, of listening. The results of this test were
CHAS. MACLURCAN. nil from 4AN and myself, but the Syd-
course, added to the insulation between
the copper and steel cables. Both cables ney transmitters were able to cover
3XK were supported on porcelain insulators,
the steel cable terminating at the shackle
somewhere about sixty miles at R-8
night and day, using 80 watts on one
(To the Editor.) U.X.210. Now I can’t recollect seeing
or anchor insulators, which were about
Dear Sir,—I would be very glad if you every half-mile on a straight run, and any account of this achievement in
would publish a notice to the effect that the copper cable, of course, running “Radio,” except in Bananalander’s notes.
I have packed up in Western Australia right through to the point of utilisation. Perhaps the Sydney transmitters did not
ard have remoted myself and my be- With this arrangement of the two think their little test worth recording.
longings to Victoria. In asking you to cables, it was thought that the steel cable How’s that?
publish this, I want you to make especial would have a current induced in it which However, it was suggested by several
reference to the sincere regret that I would be a good deal out of phase with of those who took part in the last test
feel in leaving the gang over in Western the current in the copper cable; in other that another such test be run off very
Australia. From start to finish, during words, would be reaching its maximum shortly, but seeing that “Radio” has
the whole of my association with them, potential when that in the copper cable taken up the matter, I think it would
I found them a particularly fine bunch. was approaching its zero at every alter- be wise to “ORX” a while, and make it
I hope to dig in with the crowd in Vie- nation. This, it was thought, would (that is, the 5 metre test) an Australia-
toria, and you may rest assured that probably set up an invisible discharge wide affair. Something on the lines of
“Radio” will always find a soft spot with between the two ecables in dry weather, a CQ party, similar to that outlined in
me. when the insulation was good, and thus a recent issue of “QST,” would, to my
I am not getting out of the transmit-
cause the interference, and when there opinion, be the thing.
ting game, but in fact am already get- was sufficient rain to reduce the insula- In concluding, I cannot do better than
ting some gear together, and I will be tion resistance, the discharge would cease
to advise you to get in touch with Gray
heard again in the 20, 30 and 90 metre and a much appreciated silence be ob- 2IS, who was responsible for arranging
tained on 2all receiving sets. the last test, and to thank 3WM McAw-
bands. Please notify all hams that my The obvious thing to do was to adopt
new call sign is 3XK.—Yours, ete., ley for the information on the resistance
some means of preventing a difference of water grid leaks.—Yours, ete.,
HARRY T. SIMMONS (late 6KX). of potential building-up between the two
No. 7 Wordsworth Street, cables. To achieve this, the insulation A. E. WALZ.
Moonee Ponds, Vic. on the copper cable was stripped for a Nundah.
Page 62 RADIO, September 15, 1927.
Amateur Transmitting Station OA-7PF
Details of a well-
Enown Tasste Station,
operated by P. Oakley
Fysh, 46 Mary Street,
Launceston
TATION OA-7PF has been in ope-
ration since June, 1925, since when
many changes have. taken place in
the layout and the gear used. The pre-
sent photo shows the gear that is in
use at this time. Reading from left to
right there is the power-supply board,
orr-the left of which are the H.T. and
filament supply switches for the big
transmitter. In the top centre is the
H.T. voltmeter, which shows the vol-
tage being delivered to the same set,
while immediately below this is the
motor control switch for the motor
which drives the 1 k.w. D.C. generator.
On the left of the board are grouped the
H.T. and filament supply switches for
the small transmitter, together with the
motor starting switch for the motor
which drives the 500 volt D.C. gene-
rator supplying this set. At the back
of the board on a shelf are arranged the q The Outfit at OA-7PF.
filament rheostats for both sets, the fila-
ment transformer for the large set and
the two filter circuits. The small set,
which stands to the right of the power- porcelain pedestal insulators of the G.R. in a large weather-proof box, together
supply board is a Coupled Hartley for type. Above the plate coil will be seen with the motor driving it. This was the
phone and C.W., employing two U.X.210’s a small shelf carrying the aerial pick- means adopted of getting over the
—one as oscillator and the other as modu- up coil and the aerial and counterpoise trouble experienced from the vibration of
lator (Heising), shunt-fed from the ammeters and series condensers. The the motor, which used to cause ‘“wob-
small generator mentioned above. Fila- output from this set is fed to a vertical bulation” of the carrier and make the
ment supply for this set is from copper tube aerial 27ft. high and a single operator tear his hair when the reports
accumulators. It is intended that the wire counterpoise at right angles. It is varied from raw A.C. to R.A.C. On the
Hartley shall give place to the Split intended that a current fed Hertz shall floor under the power-supply board is the
Colpitts so soon as the time can be be substituted for the present system in accumulator supplying the filaments of
found for the necessary alterations. the near future. Some considerable the 85-metre set, the 500 volt generator,
Mounted on the panel of this set at the difficulty was experienced with getting and the receiver filament battery. On
top there is the aerial ammeter, and on a pure note from this set, in spite of the the extreme left of the photo on a
the bottom from left to right are the fact that a D.C. generator was in use. shelf is what appears to be a whisky
oscillator m/a. méter, the plate volt- The trouble was finally overcome by the bottle, but, in fairness to the owner, it
meter, and the modulator m/a. meter. insertion of two 200-turn R.F. chokes should be explained that it is really a
The output from this set is fed to a five- right_at the brushes of the generator, distorted view of the methylated spirit
wire cage aerial strung from the top of thus preventing the R.F. from the set bottle, the distortion being caused by
an 80-foot Ilattice mast, and led in reaching the commutator. - The final the wide-angle lens used for ‘the photo.
through the Pyrex dish shown at the item of interest is a three-valve receiver It may be mentioned that, in addition to
top of the photo.™ The counterpoise is a of the three-coil Schnell type, having a building the whole of the radio gear,
six-wire fan led in through another range of from 12.5 to 200 metres. The '7tPF also built the shack which houses
Pyrex dish, just to the right of the blind. collection of coils above this receiver is it.
The two large switches to the right of a relic of the B.C.L. days, and is kept
this are the aerial earthing switches for there through sheer laziness. While the
the transmitting aerials. Next, on the ‘DX record of this station is nothing out The latest addition to the list of New
right, is the short-wave transmitter, em- of the way, an excuse is found in the Zealand Amateur transmitters is 2BX,
ploying a Marconi T250 in the Arm- fact that it also houses the calibration operated by G. R. Waters, 87 Hamilton
strong tuned-plate tuned-grid circuit department of the Tasmanian Division Road, Wellington.
series fed from the 1 k.w. D.C. gene- of the W.I.A., and consequently a lot of
rator. On the left and right of the the owner’s time is spent on instrument
valve respectively are the plate m/a. work of varying kinds. One of the most
meter and filament voltmeter, while in interesting instruments that is used here Three new Tassies are on the air now,
front of these are the plate tuning and is the Moullin voltmeter, with a range and would welcome reports. QRA’s:—
grid tuning condensers, which are Igranic of 5 amps. With this instrument it is 7JK, Jack Hrine, 305 Elizabeth Street,
.0002 mfd. The coils are 3/16in. copper possible to measure the strength of a North Hobart; 7CH, C. Harrison,
tube annealed and wound on 4in. for- signal received on an ordinary crystal Rokeby Road, Bellerive, Tasmania; 7THR,
mers, and are mounted on copper up- set. The 1 k.w. D.C. generator men- Hobart Radio Research Club, Elizabeth
rights, which, in turn, are mounted on tioned above is housed outside the shack Street, Hobart.
F— i
?
Page 70 RADIO, December 15, 1927.
Are Seventh District Stations Overlooked.?|
By “7 Cork Esses”
ONDITIONS on the ham band of late
C have been very good, at least good
for Launceston. The mainland
AFT iGl Wy 2
a' EUEN e
stations are coming in now at very good
strength, but it is almost impossible to
raise them, as they all seem to be hunt-
ing after DX and do not bother about
stations in their own country. What has
become of the R.C.C.? Has it died a
natural death? Most of the mainland
stations have been coming in here at
max r, and I learn from my friend Watty
(7DX) that the period of from three
days prior to the appearance of the new
moon to three days after it has gone,
signals can always be counted on as
.being at their best. Why? The hams
in the north have been rejoicing in the
visit of 7DX to their midst on his way
to Adelaide to attend the convention.
During his stay in Launceston he was
the guest of 7CS, and, needless to say,
spent most of his time in the shack.
7PF.
Phil has another spasm. After being
off the air for several months except for
spasmodic outbursts, he is at it once
again in earmest. Don’t know whether
7DX’s visit had anything to do with it,
but it happened at the time he visited The outfit at OA-7GH consistently beard on 30 metres on the mainland, but unbeard in'
Launceston, hi! Phil is very busy build- Hobart on account of skipped distance effect.
ing up his 80-metre transmitter, and in-
tends putting any messages required in seem to have time to get on the air four months, and has at last practically
Adelaide during the conference there on now with his transmitter; in fact, I got his transmission on that wave per-
fone. The other morning he got up think his rectifier has gone all mouldy fect. During this period some 2,000 re-
early, at least early for him, namely, and gone to the pack. 7PF had the sur- ports have been received on the trans-
5.45 a.m., with the intention of working prise of his life the other day. He saw missions. His sigs. have been
the world while all the other unsus- Arthur driving down town in his consistently received at Christchurch,
pecting hams in Launceston slept; but Rolls-Royce-Ford, and thought he had a N.Z., on the loud-speaker on three valves
alas! not a signal did he hear. Never lead pencil in his mouth, but suddenly a for two months at a stretch, and also in
mind, Phil, one often has disappoint- puff of smoke burst from the pencil. all the Australian states. One thing that
ments like that; why not try doing it When Phil got close enough he found old CS boasts about is that he has
for a week, and you might have better that “boy” was smoking a cigarette. answered every report that he has ever
results?
Arthur, you must not take on such received on his transmissions since he
7BQ. vices; you have too many already. But has been on the air. How many trans-
Old Len is still plodding away with you certainly know a good -cigarette mitters in OA can say the same? Dit,
his UX-210, and is getting fine reports when you see one. dit, dah, dah, dit, dit. The short waves
from the other side of the world. Len is have not been neglected when the power
now also on 205 metres with fone, and, 7BT. QRM is quiet enough for sigs. to be
let me tell you, his music is O.K. and Old Beer Toch does not have much heard. At the present time he is using
well modulated. BQ will be very glad of time for wireless these days; he is very the third harmonic system, and the sigs.
reports of his transmissions. He and busy studying for his final exam. in seem to travel out O.K. according to
7CS have been doing a lot: of duplex chemistry, and hopes in the New Year reports received. TCS will be visiting
work on this band during the past few to tear a few holes in the ether. During Melbourne at Xmas for a month, so,
weeks, and dozens of experiments have his spare time at the present he has Melbourne hams, look out for an in-
been tried and much knowledge gained. been filling the role as engineer to 7CS, vasion of your various shacks by the
and helping him with his 226-metre fat fellow.
TLA-RS. transmissions on Sunday nights. His
This combination has been very quiet husky voice is well known to listeners in 7DX.
of late. Ron is still plodding away at Launceston and other parts of Australia Watty has been and gone. He spent
his crystal. Heard him in conversation through this medium. two days in Launceston recently on his
the other night with 7DX, and he was way to Adelaide, and gave the hams here
telling him that he thought his crystal 7TMK.
I believe that 7TMK is going to burst a number of hints on their transmitters,
was too greasy with fingering it, and that etc. He tells me that he has not been
it would not oscillate. I understand that out on the 200-metre band shortly with
fone. He has not been on the air for able to get on the air very much lately
Watty has taken the said erystal with on account of being too busy with B.C.L.
him to Adelaide to have it re-ground by some months now for no apparent rea-
son. Perhaps when he commences his sets. He is now manager (radio) of a
5BG, so I suppose when it arrives back large firm in Hobart, and I am sure the
there will sure to be some awful noises transmissions on the 200-metre band he
will take up short-wave xmitting again. whole gang will wish him success in his
on the air until the quartz is got going new venture.
properly. 7 Cork Esses.
7AB. I hate writing anything about myself, 7JK.
Mr. Arthur Smith, of High Street, is but I’'m busting to tell. CS has been I understand that Jack has been doing
still very busy building sets and doesn’t mostly on 226 metres during the past good work in Hobart. During the past
£
RADIO, December 15, 1927.
few months he has been QSO a foreign
station every night, and keeping up com-
munication for long times at a stretch.
For the moment I forget his QRA, but
if I remember rightly, most of the
Announcing
messages received were in Esperanto.
RADIOKES
I understand that this foreign station
cannot be heard now. Perhaps it is due
to one of those periods of fading, or
perhaps it was an unlicensed station, and
the owner has been caught and jailed.
7LJ.
I hear that Mr. Jensen has got a new
SHORT WAVE COILKIT
aerial at last, and has done away with
his “ivy” aerial. By that I mean an
aerial that creeps around the house and
corners and over the roof. That is the
worst of boarding houses, as they are
not always situated so as to get a decent
aerial up. Why not get married and
have a house built to order so that you
can put up a proper antenna?
THR. This is a most excellent Coil Kit, covering a range of 15-130 metres
From all reports, THR, the Hobart
Radio Research Club’s transmitter, has when used in conjunction with .00015 M.F. Condenser. The Kit
been getting out to some order. Using consists of three interchangeable coils—variable, primary, and base
the conventional shunt Hartley with two
201A’s in parallel, with two of the same ——constructed according to best accepted short wave practice.
valves as full wave rectifiers, reports
have varied from R5 to R6. The input Price complete, 55/- per Kit
is said never to exceed eight or nine
watts.
RADIOKES
7GH and 7GD.
Nothing has been heard of these
stations for many moons, although they
STROBODYNE KIT
have been consistently on the air on the
30-metre band. Their sigs. do not reach
this part of the world—at least, I mean
they hop right over the top of us. What
about going up to the 80-metre band
now and again to exchange greetings?
I would suggest you write to Mr. Fysh,
7PF, the secretary of the Wireless In-
stitute, Tasmanian Division, and en-
deavour to get him to arrange a certain
night and time each week for listening
in on the 80-metre band. Cork Esses
for one will be only too pleased to fall
in with the idea; in fact, he is on the
air now on 90 metres with fone and
Morse.
Others.
Some of the mainland stations heard
recently are 3GR with a 1,000 cycle note
that is.a pleasure to copy; 4NW, R5 The Radiokes STROBODYNE R.F. COIL KIT consists of two
steady RAC; 0Z-2AY, R6 with raw AC
note; one OZ-1FE, R max with good " R.F. transformers, phase changer, four balanced intermediate
RAC; 0Z-3AW, R4 to 5 with good RAC, frequency transformers, and five matched fixed condensers.
but with slight chirp (what about some
poisoned wheat, O.M.?); OA-2IJ, R6
with pure DC note but bad key clicks;
Price, £6/15/- per Kit
OA-50M, R max but wobbly RAC note;
0Z-2BO, R7 RAC using break in; and
OA-5WH, R max with good RAC note,
but with his spacer too close to be
pleasant. Why do you hams use those
Make this a “Radiokes” Christmas
spacing waves? You perhaps do not Radiokes have packed their popular Kits in special attractive
realise that you are causing a lot of un- wrapping ready for presentation. The most suitable gift for your
necessary interference by occupying two
portions of an already too narrow and “fan’ friend.
crowded band. There are many other
ways of keying without causing inter-
ference, and in these days of too many AT ALL GOOD RADIO DEALERS, OR
stations to fit into these bands, it behoves
everyone to occupy only that space which
is absolutely necessary for the operation
of his station.
Metropolitan Electric Co. Ltd.
7th District hams extend cordial Xmas
and New Year greetings to all “ham-
27-29 KING STREET, SYDNEY
land.”
o
RADIO, December 15, 1927. 59
Section
Wireless Institute of Australia
TASMANIAN DIVISION.
HE usual monthly meeting of the
division was held at the Institute
room, Launceston, on the 10th
inst. There was one of the best atten-
dances seen at a similar meeting. The
chair was occupied by the President, Mr.
T. K. Jebb.
The secretary mentioned having re-
ceived from the Burgess Battery Com-
pany of America a list of the American
short-wave broadcasting stations. The
programme for the forthcoming conven- Robert Marx, of New Yok, the youngest licenced radio operator in the United States. He is 12
tion in Adelaide was also read. years old, and bis station, 2AZK, has been heard here on 40 metres. Has Australia a younger
The chairman then welcomed Mr. Tre- operator?
vor Watkins, who will represent the
division at the convention, to the meet- He mentioned that The operator would like to
to the South Pole. built set.
ing, and remarked that he felt it was a
pity that we did not have the opportunity
there were three expeditions, and that arrange schedules with any Australian
the one of which he knew the most in station on a night after night basis, so
more often of welcoming the southern
members to the meetings. He said that
regard to the radio past of it was the that he may know how to lay out his
s.s. “Neilson Alonso.” The ship’s call- work. He will be QSO VIS every night
he felt that Mr. Watkins would ably sign is ARCX, and is equipped with a at 8.30 p.m. our time, and after this will
represent the division at Adelaide, and
short-wave transmitter as well as the QRX for OA stations. In addition to
looked forward with pleasure to the
usual ship set. The short-wave set is the short-wave transmitter just men-
time when we would have our visitor
with us again after his visit to the main-
operated on a wavelength of 30-5 metres, tioned, the ship is fitted with a 15-watt
land.
and uses a 600 cycle alternator with fone set, using two B406 valves fed from
full wave rectification. The rectifiers are 300 volts dry batteries. The wavelength
Mr. Watkins responded, and conveyed two French 500-watters, with a similar of this set is just below 2KY on the
the greetings of the Hobart Radio Re- valve as oscillator. The resultant 1,200 broadcast band. In addition to the wire-
search Club and the southern members to cycle note is very pleasing to listen to. less sets on the mother ship, the small
the meeting. He expressed the feeling of The equipment of ARCX is of the very whalers, Pol 1-5 are being equipped with
pleasure he had at being selected to go best, and last year’s constant communi- fcne sets so that they may keep in closer
to Adelaide, and hoped that he would cation with the ship’s home port, Bergen, touch with ARCX and also themselves.
have a very satisfactory report to put Sweden, was maintained during the They are also being equipped with direc-
before the division on his return. period when the ship was in Antarctic tion finding apparatus. They carry mno
Mr. Watkins then proceeded to give the waters. For the aerial he uses the ship’s operators, so that the fone sets are very
members some details of the whaling main aerial worked on an umteenth necessary. The circuit being used in
expeditions to the Antarctic, one of which harmonic. The circuit used is the good these sets is the shunt Hartley with grid
left Hobart recently on its annual visit old tuned plate, tuned grid in a factory- modulation.
After these very interesting details of
ARCX, Mr. Watkins gave the members
some of his experiences with different
forms of Hertz aerials, which were of
the greatest interest to those present.
At the conclusion of the talk the pre-
sident thanked the speaker, and wished
him “au-revoir” on behalf of the mem-
bers, and said that he would look forward
to his return from the convention.
Coffee and biscuits concluded a very
enjoyable evening.
CALLS HEARD.
Calls heard by NU-7EC, Astoria, Oregon,
U.S.A,, forwarded by Allan Stutchbury, OA-3HL.
OA-2BB OA-2UK OA-3XE OA-5YM
OA-2CM OA-2WC OA-3XO OA-6SA
OA-2DY OA-2Y1 OA-4AN OA-7CW
OA-2GW OA-2Y] OA-4CG Qa.7Cs
0A-2HM OA-3AL 0A-4GO i";p%
0A-21]J OA-3AM OA-5BG -
OA-2NO DA-3BQ OA-5Bw OA-7HL
OA-2RB OA-3DC OA-5DX OA-7JB
0OA-2RC OA-3ES OA-5HG
OA-2RE ~ OA-3HL OA-5LF
0A-2RX OA-3LG OA-5LX OZ-1AN
OA-2SH OA-3LR OA-5RM OZ-1FD
0OA-2SS OA-3TM OA-5WS OZ-IFX
Q The Continental station YDCR, often heard here. OA-2TM OA-3WM OA-5WH Etc.