History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Columns/Magic Spark NSW/Notes

Magic Spark Column - Transcriptions and notes

1910s

1912

1912 03

The earliest usage found to date of the phrase "Magic Spark" in reference to wireless

THE MAGIC SPARK. DISPUTE AS TO PATENTS. Wireless companies at law. Application in equity. The suit of the Maritime Wireless Company (Shaw system), Ltd., v. the Australasian Wireless Co., Ltd., in respect of apparatus for use in wireless telegraphy, was mentioned to Mr. Acting-Justice Rich in Equity jurisdiction today. Mr. Flannery (instructed by Messrs. Collins and Mulholland) appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. R. H. L. Innes (instructed by Messrs. Norton, Smith, and Co.) for the defendants. Plaintiffs set out in their statement of claim that for a long time prior to a certain publication by the defendant company they had engaged in New South Wales in the business of manufacturers and vendors of apparatus for use in wireless telegraphy. They had supplied apparatus to various purchasers, including the Commonwealth Government, by which it was being used in Melbourne. Their business, prior to the defendant company's publication, was steadily increasing, and they had made and expected to make large and increasing profits therefrom. On the 1st inst. the defendant company caused to be published in one of the Sydney papers a statement threatening legal proceedings against them for having by the manufacture of the apparatus in use at the Wireless Telegraph Station of the Commonwealth Government at Melbourne infringed certain alleged patent rights and patents of the defendants. Plaintiffs denied that they had infringed the defendants' patent rights or patents. Defendants, by their agents, had since the publication repeated the threat to plaintiffs and other persons, and claimed that their patent rights were No. 6840 and 7392, of 1906 of the Commonwealth patents. Defendants' threats had injured plaintiffs in their business. Defendants at the date of the publication were not the registered owners of letters patent or any Commonwealth or State patent relating to wireless telegraphy, or the apparatus used in wireless telegraphy. Plaintiffs feared that unless restrained by order of the court the defendants would continue to threaten them and the purchasers of the apparatus manufactured by them with legal proceedings for infringements of their alleged patent rights. Plaintiffs therefore prayed that defendants be restrained by injunction from making or continuing their threats of legal proceedings to them or their customers in respect of any alleged infringements of the Commonwealth letters, patent Nos. 6840 and 7392; and that an account be taken of the damages sustained by plaintiffs, by reason of the threats, and that defendants be ordered to pay the amount so found to them. On the 8th inst. his Honor granted an interim injunction against the defendants, with leave to plaintiffs to move to continue the injunction today. On the application of Mr. Innes, the matter was adjourned till Friday next, the injunction to continue in the meantime.

1920s

1922

1922 01 28

First "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 28 January 1922 under title "Radio News" though actual name not applied till the fourth column

RADIO NEWS. PERSONAL AND PRACTICAL. Hints to Amateurs. BY DOT DASH.

Wireless telegraphy has now reached that stage on the road to perfection where even the most disinterested person cannot help taking notice of its wonders. In commercial and business life, more especially in other parts of the world, wireless is firmly established as a means of rapid communication, and every day fresh uses are being found for it. No more is there any need for the settler or traveller in remote parts of the world to be isolated and without a means of communication, thanks to wireless. As a connection between ships at sea and with the shore the value of the invention is known to all. Only a few days ago the case of the schooner Helen B. Stirling was an example of its value in saving life at sea. The study of wireless telegraphy and telephony is a fascinating and absorbing hobby, and in Sydney there are hundreds of amateurs who have taken it up. Some have achieved wonderful results with small and comparatively cheap receiving sets, and by constant study have succeeded in making various improvements. One of the objects of these articles, which will appear every Saturday, will be to keep the amateur and his professional brother informed of the latest doings in the radio world.

Radio Adventurer. An adventurous Australian is Mr L. N. Callaghan, a Sydney radiotelegraphist. Winning his sea-going certificate five years ago, he set out after that romance so often coupled with "How the wireless man saved the ship" sort of thing. He was ashore and standing by, when the Tasmanian Government decided to transform the steamer Melbourne from a "dumb" tramp into a speaking and listening ship, so that she could go in search of the missing schooner Amelia J. Mr. Callaghan was chosen as operator for the cruise, and day and night reported progress. The search lasted eleven days. From the Melbourne he went to New Guinea, with the Commonwealth scientific party, and for six months carried out communication from the launch Wattle, on the Fly River. It is possible, however, that his next voyage will be the most venturesome of all. The American millionaire, Albert Y. Gowen, needs an operator for his motor yacht Speejacks, and the possibilities are Mr. Callaghan will be the man. "Give me any old kind of a hook-up, and the Speejacks, or any other Jack, will do me for a trip," is how this young Australian looks at the risks of the sea.

Wireless Telephone Concerts. One of the biggest moves yet undertaken for the encouragement of amateurs who experiment in wireless work will be launched within a few weeks. Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, of Sydney, is almost ready to commence sending out from Clarence-street nightly concert entertainments by a wireless telephone. The musical and vocal items will be played from a gramaphone into a transmitter, and over a distance of at least 100 miles, the sound will be heard just as distinct as if the record was being played within a few feet of the telephones receiving the music from Sydney. Not only will the man or woman operator enjoy these concerts by the ether wave. A special device is available for connection to the amateur's receiver which will amplify the sound, so that the whole household may participate in the novel entertainment. It should not be many days now before the loneliness of outback night life will be a thing of the past. Every night in the week a musical programme will be sent out broadcast. Valves and Distances It was with the advent of the valve receiver that it became possible to receive messages over great distances. The secret of a valve's sensitiveness lies in the relationship between its three elements — filament, grid, and plate. These are encased in a glass tube which is exhausted of air, the result being a vacuum very near perfect. It is a Marconi patent, now universally adopted. A few hundred miles used to be the maximum with a crystal detector. Now there is no limit to the distances over which messages may be picked up. Though the amateur will certainly find the valve more complicated than the crystal for a start, the valve is so much easier to keep in adjustment that the extra effort required to learn the connections is well worth the trouble. One thing is certain, if the amateur wants to get American, Japanese, or other distant stations, he must change over to the valve receiver.

Latest in Lifeboats. To the Commonwealth liner Moreton Bay stands the credit of being the first vessel to enter Sydney Harbor with life boats fitted with wireless telegraph apparatus. Two of the boats have plants installed which would, in case of mishap, enable them to keep in constant communication with all wireless ships within a radius of 50 miles. The application of wireless to lifeboats is a further demonstration of the adaptability of this invention.

A Frequent Fault. One of the most common mistakes made by amateurs is in the arrangement of the earthing system. The most usual method is to solder the earth wire from the receiver to some part of the water pipe system as near to the ground as possible. In the country districts, where waterpipes are not available, two or more metal sheets measuring 3ft by 2ft. are buried in moist soil, and connected direct to the receiver. The fault usually occurs when the connection is not soldered to the plates, or waterpipe. The result is that only imperfect contact is obtained. Another fault is that plates are buried in dry soil, which means bad conductivity to earth.

Successful Students. Certificates of proficiency were awarded to the following at the last examination for seagoing operators at the Marconi School of Wireless, Sydney:— First class: R. G. Cosh, A. B. Sharland, F. R. Snape, J. Thompson, I. H. Tresa, and W. D. Wedgwood. Second class: T. C. Dienhoff and C. M. Linedale. To assist amateurs, the "Evening News" will supply any general information on wireless telegraphy or radio telephony in this column.

Mr. L. N. Callaghan.

1922 02 04

Second "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 4 February 1922, still under title "Radio News" though actual name not applied till the fourth column

RADIO NEWS. Personal and Practical. A SPEEDY OPERATOR. BY DOTDASH.

MR. ROY MANCER who was on the Kyarra when she was torpedoed. Photo Caption. After five years at sea, during which time he received and transmitted 10,000 radio messages, Mr. Roy Mancer is ashore. He was operator on the Australian transport Kyarra, when she was torpedoed in the English Channel, and it was partly due to his extraordinary speed in transmitting that assistance was so quickly on the scene for the rescue work. In a recent test, Mr. Mancer sent and received a 100 word message at 45 words a minute, which must rank as one of the fastest transmissions in the Commonwealth. Asked to explain the secret of the development of such speed, Mr. Mancer said that with a flexible wrist, any operator should be able to attain such proficiency. "If the beginner gets the right idea at the commencement of his training, his road to success should be an easy one," is how Mr. Mancer views the making of an operator. "So much importance is now attached to the wrist work of a radio-telegraphist that in the Marconi School it is laid down as one of the first principles."

Worth a Million. There is a prize of a million pounds to be won. It may fall to the lot of Marconi, or to a humble amateur. All that has to be done is to find a method of eliminating atmospheric electricity from radio receivers working on short wave lengths. It is the belief of many experts that this will be eventually accomplished by an improvement in the audio-frequency circuit. There is a possibility that telephone receivers may be rendered insensitive to any sound other than Morse signals. It is worth while all amateurs studying this problem, for the reward is great.

Competition Results. The results of the wireless receiving competition conducted by the Wireless Institute under the direction ot Mr. Charles Maclurcan during December last were officially announced during the week. For six consecutive Sunday mornings telegraph and telephone messages were broadcasted from Mr. Maclurcan's station at Strathfield and picked up by more than a dozen competitors. There were 22 entrants, but only 13 actually received the messages, therefore, according to the rules, the judges, Messrs. Renshaw, Stowe and Maclurcan, only awarded prizes in the first and second sections as follows:— Section 1.— For the best complete log of the series:— First Prize (a De Forest intervalve audio-frequency transformer donated by Mr. Maclurcan): Mr. R. D. Charlesworth, 173 Parramatta-road, Haberfield. Second Prize (Open Order on Australelectric Co., value 35s, donated by the Wireless Institute): Mr. C. A. Gorman, West Botany-street, Arncliffe. Section 2.— For the longest distance received:— First Prize (a Room 2 61 receiving Valve, donated by Mr. Maclurcan): Mr. E. T. Vears, Grose-street, Leura. Second Prize (an Expanse Valve, donated by Australectric, Ltd.): Mr. G. E. H. Blanchard), Brown's-road, Church Point. Following are the marks obtained by the various competitors in the order of merit:— R. D. Charlesworth 563, C. A. Gorman 555, L. R. Hewett 540, R. P. Whitburn 521, J. H. A. Pike 477, R. F. Grosvenor 389, E. B. Crocker 331, H. R. S. Callan 307, W. J. Zech 244, G. E. Blanchard 174. E. T. Vears 128, E. R. Mawson 96, W. G. Best 49, T. R. Willmot 10, T. E. Dickenson 4. The maximum was 630.

Time Signals. If you are living in the bush, and the family clock stops, leaving only the sun to give an idea of the time, wouldn't you like to hear Melbourne or even Japanese radio stations telling the world what the hour is? There is an amateur in Coogee who nightly adjusts his clocks by messages sent out from Funibashi, in Japan. He has to allow for the variation in the clocks of the two countries, but he says, it puts an end to the family disputes, as to whether supper is late. When coffee time comes and the kettle is resulting the heat of the fire, so that the last meal of the day is overdue, he just listens in, and the operator in Japan tells him the right time. This is one of the interesting sidelights of an experimenter's hobby.

Crystal Adjustment. Every beginner has trouble with his crystal detector at some time or another. The usual type of detector consists of an adjustable metal cup, which contains a crystal, usually galena, silicon, or iron pyrites. Contact is made with these crystals by means of a needle point resting lightly on the surface, the needle and crystal being in series with the rest of the circuit. Not all the crystal is sensitive, however, and it becomes necessary to find a "point," which will bring in the signals. The only means of knowing that a sensitive region has been located is to test on actual signals. These may be produced artificially by means of a buzzer. One side of the buzzer interrupter is connected to earth, and the other side to a short length of wire placed in fairly close proximity to the leading in wire from the aerial. Oscillations are thus induced into the receiving circuit, and the surface of the crystal is then searched by means of the needle point, until the buzzer signals are heard strongest in the telephones. At 8.30 p.m. on each week-night, Sydney Radio Station (V.I.S.) sends out a weather forecast, which should serve as a final test of the sensitiveness of the receiver. If you don't get the weather note, change your crystal.

For Those at Sea. The proposal to send out a musical and vocal programme from Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, to ships and amateurs' stations by means of the wireless telephone, promises to develop into a big thing. Since the announcement was made in this column, several leading vocalists have volunteered their services. The first lady to offer her assistance was Miss Nellie Kolle. Writing from Melbourne, she says: "It is the most unique thing in concerts I ever heard of." Arrangements for starting the concerts are well advanced.

And Flora Didn't Hear. Flora-Flora-Flora! It was a land station calling the steamer Flora, a little vessel trading on the coast. The Flora had just been fitted, and her call signal was not known to all operators. A land station had a test message for her, and repeatedly called — Flora-Flora-Flora, but Flora did not answer. Every other ship within 1000 miles heard the Flora call, until one operator, with a sense of humor, could not resist putting his hand to the key, and tapping, "Speak, speak, speak to me Thora." But she remained unresponsive.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. For the benefit of amateurs, the "Evening News" will answer in this column any general inquiries concerning radio telegraphy. LITHFIELD (Glebe): Oscillations are electrical surges produced by a condenser discharge across a spark gap. The rate of oscillations for a 600 metre wave length is 500,000 per second. R. D. Bangay's "Elementary Principles" will give you all the information you require on circuits. C. J. S. (North Sydney): Send a list of the odds and ends you possess, and the cost of the missing parts will be supplied. Regarding the expense, you are reminded that it would be necessary to apply to the P.M.G.'s Department for a license before you start erecting your apparatus. This would cost you £2.

1922 02 11

Third "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 11 February 1922 though actual name not applied till the fourth column

RADIO NEWS. Personal and Practical. A POPULAR SECRETARY. BY DOTDASH.

Mr. Phil Renshaw Secretary of the N.S.W. Wireless Institute. Photo Caption. Every amateur wireless man knows Mr. Phil Renshaw, the genial secretary to the Wireless Institute of New South Wales. Since 1910 he has been interested in the development of radio telegraphy, and he has watched the institute grow from an insignificant body, with a membership of 35, until today it is the governing centre of the amateurs. The list of experimenters is now in the vicinity of 500. Mr.Renshaw has a fine station, and on any night can pick up news from Carnarvon (Wales), Nauen (Germany), Eiffel Tower (France), and other European stations. "I am working solely for the attainment of greater efficiency by our amateurs," said Mr. Renshaw, when asked why he devoted all his spare time to the institute. "I recognize that a little receiving station in the home is a hobby with a tremendous educational value. "Then, again, to have a thousand or more lads with a knowledge of wireless principles must be a national asset."

A Loss to the Science. Frank Geddes, a well known experimenter and a thorough good fellow, took off his 'phones for the last time during the week. His death at his home in Macpherson-street, Waverley, though not entirely unexpected, came as a great shock to his many friends in the wireless game and genuine expressions of regret were heard on every hand. The funeral, which took place at the Waverley Cemetery on Wednesday, provided proof of Frank's popularity. It was attended by a large number of wireless amateurs, some of whom acted as bearers, and a guard or honor to the coffin. Only 20 years of age, Frank started with wireless in the days when amateurs were few, and obstacles many. But he persisted, and in time had one of the finest amateur stations in the State at his home. His apparatus included a portable set, which be used on a launch; a single-valve set, a three valve set, and a two stage amplifier, for use with the latter. He was, with the permission of the authorities, on the verge of installing a most up-to-date radio telephone-sending set. The Waverley Amateur Wireless Club has suffered a distinct loss, for he was one of its leading lights, and an office-bearer. Frank was the only son of Mr. F. Geddes the well known retail butcher.

Single Wire Aerial. If you see a steamer come into port carrying only one wire, stretched from mast to mast, don't jump to a conclusion that she has lost the other one in a storm. The single wire aerial is becoming the vogue, when used with the latest Marconi receivers. There are many good reasons for the adoption of the one-wire aerial. Most important is the fact that there is so much less strain on the wire, due to the absence of spreaders. The chances of carrying away are reduced to a minimum. In extreme latitudes, ice forms on the wires, and the added weight sometimes results in the wire breaking. This would hardly be possible with the new type aerial. The bosun, too, benefits by the change. He is the man responsible for the rigging of the aerial. When it is realised that an average ship's aerial is designed to withstand a strain of a ton and a-half, it is apparent that any reduction in its actual weight allows more margin for meeting an extra longitudinal strain.

Stations You Hear. When the Sydney amateur sets up his first little receiving set — it would probably be a crystal one — the odds are that the first signals he will get will be from Pennant Hills. This station is one of the busiest in Australia, and his VIS call letters sent out before each message soon becomes familiar. Of course, when the experimenter advances and gets his valve set, he often has cause to view V.I.S. with his roaring signals in a different light. The valve set brings in the Melbourne Radio V.I.M., Adelaide V.I.A., Hobart V.I.H., Perth V.I.P., Brisbane V.I.B., Townsville V.I.T., Thursday Island V.I.I., to mention the principal Australian stations. Of those in New Zealand the amateur is most familiar with Awanui Station V.L.A. Wellington's call letters are V.L.W., The Bluff V.L.B., Chatham Island V.L.C., and Auckland V.L.D. The fortunate owner of a good set can hear Suva V.P.D., and the busy chap at Koko Head, Honolulu, K.L.A. Then, of course, there are the numerous ship stations, and when they are all working the amateur has plenty of calls to pick up.

A Woman Operator. There is a surprise in store for some Sydney experimenters. Miss Nellie Kolle, who was the first woman to offer her services for the wireless telephone concerts, is seeking the names and addresses of amateurs who have a transmitting license. The reason is that she became proficient in operating before coming to Australia, and although there is a vast difference between the roll of a wireless man and a principal boy in pantomime, Miss Kolle claims to be able to transmit at 15 words a minute. Other girl members of her family are engaged in transmitting work on English telegraph lines. That is why Miss Kolle is going to work for the success of the wireless concerts in Sydney.

An Ether Fandango. It takes a Spanish operator to transmit a real fandango, as many a man who listened in day and night in the war zone knows. It happened during the height of the U boat campaign that a Spanish vessel "stopped" a torpedo, and needed immediate help. The call tor assistance was, according to an Australian operator, the most wonderful thing ever. The Spaniard was apparently scared, and his S.O.S. was sent out to the time-beat of a fandango dance. He hit out dots and dashes in an endless stream, but eventually several ships were able to decipher his call. Getting an answer, the Spaniard "shut up," and waited for the rescue ship. At the end of two hours he had another spasm, and sent out, "Am taking in water faster. Come quick." This call was picked up by the operator who had wirelessed that his vessel was heading for the scene, and then all the others, who were listening in, heard him reply: "Am steaming all out, at eight knots; expect reach you in 23 hours." It was a harmless old tramp of the American flag, that was to be the rescuer, but in less than the 23 hours the Spaniard danced his last fandango. The ship foundered.

Joined the Speejacks. The motor yacht Speejacks has left Sydney for the East, with Mr. Callaghan aboard as wireless operator. He is probably the first Australian radio man to go on a world tour with a millionaire. His friends at Wireless House, where he was trained by Mr. Vincent Gardiner, sent him a wireless, wishing him good luck in his adventure. Mr. Callaghan's reply was conveyed through the ether by a very few dots and dashes. It was, "Cheerio Good-bye-e."

Insulate Your Aerial. Do you realise, Mr. Amateur, how important it is that you should thoroughly insulate your aerial? Don't be lazy, and hang the wire on to the spreaders. If you do, you will not have an effective aerial. What you must do is to insulate, and do it properly. Arrange between the ends of the wires, one or more insulators, preferably of the egg type. Then see that the down lead is insulated at the point where it passes through the window or wall, on its way to the receiver. This is best done by a "lead-in" insulator of the Expanse type. When the down lead passes close to a roof, before reaching the lead-in insulator. It becomes necessary to "strain away" the wires, to prevent them earthing. The practice is to attach insulated guy-ropes to the down leads, and to straing [sic, straining] the latter away from the building. Make it a golden rule to see that the insulators, even on the roughest night, do not run your signals to earth.

1922 02 18

Fourth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 18 February 1922 and for the first time under the long term "Magic Spark" title

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News From Everywhere. PERSONAL AND PRACTICAL NOTES. BY DOTDASH.

Mr. R. C. Marsden. Photo Caption. Friend and adviser to every amateur from the schoolboy upwards, Mr. R. C. Marsden is known to every wireless man through his kindly nature and cheerful disposition, to say nothing of his comprehensive knowledge of the science. He first started radio work in 1909, when his station was situated in Macleay-street, Potts Point. In those days there was no licensing of apparatus and he had a transmitting unit in his set. Two years later he went to England and carried out work connected with radio and general engineering at the Liverpool University for two years. During the war Mr. Marsden served with the artillery, and his battery had a C.W. transmitting and receiving set when in action on Vimy Ridge. Great trouble was experienced through the aerial being constantly shot away. This was finally avoided by putting the aerial in a tunnel 20ft under the ground, 100ft long, and capable of sheltering 50 men. By this means the battery was able to keep in touch with headquarters. Returning to Australia in 1919, Mr. Marsden resumed his hobby and built a special radio room at his home at Bellevue Hill. He specialises in the reception side of radio, and like most of the amateurs, is chasing the elusive static, the elimination of which is the ambition of every genuine experimenter. His station (call NO16) consists of three most up-to-date machines, within the scope allowed by the authorities. One side of his experimenting has been the study of the great possibilities of the accurate crystal receiver. During the past two years he has produced seven distinct types of receiving sets from which he gained a lot of practical information, and at the same time exploded a number of cut and dried theories.

Jazzing to Wireless. Should you receive an invitation to a dance and find that at the hour fixed for the first jazz the orchestra has failed to arrive on the scene, don't for a moment think that the night is going to be a failure. Wireless has butted right into the dance business, and wrapped in all its mysteries will spray your dance hall with the best music ever written. It has not to be played in the same building, either. The "band" may be centred miles away from the scene of the dance, yet the music will be carried through the air, over and through buildings, by that mysterious ether wave, and will reach you, unmutilated, and as full of vigor, just as if it was being played a few yards from you. Do you know, too, that the music has not to be directed to any single hall? Once it goes from the transmitter it will be just as effective for a dance or a social evening in any and every town within 100 miles. Wireless enthusiasts will be advised through this column when Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, is ready to broadcast musical entertainments. To Form New Club. The many amateurs who recently attended the function at which Mr. Shaw, the operator of the lost Helen B. Sterling, was made a presentation, were so pleased at "getting together" that they intend to have another gathering. This will be held at the Persian Gardens, 220 Pitt-street, City, on Thursday next, at 8 p.m., when all experimenters are invited to be present. Mr. Marsden has consented to act as chairman. With a view to making the meetings a regular thing, the opportunity will be taken to ask those present to form a club. The name suggested is the Metropolitan Radio Club, and those interested in its promotion are of opinion that it will not clash in any way with exist-ing organisations. At Thursday's meeting portion of the time will he taken up by a musical programme, after which a paper on radio work will be read and other business brought forward.

Oh, Mumma! Here is a story which goes to prove that "ignorance is bliss" even to a wireless operator. It happened just about the time the P.M.G.'s. Department issued a handbook for abbreviations on wireless working. A well-known Sydney man was in charge of the wireless of a coaster, and was in the habit of "calling up" all his friends, always giving the name of his ship in full, her speed, position, and a lot of other unnecessary details. While off Wilson's Promontory one day he was busy sending out his name and address, when VIM (Melbourne) picked up his signals. Official Melbourne was bewildered with the operator's disregard for the abbreviations, and rapidly called him with:— V.I.M. to —; Q.R.T. (stop transmitting), Q.R.N. (atmospherics are strong), Q.R.T., Q.R.T., Q.R.T. This fairly got the man on the ship, who replied:— to V.I.M.: "Oh mumma! What's all that stuff? Just wait till I dig out my P.M.G. till I savvy you." If you are going to put up an aerial make certain that your masts are secure enough to withstand a strong blow, otherwise you may regret it. Like most things which have to stand up to a wind, masts need a support, therefore, don't be content to merely stick a post a foot or two in the ground and chance it. Even a wireless mast appreciates thoroughness, and if you don't make a good job of it, down it will come, if for no other reason than to remind you that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. In the early days of wireless lofty masts and towers were considered very essential for both receiving and transmitting wireless messages. It has been proved that high aerials for receiving purposes, are subject to considerable atmospheric disturbances. The ideal aerial for a small experimental station is about 40ft in height and 150 ft in length, the length being the necessary part. To erect a 40ft mast at a small cost, purchase two sections of Oregon timber each 22ft in length and 3in square. Join the two together by overlapping it with 3/8in hexagon head bolts and nuts, and washers under both head and nut. The top section should be rounded off. At the top of the mast place a flag truck or a piece of lead to prevent any rain running down the drain of the mast in order to prevent rot. Use No. 12 galvanised iron wire for stays, with one set at the top of the mast and the second at the base of the overlapping joint. To raise the mast join the halliard wires and pass through a pulley on top of a chimney stack or a high tree.

Wireless Syllabus. The Wireless Institute syllabus for the year is:— February 28: Visit to ship station. March 14: Annual dinner. 28: Calibration of members' apparatus (Mr. E. A. Burbery). April 11: Annual general meeting; presidential address; election of officers. 25: Members' night, general discussion. May 9: Lecture by Mr. Bartholomew. 23: Lecture by Mr. J. W. S. Jones. June 13: General meeting; travelog by Mr. W. J. Zech. 27: Exhibition of apparatus (Australelectric, Ltd.). July 11: Lecture, "Electrons," Mr. J. F. Wilson. 25: Short papers by members. August 8: General meeting; visitors' night; special lecture. 23: Interference test at 12 words per minute. September 12: Debate on "Purchased v. Home-made Apparatus." 26: Discussion and questions on constructional details; chairman, Mr. H. A. Stowe. October 10: General meeting; lecture by Mr. P. Renshaw. 24: Members' night: general discussion. November 14: Open. 28th: Calibration of members' apparatus (Mr. E. A. Burbery). December 12: General meeting; visitors' night: special lecture.

Personal Pars. Mr. H. A. de Dassel, who arrived in Sydney during the week as chief operator on the Largs Bay, left Sydney on the Clan McMaster and joined the new liner in London. He is a Sydney trained main. Three Australians — Messrs. C. W. Donne (chief), T. Britcher (second), and F. A. Noar (third) — are in charge of the wireless installation on the Moreton Bay. Mr. Donne is another of the brilliant operators coached by Mr. Vincent Gardiner at the Marconi School. Mr. H. Fullerton has signed off the Victoria for a holiday. His place is being filled by Mr Duggan, of the Tahiti. The vacancy on the Tahiti has been filled by Mr. E. M. Bain. Mr. Roy Mancer, whose experience on the transport Kyarra was recounted in this column, is now managing the Marconi School in Sydney.

Tahiti Does Good Work. R.M S. Tahiti on her last trip to Sydney was in constant communication with San Francisco, over a distance of 3500 miles.

Answers to Questions. C. J. C. (North Sydney): As we do not know what kind of apparatus you are using it is impossible to give you the connections. Any wireless man, or any of the shops selling apparatus would only be too pleased to tell you, or you can send us a list. The part you mention can be purchased for about 2s 6d. B. S. (Glebe Point): At your age it should not be hard for you to learn the code. The technical knowledge required for such a set as you would be starting with is practically nil. The cost or everything would be about £5 10s. "IONA SET" (Edgecliff): You certainly would not get any results with a loop aerial. The firm you hint at says that you could get the concerts on a crystal set at the distance, if you use a two-wire aerial 100 feet long and 30 feet high. No tikker would be required in the circuit. EXPERIMENTER (Marrickville): Funabashi, or Chosi, as the station is now, uses the call letters J.J.C. He sends out his time signals At 10 p.m. (Sydney time) on a wave length of 5000 metres. He is a spark station. R. C. M. (Edgecliff): No. 1 is a radio frequency amplying circuit. Signals are much louder providing there are no statics or induction. No. 2 is an audio frequency amplying circuit. Signals are much better than in the other circuit if there is statics or induction. The reason is that the radio frequency circuit amplifies statics much more than audio frequency circuits. You will overcome the insulating difficulty by putting in a grid condenser of .0002 M.F. Send in your questions. The "Evening News" will answer them in this column, which appears every Saturday.

Is He Too Young? The following interesting letter has reached us:— "I have been reading the wireless column in the "News," and I want my father to buy me a small set. He thinks I am too young, as I am only eight and a half years. Please let me know if I am too young to have a small set; and will you tell me how much will it cost, as dad has promised to buy me one as soon as I am old enough. Will you please let me know where to get full particulars, because my uncle, who was in the wireless corps in the war, will help me with it if father buys it.— M.C. (Paddington)." The younger you are the better you learn, and the more time you have to learn. We are having full particulars sent you.

1922 02 25

Fifth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 25 February 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News from Everywhere. PREPARING FOR THE WONDER CONCERTS. BY DOTDASH

Mr. A. F. Vipan. Photo Caption. There are many wireless operators who have passed through thrilling adventures at sea, but it is doubtful whether any of the present day men have gone as near to death as Mr. Alton Vipan, now at Koo-we-rup station in Victoria. In 1917 he joined the steamer Aparima at Sydney for a voyage through the war zone to England. While steaming along the English Channel young Vipan hardly ever had the 'phone headpiece off, and it was his devotion to duty that nearly brought death to him. The Aparima was hit by a torpedo, which tore such a hole in her hull that she foundered in a few minutes. Vipan stuck to his post with his faithful assistant, wirelessing for help, and warning other vessels of the danger. Despite that the vessel was rapidly sinking, messages were sent and received until the emergency accumulators failed. Then the Aparima took a plunge, carrying to the bottom Vipan and his pal. By some miracle he broke open his cabin door below the water and was washed through the opening to the surface. He still had the 'phones on when the rescue ship picked him up. The assistant was drowned. All this young Australian ever says about this near-to-death adventure is that he was more lucky than his assistant. Time Signals. Have you started checking up the house clocks with the time signals from Eiffel Tower (FL) or Funabashi (JJC)? It Is one sure way of getting Greenwich time. This form of home hobby is attracting many new experimenters, and for their benefit this paragraph is written. Of course the "listener" must not expect time signals to be broadcasted in the same way as an ordinary traffic message. To send only a few words, giving the hour would be of no use to the men at sea, because by the time the message was tapped off the hour would be passed. Therefore, knowing that the clocks aboard ship, and in your home, too, must be accurate, for many varied reasons, a special method has been adopted. Take Funabashi, in Japan, for instance. At 8.59 p.m. (Central Japan standard time), Funabashi sends out dashes for 55 seconds, after which, a suspension of five seconds, is followed by a dash continuing for one second. If you get that dash you know you have the time. While waiting the Japanese stations get busy, and listen to the man at the Eiffel Tower station despatching the international time-signals. If your valves are oscillating at they should be at 8 p.m you might easily catch the time from France, and then later on check it with that sent from Japan.

Cheap "B" Batteries. The leading experimenter, Mr. Charles Maclurcan, whose splendidly equipped station at Agnes-street, Strathfield, is the end of all wireless men, has been tackling the high cost of "B" batteries with great success. At a cost of about 10 shillings he has just completed an accumulator "B" battery of 60 volts, which is practically everlasting. It is charged from the 240 volt A.C. house lighting mains through a four-cell electrolytic rectifier, using only half of the A.C. cycle. One charge takes about 10 minutes, and is sufficient for about four hours' continuous working. The battery is made with 30 cells, each consisting of a glass test tube 6 inches by 1 inch. The plates are cut from sheet-lead 7 inches by 1 inch and are curved to fit the shape of the tube. A sheet glass separator is placed between the plates to keep them from short-circuiting. These separators may be cut from old photographic plates. The cell should be placed in some kind of rack made of wood, but before putting them into position it is advisable to melt a little paraffin wax and immerse it in the open end of each tube to a depth of about half an inch, to prevent the acid electroylte from "creeping." When all the tubes, plates, and separators hare been assembled in the holder, fill each tube to within an inch of the top with a weak solution of sulphuric acid and distilled water, specific gravity 1.200. The battery is now ready for charging. It should be charged and discharged several times before being put in commission to "form" the positive plates. To make the rectifier get four pint jam jars and fill with a saturated solution of borax and distilled water. In each jar immerse two plates, one of sheet-lead and one of sheet-aluminium. These plates may be 3 inches by 1½ inch. The four cells are connected in series with one wire of the lighting mains, and then on to the accumulator battery. The other wire of the main passes through a 100 volt 16 c.p. lamp, and then on to the other pole of the battery. The charging rate with the lamp in series is about four amps. For the first charge it does not matter which way the battery is connected as both plates in it are alike. But after the first charge it will be noticed that one plate in each cell has turned a dark chocolate color. This is then the positive plate, and the terminals of the battery should be plainly marked, and always connected the same way, as in the first charging. A drop or two of kerosene put into each cell, both battery and rectifier, prevents undue evaporation of the electrolyte.

Out in the Never Never. Out in the Never Never country of New South Wales there are millions of acres of virgin land, calling to settlers; but the loneliness of life is too big a barrier for the city man, and he prefers taking his chances in the big towns. That there is not all the avenues of communication to keep the outback in hourly touch with the rest of the world is the one drawback to the emptying of the city's overflow population. Wireless is the means of solving that problem. Wherever man can live, so this magic ether wave will bring the news which is dailt sought by his brothers in the metropolis. Is there any reason why the telegraph operators in all the way-back towns should not receive daily messages from the city? Wireless enthusiasts say that such a scheme is practicable. Life out there would be made, at least tolerable if wireless was brought into use. The learning of the Morse code is easy enough, and the working of the receiving set can be mastered in a few hours. Then, again, those who are plucky enough to tackle life at the back of beyond could, with the same apparatus, spend the nights listening to musical and vocal items which will be sent out by that wonderful invention — the wireless telephone. Those ether waves are already hovering over the far western plains, loaded with the latest news from all parts of the world. Does anyone want to pick them up? There is a chance for the opening of those vast spaces if wireless is applied.

Another Projected Club. The formation of the first military radio club is under consideration by the O.C. 1st Divisional Signal Section (Lieutentant O. F. Mingay). The objective is to create an active interest in radio work generally with reference to its military and amateur application. All members of the wireless section of the 1st Divisional Signals are requested to attend at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, on Monday evening next at 7:45, so that the question of a club can be finalised. Classes will be commenced immediately, so that amateurs may obtain instruction in all classes of radio work. Any other trainees of the 1st Division area who are interested, also ex-A.I.F. wireless men, will be welcome. Lieutenant Mingay, who is a member of the Wireless Institute, hopes that in the near future the Military Radio Club will become a section of the institute. He intends having the question of forming sections of the institute in the suburbs and country districts brought up at the next general meeting of members.

Music by 'Phone. Are you guessing what wave length will be used to broadcast the wireless concerts and dance music? Many inquiries have been received seeking information on this point, but for obvious reasons the wave length cannot be disclosed just yet. It is not intended however, to spring the good news on the amateurs. This column will give the details of the necessary adjustments in ample time. Miss Nellie Kolle, a telegraphist, and principal boy in pantomime, will be in Sydney within a fortnight, to arrange the vocal programme for the opening concert. She writes:— "Tell the boys I'll soon have the best available talent on the list for the opening night. Won't it be great to sing at Wireless House, and be heard in the home of every experimenter within a radius of 100 miles? My theatrical friends think the idea just wonderful." As soon as Miss Kolle completes her programme. It will be printed first in this column. It is planned that the vocal items will start at 8 p.m., and run through to 10 pm.

Bedstead Aerial. Don't worry if you find you have not enough money to purchase an aerial wire. If all your other parts are in good order, just carry them into your bedroom, and connect the receiver with the bedpost. You will get signals all right, for the ether wave is just as active there as in your garden. Just to find how hard it is to shut out the waves, lock the windows, and close the doors. You may go further and withdraw all the air in the room until you create a vacuum, and still the signals will be present. Should you make up your mind to put this extreme test in operation, be sure you get out of the room before the air is withdrawn. Only ether waves — not human beings —can live in a vacuum.

Answers to Questions. A.E.W. (Bulli): (1) About 200 miles (2) On long wave lengths only. (3) Whether you will get the concerts depends on the location of your station. Are you surrounded by highlands? You must use proper telephones, of 2000 ohms resistance. Three-ply 22 gauge wire would be better for your aerial. M.M. (Epping): The total cost of the plant you mention should be well under £10. If you will send your full address we will return you full information as to where to get it, price, etc. Certainly it is possible for a woman to operate a receiving set. C.B. (Breeza): The Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, 97 Clarence-street, City, will give you a correspondence course. You should become proficient in 12 months. Reader (Chatswood): (1) About 800 miles. (2) Pennant Hills does not send out time signals, but broadcasts a weather report each night (Sundays excepted) at 8.30 p.m. (3) The prices range from 25s to 37s. A good one is the V24 type which takes 28 volts on the plate, and five or six on the filament. B.S. (Glebe): Only too glad to send you the particulars. You should have them by now.

BLESSED BY THE POPE. Do you know that Pope Benedict XV. was so impressed with wireless telegraphy that in February, 1916 he officially blessed the science, because of its services to mankind? Radio telegraphy has been the direct means of saving thousands of lives. MISS NELLIE KOLLE, who is organising the vocalists for the wireless concerts.

1922 03 04

Sixth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 4 March 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for the Amateur. NEW CLUBS HELP SCIENCE ALONG. BY DOTDASH

MR. HAROLD BUICK. Photo Caption. To be operator on a vessel laden with 3000 tons of high explosives and hear another vessel calling S.O.S. indicating the presence of a U boat, is not an event tending to make one comfortable. Yet that was the experience through which Mr. Harold E. Buik passed when he was on the Aorangi. It was the Falaba that had been hit. She was the first passenger ship torpedoed in the Great War. For the present Mr. Buik has come ashore, and is now chief instructor to the Marconi School in Sydney. He has had 12 years' experience as an operator, and has reached a high standard of proficiency in the theory of wireless. In fact, he is the Fleming of the Sydney Marconi School. Like many other men who take shore jobs, Mr. Buik is an ardent worker in the interests of amateurs, and holds office as president of the North Sydney Radio Club.

New Clubs Formed. How wireless experimenting is going ahead may be judged by the enthusiastic gatherings to form clubs in the City and suburbs. This is all good for the enthusiast, for the more he gets together in organised bodies, the more will the authorities sit up and take notice when approached for the inevitable relaxation of restrictions. It has been suggested from some quarters that a large number of clubs will not enable the amateurs to present a united front to authority. But this is wrong, for a conference of delegates from the clubs could easily be arranged. In the meantime clubs are being formed and many are projected. It is a healthy sign, and amateurs would be well advised to join the club in their suburb or district, or get together and form one. We shall need all the organisation we can get when the time comes. A lusty infant is the Metropolitan Radio Club, formed recently by a gathering of over 70 persons. The present intention of this body is to have mixed social and wireless evenings, and the idea seems to be a popular one. Already the membership of the club is nearing the hundred mark, and names are still being entered in its register. The very small subscription is another popular feature. The following office-bearers were appointed by the meeting:— President, R. C. Marsden; secretary, A. Mitchell; treasurer, Miss F. V. Wallace; committee, W. G. Best, W. Bird, and P. Sewell. Another recently formed body is the North Sydney Radio Club. There are many amateurs on the "Shore," and their support is bound to make the club a success. Its officers are:— President, H. E. Buik; vice-president, C. McClure; treasurer. J. O'Brien; secretary, M. Rich; committee, C. Lisle, Parker, and R. Vautier. Particulars as to membership of the North Sydney Club may be obtained from the secretary, "Wimmera," Alfred-street, North Sydney.

The Wireless Telephone. The telephone to be used for transmitting human voices for the wireless concerts at the end of this month is a wonderful apparatus enclosed in a cabinet about the size of a piano. Singing into a trumpet-like arrangement, the voice reaches the microphone, and then a powerful valve (type MT4) is actuated by the vibrations from the microphone. These vibrations in turn are sent on to the aerial and radiated by means of electric waves, which are identical in character to the vibrations set up in the microphone by the human voice. The receiving apparatus reverses this process. The aerial in your garden picks up these waves, which are rectified by receiving valves. It is in the telephones that the great transformation takes place. From the vibrations passed on by the valves the telephone reproduces the human voice. So that, although the voice at the other end has been carried through space for, say 100 miles, without being heard, it reaches your home just as perfect as it was spoken into the transmitter.

Function of Detector. Do you know why your telephones cannot be connected direct to the aerial? This is a point often raised by beginners who are at all times looking for cheapness in costs of installations. The reason it cannot be done is that the electrical vibrations, when first picked up by the aerial, have too high a frequency for the human ear to detect. It becomes necessary, therefore, to rectify them, or to reduce the rate of vibration to an audible frequency. The human ear is most sensitive to a frequency of 900 vibrations a second. When it is remembered that the frequency, if the telephones were direct on to the aerial, would be 500,000, it will be readily seen that an enormous reduction has to be made before the signals can be read.

A Condenser Hint. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan gives a hint to experimenters:— When making or purchasing a variable air condenser for the receiving set, it is of utmost importance to know the minimum as well as the maximum capacity, and to choose an instrument with as low a minimum as possible. Now that honeycomb coils and other like forms of concentrated inductances have become so popular, a number of coils can be saved provided the tuning condensers have a large difference between maximum and minimum capacity. For example:— Take a condenser having a maximum capacity of .001 m.f. and a minimum of .0001 m.f., shunting a honeycomb coil of 30,000,000 cms. inductance. The circuit will tune from 3300 metres wave-length to 10,320 metres. If, however, a condenser having the same maximum capacity but a minimum of .00002 is used, then this same coil will tune from 1460 metres up to 10,320 metres. Therefore, when constructing a variable condenser make sure that the plates separate at least quarter inches when in the minimum position.

Wireless Compass. Wireless has been applied to another sphere tor the saving of life. A modernly-equipped vessel nowadays carries a wireless compass, which in the event of a failure in taking sights, enables the skipper to get his true bearings. The working of this compass is simple. Supposing two ships become "lost" in a fog, the operators would be able to keep the masters posted with the exact position of each, and so avoid the risk of collision. Then again a vessel entering port in thick weather can take her bearings from a land station, and in conjunction with the usual soundings would be ensured a safe passage. The Italian warship Libia, now in Sydney Harbor, carries a wireless compass. It is at present being overhauled by Amalgamated Wireless Limited. Radio Personalities. Every time you hear V.L.A. (Awanui, N.Z.). Just think kindly of the operator, Mr. Jack L. Davies, one of the most popular wireless men in Australasia. He provides amateurs in Sydney with a great amount of practice in receiving, and his excellent timing and spacing makes it easy to read his signals. During his career in New Zealand he has been officer in charge at Wellington (V.L.W.), Auckland (V.L.D.), Awarua (V.L.B.), and Chatham Islands (V.L.C.). When the New Zealand troops took possession of Apia (V.M.G.), Mr. Davies was officer in charge of the radio station there. The station at Apia is the connecting link from Samoa to the international telegraph system, via Awanui, or alternatively Suva. There are no cables at Samoa, so wireless does the job. Mr. Malcolm Perry, formerly secretary to the Wireless Institute (N.S.W. Division) is now handling the Experimental Wireless Department of Australectric, Limited. For many years an advanced student in radiotelegraph, and the possessor of the finest amateur serial in Australasia, Mr. Perry is ever ready to assist amateurs. Out of the ever changing register of ships and operators, the following were noticed this week. A. S. Smith, to the Canberra; D. T. Quinn, to the Cooma; F. Ouvrier to the Australglen; J. A. Guy to the Australmead; H. Fullerton, to the Makambo; W. Hill, to the Australbrook; H. L. Byrne, to the Koolonga; and V. M. Brooker, to the Bulls.

Cheap "B" Batteries. Mr. C. Maclurcan, Strathfield, writes: — in printing the description of the accumulator "B" battery in your last Saturday's issue there was a slight error. The charging rate should be point 4 amps, instead of 4 amps., as printed. Enthusiast (Newtown): (a) We would suggest a complete crystal set. (b) About £5, excluding aerials, which should cost about 10s. (c) No course would be necessary. Your best plan would be to join an amateur Radio club, or get the full information from the place where you purchase a set. There are many good books on elementary radio telegraphy. (d) By mixing and talking with experimenters at a club, for instance. What little there is to learn for a start you would soon pick up. (e) The law is that you must have an experimenter's license. Application should be made to the Director of Radio Telegraphy, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. You should not approach the science with awe just because it is "wireless." J. B. (Ashfield): Your circuit looks all right, and the only reason for your trouble would seem to be your aerials. Have you made sure that they touch nothing when they sway in the wind? Have a look at the lead-in wire too, and tighten both. The solution should be made by dissolving as much borax as possible in the distilled water. K. W. (Quaker's Hill): We would advise you to start with a crystal set. With regard to the price we are sending you lists. There are many works on wireless telegraphy; any one giving the fundamental principles should be of use to you. The Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, 97 Clarence-street, Sydney, will give you information about the school. You should become proficient in the time mentioned. The first article appeared in the "Evening News" of Saturday, January 28 last, and every Saturday since. Enthusiast (Sydney): You will have to apply for a license, and it will cost you, if granted, £2. Application should be made to the Director of Radio Telegraphy, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. The distance from which you will receive messages depends on your set. Your aerials will be quite efficient if properly constructed and set up. In America the authorities encourage amateurs in radiotelegraphy. In Australia, hard and fast rules retard the experimenter. Result: America, 250,000 amateurs; Australia, 900. The set with which the wireless concerts are to be sent out. Photo Caption.

1922 03 11

Seventh "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 11 March 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News from Everywhere. A SYDNEY K.C. EXPERIMENTER. BY DOTDASH

MR. VINCENT GARDINER Sales Manager for Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, who is also an expert in radiotelegraphy. Photo Caption. Few wireless operators in the Australian mercantile marine have had more practical experience than Mr. Vincent Gardiner, now sales manager for Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, of Sydney. He made his first voyage in the Allen Liner, Victorian (13,000 tons), as far back as 1911. For a year he was on the Atlantic run, and during that time passed through some terrifically bad weather. Once on the Lake Manitoba, one of the worst storms on record raged, and the liner was eight days overdue on a 10 days' voyage. Leaving the service of the Marconi International Company, Mr. Gardiner joined the Union Company's steamer Maunganui, and was operator of that vessel when she made her maiden voyage to Australia. Since then he has sailed in the Tahiti, Ulimaroa, Niagara, Paloona, Dorset, and Indarra. During his service at sea Mr. Gardiner travelled 186,000 miles, which, by the way, is the exact distance covered by an ether wave in a second. Coming ashore from the Indarra, he became instructor at the Marconi School in Sydney. Some of the school's most successful operators have to thank Mr. Gardiner for coaching them through to the "A" class ticket. Not only did this much-travelled operator learn the mysteries of wireless. At the British School of Telegraphy, in London, he took a complete course in land telegraphy, cablegraphy, and automatic Wheatstone operating.

King's Counsel Experiments. Among wireless enthusiasts Mr. Frank Leverrier, K.C., is considered to be the first wireless experimenter in Australia. He commenced experiments away back in March, 1900, just 22 years ago. Those were the days when little was known about wireless, and text books were not available. An "Evening News" representative enjoyed a visit to his station, Waverley, and could not help being struck by Mr. Leverrier's original ideas. He makes and designs all his own ap-paratus. His first detectors consisted of oxidised steel points, balancing on polished sheet steel. With this he used to experiment, transmitting signals from his billiard-room to the workshop. As the years progressed, Mr. Leverrier operated with coherers, magnetic, electrolytic and crystal detectors, and is now busy constructing a six-valve resistance coupled set, using Marconi V.24 valves. Mr. Leverrier was the first president of the Wireless Institute, which he as-sisted in forming in March, 1910, and it is an honor to New South Wales that the first institute of its kind in the whole of the British Empire should be formed in this State. The King's Counsel has now joined forces with his son, Frank, and it was interesting hearing father and son discussing together the type of apparatus that might be used 10 years hence.

A Radio Dinner. Once a year the Wireless Institute has a night out. It is a very proper night, however. The occasion is the annual dinner. This year it is to be held at the Pekin Cafe, and the night is next Tuesday. Representatives of all radio clubs will be present. Invitations have been sent to men prominent in the study of the science of wireless. The menu shows how lovers of wireless cling to technical terms. The bill of fare is:— Iron Cored Olives in Oil Condensers. Oscillating Oysters on Short Circuited Cells. Static Soup with Grid Leeks. Aerial Fish with Resistance Scales (adjustable Diaphragms necessary for Receiver). Poulet Roti Jambon de York Pommes Pailles. C.Q. Q.R.U. Watts this? Earthed Asparagus. Charlotte Russe on Contact Studs. Amalgamated Fruit. Terminal Coffee without X's. Sundries.— Cutout Champagne in Crystal Cups, Variable Beer, Knives and Forks free, Hook Ups 2 mfds extra. There is to be some speeches, too, the toast list being:— "The King;" "The Institute," proposed by Mr. Tatham, responded to by president; "Kindred Societies," proposed by Mr. Wilson, responded to by Mr. Marsden (Met. Radio Club), Mr. Bowman (Waverley Club), Mr. Buik (North Syd-ney Club); "Visitors," proposed by Mr. Perry; "Officers of the Institute," proposed by Mr. Flynn, responded to by Messrs. Renshaw and Stowe.

Military Radio Club. Discussion centred in a proposition for forming one big Military Radio Club at the last meeting of that body. It is proposed to invite the wireless sections of the First, Second, and Cavalry Divisions to join up. The prospective membership is 140. In addition many trainees and ex-military wireless men may be expected to link up. Lieutenant Mingay wants it known that the movement was started with the idea of encouraging the use of radio by amateurs. The following are the objects suggested: — To increase by voluntary effort the efficiency of the military radio sections. To promote the knowledge of all members in the art and science of radio work. To promote classes. To establish a library. To assist, by mutual effort, every member to possess his own radio set. It is further aimed that classes be held on three or four nights each week for lectures and buzzer practice. A lecture will be delivered on Monday night at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park.

Concert Time. Wireless concert time is approaching. It can now be definitely stated that the apparatus which will be used to send out the concerts will be ready to undergo trials within 10 days, so that by about the end of the month the first programme should be transmitted. The wave length, the all-important factor to the amateur, who is going to listen in, is still a secret, but the veil will be lifted through this column next Saturday. In the meantime overhaul your aerial, clean the connections, test the 'phones, and be patient.

Sensitive Receivers. In selecting telephones, the amateur should make sure of securing the most sensitive receiver. There are many makes on the market, but only one with an adjustable diaphragm. That is the product of the S. G. Brown Company, of London, and is recognised as the most sensitive of all. If you should be using Brown's, there are several points to remember. First of all place the 'phones on your head, and turn the milled-head screw to the right, until a metallic click is heard. Then turn the screw back about an eighth of an inch until a "breathing" sound is audible. You know then the adjustment is correct.

Dignity and Impudence. Hillcrest, San Francisco, always was a particularly busy station, as every operator who has been on the Pacific Coast knows. One night, not long back, 'Frisco had been clearing all his coastwise traffic, and his sing-song spark seemed to breathe an air of "thank goodness" when midnight came with no ships calling. The operator then settled down to "work" the steamer Shinyo Maru, inward bound from Honolulu, about 1800 miles off. "Traffic" was being speedily handled, when K.P.H. (Hillcrest) was upset by a little coaster, which was right under his aerials, and couple of miles off, calling on K.P.H., KPH. To make matters worse, the coaster was making bad weather, and at times her signals stopped as she rolled. K.P.H. told him to keep quiet. Still the coaster came back with K.P.H., K.P.H. "Oh!" wirelessed K.P.H., "get out." But the man on the little craft would not be shaken off, so he again called up the big station. Then, K.P.H. proceeded to tell him, in the plainest American, what he thought, and finished up by pleading to the crew of the coaster to look to the aerials. "Get on the roof, you son of a gun; get on the roof," flashed from Hillcrest. Then an awful silence ensued. The operator on the small vessel had got the message right. The big station then began to let go the full force of the great 25 K.W. station right into the ears of the "little fellow," who was distant about two miles. The clanging of those signals in his telephones was more than he could stand, and he went into harbor without again calling anyone.

Refused £1000 a Year Grant. There are some men who put science first and monetary considerations second. One is Professor Branley, the well-known French experimenter. He was recently asked to accept a grant of £1000 a year in recognition for what he has done in the interests of wireless telegraphy. The request was from the Chamber of Deputies (French Government). Just 30 years ago Branley devised the coherer, an appliance for detecting ether waves. He discovered that these waves had the power of affecting the electric conductivity of materials when in the state of a powder.

Amplifier Hint. Mr. Charles Maclurcan, Strathfield, writes:— "Many experimenters are frequently disappointed with results when they make their first attempts with transformer coupled audio-frequency amplifiers. Often they state that signals are not as loud as with a single valve. "Let them try the simple expedient of reversing the filament battery, which may result in a surprising increase in signal strength. Remember always to place the filament resistance in the positive lead, and join the negative lead to the negative side of the "B" or high-tension battery."

Good Old Stand-by. There is one piece of apparatus, that has always been a "lovable" pal to experimenters. It is the loose coupler. Starting, as all amateurs do, with the crystal, the loose coupler is a necessary part of the apparatus for accurate tuning, and, unlike many other appliances, has not to be discarded when, as you progress, you change over to tbe more up-to-date method of reception by the valves. The function of the coupler is to pro-vide variable coupling between the aerial and detector circuits. It also enables the perfection of tuning. In valve circuits it may also be used as a tickler coil. Experience has proved that it is advisable not to completely envelop the secondary coil with the first. The best results are obtained generally when the primary covers half, or even less, of the secondary. The wave length of the coupler can easily be increased by the addition of induction, and variable condensers.

Questions Answered. To S. INGRAM (Brookvale): If you increase the length of your aerial another 50 feet and raise it 20 feet, the signals will come in much stronger. Solder your earth connections. You will increase the wave length by inserting inductance in the aerial circuit, and by connecting a condenser in parallel to the secondary inductance. You would get signals much stronger if you inserted another condenser in series with the aerial circuit, as more exact tuning would then be obtained. Galena is the best crystal to use. To "BEGINNER" (Rose Bay): You can obtain the apparatus from Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., 97 Clarence-street, Sydney. The coat is about £10.

Don't! If your licence is for a crystal receiver, don't use valves. The risk of detection is too great, and so is the penalty.

1922 03 18

Eighth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 18 March 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NEWS FOR AMATEURS. Wave Length for Concerts. BY DOTDASH

MR. E. A. BURBURY Acting technical superintendent Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, who tests all amateur apparatus. Photo Caption. Standing to the forefront of Australia's experts in wireless telegraphy is Mr. E. A. Burbury, acting technical superintendent of Amalgamated Wireless, Limited. He is the man behind the scenes who is the backbone of the movement to bring to success a great army of amateur experimenters. Every piece of apparatus that the amateur uses is tested by him before it goes on to the market, and that accounts for signals being received on the first attempt. In 1911 Mr. Burbury was an amateur experimenter in Tasmania. Two years later he joined the marine staff of Amalgamated Wireless, and from that year he made great advancement in the science of radiotelegraphy. While in China, in 1917, Mr. Burbury fitted up the troopship Hermelin, and then became operator on the vessel. For two years he was trading between the East and Mesopotamia. That job through, he went to the Marconi works in Chelmsford (Eng.), and studied the latest apparatus, so that he could assist in the manufacture of the parts in Australia. Last year he went to Victoria, and under his supervision Koo-we-rup station was established. All the experience gained in these years of practical study is now freely passed on to amateurs. Mr. Burbury is truly the amateur's best friend.

Signals by Taste. Will the wonders of wireless ever cease? Something new is always turning up, and no one man in the whole world can say just where or when the limit of possibility is going to be reached. Even the days of the aerial for catching the mystery waves are numbered. The human tongue may take the place of the wires. Tests have been made to determine the feasibility of reception of wireless signals by the sense of taste. Preliminary experiments with low-potential direct current, 60-cycle alternating current, and buzzer signals, showed that by using electrodes placed on the tip of the tongue it was possible to receive signals when the audibility of the signals was greater than 500. The possible speed of reception is limited to a maximum of 10 words a minute, because of the characteristics of the taste organs. Results show that it is possible to receive signals in this way, but that the method is very much inferior to methods making use of the sense or hearing or of sight.

Date of Concerts. The date of the first wireless concert will be announced in this column next Saturday. That the innovation will be appreciated by all amateurs is evident from the number of letters reaching this office, and seeking particulars. It has been arranged that the concerts will be sent out strong enough to be heard by amateurs up to 100 miles from the city, while as far as 300 miles should be spanned at sea. The dance is going to be the thing. Already requests have been made by amateurs, anxious to arrange a home dance, for the publication of the time of transmitting each item, so that the families may be ready. There is no need for such information, however, for the whole of the programme will be called by a human voice in every home. The man operating will first introduce the performer, give the title of the item, and then allow a minute or two for final adjustment. It is intended to intermingle vocal items with the dance music, on the first night, so that those who do not jazz may meet in the homes of the amateurs, and enjoy the novelty of listening to a singer who may be a hundred miles away. For a start, a programme to fill in an hour and a half will be prepared. Later on this will be added to, until the amateur will have two or three hours free music on three or four nights a week. Valves are expensive, yet to be without one is to put yourself out of range with the long-distance stations, where the good news comes from. The best advice that can be given to preserve valves is to take care. Fool proof devices have not yet been made for the prevention of burning out valve filaments, and the same may be said of an ordinary electric light. A resistance, in series with the filament of the valve is commonly used, but have you ever tried using filament fuses? These can be purchased in Sydney.

"As It Should Be." It was in the young and palmy days of wireless. He had never attended a wireless school, for there weren't any, consequently his theory was what an operator would call "wonky." After spending a few months on a Telefunken set, he was transferred to a Marconi apparatus, and right there his troubles commenced. His first night on watch, he had occasion to call V.I.S. (Sydney), which in those days was P.O.S. The moment he pressed the key, he had the fright of his life. A deafening crack across the earth arrester did it. Never having heard such a row on his Telefunken set, he acquainted P.O.S. of the "discovery." P.O.S., like a good chap, told him to take off the top plate and clean it. He did. The result was a louder crack. P.O.S. thereupon said:— "Well, old man, I hear you O.K. so carry on to Cairns and report the trouble on arrival." "Right oh. Thanks," came as a reply. So he carried on. At a northern port he compared notes with other Marconi operators, and found that all of the ships sparked in the same place. So they mutually agreed that things were as they should be. Meanwhile P.O.S. was quite concerned, and made inquiries. Then he wirelessed the following message to his comrade: P.O.S. to —. "Say, old man, no need to report about that noise. It should spark there." —, to P.O.S.: "Thanks. Three other ships do the same, so it must spark there to work." P.O.S. to —: O.K., Q.R.U. — to P.O.S.: Thanks, G.Bi."

Transmitting Licenses. If the Governments of Canada and America can see much good in issuing transmitting licenses to amateurs, why should Australians not be similarly treated? It cannot be said that the amateur in this country is less brainy than his fellow experimenters oversea, for results prove that even with the drastic restrictions in Australia, wonderful results are obtained. Out of the hundreds of amateurs in this State, only two have been able to get permission to instal a transmitting set. In other countries, where wireless has long been a tremendous factor in communication, thousands of experimenters may transmit. Of course, they are not allowed to use any standard wave-length, so that they never interfere with traffic work. The Canadian authorities give the amateur his choice of wave lengths. It must, however, be either 50 metres or 200 metres. The latter is as much as any experimenter wants, for in a recent test on a 200 metre wave length, an amateur sent a message across the Atlantic. When the Commonwealth Government eases up a bit on the present restrictions wireless will become a household word in Australia.

Dry Cells Recharged. Do you know that dry cells can be recharged? Such is not generally known to the amateur, but it is, nevertheless, easy of accomplishment. During the war, dry cells were refreshed by injecting water through the gas vents into the depolarizer. The cells were also charged like accumulators, with some success. Should you decide to experiment on these lines, this is what you must do. First take the cell to pieces, clean it, patch up the zinc, if possible, and charge ten cells in series, by a current of 0.2 amp on a 24 volt circuit for 20 hours; the electrolyte is water to which ammonium chloride is added. Continued experiments, with 12,000 cells showed that a prolongation of twelve months, and even longer was obtained. The general opinion is that the electrolytic charging is probably responsible for not more than 10 per cent. of the success, since very good results are obtained where no means of electrolytic charging are available. Some telegraph stations during the war had to rely on cells regenerated by one of these methods.

Military Association. The Military Radio Association has been formed. Headed by such keen workers as Colonel J. E. Fraser, D.S.O. (provisional president), and Mr. O. F. Mingay (secretary), it is sure to succeed. The first of a series of lectures dealt with military radio communication in Palestine and Syria, and was delivered by Major D. F. Farrow (chief signal instructor). It future lectures are as instructive as the opening one, the association should have "full houses" on every meeting night. The secretary can be communicated with either at the Returned Soldiers' League, 118 Pitt-street, or by telephone to Wahroonga 733. Questions Answered To Misses McCarthy (Randwick): Yes, you should soon become proficient in the reading of signals. If you have any difficulty with apparatus, write. To J. C. (Junee): Aerial arrangements are O.K., but you would get better results if you

MYSTERY WAVE LENGTH: The wireless telephone concerts will be broadcasted on a 1100 metre wave length. Be ready.

GUIDE FOR AMATEURS. To help amateurs the "Evening News," in its shipping news column, publishes daily the call signals of all vessels within wireless range.

1922 03 25

Ninth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 25 March 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NEWS FOR AMATEURS. Programme for Wireless Concert. BY DOTDASH

Did you catch those mysterious musical notes on Saturday night? The wireless concerts have not actually started, but the first trial has been held, and was a complete success. The wave used was as stated in this column, 1100 metres — but it will not be used again. In fixing the 1100 metres, it was thought that such would make it impossible to interfere with traffic work, but there was a slight interference, and if you have adjusted your apparatus on those lines, just alter it to work on 1250. Some of the advanced experimenters had wonderful results on the trial, notwithstanding the date had been kept secret. They knew the wave metre, however, and stood by night after night ready to catch anything that may be going. It came on Saturday night. That the concerts are going to be a success is undoubted, and reports show that the full programme used on trial night was heard up to 150 miles away from the city. Here are the results and opinions of some of those who were lucky:— Mr. Leverrier, K.C.: Good; signals roared in, friends entertained and pleased, concert a great success. E. T. Vears, Katoomba: Caruso record exceptionally fine. F. Marsden, Waverley: The singing of Mr. Cotterill was fine and clear. C. Maclurcan, Strathfield: Great success. The next programme, to be sent out Wednesday, will be:— 7.30 p m — First item, Band Selection, by the Coldstream Guards Band. Song, "Somewhere a Voice is Calling," by Hubert Eisdel. Vocal selection by Benin Segna from Il Trovatore. Song by Mr. R. G. Cotterill, "Mary." Vocal selection by Challapine, "The Death of Boris." Vocal selection by Lee Slezak, from the opera, "Il Trovatore." Vocal selection by Signor Caruso from "La Boheme." Band selection by the Coldstream Guards Band. Interval of five minutes. Vocal selection by John McCormack from "La Boheme." Song by Morgan Kingston, "I Hear You Calling Me." Vocal selection by Signor Caruso from "Pagliacci." Song by Mr. R. Cotterill, "Mother Machree." Song by Morgan Kingston,"Parted." God Save the King.

Radio Club Busy. North Sydney Radio want to be the best equipped club in Australia. To merely receive messages is not enough for its members. Application has been made for permission to transmit, so that the members may become proficient in all that should be known by an operator. If the club succeeds in getting a license it may be the commencement of big things for the amateurs. As pointed out in this column last week, the Commonwealth Government is strictly opposed to the granting of transmitting licenses, but that has not deterred the club. The members have read all about the liberality of the Canadian and American Governments, and they know that in America over a quarter of a million amateurs nightly transmit. The granting of a transmitting license is the one thing that remains to be gained by the amateurs to bring the science in Australia up to the level of other countries. The brains are here, the opportunity is wanted.

What Next? Here is the latest in time signals. In Paris watchmakers and jewellers have found that wireless time signals can be received with such accuracy that 1500 of them have installed small wireless outfits to catch the time sent from Eiffel Tower. They get the time at 10 o'clock, and right away check up the clocks. The installation is simplicity itself. The outfit, about 9 inches in diameter, is hung on a nail on the wall. Copper wire running down to the cellar, or along a water or gas pipe, serves as a ground wire while the removal of the bulb from an ordinary electric light, and the insertion of a contact plug take the place of antennae. The whole of this adjustment occupies but five minutes. Not only will this minature outfit bring in time signals. A recent test was made, and all the Press matter that went out from the Eiffel Tower station was brought into those 1500 jewellers' shops clear, clean, and easy to read.

Oh, That Telephone! China has caught the habit — the wireless telephone habit. Professor C. H. Robertson, a noted American lecturer, says so. He recently completed a six months' demonstrating tour through China and Japan. On the first day of his experiment the Celestials at Shanghai were amazed at what he did. When they heard him enter into an intelligible conversation with some mysterious individual in empty space, they believed that some new devil had entered their midst. The news of this "wonder man" spread rapidly, and at one time he had an audience of 15,000 natives. Before he left the city his lectures on the wireless telephone had been listened to by an aggregate of 300,000 people.

'Frisco Shows the Way. It takes America to do things on a big scale. Other countries have been delving into the wireless 'phone business, and all out after records. Then San Francisco got busy. Special preparations were made tor the sending across land of a lengthy musical programme the aim being to give an entertainment to people 1000 miles away. This may seem an impossible area to span on the telephone, but it was accomplished. As far down as Edmonton, 1400 miles, every item on the programme was distinctly heard. The success over such a great distance is the envy of Sydney wireless men, and they look forward to the day when nightly concerts will be exchanged between West Australia and Sydney and other long-distant points of the Commonwealth. It can be done. All it needs is an inducement.

Hint on Telephony. Mr. Charles Maclurcan, Strathfield, gives a hint to those using valves to receive the wireless telephone concerts. In order to receive telephony without distortion it is essential that the valve should not be oscillating. At the same time, if the signals are at all weak, the coupling of the reaction, or "tickler" coil must be as tight as possible. In short, the valve should be "just not" oscillating. It is most important that there should be no so-called "overlap" in the reactance coupling. That is, supposing you begin with the coupling loose, and the valve not oscillating, now tighten the coupling slowly till oscillation starts. Note the position of the coil then slowly loosen the coupling again. It there be no "overlap" then oscillation will cease when the coil is in exactly the same position as it was when oscillation commenced. This condition is what you should aim at and can only be brought about by correct design of reactance coil and by skilful adjustment of both "A" and "B" battery. When you have the apparatus thus functioning correctly a very desirable addition is a very small, variable condenser (say, two fixed and two movable plates, connected across the reactance coil. This will give a much finer adjustment than can be obtained by altering the coupling alone. Addition of capacity is equivalent to tightening the coupling.

A Black Out. He was a new operator, and his ship was making an Australian port. He had traffic for the big station there, and got it through all right; but he struck trouble when the man on shore tapped out the reply. Here is the conversation:— Ship to Shore: "Increase your signals, cannot get you." The man on shore shoved up the power until he was within a little of his maximum; but still the ship could not get him. Again came a request: "Increase your signals." This fairly got the shore station. "I'm shoving it all in, and throwing 5 K.W. at you; all that I've got left to chuck at you are a few coils; and if you don't get me right now, out they go, too." That ended it. The rest was a black out, and nothing further was heard from that ship.

Personals. Mr. George Williams, a popular assistant instructor at the Marconi schools, is having a run of bad luck. A week ago he was well and hearty. Today he is seriously ill with pneumonia, and is a patient at the Coast Hos-pital, Little Bay. Mr. N. W. Marshall, operator on the Urilla, has come ashore to take up Mr. Williams' duties at the school. One of Sydney's most popular wireless men, Mr. Vincent Gardiner, has broken down in health. He has gone out west to recuperate. More students at the Marconi School have succeeded in their examination for class certificates. The latest batch includes Messrs. B. N. Taylor, C. L. G. Cofey, C. L. Dawe, and L. E. Ashby. Mr. T. Alexander is now the first wire-less officer on the Bakara. He changed over from the Boorara. The Moira's operator is now Mr. E. T. Prentice. Before the Hobson's Bay left London three Australian wireless operators joined the ship for the voyage to Sydney. Mr. G. Maxwell took up Position No. 1, with Messrs. L. C. Farnsworth and G. T. Davies, as second and third operators respectively.

Questions Answered. To Beginner (Bankstown): £10 will get you the necessary apparatus. Inquire at Amalgamated Wireless, 97 Clarence-street. To Miss Thompson ("Arcadia," Strathfield): By adding a variable condenser in your primary circuit, you will get the desired results. To J. H. Constable (Byron-street, Coogee): (1) Yes. (2) No. Your circuit is audio frequency. (3) No. To W. C. Pyne (Ranfurly-road, Double Bay): (1) Apply P.M.G.'s Department, Melbourne. (2) Will advise you through these columns as soon as full information is available. To A. T. Coghlan (Tasmania): (1) You can sit for examination if you are 18 years of age or more. (2) Examinations held frequently. (2) No difficulty in obtaining experimental license. To L. C. Donovan (Manly): The answer to your question last week was quite clear. It is quite evident that your inability to receive signals is the result of a dirty connection.

SOMETHING TO DO. If every experimenter will write the Federal M.P. for his district, and urge that transmitting licences be granted to experimenters, the Government may relax existing restrictions. Try it, anyhow.

MR. MALCOLM PERRY one of the keenest experimenters in the State, is now attached to the Experimental Wireless Department of Australectic, Limited. He was secretary to the Wireless Institute of Australia from 1911 to 1921, and is now treasurer. He commenced experimenting in radio telegraphy in 1905, when a demonstration was given before the headquarters in the science room at the Sydney Grammar School.

1922 04 01

Tenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 1 April 1922

MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. BIG THINGS MOVING. By DOT DASH

The wireless amateur in Australia is a patient sufferer, hedged in by many unnecessary regulations and restrictions. The Government "stings" them for £2 per year for a receiving license, and when asked for permission to transmit, holds up its hands in horror, so to speak. But constant dripping will wear away a stone, and a drip in the form of the Wireless Institute has been steadily at work. There are now signs that the opposition is so worn that it may break at any moment. Big things are moving: the amateur may be assured of that, and those "in the know" say that six months will see many pleasant relaxations. It is probable that properly controlled transmission will be allowed; and receiving license fees reduced. The future is full of promise.

Mr. Stowe. Photo Caption. Mr. H. H. Stowe has been experimenting since 1908, and his apparatus is good enough to pick up signals from all parts of the world. He is a foundation member of the Wireless Institute, and has played a prominent part in its progress. Mr. Stowe possesses a thorough knowledge of wireless theory, and his services are always at the disposal of fellow experimenters.

Metropolitan Club. The general meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club was held at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, Sydney, last week, when about 70 enthusiasts turned up. The attendance would probably have been much higher, but a radio concert was being broadcast the same night, and many experimenters stayed at home to hear it. Those who attended the meeting, however, did not miss much. The ???? president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, sought permission from the authorities to take his single valve set. Willing hands strung a couple ???? the room, and soon ???? listening to the music ???? sent out from Wireless House, Clarence-street. After accepting the club's rules, the president read to a paper by Mr. P. Sewell on "Single-valve Circuits," and a lecture by Mr. F. Swinburne on "Honeycombe Coils." Musical items and a bit of good advice by the president (who stressed the necessity of experimenters getting receiving licenses) the gathering dispersed. The officers of the club are fully alive to their work, and members are promised something interesting at future meetings. The club's suggestion and question box is at Miss Wallace's wireless shop, 18 Royal Arcade. It it is desired that members make full use of it.

The Concerts. Experimenters were provided with another treat on Wednesday night, in the form of a concert sent out by the Amalgamated Wireless from their Clarence-street premises. For an hour and a-half there was radiated a programme of good vocal and musical items. A feature of the evening was an address to the unseen audience by Mr. Phil Renshaw, secretary of the Wireless Institute. So far, the concerts are still in the experimental stages, and those running the entertainments are determined to get the best results obtainable, for the benefit of the amateur. One drawback to the successful sending out of concerts is the aerial on top of the wireless house. It is so situated that a deal of the energy radiated from it is absorbed by the iron roof of a nearby building. This point is engaging attention and something will be done in the near future. Meanwhile, good reports concerning the reception of the concerts continue to come to hand. Owing to various work having to be done to the sending apparatus, the next trial concert will not be sent out till next week, probably Wednesday.

Institutes Gets a Home. The Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. division) goes into a new home today. A portion of Queen's Chambers, Dalley-street, City, was secured, and it is the intention of the council of the Institute to make a comfortable meeting-place for members. There will be a library, and buzzer sets will be installed to give members practice. A series of elementary lecture, for the benefit of the younger members, will be started shortly. Another feature will be the installation of of a complete transmitting and receiving set, for which a license has already been applied. The Institute will then work with branches in other States, and members, who have transmitting sets. The divisions of the Institute in West Australia and Victoria already have transmitting apparatus, and the South Australian body has an application in for permission to send. Mr. P. Renshaw, hon. secretary of N.S.W. division, wishes members to remember that the Institute's technical committee is always ready to assist them. Inquiries sent to him will be promptly handed on.

Crystal Detector Hints. Mr. Charles Maclurcan (Strathfield) gives a few hints to crystal detector users:— Avoid as far as possible touching the crystal with the bare fingers. The greasy deposit from the hand detracts from its sensitiveness. A crystal that has apparently lost its sensitiveness may often be revived by scrubbing it thoroughly with an old tooth brush dipped in benzine. Many crystals function quite well without a local battery, nevertheless, the addition of such a battery and potentiometer increases the sensitiveness of practically all crystals. As it is extremely important that the current from the battery should flow in a certain direction, the connections to it should be reversed during the reception of signals to find the correct polarity. The same effect may be obtained by simply turning the crystal about in its holder and leaving it where loudest signals are obtained.

Military Association. The first general meeting of the Military Radio Association will be held on Monday next at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, when the constitution as passed by the sub-committee will be presented for adoption. The members will be asked to elect the following office-bearers: President, three vice-presidents, secretary, and six committeemen. Mr. O. F. Mingay, who is acting secretary of the association, states that class rooms have been set apart at the Engineers' Depot for the use of members. It is specially desired that any military man interested in radio work will attend the meeting on Monday, when the proposals for the future, including the arrangements for the installing of a club transmitting and receiving set, will be set out.

Personal. Mr. Phil Renshaw, secretary to the Wireless Institute, is going to ???? for a holiday. The "man of the moment," Mr E. A. Burbury, of the Technical Department of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. is holidaying. Operators appointed during the past days to the ships shown against the respective names are:— A. F. Lawrence, Moeraki; J. B. Ponsonby, ????; H. F. Harman, Carina; V. E. Stark, Iron Monarch; E. McPherson, Kodonga??

Tuning for Concerts. "Inductance" (North Sydney) writes: The concerts are great and myself and many of my pals are getting them splendidly. I venture, however, to make a suggestion. It is this: That prior to all concerts, at a given time, five minutes of v's be sent out for tuning purposes. This was done on the first and subsequent occasion, and I can tell you it was a great boon to several of us who were not sure of our adjustments. Then again, the ranks of the amateurs are constantly being added to, and the v's would be of the greatest assistance to any one tuning in for the first time.

Answers to Questions. A. P. (Harris Park): (1) The best results would be obtained by using one set of 'phones. (2) The range is rather long, but the aerial is good, and, providing you have a good crystal and the other apparatus is O.K., you should get the concerts all right. C. P. S. (Hurstville): You can fasten the aerial to the tree, providing you insulate it, and keep it well clear of the branches. Be careful to allow a bit of slack in the wire if the tree is likely to move in the wind. "Condenser" (Chatswood): (1) We know of no place where you can get a valve repaired. (2) The station you heard was most likely Townsville (V.I.T.). "Jazz Baby" (Paddington): (1) Your bases will serve you all right. (2) About 5s.

1922 04 08

Eleventh "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 8 April 1922

MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. BY DOT DASH

As was pointed out last week, the amateur is a patient sufferer. In the past he has been considered an unmitigated humbug by most shades of popular opinion. Even up to the present the mind of officialdom has not become reconciled to the fact that the humbug days are gone for ever, as indeed they are, due to the wonderful developments which have been attained as a result of assiduous experimenting. "Interference" has been the objection to the granting of wide privileges to radio experimenters, who are at present handicapped by a sheaf of conditions which make it very difficult to carry out experimental work without evading the law. It will be interesting in this connection to note that there are somewhere in the vicinity of 5000 persons in the Commonwealth who are more or less directly interested in the conduct of experiments. Radio experiments have reached such a stage now that control is possible, and prevention or interference by sharp tuning due to the utilisation of valve reception is one of the most prominent features, and with the object of obtaining a maximum of research in this most enthralling science the authorities will be well advised to take up the matter very seriously, give wide privileges both for transmitting and receiving, and lay themselves out to encourage the progress of scientific Australia. We have the brains and the energy here, and with sympathetic treatment and a modified official attitude, Australia bids fair to lead the world in radio science.

The Operators' Champion. Capt. S. Toombs. Photo Caption. A popular personality among wireless operators is Captain S. Toombs, ex-M.L.A. secretary of the Radio Telegraphists' Institute. He is a great advocate in the cause of the operators and recently presented their case before the federal Arbitration Court which granted them substantial increases in rates of pay. A member of a previous Parliament, Captain S. Toombs ?more contested one of the seats of the St. George electorate in the Labor interests, but was again defeated by Mr. Gosling.

Mesopotamian Association. The third annual dinner of the Mesopotamian Wireless Association (1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron and Cavalry Division, Signal Squadron, Mes. Ex. Force) will be held at the Cafe Omar, 68 Elizabeth-street, Sydney, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19. The secretary, Mr. E. Clancy, of 33 Church-street, Randwick, will appreciate an early notification from members of intention to attend.

The Concerts. Many enthusiasts donned telephones and listened anxiously on 1250 metres on Wednesday evening last. They were disappointed, however, for the projected concert was not sent out. It was with considerable reluctance that the decision to postpone the entertainment was made, but as the more important programmes are to start shortly, it was thought best to give the apparatus a complete overhaul. There is a promise that a programme will be radiated on Monday night, starting at 7.30 p.m. Then the concerts will start in earnest after the Easter holidays are over, two for a certainty and probably three a week. During the trials one important conclusion was arrived at — that the human voice gives better results than gramaphone records when sent out on the ether wave. Therefore when the concerts start the human voice will render all the vocal items, and some fine programmes are being arranged. These, together with starting times, etc., will be published in this column from week to week.

Listen for N.627. If you hear the call N.627 on 200 metres some Saturday night between 8 and 9.30 p.m., it will be the Concord Radio Club. Its members are some of the keenest experimenters in the State, and they are very enthusiastic about their transmitting set. Their pride is justified, for they made most of the apparatus themselves. Mr. G. R. Bruce Deer, of the Marconi School, is the club's president, and the secretarial duties are carried out by Mr. Austin Smith. The club would be pleased to work with any other clubs having transmitting licenses, and would also like amateurs receiving their traffic to write and report how the signals came in. Correspondence should be addressed to the club, "Quondong," La Mascotte-avenue, Concord.

Military Radio Association. The first general meeting of the Military Radio Association, was held at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, during the week, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Fraser presiding. The meeting adopted the draft constitution submitted after considerable discussion. A feature of the constitution is the low subscription rate, 6s, and entrance fee. Each member will have the advantage of a library, classes of all degrees, and be able to operate wireless receiving and transmitting sets. Lectures and demonstration will also be arranged. Senior cadets under 18 years can join as associate members. The following office bearers were elected:— President, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Fraser; vice-presidents, Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. Gordon, Major C. W. C. Marr, Captains F. V. J. Tinkler, R. Clark, and K. Morice; hon. secretary, Mr. O. F. Mingay; hon. treasurer, Mr. Dewis; committee, Messrs. Fry, W. G. Dindale?, Sainsbury, Gregory, Schafer, and G. De Val Davis.

1922 04 15

Twelfth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 15 April 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. City Wireless Concerts. CAN BE HEARD OUT BACK. By DOT DASH

Music by wireless is now being played in the homes of 100 experimenters. From the time the first programme was broadcasted there has been a steady improvement, until now the quality and tone of the programme sent out from Wireless House is better than anything yet attained in any part of Australasia. On Monday last, after a careful tuning up of the apparatus, two vocalists sang into the 'phone with remarkable success. Every home caught the songs. Some of the reports indicate that the human voice vibrates better than the machine record. The singers on Monday night were Miss Peggy Ford, a New Zealand contralto. Her voice is of high quality, and to her stands the distinction of being the first woman in Australia to sing by wireless. Mr. Robert G. Cotterill (tenor) was the other vocalist. He is well known to amateurs, having previously entertained them. There will be no more concerts till next Thursday night. This break is due to the intervention of the holidays. On the next night, however, the "best ever" programme will be 'phoned. The first item will go out at 7.30 p.m. sharp, the last at 9 o'clock.

Next Programme. The programme for Thursday night will include two fairy stories for children. The addition of these items completes the bill, which will now include something of interest to all the family. The musical and vocal items will be:— 7.30 p.m.: "The Beautiful Ohio," band selection, Cornet solo, Mr. Miller. 7.45: Song, "Annie Lauri," Morgan Kingston. Song, "Because," R. G. Cotterill. 8.0: Song, "Quest o Quella," Caruso. Song, "When Song is Sweet," Miss Peggy Ford. 8.15: Song, "When My Ships Come Sailing Home," Peter Dawson. 8.30: General announcements, R. G. Cotterill. 8.35: Song. 8.45: Song, "The Bandoliero," Peter Dawson. Neapolitan song. 8.55: Song, Tosti's: "Goodbye."

Caught the Music. Amateurs who have reported success in "picking up" music include:— Mr. Bartholomew, Neutral Bay; Mr. Allsop, Coogee; Mr. Sidey, Lindfield; Mr. Allworth, Strathfield; Mr. Barker, Burwood; Mr. Davis, Vaucluse; Mr. Hurl, Killara; Mr. Stowe, Chatswood; Mr. Trickett, Arncliffe. At Mortlake an amateur had his set working while some children were having an evening, and so loud did the music come in that the youngsters stopped their games and danced a fox trot.

Country Wireless. "Get that pack horse ready, lash on the portable wireless telephone apparatus. We are going hundreds of miles into the bush, where there is nothing to hear but the chirping of the birds — not good enough for us." "Right, oh!" "Now that we have the apparatus we can keep in touch with the hourly doings in the big cities, and time won't drag." Such is not an actual conversation, but it will be within a few days. Made possible by the still further development and application of wireless, sets for bush use are being built at Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, Sydney. The portable set is just big enough for a pack horse, or a camel, and so adds another blessing to the man outback. Time is not far distant when that pack horse will be a sort of a concert stage to his owner. As wireless telephone concerts progress, so will the outfits, and at night even the lonely man outback will have to do nothing more than unpack his apparatus and listen in.

Questions Answered. To L. C. DONOVAN (Manly): Don't hesitate to ask questions if in doubt. You are improving. Bad results improved since connections cleaned. Don't allow accumulator fully discharge. To K. JAMES (Summer Hill): The fundamental circuits of wireless transmitters and X-rays are similar; but the effects are widely divergent, due to the frequency. Captain Burt, 97 Clarence-street will be pleased to assist. To VIPAN (Albury): Your letter must have gone astray. Write to secretary, Victorian Wireless Institute, at the new address, 422 Chancery-lane, Melbourne. You should be able to receive wireless concerts from both Sydney and Melbourne. To W. WORRALL (Kiama): Thanks. The operator you refer to is Mr. Lionel Hooke. He joined Shackelton for a trip to the Antarctic regions in 1913. His home is in Melborne. "Cyclops" (Balmain): To get a license you must apply to the Postmaster-General's Department, Radio Section, Melbourne, and state whether you want to use a crystal or a valve. We know of no place where valves can be repaired. H. T. D. (North Sydney): Apply to the Postmaster-General's Department, Radio Section, Melbourne. The code is not supplied with the license, but it should not be hard for you to get a copy. The best way for you to learn it would be to join a Radio Club. V . A. (Burwood): The phones will be suitable for your set provided that they are in good working order. They are fairly delicate things, and easily put out of commission, so you should get somebody who knows something about wireless to test them. "Static" (Goulburn): The noise may be caused by several things, but we are inclined to think that it is atmospherics. You should get the concerts provided your set will tune to the wave length.

Those Licenses. Have you written to your M.P. concerning the issue of transmitting licenses to experimenters. Just worry him a little. You may get big results.

MISS PEGGY FORD. Photo Caption. The first woman to sing by wireless in Australia. She has received many requests from amateurs to repeat her performance.

1922 04 22

Thirteenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 22 April 1922

MAGIC SPARK. Radio News Budget. FEAST OF CONCERTS SOON. BY DOT DASH

A popular personality among the radio fraternity just now is Mr. R. G. Cotterill, tenor, who sings to large audiences per medium of the radiophone. He holds the distinction of being the first man to sing by wireless in Australia. His voice, owing to its resonance and carrying power, is splendidly suited for the ether waves. Since he gave his first items many requests to repeat certain songs have been received. One of the most popular of his numbers seems to be "Mother Machree".

THE CONCERTS. Still another successful radio concert was sent out from 97 Clarence-street, Sydney, on Thursday night. Reports received indicate that music was received in a satisfactory manner over large distances. A feast of telephony is promised for the near future, starting on Monday night, when a special Anzac concert will be sent. The programme will include the following songs by Mr. R. G. Cotterill: "Be near me," "Macushla," and "Till Dawn." Arrangements are being made for a prominent public man to give an Anzac speech by radiophone. Sacred concerts on Sunday nights will soon be keeping the enthusiasts busy, for they are now being organised. When the details have been decided upon they will be announced in this column.

METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB. The next general meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held on Wednesday next, at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, 220 Pitt-street, City, at 8 p.m. A special programme has been arranged by the committee, and it is hoped that members will roll up in full force. Lectures will be given on the construction and operation of apparatus, special attention being given to the subjects as they affect the beginner.

Several important announcements will be made at the meeting. Arrangements have been made by the club whereby members may have their apparatus calibrated by wave meter, early next month. A series of lectures and experiments has been decided upon by the committee, and these will be published at an early date. Members are particularly requested to take full advantage at the club's suggestion and question box at No. 18 Royal Arcade.

FILAMENT RESISTANCES. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan gives experimenters a little advice on the subject of filament resistances:— The average valve filament resistance is far too large and bulky, also the resistance is usually much higher than is required. It is often noticeable that only the last few turns of the resistance are used. Why then make your resistance of 8 or 10 ohms resistance when 2 or 3 ohms is quite sufficient? A simple filament resistance can be made by winding about 30 turns of No. 22 bare Eureka wire on a straight piece of 5-16 inch fibre rod 1½ inch long, making contact by a sliding spring clip. The clip can be so shaped that it may be easily sprung off, thus acting as a switch as well. It is as well here to warn valve users against the practice of burning filaments too brightly. A very small increase in the current means a very large decrease in the life of the filament. With a given valve the higher the "B" battery voltage the brighter the filament has to be burned, in order that the valve shall function on the correct part of the curve. For instance it was found, with a V24 valve functioning as a low frequency amplifier, that with a plate Potential of 24volts, only 4 volts were required for the filament, whereas when the plate Potential was increased to 80 volts then slightly over 5 volts were required for the filament. The amplification was of course greater in the latter case. Many experimenters, when spoken to on the subject, seemed to think that the higher the plate voltage the lower the filament voltage. But it isn't so.

INSTITUTE'S NEXT MEETING. On account of Anzac Day, the next meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia, N.S.W. Division, will be held on Wednesday next, April 26, instead of the 25th, at Queen's Chambers, Dalley street, City. During the evening, a committee of associate members will be formed, to take on the task of drawing up a syllabus of elementary lectures for adoption by the council. Mr. Malcolm Perry will speak for ten minutes on the difference between experimental and commercial working of stations; and Mr. Chas. Maclurcan is to describe and explain a radio frequency amplifier. All members and associate members are advised that the club room at Queen's Chambers is now available for their use, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. The room has been furnished, and there is a temporary buzzer connected.

AMATEUR SENDS A CONCERT. One of the most successful concerts of late was radiated on Wednesday night last by Mr. Chas. Maclurcan, from his up-to-date station at Strathfield. Having only just finished erecting a splendid transmitting aerial, Mr. Maclurcan was working with the Observatory to test its efficiency. A number of amateurs tuned up to the wave length, and enjoyed the speech and music. Scarcely had the current been switched off when Mr. Maclurcan's telephone began to ring, as several amateurs reported to him how they had received the concert. From all quarters came similar reports of good, clear speech and music.

PERSONAL. Mr. Basil Cooke, well-known to radio experimenters, has retumed to Sydney, and is again devoting his time to the fascinating hobby. While holidaying at Mittagong, Mr. Malcolm Perry delighted a large number of residents with music by wireless. He used a single wire aerial.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. "Insulator" (Concord): Your aerial is certainly very small, and we do not think you will get any better results till you enlarge it. Try 40ft. C. W. B. (Chatswood): Both circuits are good, and your best plan would be to try them both. "Spark Gap" (Balmain): There is no harm in you applying for a sending license. We would strongly advise you not to get the apparatus before permission has been granted. G. G. (Kogarah): Try the advertisers on this page; you are pretty sure to get them. The dimensions you send are correct.

Good Work in the West. Our Orange correspondent writes:— Several friends of Mr. Walter T. Faulkner, an amateur of Orange, enjoyed the concerts sent out by radio from Sydney during the past few nights. The singing and speaking were very clear. Mr. Faulkner used only a few yards of light wire suspended from his window as an aerial. During the past nine months he has been very successful. Most of his apparatus he made himself, and he is now working on a large aerial which will give far better results.

Mr Cotterill. Photo Caption.

1922 04 29

Fourteenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 29 April 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Amateur Radio News. A TECHNICAL ENTHUSIAST. BY DOT DASH

Mr. Sewell. Photo Caption. Among the Sydney experimenters with sound technical knowledge of radio work is Mr. Percy Sewell. With a crystal set, and a 250ft aerial, he first started his experimenting in 1914. Then came the war, and the consequent restrictions on radio work. The practical side was thus lost for the time being to Mr. Sewell, as others, but he devoted his spare time to hard study of the theory of wireless. Thus when receiving was again allowed, he was well equipped with knowledge. He started with another crystal outfit, but later went on to the valve, and he has now a two-valve set that brings him in signals from all over the world. His experiments have also been in the direction of loop-aerials and direction finders, with very good results. Mr. Sewell is an enthusiastic worker in the amateur cause, and when the Metropolitan Radio Club was formed recently, he was elected unanimously to a seat on the committee, and later filled one of the vacancies on the club's technical subcommittee. He is also a member of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

METROPOLITAN CLUB. The Metropolitan Radio Club held another well-attended meeting of members at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City, on Wednesday evening. With the object of keeping alive the interest of both advanced members and beginners, the committee decided to have papers read that would be helpful to all. Thus at this meeting the president gave an absorbing lecture on the construction and maintenance of a crystal set. When he had finished, many of those present were ready with questions, and the lecturer was kept busy for a quarter of an hour answering them. Something of the difficulties experienced in broadcasting the radio concerts was touched upon by Mr. Malcolm Perry. He said that the concerts were not what they wanted yet, but a new aerial was being erected in the city, and it is hoped that when this is in use amateurs will obtain far better results. "Valve control" was the subject of an interesting paper read by Mr. P. Sewell. He gave many useful hints, and stressed the necessity for amateurs knowing how to control their valves in order that they might not cause interference and annoy others. Instrumental musical items helped to pass a pleasant evening. It was announced that the club is organising a public exhibition of wireless apparatus, prizes to be awarded in various classes. Full details will be made available by the committee in the near future, and printed in this column.

MAKE A NOISE, AMATEURS "Since the restrictions placed on wireless experimenters are so severe, and seeing that the license fee is beyond all reason, I would suggest that the wireless column of your paper should deal more fully with the experimenters' position," writes Lionel A. I. Robson. "I fail to see the necessity for such a heavy license fee. An initial charge of say ten shillings, would, I think, cover all expenses concerned with the issuing of the official license. Why should experimenters be made a source of revenue, when they have assisted greatly in making wireless what it is today? "It would be interesting to hear the opinions of some of our Ms.P. on the subject. By making a lot of noise, it is possible that the experimenter may better his position, and with the assistance afforded by the "Evening News," what can prevent it?" The campaign for the betterment of the amateur's lot is going along nicely. Far more is being done than is blazoned forth to the world. Still, it will all help if amateurs keep the ball rolling.

MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION. The first committee meeting of the Military Radio Association was held at the Engineer Depot on Monday evening. Major C. W. C. Marr, D.S.O., M.C. presiding. In opening the meeting, Major Marr (who had considerable experience as a wireless engineer in the Mesopotamia campaign, when he commanded the Anzac Wireless Squadron) dwelt on the urgent necessity for such an organisation as this, considering the important value of radio to military operations. The scope for the activity of this association was considerable. He intimated that the Minister for Defence (Mr. Massy Greene) has recognised the necessity to encourage as much as possible voluntary effort of this kind. A class committee has been formed or Messrs. Fry, Dewis, Rainsbury, and Tindale, who will formulate a programme of classes and lectures immediately. At the general meeting on Monday night next a social committee will be formed, and arrangements put in hand for a social and dance to be held in the near future.

THOSE RHEOSTATS. Mr. P. Sewell has something to say:— Regarding what was said in last Saturday's column by Mr. Maclurcan on "Filament Rheostats," I would like to point out that a high resistance rheostat — that is, one of the order of 8 or 10 ohms — increases the life of valves. If the current is switched off while the filament is burning brightly the sudden big fall in temperature will crystalise the filament, when a slight jolt or jar will break it. But if first dulled right out the filament will remain in a good, pliable condition. It will interest many experimenters to know that, by placing a "by-pass" condenser across 'phones and "B" battery, they can increase the strength of signals, and also bring in stations that could not be heard before. It using more than one valve, the condenser (which should be about .01 mfds. capacity) should be placed across the "B" battery, and primary of transformer connected to the detecting valve. Among the visitors to Sydney at the present time is Mr. G. W. Exton, who has a fine station at Lismore. He is also known for his experiments with X-rays, and in radio motion picture making. Mr. J. G. Reed, an experimenter of the New South Wales Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia, is on a visit to Sydney from Melbourne, where he now resides. He visited the members of the institute at last night's meeting, and told them how things were going in Victoria. Another Victorian visitor to Sydney is Mr. A. R. Grant, hon. secretary of the Y.M.C.A. Radio Club, Bendigo. There is a possibility of Mr. Grant remaining in Sydney. Mr. P. Sewell will deliver the first of the series of elementary lectures to interested members of the Wireless Institute on Tuesday night next. His subject will be "Magnetism."

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. "STATIC" (Goulburn): Your trouble seems to be your aerial. This should be 3/22 copper wire (downlead included), galvanised iron wire is never used on a professional job. The cost of the wire mentioned is about 7s 6d a hundred feet. When yon have replaced the galvanised wire we should be pleased to hear how you get on. R. H. S. (Dulwich Hill): It would seem as if your set is faulty. Pennant Hills always works on the commercial wave length of 600 metres. The concert was not sent out on the night you mention. G. R. C. (Auburn): Thanks for the suggestion, but space will not permit of it being done in all cases. Whenever a question of interest is received an endeavor will be made to act on it. T. J. S. (Kogarah): The item you mention was sent by the "News" correspondent at Orange, and he did not give a description of the apparatus used or the actual length of aerial. If Mr. Faulkner, of Orange, will send a description of his set we will print it for your information. We will bear in mind the "bedstead aerial" reference.

1922 05 06

Fifteenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 6 May 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. A LADY EXPERIMENTER. BY DOT DASH

This incident happened not many hundreds of miles from Sydney, when the wireless telephone was not so much to the fore as it is now. For one voyage a certain small steamer was equipped with a radiophone that the operator might conduct some tests. These went fine, and in due course the vessel put into a port where there was a rather lonely land station. At this station was an operator and his wife who entertained the ship man, and discussed the radiophone tests with him. The lady was a wireless enthusiast, by the way, and an operator of some skill. In due course the ship sailed, and "Spark," in a slack moment, wirelessed his shore pal to know whether he would like something sent out by the 'phone. "Fire away," came back the answer from the shore. The ship's operator picked up the mouthpiece, and spoke a real sea greeting, plentifully besprinkled with certain adjectives. He wondered why the acknowledgment was so brief and formal till he returned to port and heard that the shore operator's wife was listening in at the time!

FOR THE BEGINNER. Some sensible and useful hints to beginners in radio work were given by Mr. R. C. Marsden, president of the Metropolitan Radio Club, at the last meeting of members, when he read a paper on the construction and maintenance of a crystal set. The paper was an excellent one, inasmuch as it was entirely devoid of all technical terms, and the veriest novice could follow it. The lecturer described the making of a loose coupler and stressed a most important point in this connection. It was this: When the amateur starts on his coupler he may think of winding one that will receive on wave lengths up to about 2000 metres. This is a mistake, as there are very few stations within the range of a crystal set that work on more than 600. Thus the beginner who thinks he is doing well by winding a big coupler is only losing efficiency in dead-end effect. Another important thing, said Mr. Marsden, was the earthing arrangement. He advised the amateur not to be content to fix the earth wire to a water pipe, but to put in a little spare time digging a hole about 6ft deep, near the operating room. Into this put a fair-sized coil of old galvanised fencing wire, lifting portion of it to the surface to form a kind of spiral. Fill in the hole with the wire in this position, and solder the earth wire to the end. The ground around the spot should be kept damp if not naturally so.

Mr. P. Sewell writes:— When installing a wireless, outfit care should be taken to see that the earthing system is giving the best results. When I installed my set the gas pipe gave the best results, the water pipe was bad, and an earth plate struck a medium between the two. The gas pipe gave bad results when used in conjunction with either of the others, but best results were obtained by using the earth plate and water pipe in conjunction. It is very important that the earth lead should be as short as possible, and it must not run parallel to the inlead. If it does, even though they may be 15ft or more apart, signals will be choked out.

RETIRING CLUBS. There must be something wrong with the radio clubs in the Sydney suburbs, for they are hiding their lights under bushels. There are dozens of beginners in the radio game just now, and they are all anxious to find things out. It should be the duty of the clubs to take these beginners under their wings, thereby strengthening the ranks of the experimenters and incidentally, benefitting the clubs themselves. But no; the policy of most of the clubs seems to be one of conservatism and complete retirement. What is wanted, apparently, is some live wires in executive positions, who will keep the interest of the members alive and gather in the new members. If your club holds a meeting send in a nice little report for this column, and let the fraternity know what you are doing. Take a leaf from the books of such organisations as the Wireless Institute, the Metropolitan Club, and the Military Radio Association, and liven things up.

RADIOGRAMS. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club are notified that their next general meeting will be held at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City, on Wednesday, May 17, at 8 p.m. Interesting papers will be read and discussed, and it is probable that the details of the forthcoming public exhibition of apparatus, under the auspices of the club, will be announced. The Wireless Institutes' next general meeting is on Tuesday evening at Queen's Chambers, Dalley-street, City. During the evening there will be a debate on "Results Obtained Commercially and Experimentally, in lieu of a lecture by Mr. Bartholomew, which him been temporarily deferred. Now then you Jazz enthusiasts here is a chance for you. The Military Radio Association is to hold a dance in the Drill Hall at the Engineers Depot, Moore Park, on June 7. Tickets may be had from Mr. O. F. Mingay, Kuringai Chase-road, Turramurra. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan, of Strathfield, is now experimenting in telephony on Sunday evenings, when he works with the Observatory on a wave length of 1400 metres. He is anxious to know how far his music and speech carries, and would be pleased to hear from anybody, ship operators especially, who hear it from any distance.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. P. W. D. (Dulwich Hill): You should get results with a valve, but we do not think your aerial is big enough for efficient crystal work. "Condenser" (Botany): The condenser you explain should prove satisfactory. Anyhow it has the advantage of being cheap. If you make it, let us know how it works. "Aerial" (Bathurst): No. Pennant Hills (V.I.S.) is handling all the commercial traffic now.

SHOW YOUR WORK. Now then, you enthusiastic "home-made" apparatus amateurs, you will soon have a chance to publicly display your work. The Metropolitan Radio Club is arranging a public exhibition of wireless gear, and somebody will win prizes. What are you going to show? Watch this column for details of the exhibition.

1922 05 13

Sixteenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 13 May 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. A LADY EXPERIMENTER. BY DOT DASH

One of the few women radio enthusiasts in Australia is Miss F. V. Wallace, known to almost every experimenter in this State. Miss Wallace, with rare grit and determination, decided early in her life to tackle a profession usually monopolised by the "male creature," and she worked hard to achieve success. Thus following on a six years' course at the Sydney Technical College, she gained her diploma of electrical engineering. Going into business, Miss Wallace carried out electrical contracts for some time, and then she became interested in radio work. Now she is one of the most enthusiastic experimenters. Her electrical and wireless apparatus shop in the Royal Arcade is generally crowded with amateurs, who meet there to talk things over to their mutual benefit. Miss Wallace, by the way, is treasurer of the Metropolitan Radio Club, and a member of the Wireless Institute.

INSTITUTE'S ELEMENTARY LECTURES. With a view to helping its less advanced members, the Wireless Institute has arranged a programme of elementary lectures, spread over six months, starting from Tuesday evening next. The complete syllabus is as follows:— May 16, "Nature and Sources of Electricity," Mr. Sewell; May 30, "Voltaic and Dynamic Electricity," Mr. Kirkby; June 20, "Primary and Secondary Cells, including rudimentary principles of production of Electricity," Mr. Best; July 4, "Conductors and Insulators," Mr. Holton; July 18, "Resistance and Conductivity," Mr. Challenger; August 1, "Electrical and Mechanical Energy," Mr. Best; August 15, "The Effects of Current," Mr. Kirkby; August 29, "Magnetism," Mr. Holton; September 19, "Electro Magnetic Induction," Mr. Sewell; October 3, "Calculation of Capacity and Inductance," Mr. Challenger; October 17, "Calculation of Wave Length," Mr. Sewell. At the conclusion of this series a fresh one will be commenced. It should be kept in mind that the advanced syllabus previously published is being adhered to, the arrangement being that advanced and elementary lectures alternate.

SMART PIECE OF WORK Those who went to the Victoria Park Racecourse last Saturday to see the Aerial Derby witnessed some smart work by the military party comprising men of the 1st Cavalry and 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisional Signal Corps, who wirelessed the results of the various events to the "Evening News." There were many guesses as to what was going on when a "News" lorry, loaded with machinery, drove along the course and stopped in front of the paddock reserve. But the spectators were not kept long in doubt. Uniformed men speedily unloaded the lorry and within ten minutes from the time of starting had erected an aerial, connected up the apparatus, and were ready for business. The little Douglas engine which furnished the sending power rattled away merrily, and the violet sparks leaping in the rotary gap spelt out the tidings of Captain Nigel Love's double victory. During the afternoon one of the high tension lends on the set broke, but was repaired in five minutes under what were practically active service conditions. Most of the party, by the way, are members of the newly-formed Military Radio Association.

THE CONCERTS. The radio concerts are now being sent out from 97 Clarence-street on Monday and Thursday of each week, and according to reports an increasing number of enthusiasts is enjoying every programme. Monday's concert, which will start at 7.30 p.m., and run through till 9, will include a cornet solo and a selection by a vocal quartette. Gramophone music is being eliminated as much as possible, as results have proved that the human voice carries better. In a couple of weeks' time amateurs will notice a vast difference in the concerts, for the transmitting set is being shifted to the company's new premises in Knox-street, City. Here there will be a splendid aerial to replace the present one in Clarence-street, which has not given satisfaction. For those who do not already know, it may be mentioned that the concert wave length is 1250 metres.

WESTERN SUBURBS ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association was held on Wednesday, when several interesting subjects were dealt with. A lecture by Mr. Geo. R. Challeger on "Aerials and Earths," proved of great interest. He stressed the importance of insulating an aerial thoroughly, and also the fact that an aerial, no matter how good, was useless without an efficient earth. Mr. A. B. Slight also delivered a lecture on "Magnetic Induction," demonstrating very effectively with honeycomb coils and variometers. He also brought out the principle of transformers and their ratios. Mr. R. S. Burman, an ex-A.I.F. man of the 4th Divisional Wireless, gave an address on pancake coils used by him at the war, and spoke of German high frequency alternators. Concerning the par in this column last Saturday, W. S. A. W. A. gives an assurance that they are not asleep. Although their transmitting set is not yet finished, the club receiver is doing excellent work. All communications should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. E. Wood, Badham-street, Park Hill, Granville.

PLAY THE GAME. The leading experimenters of the City are unanimous in their appeal to amateurs to "Play the game." It has become known of late that some irresponsible person is transmitting, and on a wavelength somewhere near 600 metres. This sort of thing is no good. In addition to causing interference to commercial traffic, the practice is going to do harm to the amateurs as a body. The authorities seem to be "up against" experimenting enough as it is, and any such gross infringement of the regulations will only strengthen their hands when approached for a relaxation of the restrictions. It may not be generally known that influences are at work on behalf of the amateurs for a reduction of license fees, and the granting of transmitting licences. If these people are to succeed we must see that they are given every assistance. Therefore if you know of anyone who is transmitting tell him to stop, and if be doesn't report him.

NORTH SYDNEY CLUB, The next meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club will be held on Tuesday evening next. A paper on wireless telephony will be read by the vice-president, Mr. C. McClure, and probably a practical demonstration given. All members are requested to attend and help to make the meeting a success. A picnic is also being organised by the club to take the form of an ocean trip on the afternoon of Saturday, May 20. Particulars may be obtained from the secretary.

RADIO PERSONALITIES. Mr. G. W. Exton, one of the best-known experimenters on the North Coast, returned to Lismore today. While in Sydney he joined the Wireless Institute, and was so impressed with the possibilities of concerted experimental work that he has undertaken to form a section of the Institute at Lismore. Mr. E. T. Fisk, president of the Wireless Institute (N. S. W.) sailed for England on the steamer Sophocles. He is on a business trip connected with the establishment of direct wireless communication between Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. He expects to return about October. The next general meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street City, on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m. Some important announcements will be made and interesting lectures have been arranged.

1922 05 20

Seventeenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 20 May 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. A SOLDIER EXPERIMENTER. BY DOT DASH

Lieut. R. H. Sainsbury. Photo Caption. A radio enthusiast, with a thorough knowledge of the science, especially from a military viewpoint, is Lieutenant R. H. Sainsbury, who commands the wireless troop of the First Cavalry Divisional Signal Corps. He first commenced experimenting about 12 years ago, having dabbled in elementary electricity practically since his early school days. From the beginning of 1912, until the outbreak of war, he had a station of his own construction. Requiring a little more knowledge of wireless work from a commercial standpoint, he went through a complete course of theoretical and practical training at the Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, during the middle of 1915. Mr. Sainsbury's idea was to become an operator on a transport at this time, but early in January, 1916, he received word that a wireless troop was being formed for service abroad, and he enlisted in this unit, eventually landing in Mesopotamia. The second attempt at the recapture of Kut-el-Amara was made in December, 1916, this time successful, and the troops pushed on, and eventually captured Baghdad, March 11, 1917. During these operations the wireless did invaluable work, most of the urgent traffic being conducted by this medium, as the movement of the troops during the retreat of the Turks was too rapid to allow regular land lines to be constructed. In November, 1917, Mr. Sainsbury with three other operators, was ordered to join the Russian partisan force which was then encamped about 70 miles from Baghdad, on the Persian side. Here they worked the wireless traffic between the Russians and British troops. They participated in the capture of Kizie-Robat, and then set out with the Russians for Persia. After many adventures, they eventually arrived at Kermanshah, an important Persian centre. Later, the Russians decided to push on through Persia into Russia, and left the four adventurers at Kermanshah. Thanks to the work of the British Consul and a resilient missionary of the American Board of Missions they managed till the British troops eventually got through. He returned to Baghdad in September, 1918, and arrived in Sydney in April, 1919, after over three years' service. Mr. Sainsbury is a member of the Committee of the Military Radio Association and an enthusiastic worker in the amateur cause.

MUSIC IN THE AIR. There was plenty of music in the air during the week, and those with the necessary apparatus were able to tap it on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. Some of the entertainments were broadcasted by Mr. Chas. Maclurcan, from his station at Strathfield, and very good entertainments they were from a radio point of view. This again calls to mind the ease with which settlers in the lonely parts of the bush can get entertainment. With comparatively cheap apparatus the concerts may be picked up in the backblocks, bringing the country folk in close touch with the outside world and giving them the entertainment that those in the bush now lack. Mr. L. V. G. Todd at Tamworth, was able to enjoy the music sent out by Mr. Maclurcan, who by the way, is only using 9 watts power. In a letter to the sender Mr. Todd said that when he first picked up the music he thought it was from Melbourne, till he heard a voice saying, "Chas. Maclurcan, Strathfield, speaking." The air line, Sydney to Tamworth, is about 200 miles, and as this was covered by Mr. Maclurcan's apparatus in daylight, the feat, taking into consideration the power used, must be something of a record.

METROPOLITAN CLUB. The increasing growth of the Metropolitan Radio Club was demonstrated on Wednesday evening last, when about 90 members attended the general meeting. The president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, gave an interesting talk on single valve sets, the lecturette being particularly enjoyable, especially to the less advanced members, because of it being free from intricate theoretical passages. A lecture on "Aerials" was also given by Mr. Wallace Best. He spoke of his experiences with various types, and discussed their merits. The various classes for the forthcoming Radio exhibition under the club's auspices were announced by the president. They are:— (1) Smallest working set. (2) Best single valve set (wave length 300 to 2000 metres). (3) Best multi-valve set, any circuit. (4) Best single part of home-made apparatus. (5) Best comic working set. (6) Best commercial set (valve or crystal). The date of the exhibition has not yet been fixed, the object being to give amateurs plenty of time to prepare their exhibits. The next general meeting of the club will be held at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City, on the evening of Wednesday, June 7.

A LADY OPERATOR. Miss F. G. Watson. Photo Caption. In Sydney at the present time is a becoming young woman whose knowledge of radio work and commercial operating is above that of many men who have been at the game for years. She is Miss Florence Jeffrey Watson. At an early age she took a fancy to wireless work, and entered the North British Wireless School, Ltd., Dundee, Scotland. Such was her capacity for learning that she gained the British Postmaster-General's first-class wireless operator's certificate at the age of 18. At the suggestion of the London examiner, Miss Watson offered her services to the Navy (it was during the war), and within a fortnight from gaining her certificate her services were accepted. She took up the duties of operator at the important station at Fishguard, South Wales. Miss Watson holds the distinction of being the first and youngest woman operator to serve the Navy in this profession. She came to Australia 17 months ago, and has been employed in wireless work here.

FORTHCOMING RADIO DANCE. A meeting of the committee of the New South Wales Military Radio Association was held on Monday evening last at the Engineers' Depot. Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Fraser, D.S.O., presided. The progress of the radio dance arrangements was reported, and it was announced that Mr. Maclurcan had kindly consented to send out the dance music from his up-to-date station at Strathfield. The music records are to be lent by Pathephone, Limited. The radio music will be supplied for at least one hour during the dance (on Wednesday, June 7, at the Engineers' Hall, Moore Park-road). Tickets are obtainable from the secretary, Mr. O. F. Mingay, Telephone Test Room, G.P.O., 3s double, and 2s single. A committee was appointed to further inspect some radio gear for an up-to-date transmitting station for the club. This equipment will be installed as soon as possible. A special general meeting has been called for Monday week (May 20) in lieu of the ordinary meeting falling on King's Birthday. All members and intending members are specially asked to attend. The secretary wishes to convey to all members of the M.R. Association, and also the "Evening News," his appreciation and thanks for the work performed in making such a success of the wireless reporting of the recent Aerial Derby.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. B. G. (Drummoyne): From what you tell us we are inclined to think that it was Melbourne you heard. No concert was being sent out from Sydney on that evening. Beginner (Newtown): It is a matter of opinion, but we should advise you to start on a loose coupler. If you have any trouble in constructing it let us know. Crystal (Goulburn): We are sending you the full particulars. Yes, with proper apparatus you should certainly be able to hear the concerts, both from Sydney and Melbourne. V. K. Q. (Paddington): We refer you to the firms advertising in these columns. Send in your questions, amateurs, they will be answered in these columns.

HOW ABOUT THIS? One of Sydney's well known experimenters listening in the other night on 600 metres, was able to copy the radio station at Basra, Persian Gulf. The amateur was using two valves, as his aerials are rather on the small side.

1922 05 27

Eighteenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 27 May 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. ENTHUSIASM FOR EXHIBITION. BY DOT DASH

Among the Sydney radio experimenters doing good work is Mr. Wallace G. Best, who has an up-to-date station at Rose Bay. He became interested in the science some years ago, and wisely tackled the theoretical side, and mastered it thoroughly. After conducting laboratory experiments, he graduated to a working set, and for some time used crystals with splendid results. Some months ago, when Mr. Chas. Maclurcan conducted a reception competition on behalf of the Wireless Institute. Mr. Best received the speech broadcasted from his station at Strathfield on a crystal. In his report on the results, Mr. Maclurcan said that Mr. Best's feat was deserving of special mention. Mr. Best has the interests of experimenters at heart, and with the object of helping the less advanced along he has undertaken the task of giving some of the elementary lectures of the series now being started by the institute. He is a committeeman of the Metropolitan Radio Club — the largest wireless body in New South Wales.

DANCING TO RADIO MUSIC. If all goes well, Sydney people will soon have the unique opportunity of dancing to music played many miles away and intercepted by radio. This will be on Wednesday, June 7, when the N.S.W. Military Radio Association is holding a dance at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park. The association has been granted permission by the authorities to carry out the stunt, and Mr Maclurcan has consented to send out the music from his station at Strathfield. At the receiving end a multi-valve set will be used to get plenty of amplification, and it is hoped that a magnavox can be secured for the evening. This will be the first time this has been done in Australia, by the way. Of course there will be a very material jazz orchestra in the hall in case of a breakdown, and to supply the music for some of the dances. There is to be a general meeting of the association at the Engineers' Depot on Monday, when an alteration in the constitution will be proposed, and several committee elected. With the object of purchasing gear for a modern transmitting station at headquarters, the committee of the association has opened an appeal for £20. Members are asked to loan anything they can afford toward the fund.

TO SHOW THE PUBLIC. The general public is shortly to be given an opportunity of seeing what the experimenters of this State can do. The forthcoming radio exhibition under the auspices of the Metropolitan Club has already been promised the support of a large number of enthusiasts, and many are busily engaged in preparing sets and apparatus for display. Prizes are to be given for the best apparatus in certain classes. The judging of all complete sets will be on their working efficiency, together with good workmanship in construction, and other details. The exhibition will probably be open for a couple of days, and during that time it is hoped to have receiving sets in operation, that visitors may be able to hear telegraphic and telephonic signals. As this will be the first public exhibition of its kind in the Commonwealth, the committee of the club is appealing to members to make it a big success. Many people still regard the amateur with a certain amount of suspicion, and this is a great chance for him to show what he can do. The various classes for the exhibits were published in this column last Saturday. The date of the exhibition will be announced shortly. A ship operator, who had given much though to the subject during his watches at sea, when there was "nothing doing," gives the amateur and the authorities something to think about:— Has the wireless amateur demonstrated his usefulness to the community? In Australia, at least, this question must be answered in the negative. His activities consist mainly of listening to commercial messages passing to and from ships, or between foreign countries. Sometimes, to the delight of his family and associates, he tunes a wireless telephone broadcasting a musical programme. Of course there is always the possibility of some important discovery being made in the science, but this is unlikely and could not be taken into consideration when dealing with the majority of amateurs.

How can his usefulness be extended? Given a little intelligent co-operation by a sympathetic Government, he could, at least justify his existence. A large portion of wireless enthusiasts live outside the metropolis. I have come across wireless aerials in all sorts of unlooked for places, when travelling through the State. One of the problems of the country is the lack of communications. The Commonwealth maintain a weather bureau but the forecasts are practically only useful to the city resident, and the maritime industry, the latter solely through the agency of wireless. A little consideration will show what a boon it would be to the farmers to get the forecasts speedily. All that is necessary is for the Government to arrange for the transmitting stations in each State, and broadcast the daily forecast and any storm warnings. The country amateur could receive them and pass them around his immediate neighborhood. Of course there are not enough amateurs throughout the country districts to take full advantage of the scheme, but then the Government's policy seems to have been to hinder, instead of help, the amateur. Press market reports, and entertainments could follow at a later stage, if the response warranted it. All this has been done in the United States, and with what a tremendous response it has met!

A NOTE ON AERIALS. For the benefit of those who are in doubt about their aerials, L. R. (Leichhardt), writes:— There seems to be a number of experimenters who are not quite clear on certain points relating to the ordinary inverted "L" and "T" aerials. It is held by some that the addition of wires to these aerials greatly affects the natural wave length. To support this they argue, that on adding wires to their aerial, it was found, that less inductance was required to tune to a certain wave length. This of course cannot be denied; but it is not due to any increase in the wave length of the aerial. What actually happens is this:— When a wire is added, the total capacity is increased, but the total inductance is decreased; hence the natural wave length is practically unchanged. With the greater capacity, however, less inductance is required for a certain wave length, as can be proved by calculation. Capacity is desirable from a transmitting standpoint, but is not essential to good receiving, and, therefore, results obtained from a one, or two-wire aerial generally equal those from one with four wires. At the last meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association Mr. F. B. Wade, formerly operator of H.M.T. Suevic (M.J.C.) related some of his experiences of wireless telegraphy during the war. Comparison was made between the sets used by different stations. Although

1922 06 03

Nineteenth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 3 June 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. GOOD WORK BY EXPERIMENTER. BY DOT DASH

Mr. Maclurcan. Photo Caption. Recognised by all as the leading experimenter in New South Wales — if not in Australia — Mr. Charles Maclurcan has been doing some wonderful work of late. His down-to-the-minute station at Strathfield is known to all experimenters, who are unanimous in their praise of the music radiated from it. Only a few days ago Mr. Maclurcan established what is thought to be a world's record for low power transmission. His continuous wave work from Strathfield was heard in Melbourne, good readable signals, and only nine watts was used. This power, by-the-way, is just about the strength used for the rear lamp of a motor car. But Mr. Maclurcan has gone one better. He was experimenting one night recently with the Sydney Observatory, using the same power and sending radio telephony. A day or so later he was informed that a steamer's operator had heard the music when his vessel was off Gabo, a distance of about 300 miles. It is generally recognised that a speech will carry by wireless only a third the distance that continuous wave telegraphy signals will, therefore Mr. Maclurcan should be able to do about 1000 miles on the low power! And there are still those who ask what the experimenter is doing for the science.

METRO CLUB'S SYLLABUS. The committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club has adopted a syllabus of lectures that will hold the attention of members till the end of the year. An important feature is the series of elementary lectures for the benefit of beginners, and others who think they can derive benefits from them. The talks of this series will be given at general meetings by Mr. W. G. Best and Mr. F. Swinburne alternately. The clubs' complete syllabus of lectures is as follows:— June 28: Mr. Garrod, subject to be chosen; Mr. Best, "D.C. Motors and Generators." July 19: Mr. Swinburne, first elementary lecture; Mr. Marsden, "Counterpoise v. Earth." August 9: Mr. Best, second elementary lecture; Mr. Lowell, "Valve Amplifiers." August 30: Mr. Swinburne, third elementary lecture, open for invited lecturer. September 20: Mr. Best, fourth elementary lecturer; Mr. Marsden, "Local Potentials on Crystals." October 11: Members' night. November 1: Mr. Swinburne, fifth elementary lecture; Mr. Sewell, "Reception of C. W. November 22: Mr. Best, sixth elementary lecture, open for invited lecturer. The next general meeting of members will be at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City, on Wednesday next, at 7.45 p.m. Mr. Lane is to lecture, and Miss F. V. Wallace will talk on "Primary Batteries." There will be musical items, and the president will make an important announcement concerning the club's forthcoming public radio exhibition. A neat badge has been struck for the club and it is expected, will be ready for sale to members at the meeting.

AUSTRALIAN STATIONS. New experimenters are making their appearance in the radio field every day, and from several of them we have received requests to publish the call letters of the principal land stations of the Commonwealth. They were given in this column some months ago, but for the benefit of the newcomers we now repeat them:— Adelaide Radio V.I.A., Brisbane V.I.C., Broome V.I.O., Cooktown V.I.C., Darwin V.I.D., Esperance V.I.E., Flinders Island V.I.L., Geraldtown V.I.N., Hobart V.I.H., King Island V.Z.E., Macquarie Island V.I.Q., Melbourne V.I.M., Mount Gambier V.I.Y., Perth V.I.P., Rockhampton V.I.R., Roebourne V.I.Z., Sydney V.I.S., Thursday Island V.I.I., Townsville V.I.T., Wyndham V.I.W., Woodlark Island V.I.F. Of the near land stations outside the Commonwealth experimenters mostly hear Awanui, the call letters of which are V.L.A. Those of the Auckland station are V.L.B.

Mr. W. G. Best. Photo Caption. A well-known Sydney experimenter, who was mentioned in this column last Saturday. He has just been appointed to the Technical Committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club.

A PUBLIC MEETING. A committee of the Wireless Institute met on Thursday night, and finalised the arrangements for the public meeting to be held shortly. The meeting was thought to be necessary to give everybody interested in the science an opportunity of finding out the objects and aims of the various experimenters' organisations. It will also be pointed out that unison is strength, and a scheme will be put forward to link up the various bodies for any occasions on which the authorities have to be approached. In all probability the authorities will be severely criticised for the continuance of the harsh restrictions on experimenters.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. R. D. Charlesworth, who was once president of the Waverley Radio Club, has been appointed assistant hon. secretary to the N.S.W. Division of the Wireless Institute. On June 17 Mr. Phil Renshaw, hon. secretary of the Institute, will leave for a trip to Rabaul. He will be away till about July 12. Recently the Institute sent a radio to Mr. Fisk, the president, who is on his way to England, wishing him bon voyage. A reply has now been received thanking members for the message and sending best wishes to all. Mr. Aubrey Elyard, an experimenter of Nowra, was in Sydney during the week. The Institute's next meeting is on Tuesday, June 13. On that night the lecture on the syllabus will be replaced by one by Mr. Robert Hill, on "The Vacuum Tube As An Amplifier." There will be demonstrations with various types of valves, as well as high and low frequency transformers.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. E.B. (Armidale): (1) The concerts are rather indefinite at present, as the transmitting apparatus is being moved to a new site. When this is done the evenings will be announced in this column. (2) This question is one we are unable to answer unless you let us know how many wires are in the aerial. (3) The calls are printed in this column. H. W. McQ. (Punchbowl): We think your second lot of apparatus would be the best. Be sure you thoroughly understand the principals of the set before you put it together or you are courting failure. W. D. G. (Rockdale): (1) For crystal work height and a fair length are essential. With 100 feet length 30 feet height at each end would give best results. (2) It would be better if you used 6 feet spreaders. (3) Oregon of the size you mention should do, but you must stay your masts well.

1922 06 10

Twentieth "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 10 June 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. OUR YOUNGEST EXPERIMENTER. BY DOT DASH

Mr. Jack Davis. Photo Caption. The youngest experimenter in New South Wales is Jack Davis, aged 14, a Sydney Grammar School lad, who has an up-to-date station at Rose Bay. Nearly two years ago he obtained a Government crystal license and started experimenting with a crystal set, meanwhile studying the theoretical side of the science. His progress was rapid, and in a few months he applied for and was granted a license to use a valve. Practically all the apparatus he uses was made by himself, including a loud speaker. With a single valve and honeycomb coils, Jack has done some fine long-distance work, copying most of the American stations. He can read the code at the rate of 18 words a minute. Of all the Sydney experimenters, Jack was the only one who picked up the S.O.S. call from the sinking schooner Helen B. Stirling.

A 21 VALVE SET. Has any amateur ever used a 21 valve set? The Wireless Officer of an overseas steamer in the London-Australia trade has, and he says that operating it was no joke. The set was in one of the direction finding stations on the east coast of Great Britain during the war. These stations were of the utmost value to the naval authorities, for they picked up the wireless signals from the German warships and aircraft, recognising them by the Telefunken note — and were able to locate them by means of two and three point bearings. One day the Germans woke up to the dodge, and thereafter used their buzzers, which could only be heard for a few miles, for important communications. Here the 21 valve set was called in to use and by means of it our operators were able to read the whispering buzzer notes of the enemy ships far away. But it also amplified the statics! The set came to be known to the operators as the "Bow Bells," for if anything was struck in the vicinity so that the set was shaken ever so slightly, the valves would oscillate, each with a different note. Because of this the relieving operators had to enter the room with their boots off, and, during the two hours on duty at the instrument, keep practically motionless. "Bow Bells," however, has its redeeming features. It required very little work to keep it in order, and inter-valve trouble was unknown.

WIRELESS PATENTS. We have received the following from the Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited:— "It will come as no surprise to those familiar with amateur wireless matters to learn that on February 17 last an order was made in London by Mr Justice Russell restraining F. O. Read and Co. Ltd., from infringing certain of the Marconi Company's patents. "F O. Read and Co., Ltd., were further ordered upon oath to destroy all infringing material and to pay the Marconi Company damages and costs. As a sequel, the offending company is now in liquidation, and it was recently stated by one of the principal shareholders that he would lose personally about £8000, and other shareholders would suffer similar serious losses, against which they could only set off revenue receipts of about £1500 received from the business since its inception in 1919. "It would, therefore, appear to be only a matter of business prudence for dealers in amateur and other wireless apparatus to assure themselves that they are always fully protected with regard to the very important question of patents.

CLUB REPORTS. THE WESTERN SUBURBS AMATEUR WIRELESS ASSOCIATION held a meeting last week, at which there was a good display of members' apparatus. Mr. Sleight gave a lecture on simple crystal circuits, explaining the fundamental principles of radio reception. Mr. Challenger also continued a lecture given at the previous meeting on "Magnetic Induction." Communications re the club should be addressed to E. Woods, Park Hill, Granville. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB held its fourth general meeting at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms on Wednesday, when about 40 members attended. Mr. Lane, Wireless Officer of the steamer Zealandia, gave an interesting talk on loud speakers in radio reception, and demonstrated on a Magnavox kindly lent by the Aeolian Company. Miss F. V. Wallace, the club's treasurer, lectured on "Primary Batteries." The necessity of experimenters sticking together to secure the relaxation of the irritating official restrictions was stressed by Mr. R. C. Marsden, president, who also gave further particulars of the forthcoming public radio exhibition under the auspices of the club. The meeting decided that the club apply for a valve receiving license to allow of a set being used at meetings for demonstration purposes. THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE will hold its next general meeting on Tuesday evening at the rooms in Dalley-street, City. The star item will be Mr. R. Hill's lecture on "The Vacuum Tube as an Amplifier." At the following meeting on June 27 Mr. W. J. Zech, an ex ship operator, will give a travelogue, illustrated by lantern elides. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION was unfortunate in not getting the wireless music sent out by Mr. Maclurcan for its dance on Wednesday but it could not be helped. The atmospherics, or X's, that caused the trouble are still a problem for those at the very top of the tree in the science, and there can be no blame on the tireless workers who did so much in preparing the apparatus. By a queer trick of fate, everything went splendidly on the trials. However, the musicians in the hall did their bit, and the evening, from the dancing and social point of view, was a great success.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr Percy Sewell, a Sydney experimenter and a member of the committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club, has gone up to the Dorrigo on business. He expects to be away for some months. Among the visitors at the Metropolitan Radio Club's last meeting was Mr. Chas. A. Weller, wireless officer of the P. and O. R.M.S. Malwa, now at Sydney. Realising that there is a social side of radio experimenting, the committee of the Metropolitan Club has appointed one of its number — Mr. Bird — to the position of musical director. He will have the none-too-easy task of arranging the musical items for between lectures at the club's general meetings.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. "Aerials" (Waverley): Before establishing your station you must obtain a license from the P.M.G.'s Department. If you write to the Radio Branch of the Department, Melbourne, they will furnish all particulars. S. N. O. (Leichhardt): With good 'phone you should get the concerts on the set. We would advise you to use the No. 2 circuit, which would be improved by using a variable condenser in shunt between aerial and earth. G. P. J. (Balmain): We could not identify the station unless you let us know the wave length you were listening in on. Correspondents requesting answers to questions are reminded that they must give their full names and addresses. Answers will be published under a pen-name or initials.

1922 06 17

21st "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 17 June 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. AN OPERATOR-EXPERIMENTER. BY DOT DASH

W. Bird. Photo Caption. A tireless worker in the cause of experimenters is Mr. W. Bird, a committeeman and musical director of the Metropolitan Radio Club. He first became interested in the science in the days before the war and so fond of it did he become, that the year 1916 found him a student at the Marconi School. In the beginning of the following year he passed his examination and was appointed to the Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, subsequently joining the steamer Waikawa as an operator. This vessel was later commissioned by the Imperial authorities as a transport plying between Canada and France. On her second trip she was torpedoed by a submarine off the coast of England and the operator sent out the S.O.S. Within three minutes there was an answer from a warship and the crew were rescued without loss of life. Prior to this the Waikawa had been attacked twice, once in the Irish Sea on which occasion she was chased about 60 miles, and the other time off Southampton in the middle of a convoy. Mr. Bird returned to Sydney by the Miltiades and subsequently served on the steamers Manuka, Waitomo, and Morialta. At the end of the war he left the sea.

NEW VALVES. A new valve put on the market within the last week or so by Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, is the "Q.X.," which has been designed to take the place of the old "Q" type. The new valve can be used as a radio frequency amplifier, although it was designed for a rectifier. Normally the filament takes five volts, though it will work equally as well on four or anything between. The plate requires 24 volts, but actual experiment has shown that the valve will take up to 100 volts. During the week Mr. Maclurcan tried out the new valve, and he is highly satisfied with it. He states that it is very stable in action. It is his intention to use two of the valves, one as a detector and the other as a radio frequency amplifier. The "Q.X." looks just like a "V24," but the grid is closer in mesh, and larger. Mr. Maclurcan is also testing a four-electrode valve, the latest thing out. It is supposed to give the same strength of signals as a three-valve set consisting of a detector, a radio frequency amplifier, and an audio frequency amplifier. This valve is about twice the size of a "V24", and has two grids, a plate, and a filament.

FOR ALL EXPERIMENTERS. The public radio exhibition under the auspices of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held toward the end or July, and from all indications it will be a great success. There seems to be an impression abroad that only members or the club will be allowed to enter sets and apparatus for competition in the various classes. This is not so. All bona-fide amateurs may compete, and the organisers hope that everybody in a position to do so will avail themselves of the opportunity, for this will be the first public exhibition of its kind in the Commonwealth.

IN THE CLUBS. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION is conducting a series of lectures in the science, beginning with electricity and magnetism, and going up to the final stages of telegraphy and telephony. Lieut. R. Fry, an experimenter of considerable experience is the lecturer. The association's transmitting station is in course of construction and when it is ready it is the intention of the committee to have interesting lectures broadcasted. The committee will meet on Monday at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, when the question of another Radio dance will be finalised. All members of the association desirous of entering competitive sets for the forthcoming exhibition of the Metropolitan Radio Club are requested to notify the sectary of the association. Lieut. Mingay, as soon as possible. It is the intention of the military organisation to co-operate in every way with the originator of the scheme with a view to making the exhibition a big success. THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE held its general meeting on Tuesday last, when there was a good roll up to hear Mr. Robert Hill give his lecture, "The Vacuum Tube as an Amplifier." The lecturer dealt with the various circuits, illustrating them by means of diagrams. The next elementary lecture of the Institute will be given on Tuesday night, when Mr. Best is to speak on primary and secondary cells, including the rudimentary principle of the production of electricity. Negotiations are in progress for the Institute to hold a concert in the Little Theatre, early in August, when the Cheero Girls, headed by Mrs. Bennett White, will give an entertainment. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB'S next general meeting will be held at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City, on Wednesday week, June 28. Mr. Garrod is to give a lecture and Mr. Best will talk on D. C. motors and generators. The committee asks members to note that the club's technical section is now prepared to calibrate their instruments.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. P. B. (Lindfield): Thanks for the suggestion. The apparatus could be made, simply, of course, at small cost. We hope to be able to give the necessary instructions next week. "Electron" (Hurstville): (1) Your 'phones probably need rewinding. (2) No definite rule can be laid down on that point, your best way would be to get the right adjustment by experiment. T. S. T. (Bankstown): Such gear is usually sold in lots to the public. We can give you no dates at present, but they are usually announced in the advertisement columns of the daily Press.

GOOD RECEPTION. Here is a good piece of work by a Sydney man. Using a three valve set of his own construction, he was able to hear Melbourne sending out music on the 2k.w. set. The experimenter was using a loop aerial in his room, and the music came in loud enough to be heard some feet away from the earphones. Mr. Maclurcan was at the time experimenting with the Sydney Observatory, and with only a slight adjustment the listener was able to take his choice of music and song.

1922 06 24

22nd "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 24 June 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News and Notes. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? BY DOT DASH

"What have I done towards helping along our cause." This is a question that every genuine experimenter should ask himself. Now is the time to get busy. Each individual amateur should map out his own little campaign, in addition to uniting with his fellows for the attack on those in control of the irritating restrictions. Every experimenter should write to his Federal member pointing out the reform necessary, for it is only by educating the legislators that the concessions can be obtained. It is only a matter of time before the concessions will be granted, as the science is attracting fresh enthusiasts every day. Powerful clubs and associations are springing up, and when these are united the demand will be so strong that the Government will realise that they cannot be ignored any longer. In the meantime, let the amateurs' slogan be "Organisation and agitation!"

WHAT ABOUT THIS? An important gathering of the National Radio Conference was held in America this month, when matters of the greatest importance to amateurs were discussed. The object of the convention was to give recommendations to Congressmen who will have the task of framing new radio laws for presentation to Congress. The amateur committee of the conference suggested the following recommendations:— 1. That the status of the amateur be established by law. 2. That the limit of wave length band allocated to the amateur be specified in the law. 3. That the wave length band allocated to the amateur be from 150 to 275 metres. 4. That the Secretary of Commerce subdivide the amateur allocations into small wave length bands for the various classes of amateur transmitting apparatus at his discretion, but in the following order of wave lengths, starting at the shortest:— Spark, interrupted or modulated, continuous wave telegraphy, telephony, continuous wave telegraphy. 5. That the amateur continue under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. 6. That for the purpose of self policing among amateurs, Amateur Deputy Radio Inspectors be created, selected from the amateurs in each locality. The duties of such amateur inspectors will be to co-operate with the District Radio Inspector in maintaining the observance of communication laws and regulations of the United States, and the observance of such local co-operative measures as are decided upon in each community for the minimising of interference between the various groups of the public interested in radio. These amateur inspectors are to be vested with whatever authority necessary in the opinion of the District Radio Inspector. It is the hope of every amateur in Australia that such conditions will exist here in the near future.

GOOD COUNTRY WORK. Mr. Maclurcan has lately been giving country experimenters a chance to show what they can do in the way of radio telephony reception. It speaks well for both sender and receivers that splendid results have been obtained. Among those who have picked up the music and speech broadcasted from Strathfield are Messrs Shaw (Goondiwindi), Warden (Mungindi), Todd (Tamworth), Falkner (Orange), Channon (Inverell), and Nichols (Goulburn). Mr Warden's performances have been particularly fine. He is about 400 miles from the sending end, yet on a single valve he is able to hear every note of the music. So much has he enjoyed the novel entertainment that he wrote to Mr Maclurcan asking him to repeat certain of the items he liked best. For those who do not already know it, Mr. Maclurcan experiments regularly each Sunday night between 7.30 and 8.30 with the Sydney Observatory. His wave length is 1400 metres.

MAKE A LOUD SPEAKER. We have received several letters of late asking how to construct a cheap loud speaker. The following instructions are reprinted from a recent issue of the "Radio News" — A few pieces of gas fixtures, a receiver, and a large funnel are all that is needed to make the loud speaker shown in the illustration. "Purchase three U-shaped pieces of gas fitting, also one small piece (straight) 4in in length and one straight piece 6in in length. Next get a large tin funnel ???? (flat) piece of brass ???? sweated on to the end of piece (1) shown in the drawings at (B). Two holes are drilled through this brass piece and through the cap of the telephone receiver (C), and the brass piece is made fast to the receiver cap by two screws and nuts (8), (8), see Fig. C. All joints are sweated together and wiped to make the piping air tight. "This little instrument works very well and after being polished looks like a factory job. It throws weak signals out into the room at greater volumes than most instruments of this type do. It also helps the builder to save some of his hard-earned cash. Make your own.

THE CLUBS. The Wireless Institute has completed arrangements for an entertainment by the Cheero Girls at the Little Theatre on August 2. The Governor, Sir Walter Davidson, and Dame Margaret have consented to be present. At the next general meeting of the Institute on Tuesday Mr. W. J. Zech will deliver a travelogue, illustrating it with lantern slides. Members have been looking forward to this lecture for some time, as it has been postponed on several occasions on account of the non-arrival of some special photos, from England. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold its next general meeting at the Persian Garden Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The lecturers will be Mr. Garrod, who will talk on valves, and Mr. Best, whose subject is "D.C. Motors and Generators." The committee has decided to give buzzer practice to those who desire it for half an hour before the meeting opens. The arrangements for the radio exhibition under the club's auspices are well forward, and entrance forms will be available in a day or two. It has been decided that the apparatus entered shall be allotted a number by the committee, and exhibited and judged under it. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION is arranging another radio dance. The committee was to have finalised things on Monday last, but the meeting was postponed till next Thursday. The electrical committee is now fixing up a syllabus of elementary and advanced lectures. The first of the latter class will be given at the general meeting of members at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, on Monday, July 3, by Mr. W. Veech, who has chosen for his subject "Vacuum Tubes and their application to High Frequency (Radio) Amplification." An invitation is extended to members of other radio bodies to be present at this lecture, for the association intends to make a feature of keeping an "open house" at certain of its meetings. It is hoped that this will be one of the means of bringing experimenters together. The Waverley Amateur Wireless Club has had a transmitting license for some time, but no serious work in this direction has yet been done. Amateurs should hear from the club next week, however, for they will be broadcasting C.W. and telephony on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 7.45 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. The club's call is N.249 and the wave length will be 200 metres. Later the club will be installing a 5 watt.

THE TECHNICAL CORNER. "What is an electron? Briefly, we may state that the electron is the smallest subdivision of matter which mankind recognises carrying the smallest known charge of negative electricity" — from Burcher's "Vacuum Tubes in Wireless Communication." The same authority says: "(1) Currents of frequency above 10,000 cycles per second are termed currents of radio frequency. (2) Currents of frequency below 10,000 cycles per second are termed currents of audio frequency."

1922 07 01

23rd "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 1 July 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News and Notes. AN EXPERT ENTHUSIAST. BY DOT DASH

J. H. Dewis. Photo Caption. In the front rank of the experimenters of this State is Mr. J. H. Dewis, chief assistant in the engineering department of Australectic Limited. He first gave time to the science 12 years ago, and early in 1915 joined the Amalgamated Wireless, Limited. Going through most of the departments, including workshops, drafting and designing offices, and ???? room, in addition to taking the operating course at the Marconi School and the electrical engineering course at the Technical College (passed with first-class honors) gave him a thorough knowledge of the science. During the war he was busy on the manufacture of radio equipment and its installation on board hospital ships, transports, and vessels of the mercantile marine. On the formation of Australectric, Limited, about two years ago, he was transferred from the Amalgamated Wireless. Mr. Dewis is interested in military wireless, being attached to the radio section of the Second Division. He is treasurer of the Military Radio Association and a member of the technical committee, and also belongs to the Wireless Institute.

BUILDER USES IT. John H. McClatchy, one of the largest operative builders in Philadelphia is the first man in the United States to apply the radio telephone in home construction. In 900,000 worth of new homes now under construction in the suburbs of Philadelphia he is installing complete sets (says an American paper). Recently Mr McClatchy became interested in wireless and in the radio telephone. He obtained figures regarding the number of persons in the city installing the radio telephone, and was astonished to learn of the widespread interest. As Philadelphia is within easy car distance of New York and Pittsburgh, and in view of the fact that the city itself has become a broadcasting centre, the builder realised what a favorite position it occupied to hear "all the news and music in the air." The McClatchy houses all will be equipped, but whether each house will have its individual aerials has not been determined. There are some objections to this plan as a definite scheme of wiring must be adopted, not to injure the lines of the dwelling. It is possible that one large aerial may be erected near a group of McClatchy houses and then wires extended into each house. It is contended that the expense is small when placed in numbers, and can easily be ???? "It means we all will have to do it," said another builder. "Take two houses of an even price, the one having a radio telephone will sell."

ORGANISATION AND AGITATION. "Electron" has a word of praise:— Congratulations on your ???? in last Saturday's column under the above heading. You express in sentiments I have been advocating for an immediate conference of delegates from all radio organisations and I cannot understand why it has not been called. All progressive individuals must realise that unity is strength, and provided that strength is used in the right directions ???? follow. In New South Wales we have the Wireless Institute, the oldest established body of its kind in the world. There are also clubs and associations springing up in the city and suburbs. It must be admitted that the Institute has done all the spade work and experimenters should thank it for and concessions they enjoy today. But why should the Institute continue to act as the official mouthpiece of all Amateurs and the clubs of recent origin reap the benefits? We often hear complaints about the restrictions placed on our activities, but to repeat your statement. "What have they done towards helping along our cause?" It is essential, if we are to succeed, that a Central Radio Council be formed in this State. Who will make the next move."

NEWS OF THE CLUBS. THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE has completed final arrangements for the Cheero Girls concert at the Little Theatre on August 2. The proceeds are to be earmarked for defraying the cost of necessary scientific apparatus, and the furnishing of the clubrooms. Tickets (5/- plus tax) may be obtained from the Assistant Secretary, Box 3120, G.P.O. The mass meeting of all experiments (sic) has been definitely fixed for August 31. A preliminary meeting to arrange details of procedure is to be called for Friday, August 4 at the Institute's Rooms, Dalley-street, City. The third competition is to commence shortly. Members and associate members will be given full particulars in a few days. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB held the most successful meeting since its inception on Wednesday at the Persian Gardens Tea Rooms, when close on 100 members and friends attended. An instructive lecture on valves was given by Mr. Garrod, and Mr. Best talked on D.C. Motors and Generators. Excellent musical items were supplied by visitors during the evening. The prepident, Mr. R. C. Marsden, announced that several requests to postpone the public radio exhibition had been received, and as it was the wish of the club that everybody should have ample time to prepare exhibits, it would be put back till the end of August. Entrance forms are now ready for intending exhibitors. The committee are corresponding with a Goulburn experimenter, who is taking an active part in the formation of a branch of the Metropolitan Club in that district. THE WESTERN SUBURBS AMATEUR WIRELESS ASSOCIATION'S last two meetings have been devoted to the construction of apparatus. When the members last met they dealt with special business, including the club's transmitter and the forthcoming annual entertainment. Several experimenters brought along apparatus for display. A vote of thanks to Mr. Maclurcan was carried for his having entertained detachments of members at his station. Mr. Slight gave a talk on valve reception. At the next meeting Mr. Challenger will lecture on the control of vacuum tubes. The forthcoming public exhibition under the auspices of the Metropolitan Club is interesting members, several of whom are working on apparatus. THE NORTH SYDNEY RADIO CLUB, which has been established for about four months, has not been much before the public. Nevertheless the members have not been idle. They have an 80ft aerial and a crystal set, but are somewhat handicapped by the rent of the club room. In order to strengthen the finances a variety concert is to be given by Mr. Ray Vantier and the "Follies of Pleasure" on August 2 at St. James' Hall, Phillip-street, City. Tickets are now on sale. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION'S next meeting will be held at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, on Monday night, when Mr. Veech will give a lecture. All radio enthusiasts will be welcome at this meeting.

THE TECHNICAL CORNER. Burcher in his work on Vacuum Tubes, says: "Selectivity in wireless receiving apparatus, that is, descrimination between stations, is secured, (1) by loose coupling of the primary and secondary circuits; (2) by the use of large values of inductance at the base of the aerial for a given wave length; (3) by judicious use of the shunt secondary condenser. "In general, wireless telephone conversations are transmitted by radio frequency wave motion termed the "carrier wave." This carrier wave is modulated at an audio frequency and a microphone transmitter such as employed in land line telephony. Thus, any undamped wave transmitter, and any type of oscillation detector, giving a quantitative response may be employed, provided a magnetic telephone is the current translater."

1922 07 08

24th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 8 July 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News and Notes. A SIGNALS EXPERT. BY DOT DASH

One of the most energetic workers in the cause of the experimenter in this State is Lieutenant O. F. Mingay, hon. secretary of the Military Radio Association. He is an expert on all signals, and was connected with the military service in 1913. He enlisted for active service in 1915, and sailed for the front the same year with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade Signals. After going through the Pozieres fighting he was transferred to the 2nd Divisional Signal Engineers in January, 1917. On the cessation of hostilities Lieut. Mingay had charge of the reconstruction of the Charleroi (Belgium) civil telephone exchange, which carried 3000 working lines. For this work he received a letter of appreciation from the Chief Engineer of the Belgian Administration and was mentioned in despatches. Later he went to England and had six months experience with the British Post Office Engineering Branch. Lieut. Mingay is now O.C. First Division Wireless Section. It was under his supervision that the reporting of the last Aerial Derby to the "Evening News" office by wireless was successfully carried out.

MORETON BAY'S GOOD WORK. A radio has been received by Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, Sydney, from the senior wireless officer of the liner Moreton Bay, stating that the vessel, then two days west of Colombo, bound for Suez, was still in direct communication with Perth radio. The distance is approximately 3500 miles, and represents record working for a ship trading between Australia and the United Kingdom, via Suez. The Moreton Bay carries an Australian-made set, which was shipped by the Amalgamated Wireless to the United Kingdom, and fitted before the vessel left the builder's hands. The Moreton Bay carries an Austraceiver wholly designed and manufactured by the company. Credit is due to the operators in the Moreton Bay and the Perth Radio Station for their skilful handling of the apparatus.

A TRANSFORMER TROUBLE. Mr. Maclurcan (Strathfield) overcomes trouble — Last week one of my inter-valve audio frequency transformers refused duty — the ???? trouble ???? primary winding. I say ???? because this makes the fourth that has behaved in this manner, and no doubt other experimenters have had the same trouble. I tried the following scheme to carry on, and also to make use of the remaining secondary winding. I may say the result was not a success, the signals, if anything, were louder than before. With all batteries switched off, connect Primary 1 to Secondary 1, also Primary 2 to Secondary 2. Then connect a small fixed condenser 0.001 M F D in the grid circuit of the amplifying valve and another like it in the lead from the lower secondary to ???? Then with on and ????

EXPERIMENTERS' GLOSSARY. Aerial: The system of conductors designed to radiate or absorb electromagnetic waves. Aerial Circuit: The circuit comprising the aerial conductors, the earth conductors, and all inductances and condensers connected between them. Aerial Resistance: The resistance which, multiplied by the square of the R.M.S. current in the aerials, equals the total energy dissipated by the aerial. It is the sum of the ohmic resistance of the aerial and its radiation resistance. Aether (or Ether): The medium assumed by electromagnetic theory in order to explain the translation of energy at finite speed by electromagnetic waves. Alternating Current: One which reverses its direction periodically with time. Alternator: A rotating machine which transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy, producing at its terminals one or more alternating E.M.F.'s (single phase or polyphase). Amplitude: The maximum value of current or voltage attained during any half period of an alternating current or voltage is called the amplitude during that half period. Amplification (Magnification): The ratio of the useful effect obtained by the employment of the amplifier to the useful effect obtained without that instrument. Amplifier or Magnifying Relay: One which modifies the effect of a local source of energy in accordance with the variations of received signals, and in general produces a larger indication than could be had from the incoming energy alone.

MR. MACLURCAN'S CONCERTS. Mr. Maclurcan tells us that there will be no transmission from his station from July 9 till July 30. If any country experimenters heard the music or speech on Sunday last Mr. Maclurcan will be pleased if they will write and let him know how they compared with previous signals. It was raining hard all through the transmission, and the radiation current had fallen to about half the usual, so the comparison will be interesting and instructive.

THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION. The committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club is leaving nothing to chance concerning the forthcoming public exhibition of radio apparatus. "Too long has the experimenter been looked upon as a crank by some sections of the general public," said Mr. Marsden, president of the club, "and it is up to us to show the people what we can do. This is the first exhibition of its kind in Australia, and I hope it will not be the last." It is the intention of the club to secure premises for the exhibition in the heart of the city, and to keep the display open on a Friday and Saturday toward the end of August. An soon as negotiations concerning the premises are completed, the dates will be announced. In the meantime many experimenters are busy making and tuning up apparatus for competition and display. Several gifts towards the prize fund have already been received by the club. The competitions are open to all bona fide experimenters.

CLUB NEWS. THE Wireless Institute will hold its next general meeting at the club rooms, Dally-street, City, on Tuesday evening. Members will contribute short papers, and Mr. J. G. Reed will lecture on "Radio Measurements for Experimenters." This lecture is in lieu of the one on "Electrons," which was to have been given by Mr. J. F. Wilson, who is at present away from Sydney. The institute's third competition will be held shortly. First and second prizes, given by Mr. C. P. Bartholomew, will be awarded for the best exhibit of apparatus made or assembled wholly or in part by the competitor. The Military Radio Association's last meeting was held on Monday, when Mr. W. Veech gave an interesting lecture on "Vacuum Tubes and their application to High Frequency Amplification." The weather prevented the attendance from being up to expectations. The absentees missed a treat, for Mr. Veech's talk was one of the most interesting and instructive ever heard in Sydney. On Monday Lieut. R. Fry will continue his series of lectures. THE Metropolitan Radio Club holds its next general meeting on Wednesday week, at the Persian Garden Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City. Lectures to interest all grades of experimenters have been arranged. All financial members are to be given membership cards, which will be required to be produced at the general meetings. These cards are now being printed, and when ready may be had on application to the treasurer, 18 Royal Arcade, or at the next meeting. If they desire them members will be given tickets which will admit visitors to meetings.

STATION FOR NEWCASTLE. The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce has been informed that a wireless station may be established at Newcastle in the near future, telegraphs our correspondent.

1922 07 15

25th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 15 July 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. FOR THE OUT BACK. BY DOT DASH.

Will the wireless telephone solve the country labor problem, and check the drift to the cities? Is the day coming when the farmer, his sons and daughters, and farm laborers will feel compensated for absence from the bright lights and diversions of urban life, through the ability to turn a switch and instantly be in contact with musical comedy, opera, or various forms of spoken entertainment? The day is not far distant when every country home will have its aerial, and members of every household will have the day of lonely toil brightened by anticipation of enjoying in the evening the same things for which they formerly envied their city cousins. Not alone in the way of amusement will the receiving set be useful to the farmer, however. The broadcasted weather reports will be of inestimable value to him in his work.

TALK BY PARCEL POST. It is not often that a man's voice is returned to him by parcel post; but such was the experience of an operator at a Pittsburg (America) radio telephone broadcasting station. He was on duty one evening, and, in addition to announcing the programme of music, gave out the news and a talk by the radio 'phone. At the same time an amateur in Hespeler, Ontario, 225 miles north of Pittsburg, was listening in. So well was he received the Pittsburg music that he placed a dictaphone in front of his loud speaker, and registered part of the concert on a record. This record he sent to the broadcasting station, as evidence of the manner in which its items were received by distant amateurs. The Pittsburg operator was one of the most interested of those who listened to the dictaphone record.

A "BABY GRAND." THE VEST POCKET RECEIVER. Photo Caption. To meet the requirements or motorists, campers, pedestrians, and invalids, an enterprising American firm has just put on to the market in that country a vest pocket receiving set. The set, which has been christened the "Baby Grand," is only three and three-quarter inches long and two and five-eights inches wide. It includes a crystal detector, tuning inductances, a condenser, and the usual terminals; and needs only telephones and aerial and earth wires.

AMATEUR'S GLOSSARY. Anode: (a) In an electrolytic cell — the conductor through the surface of which the current enters the liquid. (b) In primary cell — the metal (usually zinc) through which the current enters the electrolyte. (c) The terminal by which the current enters a cell or other apparatus, such as a vacuum tube, etc. Aperiodic Circuit: A circuit whose resistance is large enough to prevent natural oscillations occurring, and which, therefore, has no definite time period. Arc: A luminous discharge of electricity through a gas in which the material of one or both the electrodes is volatised and takes part in the conduction of the current, whether continuous or alternating. Arrester, Earth: A spark gap with a small gap and large sparking surfaces; used to protect receiving apparatus from powerful discharges. Asynchronous: A term applied to an A.C. generator or motor, the speed of which has no fixed relation to the frequency of the current. Atmospheric Absorption: That portion of the total loss of radiated energy due to atmospheric conductivity, reflection, and refraction. Atmospherics: Disturbances produced in the receiving circuits, caused by electrical action in the atmosphere or in the earth's surface. They are also known as "X's," "strays," and "static." Attenuation: The progressive diminution of intensity as a disturbance advances through a medium. Audibility (minimum): The condition in which there is present in the antenna the least power required for an audible indication in the receiving telephones, with the particular apparatus employed. Audibility Factor: The ratio of the telephone current producing the receiving signals to that producing the least audible signal at the given audio frequency. Automatic Receiver: A receiver that records signals so they can be translated at any convenient time after reception. Automatic Transmitter: A Transmitter that has the usual operating key replaced by any mechanical telegraph sender, such as a Wheatstone transmitter.

MR. MACLURCAN HONORED. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan, the well-known experimenter, has received the following letter from Mr. Mingay, hon. secretary of the Military Radio Association: "I have much pleasure in informing you that the following resolution was carried unanimously by the committee: "That a letter of appreciation be sent to Mr. Maclurcan, in respect of his valuable assistance in connecting with the Radio demonstration at our recent dance, and further that he be asked to agree to his election as the first honorary member of this association. "The committee agree that you are worthy of praise and commendation, and our only regret is that it did not function at the receiving end. "We sincerely trust that your good work on behalf of the amateurs and experimenters will long continue.

CLUB NOTES. THE Metropolitan Radio Club will hold its next general meeting on Wednesday at the Persian Garden Tea Rooms, Pitt-street, City. The meeting starts at 8 p.m., but for half an hour before that time there will be buzzer practice for those who care to avail themselves of it. The lecturers for the evening will be Mr. F. Swinburne, who will give the first of the series of the elementary talks, and Mr. R. C. Marsden, whose subject will be "Construction and Design of Panel Sets." For the purpose of demonstration Mr. Marsden will have his multi-valve set, built for the forthcoming exhibition, at the meeting. Members are reminded that membership cards are now available. These must be produced at the meeting. Visitors cards are also ready for those members who desire to bring friends. ANOTHER NEW CLUB is to be formed. There are many experimenters in the near Illawarra Suburbs and they think it is time that they had a club. Several enthusiasts took up the work of getting the project going, and there is every prospect of success attending the efforts. The inaugural meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club (as it is proposed to name it) will be held at the Carlton School of Arts (near the Railway Station) next Thursday, at 8 p.m. The business of the evening will be a general discussion on the proposals to be submitted to the meeting, and the election of the first officers of the club. All local amateurs are invited, and it is hoped there will be a good attendance. THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE had a well-attended meeting on Tuesday, when Mr. Geo. Cotton gave an interesting paper on the reproduction of static and signal impulses in graphical form on sensitised paper. Mr. H. R. Gregory talked briefly on variometics and explained the various methods of construction. A lecture on "Radio Measurements for Experimenters" was delivered by Mr. J. G. Reed. He dealt with methods of measuring aerial inductance and capacity, mutual inductance, and distributed capacity and its effects. The next general meeting will be on July 25.

1922 07 22

26th "Magic Spark" column (first part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 22 July 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. BROADCASTING IN BRITAIN. BY DOT DASH

The British Postmaster-General, in a recent statement to the House of Commons, on wireless broadcasting, said that a representative of the Post office, who was recently in the United States, reported that there were 750,000 receiving stations open in that country. There had also been a considerable increase in the United States in the number of transmitting stations, and the result has been chaos. Britain had avoided that difficulty, and he hoped that the proposal he was going to make would enable those interested in the science to have a reasonable service. He had decided to allow the establishment of a limited number of radio-telephone broadcasting stations. The country would be divided roughly into areas, and one or more broadcasting stations would be allowed in each. Permission for these stations would only be granted to British firms who were bona fide manufacturers of wireless apparatus. The normal hours for broadcasting would be from 5 to 11 p.m., except on Sundays, when there would be no limit. He also proposed that the obtaining of permits for the reception of the messages should be greatly ???? in the future it would be possible for anyone desiring to instal a receiving set to apply to any post office, and ???? permit for 10/-.

MELBOURNE CONCERTS. A correspondent, writing from Melbourne, gives an account of the wireless concert broadcasted by the Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, from their temporary? Station. This set was fully 10 miles from the transmitter, and on one valve he received the telephony so loud as to be almost ???? The programme opened with gramaphone selections, after which announcements were made on behalf of the Victorian Division of the Wireless Institute. It was stated that this division has now 90 members. Then followed vocal items by Miss Daisy McKinnon and Mr. McPherson, and instrumental selections by Miss Cole and Mr. Basil Fitchett. As an illustration that the radiophone loses nothing, the correspondent mentions that after the items had been announced the voice could be heart distinctly, in a stage whisper, saying, "Right you are," to the waiting artists. These concerts have been received from 1000 to 1100 miles away on a single valve.

AMATEURS' GLOSSARY. Balancing Aerial: An aerial used in duplex wireless telegraphy. It fills a purpose similar to that of the artificial line in duplex wire telegraphy. Battery: A primary or secondary cell, for producing electric current, or a collection of such units. Beat: When two oscillations of slightly different frequencies are impressed on an electrical circuit, that periodically help and oppose each other. The result is an oscillation whose successive half periods gradually increase and decrease in amplitude with a frequency equal to the difference between the two impressed frequencies. Brush Discharge: A discharge, having a feathery form, and consistently of an intermittent partial discharge, which takes place from a conductor when the potential difference exceeds a certain limit, but is not high enough to cause the formation of a true spark or arc. It is always accompanied by a hissing or cracking sound. When such a discharge is being given off by a conductor, the latter is said to be "brushing." Buzzer: A small mechanism (usually electromagnetic) used for rapidly making and breaking an electric circuit. When connected in series with part of an oscillation electric, it continually impulses the circuit, thereby producing oscillations, which are convenient for testing purposes. Capacity: That property of a material system, by virtue of which it is capable of storing energy electrostatically. The capacity of a system is dependent on its geometrical dimensions, its position relative to other conductors, and the dielectric constants of the surrounding media. Capacity is measured by the ratio of the quantity of electricity stored to the potential difference, at which it is stored. A distinctive property of a capacity is that it permits the passage of electrical energy through it only in the form of displacement currents. Cathode (a): In an electrolytic cell: The conductor through the surface of which the current leaves the electrolyte. (b) In a primary cell: The conductor (generally carbon) through which the current leaves the electrolyte. (c) The electrode by which the current leaves a cell or other apparatus, such as a vacuum tube. Characteristic Curve: A curve showing the variation of a property of a material or a piece of apparatus, when submitted to a changing influence, which produces that variation. The characteristic curve of an arc or crystal shows the relation between the current produced and potential required to produce the current. Choking Coil: A coil with so great a self-induction that its impedance depends chiefly on the self-induction rather than upon the resistance. Circuit, Closed Oscillating: A circuit in which the capacity and inductance are localised substantially in different places, and which has very small power of radiating electromagnetic waves. Coherer: A kind of detector. An imperfect contact or collection of such contacts so arranged that when under the influence of an alternating potential it coheres and allows current from a local battery to pass and make some kind of signal. Code: A system of conventional characters designed to represent letters by dots and dashes. The international Morse Code is official. Condenser: A material system possessing electrostatic capacity. Two con-

26th "Magic Spark" column (second part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 22 July 1922

TWO USEFUL CIRCUITS. A typical hook up for three honeycombe coils and valve detector. It is the regenerative circuit. The coupling is critical, and gives a high amplification. With tight coupling undamped waves may be received. A circuit in which the primary of the loose coupler is used as plate inductance, by means of a switch it can be connected between the "B" battery and the plate, allowing the reception of undamped waves.

26th "Magic Spark" column (third part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 22 July 1922

ducting surfaces separated by a dielectric.

A MEXICAN STATION. A contributor, writing to the "Radio News" (U.S.A.) tells of an odd set that he saw when visiting station X.A.J., Tampico, in Mexico. The set is a conglomeration of various makes of apparatus. A unique feature is the "variometer" type of aerial tuning inductance, made of hay-baling wire. Also the antique style of quenched gap, which allows the spark to be observed jumping between the plates, within the gap. The receiver consists of a miniature loose coupler, which would go in an overcoat pocket, and a galena detector, with Brandes telephones. The normal range of this 2 K.W. station is about 300 miles at night, static permitting. Its traffic is mostly shore work, with X.A.L. Tuxpan, but the station is open to ship work during idle hours. It is quite efficient and handles volumes of business, although so crude in its make up.

FORM SUBURBAN CLUBS. W. D. G. (Rockdale) writes:— Having regard to the increasing popularity of wireless and the growing ranks of amateurs around Sydney, it seems to me that we could do with more local amateur radio clubs, as a means of bringing together the amateurs in their own districts and helping them along. While some of our metropolitan districts are well catered for in this respect, others are not. I refer particularly to St. George — covering an area, say, from Arncliffe to Oatley, and neighboring localities. There are a large number of experimenters in this area, and if a radio club were formed with headquarters centred at, say Kogarah, I have no doubt it would receive the full support of all concerned. Many are no doubt already members of city clubs, but I feel sure that a local club or association would be welcomed. The idea is worthy of consideration by all local enthusiasts, and it would be pleasing to see them get together with the above object in view.

CLUB NOTES. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB meeting on Wednesday, at the Persian Garden Tea Rooms, was the largest gathering of radio enthusiasts ever seen in Sydney. There were about 150 members and visitors present. The president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, lectured on the design and construction of panel sets. He had his three valve set for the purpose of demonstration, and this was subsequently heard working, the signals being amplified by a magnavox, lent by the Aeolian Company. Mr. Swinburne gave the first of the series of elementary lectures, with demonstrations of static electricity. H. Selby and Co., loaned the apparatus for this purpose. During the evening musical items were given by Mr. Charles Berliner and pupils from the studio of Mr. Leon Berliner. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION has lost a good servant in Mr. O. F. Mingay, who has resigned his office as secretary. A committee meeting was held on Monday, the president, Lieut.-Colonel Fraser, in the chair. Mr. Mingay tendered his resignation on account of pressure of other business. The president paid tribute to the good work that Mr. Mingay had done during the inauguration of the association. His remarks were endorsed by Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, Mr. Fry, and Mr. Dewis. Lieut. H. Greenberg was elected secretary. His address is 169 Cowper-street, Waverley. Messrs. Mingay and Dewis were elected delegates to the coming inter-association radio conference. Mr. Fry will give the fourth of his series of lectures on the elementary principles of electricity on Monday, at 7.45 p.m. at the Engineers' Depot. THE WAVERLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB transmitted C.W. telegraphy and telephony on 200 metres on June 27, 28, and 29. This was received well in the vicinity of the Waverley station, but members would like to know if any other amateurs picked them up on those nights. The club's call is N249. At the last meeting Mr. L. Davidson lectured on condensers. This was the first of a series of lectures aranged for the benefit of new members.

1922 07 29

27th "Magic Spark" column (first part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 29 July 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. GET A LICENSE. BY DOT DASH

A word in season to all interested in radio. If you own a wireless receiving set get a licence. There is no doubt that there are some unlicensed sets in Sydney, and in every principal city of the Commonwealth for that matter, and their existence is doing the amateur cause a deal of harm. Every genuine experimenter abides by the law, and it is not right that he should be blamed for the wrongdoing of a few. Not only that, but the risk is big. The authorities know more than most people think, and no matter how small the unlicensed aerial they will find it in time. There is a big penalty too. It cannot be said that there have been no warnings. The Wireless Institute has strong views on the subject, and Mr. Marsden, president of the Metropolitan Radio Club, makes it a point to warn the members at almost every meeting. Presidents of other clubs might take a hint from these bodies and put it to their members.

MR. MACLURCAN'S CONCERTS. Experimenters will be pleased to learn that Mr. Chas. Maclurcan will be back from Kosciusko tomorrow. He will lose no time in getting to his hobby, for he intends continuing his concerts from tomorrow night. With his usual good nature Mr. Maclurcan says he will be pleased in future concerts to broadcast any gramaphone record desired by experimenters, and if he has not got it he will try to secure it for the night. Also, if any experimenter has a record he would like played he can let Mr. Maclurcan have it. It will be necessary to inform him before Thursday in each week.

AMATEURS GLOSSARY. Conduction Current: A transfer of electrical energy guided by a conducting medium. Convection Current: A transfer of electrical energy by separate charged particles, unguided by any material medium. Continuous Waves: The term applied to waves radiated from an aerial in which oscillations are maintained. Continuous waves may have successive half periods of equal amplitude, or the amplitude may vary within small limits without detriment to their use for wireless telegraphy. Converter, Rotary: A machine for converting electrical energy of one form of current to electrical energy of another form. Such as from alternating current to continuous or vice versa. Coupling: The connection between two circuits enabling energy to be transferred from one to the other. The connection may be by magnetic linkage, electrostatic linkage, direct connection, or any combination of these. Critical Resistance: That resistance which is just sufficient to prevent free oscillations in an electrical circuit. Crystal Detector: A detector which uses the rectifying properties of the contact between a crystal and a metal surface or between two crystals. Cymometer: A "wave measurer." Current: The time rate of transfer of electrical quantity. Damping: The diminution of energy in an electrical circuit resulting from loss of energy.

THE NEW CLUB. At a meeting at the Carlton School of Arts the Illawarra Radio Club was formed:— The following office-bearers were elected:— President, C. D. Cuthbert; vice-presidents, L. R. Hewett and A. E. A. Atkinson; hon. secretary, W. D. Graham; hon. treasurer, J. W. Mann; business committee, C. Binns, S. Atkinson, and W. J. Smith; technical committee, C. Borthwick, E. G. Bailey, F. H. Kirkby, and C. A. Gorman. Messrs. Hewett and Atkinson were also appointed club delegates to the approaching interclub radio conference. The main aim of this club is to bring into association all wireless amateurs in the Illawarra suburbs (of whom there are a considerable number) and others interested, for their mutual benefit. It has been decided as a temporary arrangement to hold meetings in the Carlton School of Arts every alternate Thursday. Meantime the committee is formulating club rules, considering the question of club-room accommodation, and arranging general working details and future proceedings of the club. The next meeting of the club has been fixed for Thursday, August 3, at 8 p.m. The secretary's address is 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale.

WE CAN DO IT. An illustration of a miniature receiving set now being manufactured commercially in the United States was publicised in this column recently. The set here shown was constructed by Mr. C. McClure, of the North Sydney Radio Club. It can be easily carried in the pocket. The set comprises inductance, detector, and telephone condenser, and it can be tuned up to 600 metres. Some good results have been obtained with it, both from ship and land stations.

IN THE CLUBS. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB'S next meeting will be held on Wednesday evening, August 9. The place of meeting will be announced in this column next Saturday. The club's committee is at present busy looking for a home for the forthcoming public radio exhibition. The task is not an easy one as buildings in a central position with facilities for an aerial are not numerous. Within a few days, however, it is hoped to be able to make an announcement as to the date and place. THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE's next meeting will be on Tuesday next, when Mr. Wallace Best will give one of the series of elementary lecture on electrical and mechanical energy on August 8, there will be a general meeting and visitors' night, when a special lecture will be given. The concert, which was to have been given at the Little Theatre, in aid of the Institute's funds, has been abandoned owing to difficulties in arrangement. THE NORTH SYDNEY RADIO CLUB will hold an important meeting at the club house, Alfred and High streets, today, at 3 p.m. The final arrangements will be made for the concert in aid of the club's funds, to be held at St. James' Hall, Phillip-street, City, on August 2. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION'S next general meeting will be held on Monday, August 7. Owing to the inclement weather last Monday, Mr. Fry's fourth lecture on the elementary principles of electricity was postponed until Monday next. On Wednesday evening next, at 7.45, Mr. Dewis will give the first of his series of lectures on generation, transformers, and transmission of alternating currents. The lectures in each case will be at the Engineers' depot, Moore Park. THE WAVERLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB held a meeting recently, when it was announced by the Secretary that the club had been granted a 1000 metres wave length for transmitting telephony. Experimenters will be given full benefit of the club's transmissions as soon as the necessary apparatus is obtained from England.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Q. X. (Leichhardt): The valve you mention is a detector. Use four volts on the filament and anything from 30 to 45 on the plate. "Aerial" (Mascot): Six foot spreaders would be better for your purpose, but as you can get such good length, why not try a single wire?

A POCKET SET MADE BY A LOCAL AMATEUR. Photo Caption.

27th "Magic Spark" column (second part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 29 July 1922

A RECORD-MAKING SET. Photo Caption. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan's station at Strathfield. It is with this set that he sends out telephony and does such splendid low power transmission work.

1922 08 05

28th "Magic Spark" column (first part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 5 August 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. LOOKING AHEAD. BY DOT DASH

The Melbourne Conference, the Prime Minister's statement in Parliament, and the general stir in official circles, may be taken as good omens by the experimenter. If, as Mr. Hughes has promised, transmitting is to be allowed. It will find many enthusiasts, who wish to avail themselves of the privilege, unprepared. For years they have been concentrating on the reception side of the science, and naturally the finer points of transmission, both practical and theoretical, have been somewhat neglected. As is only right, the authorities will demand some sort of test of an amateur, before granting him permission to send, so it is as well to brush up your theory. In order that there shall be no interference, it is the duty of those who intend to transmit to be absolutely familiar with the apparatus.

CONCERT PROGRAMME. Following is the programme for Mr. Maclurcan's concert tomorrow evening. The records are all Pathe's, being among the latest to reach this country, but not yet available to the public. The entertainment starts at 7.30:— "Coral Sea," fox trot. "Good Bye," (Tosti), Mlle. Yvonne Gall "My Isle of Golden Dreams," Hawaiian guitar. Nursery rhymes. "Wind Among the Trees," flute solo. "Avalon," Ernest Hare, baritone. "Spring Song" (Mendlesohn), piano solo. "Hawaiian Twilight," Hawaiian guitar. "La Traviata," Claudia Muzio soprano. "Hop, Skip, and Jump," fox trot. "Old Mother Goose," bedtime fairy story. "God Save the King."

BOMBED BY VANDALS. The Wireless Station at Clifden, in Ireland, which was bombed and burned by the Republicans, was erected by Marconi, for transatlantic communication, the corresponding station on the American side being situated at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The stations were first opened for limited Anglo-Canadian wireless traffic on October 17, 1907, and millions of words, in Press and private messages, have been since transmitted. The aerial system at the Clifden Station is supported on wooden masts, varying in height from 180 to 220ft, and is about 2500ft long, with an average breadth of about 1200ft. The approximate total length of wire used in its construction was 78,000ft. The station buildings comprise an engine and boiler house, a condenser house, and a residence for the operators. The total engine-power originally installed was 1100 h.p. During the latter part of 1920 the original spark apparatus was replaced by the modern valve system, the same change being effected at the Nova Scotia Station. The receiving apparatus of the Clifden Station is installed at Letterfrack, 12 miles from Clifden, the two points being connected by underground cables.

AMATEUR'S GLOSSARY. Damping Factor (of a simple circuit): The ratio of the effective resistance of that circuit to twice the effective inductance (the reciprocal of a tune). This term applies only to circuits capable of carrying free alternating currents. Decrement, Logarithmic: Is equal to the natural logarithm of the ratio of the amplitude of two successive half-periods. (Note.— Some investigators take the ratio of amplitude of successive half-periods in the same direction). Decremeter: An instrument for measuring the logarithmic decrement. Detector: That portion of the receiving apparatus which serves to transform the energy of the high-frequency oscillation into a form suitable for actuating an indicator. Dielectric: Any medium which will only allow of electric conduction to a small or negligible extent. Dielectric Constant (or Specific Inductive capacity) of a Medium: The ratio of the capacity of a condenser, having that medium as a dielectric to the capacity of a condenser having a vacuum dielectric, but otherwise identical. (The dielectric constant of air is substantially unity, and therefore for all practical purposes air may be used in place of the vacuum in the comparison condenser). Dielectric Hysteresis: That lagging property of a dielectric, which is measured by the energy lost when the rising and falling (displacement current) — (voltage) characteristics (dynamic) are not identical. Diffraction: The deviation of the direction of propagation of a wave from the normal to the wave front at the point where the waves pass the edge of an obstruction. The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength, and increases with increase of wavelength. Diplex Telegraphy: The simultaneous transmission, or the simultaneous reception, of two messages at the same station. Direct Coupling: When one circuit is linked to another in such a way that a portion of the one forms part of the other, they are said to be direct coupled. An example is provided in the auto-jigger in which a portion of the inductance is common to two circuits. Direction Finder, Wireless: A receiving instrument which, in combination with a special aerial system, enables the direction of the transmitting station to be determined. Disc Discharger, Asynchronous: A disc discharger, the speed of which has no fixed relation to the frequency of the current charging the condenser, which it discharges.

ROUND THE CLUBS. The Metropolitan Radio Club's general meeting set down for next Wednesday, has been postponed for a week. The change, which was made necessary by a difficulty as to a suitable meeting-place, will not affect the subsequent fixtures. The place of meeting, and the evening's programme, will be published in this column next Saturday. The North Sydney Club's funds should benefit considerably as the result of the successful concert in St. James' Hill, Phillip-street, on Wednesday evening. A splendid programme was given by Mr. Roy Vantier and the "Follies of Pleasure." The Military Radio Association's next general meeting will be at 8 p.m. on Monday at the Engineers' Depot, Moore Park. The technical committee have arranged for an extensive series of lectures for the coming quarter. The secretary wishes to emphasise the value of these lectures to every member, as all subjects pertaining to Radio work, both practical and theoretical, are dealt with.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Oldar (Banksia): At present, no. But Mr. Maclurcan broadcasts telephony from his Strathfield station every Sunday evening, at 7.30. Wave length, 1400 metres. Beginner (Auburn): If your set is properly put togother you should get Adelaide, Brisbane, and even Awanui (New Zealand) and ships at sea. As to the radio concerts, it is doubtful if you could get up to the wave length on your tuning coil. However, it should be easy for you to remedy this. We would advise you to test out the several crystals, and see which will suit the set best. W.S.S. (Mascot): We are writing to you, giving the particulars you require. S. H. (Campsie): Your letter received. The enclosures are interesting, and we thank you for the trouble.

28th "Magic Spark" column (second part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of 5 August 1922

AN UP-TO-DATE AERIAL. Photo Caption. Showing the arrangement of the aerials at Mr. Maclurcan's station at Strathfield.

1922 08 12

29th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 12 August 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. EXPERIMENTERS CONFER." BY DOT-DASH

An important conference of club delegates was held recently, when representatives of the following bodies met:— Wireless Institute, Metropolitan Radio Club, Military Radio Association, Waverley Wireless Club, Western Suburbs Wireless Association and Illawarra Radio Club. Mr. P. Renshaw was appointed president. It was decided that the proposed mass meeting be abandoned. The meeting then settled down and discussed ways and means of forming an association to be called "The N.S.W. Association of Radio Societies." It was suggested that clubs having over 10 licensed experimenters and up to 25 have one delegate on the association, while those bodies with over 25 have two. To provide funds for carrying on the proposed association it was decided that clubs contribute 2/- for each member. The meeting was adjourned for a month to enable delegates to report to their members and get instructions.

CONCERT PROGRAMME Mr. Maclurcan has arranged a varied programme for his radio concert on tomorrow evening. The entertainment, which will commence at 7.30, will be made up of the following items:— "Say It With Music," fox trot. "La Forza del Destino," Claudia Muzio, soprano. "Mahaina Malamalama," Hawaiian guitar. Nursery rhymes. "Bird Raptures," whistling solo. "Vainement me bien aines," Mr. Vaquet, tenor. "Maiden's Wish," (Chopin-Lizst), piano solo. "I Call You Sunshine," fox trot. "Little White House," selections, "The Night Nursery," and "The Smoking Room," Edgar Coyle, baritone. "Sweet Lei Lehua," Hawaiian guitar. "L'Infanta," banjo selection. Soldiers' Chorus from "Faust" (by request). "God Save the King."

AMATEURS' GLOSSARY. Disc Discharger, Synchronous: A disc discharger, usually directly coupled to the alternator supplying power to the condenser. It may discharge the condenser, one, two, three, or more times during a half-period; or every one, two, or more half periods. The usual practice is to discharge once every half-period, at the moment when the condenser potential is a maximum, and the alternator current zero. Discharger: That piece of apparatus in the primary oscillating circuit at which the spark takes place. Duplex Telegraphy: The transmission of a message and the reception of a message simultaneously at the same station. Displacement Current: The electrical condition within a dielectric region of varying electric stress. It produces the same external electric and magnetic effects as the equivalent conduction current. Earth Connection, or "Earth": The connection to the earth which, in most systems, forms the lower extremity of the Aerial System. It usually takes the form or a system of metal plates or wires, or a combination of both, more or less, deeply buried in the ground. Eddy Currents: Those induced in conducting masses by external varying magnetic fields, the location of these currents being primarily determined by the position of the fields, and not by the configuration of the conducting mass (That is, the conducting mass is not specially arranged to provide perfectly well-defined circuits). Such parasitic currents are also called Foucault currents. Electric Potential is defined as the work done in carrying a unit charge of electricity from infinity to the point considered. Electric Stress: The cause of the electrically strained condition in the medium between two regions which are at different potentials. Electromagnetic Wave: A progressive disturbance characterised by the existence of the wave front of electric and magnetic forces, acting in directions which are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation of the wave. Electromotive Force: The force which tends to displace electricity, and is equal to the difference of potential between the points considered. Forced Alternating Current: That produced by an isolated electrical displacement in a circuit having capacity, inductance and less than the critical resistance. Frequency: A term used in connection with any form of rhythmical motion or rhythmical change, denoting the number of complete movements or changes in a given time — usually a second. Frequency Meter: An instrument which indicates frequency.

INTERESTING CIRCUIT. Mr. Maclurcan writes:— During my recent tests with New Zealand a Melbourne experimenter received my C.W. and speech, in the Victorian capital, on an aerial only 10ft high and 30ft long, using two valves and the circuit shown here. This circuit is interesting, and worth trying. It combines both radio and audio frequency amplification, as well as rectification.

GOOD HINTS. "Wireless Weekly," in its second issue contains a deal of information that should be appreciated by readers of this column. As the pioneer of newspaper space to wireless, we are always pleased to see a publication specialising in the science, especially when it contains such useful hints on home-made apparatus, the latest news of amateur doings, and station call lists.

ROUND THE CLUBS. THE ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB held its second meeting at the Carlton School of Arts last week, when club rules were adopted. An address was given by Mr. R. C. Marsden, president or the M.R.C., who touched on matters of importance to amateurs, particularly the probable outcome of the present negotiations with the Government. He also stressed the need for a united association of "radio bodies for the control of amateur wireless. The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks for his interesting address. It is proposed at future meetings to introduce lectures and demonstrations. Members may also avail themselves of buzzer practice from 7.30 to 8 on meeting nights. The next meeting will be held at Carlton School of Arts on Thursday next, at 8 p.m. THE CONCORD RADIO CLUB is sending C.W. and telephony on a 200-metre wave length at 8 p.m. each Saturday. The members ask that any experimenter hearing the transmission will report it to the secretary, "Quondong," La Mascot Avenue, Concord. THE MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION held a general meeting last Monday evening, when the report of the two delegates who attended the inter-association conference, was discussed. There will be an extraordinary general meeting on Monday, August 21, to deal with matters of paramount importance to the future of the association. Mr. Fry will continue his lectures on elementary principles of electricity on Monday evening, and on Wednesday Mr. Dewis will repeat his first lecture on alternating currents. Captain Clark is to give a lantern lecture on Wednesday, August 23. The Metropolitan Radio Club's postponed general meeting will be held at the Kardomah Cafe, 106 King-street, near Pitt-street, City, on Wednesday, at 7.30 p.m. It is desired that all members make a special effort to attend, as important business has been set down for discussion, including the instruction to the delegates to the inter-club conference. There will also be as interesting lecture.

1922 08 19

30th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 19 August 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Notes and News. MR MACLURCAN AGAIN. BY DOT DASH.

By courtesy of the Amalgamated Wireless (Aust.), Ltd., Mr. Maclurcan has been conducting a test with Mr. Dixon wireless operator on the steamer Montoro. During this week, Mr. Dixon telegraphed that he was leaving Thursday Island for Darwin and to send as per arrangement. Mr. Maclurcan did so, and has just received a telegram stating that the c. w. signals were heard at Darwin, a distance of approximately 2100 miles. Mr. Dixon was using a single expanse "B" valve, with the ship's standard equipment. The message was unreadable, on account of severe static disturbance, but was sufficiently strong to enable Mr. Dixon to be assured that he heard Mr. Maclurcan, and could have read him had the conditions been more normal. It should be borne in mind that this distance of 2100 miles is wholly overland, which makes the result all the more satisfactory. The power used at the transmitting end was only 8.25 watts. To the wireless man this speaks volumes, but to the uninitiated it might be pointed out that a single 16 candle power electric light uses 20 watts, so they can draw their own conclusions.

FOR TOMORROW NIGHT. Mr. Maclurcan's concert programme, arranged for tomorrow night, is as follows. The first item will be at 7.30, and after there will be an interval for code practice in C.W. and buzzer:— Fox trot, "Ilo." Hawaiian Guitar, "My Land of Memory." Soprano, "Madam Butterfly," Claudia Muzio. Piano, "Fifth Mazurka in A" (Godard). Xylophone, "Snowdrops." 8 p.m., code practice in C.W. and buzzer. Foxtrot, "Canadian Capers." Tenor, "La Boheme," Constantino. Hawaiian Guitar, "Hawaiian Nights Waltz." Cello, "Romance Sans Paroles" Joseph Hoffman. "God Save the King"

BOOM STRIKES ENGLAND. The boom in amateur radio has crossed the Atlantic from America and invaded England with a vengance. The recent relaxation of restrictions by the British Postmaster-General, precipitated a rush for apparatus with which to tap the music and speech from the ether. Naturally there was a demand by the amateurs for literature on the absorbing subject, and to fill this two weekly publications have made their appearance. We have received copies of the first issue. They are "Popular Wireless" (produced by The Amalgamated Press, Ltd., London), and "Amateur Wireless" (published by Cassell and Co., Ltd., London). Both publications deal with the subject of radio for the amateur in an understandable way, and are well set up and illustrated.

AMATEUR GLOSSARY. Fundamental Frequency: The lowest frequency to which an electrical circuit will resonate. Group Frequency: The number of distinguishable alternating current groups occurring per second in an electrical group. Note I.: The group referred to above is, in general, mainly a free alternating current, which is substantially damped to extinction before the beginning of the following group or train. Note II.: The pitch of the note in the receiving station is, in general, determined by the group frequency at the transmitting station. Note III.: The term "Group Frequency" replaces the term "Spark Frequency." Harmonic Frequency: The harmonics of any particular frequency are generally understood to be all higher frequencies, which are odd or even multiples of the said frequency. An electrical oscillator, which has uniformly distributed inductance and capacity (a straight wire nearly fulfils these conditions) will resonate to any odd or even multiple of its fundamental frequency, according to whether one end is earthed or not. If the inductance and capacity are not uniformly distributed, the circuit may resonate to a number of frequencies higher than its fundamental, but these higher frequencies will not necessarily bear any whole multiple relation to the fundamental frequencies. Heterodyne: A receiver for continuous waves, using the principle of reaction between locally generated oscillations and the received oscillations, in order to produce beats. High Frequency Resistance: The resistance offered by a conductor to the passage of high-frequency currents. It is always greater than the resistance for direct current because of the unequal current distribution over a section of the conductor when carrying high-frequency currents. Impedance: Total opposition to current flow in a circuit in which the current is varying, and is numerically equal to the square root of the sum of the square of the ohmic resistance and the total reactance of the circuit.

RADIO OR WIRELESS? What is the difference in the meanings of the two words "radio" and "wireless?" Radio is wireless — up to a point, but the latter word applies to so many other kinds of free communication that the former word was coined to describe more accurately the particular activity of the broadcasting stations as they function today. Radio applies specifically to electric communications by means of ether waves (says "Popular Wireless," London). The novice may have been under the impression that all wireless messages were conveyed by ether waves. That is not so. Electric discharges may be conducted through water or through the earth, and even through light waves. Ether waves can be employed for a similar purpose. Telegraphic communication has been established between a moving train and the telegraph wires running alongside the track by simply placing thin metal sheets on the roof of the train. Also communication has been established between balloons fitted with a covering of tinfoil. All these methods may be called by the name of wireless. Radio may also be so termed, but it was its specific meaning as well.

IN THE CLUBS Military Radio Association.— Members are again reminded that the extraordinary general meeting will be held on Monday evening. There are a number of important matters to be discussed, and every member is requested to be present. A list of lectures for the coming quarter has been sent to each member, and as it includes talks by well-known Sydney radio men, it is expected that every member will attend them. The Wireless Institute will hold its next general meeting on Tuesday, when the principal business of the evening will be an interference test of 12 words a minute. Members and amateurs generaly will be pleased to hear that the secretary, Mr. Phil Renshaw, is making satisfactory progress on his recovery from serious illness. The Metropolitan Radio Club held a general meeting at the Kardomah Cafe, King-street, on Wednesday, when a large attendance of members discussed the proposal to form a clubs' association for New South Wales. The club's delegates, Mr. Marsden (president) and Mr. Best, gave an outline of what had been done at the recent inter-club conference, and asked for instructions as to their course of procedure when the delegates met again. The principal suggestion was that the clubs should not pay more than a shilling a member capitation fee to the proposed association. Mr. Palmer gave an instructive lecture on batteries.

1922 08 26

31st "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 26 August 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. NEW REGULATIONS. BY DOT DASH.

The new wireless regulations now being drafted, will be ready for circulation shortly, and it is understood they will contain much that will affect the experimenter. One of the most important items will be the reduction of the present license fee of £2 a year. Exactly what the new fee will be has not been officially disclosed but the Melbourne correspondent of the "Evening News" believes it will be £1. Among the many rumors circulating in Sydney is a persistent one to the effect that it will be much lower. Ten shillings is freely mentioned. This, of course, would be for a valve receiving set, and whether it will be the same for a crystal outfit is another question for speculation. It is known that there was a strong move to allow crystal sets to be licensed at a merely nominal fee to cover the cost of stationery, but whether this has borne fruit or not remains a secret of the authorities. The amateurs all over Australia are eagerly awaiting the regulations, which will surely give a fresh impetus to the science.

THE WONDER MUSIC. Mr. Maclurcan has arranged another fine programme for tomorrow night. The concert will commence at 7.30, and the following items will be played on Pathe records:— "Sweet Love," Fox Trot. "Three Little Pigs," bedtime story (after which the little ones can go to bed). "La Paloma," Hawaiian Guitar. "Il Secreto di Suzanne," Claudia Muzio. "Prelude in C Sharp Minor" (Rachmaninoff), piano solo. "The Little Rascal," xylophone solo. 8 p.m., code practice, C.W., and buzzer. "Swannee Rose," one step. "Hawaiian Paradise," Hawaiian guitar. "Parsiflage," banjo solo. "Kashmiri Song," from the "Indian Love Lyrics," baritone. "The Whistling Yarn," G.H. Snazelle. "The Cricket Club of Red Nose Flat," recitation. "God Save the King." Mr Maclurcan asks that if any fading is noticed on the higher notes in the vocal records that it be reported to him.

EXPLORING THE ETHER. I had an idea during a recent afternoon, writes a Sydney experimenter, and decided to explore the ether on all wave lengths. It was a most interesting period, for I found many things I did not think were there. Starting below 200 metres, I heard a feeble buzzer, laboriously grinding out the code. Whether my hopes that the wrongdoer would severely shock himself with his own spark coil were realised or not, I cannot say, but I noted the occurrence for report. Up on 600 metres there were desultory spasms of commercial work, and the whistle of a badly-controlled valve. Just over the 1000 metre mark I found the carrier wave of telephony, and soon tuned into an impromptu concert. Higher and higher I went, and lo! another carrier wave shreikked at something over .2000. Static spluttered and crackled, and the speech in this case, which I suspect, emanated from Garden Island, was marred thereby. With three valves going, I managed to get a few of the long-distance stations, and dropped down to 600 metres and Pennant Hills after an interesting afternoon.

GO-AHEAD GERMANS. From long and systematic experiments, the German Post Office has come to the conclusion that radio telephony is the simplest and cheapest means of distributing news from a central point. The Post Office administration his entered into an agreement with a news distributing agency for the circulation of market prices of stocks, prices of material, and so on (says "Scientific American"). Subscribers to the service pay 4000 marks per annum to the Post Office for installation and maintenance, and a subscription for the news services to the Press agency. Reception of news services which are not subscribed for is partially prevented by changing the figures, which have to be decoded by the subscribers entitled to the particular service. The apparatus consists of a single-wire antenna, loop antenna not being used since they involve expensive amplifying receivers. A single vacuum tube receiver is supplied, supplemented where necessary by two stages of audio-frequency amplification, while filament and plate currents are taken from the electric lighting circuit through suitable resistance. All apparatus is enclosed in sealed cases, inspection windows being provided, so that the condition of the tubes may be readily ascertained.

AMATEUR'S GLOSSARY Inductance: That property of a material system by virtue of which it is capable of storing energy electromagnetically. The inductance of a system is dependent upon its geometrical dimensions and the permeability of the surrounding media. In hysteresis free circuits inductance is measured by the ratio of the conductor to the square of the current in that conductor, for stationary conditions. In any circuit it may be measured by interlinkage passing through the system. An alternative method involves the measurement of the counter electromotive force at the terminals of the given conductor, when the current through the conductor changes at the rate of one unit of current per second. In hysteresis-free circuits these three methods of measurement yield identical results. Induction Coil: A piece of apparatus which makes use of the phenomena of induction to transform an intermittent current of comparatively low voltage to an intermittent current of high voltage. Inductive Coupling: Two circuits so arranged that some of the lines of force from one pass through the other circuit, are inductively coupled. Interference: The interaction of two alternating currents, or of electromagnetic waves under condition such that they oppose each other. Interference (in reception): The introduction of undesired signals, either from other stations or from atmospherics, into a receiver which is engaged in the reception of a message; often referred to as "jamming." Ionisation of a gas: The breaking away from the molecules of the ions contained in them, thus rendering the gas conductive. Jigger: The transformer used in coupled circuits. The primary and secondary form part of the primary and secondary circuits respectively. If the transformer part of the winding common to both primary and secondary, it is called an auto-jigger. Keys (manipulating operating): A switch arranged for easy manual operation.

EXHIBITION DATE FIXED. The public exhibition of radio apparatus, under the auspices of the Metropolitan Radio Club, which has been repeatedly postponed, owing to suitable accommodation not being available, will definitely be held on Friday, September 22, and Saturday 23. The exhibition will be housed in the Congregational Hall, Pitt-street, next to the Criterion Theatre. The committee desire that all amateurs wishing to enter apparatus fill in an entrance form, which may be obtained from the club's officers, and send it in with the entrance fee, as soon as possible. Special lectures and demonstrations on wireless telegraphy are being arranged for the entertainment and education of the visitors.

IN THE CLUBS THE ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB'S last meeting was a busy one. Mr. C. Borthwick gave an interesting talk on the fundamental principles of wireless, and gave a simple demonstration of the transmission of electric waves, by means of a spark coil and two loops. The club's delegates (Messrs. Hewett and Atkinson) reported the result of the recent meeting of club delegates. The club decided to throw in its lot with the proposed association provided the capitation was limited to 2/- per member. The next meeting will be held at the Carlton School of Arts on August 31 at 8 p.m. Buzzer practice from 7.30 p.m. The Metropolitan Radio Club's next general meeting will be on Wednesday next at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, at 7.30 p.m. The star item of the evening will be a lecture by Mr. Colville, of Queensland on Amateur Transmission. The officials will make some announcements of importance to members. The Military Radio Association held an extraordinary general meeting last Monday evening, when the report of the delegate to the recent conference was discussed at length. The delegates were requested to convey the meeting's decision to the resumed conference on Friday ??. At a committee meeting held on the same evening it was decided to hold another dance at the Engineers' Depot. A dance committee was formed and will meet on Tuesday evening next.

1922 09 02

32nd "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 2 September 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. FORTHCOMING EXHIBITION. BY DOT DASH

Many experimenters are now busy preparing exhibits for the forthcoming public exhibition, under the auspices of the Metropolitan Radio Club, and from all appearances the show should be a huge success. It will be the first exhibition of its kind in Australasia. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan has consented to judge the exhibits in conjunction with Mr. Basil Cooke and Mr. J. Reed. The club committee is arranging lectures and demonstrations for the entertainment of visitors, and permission is to be sought to receive radio music, which will be amplified in the hall by a loud speaker. The show will be in the Congregational Hall, next to the Criterion Theatre, Pitt-street, Sydney, on Friday, September 22, and Saturday 23. The judging will be carried out on the morning of the first day, and the official opening in the evening.

TOMORROWS MUSIC. When you sit down and tune up to 1400 metres tomorrow, at 7.30 p.m., there will be a fine programme of music and song starting. Mr. Maclurcan has arranged a varied entertainment, comprising the following items:— Fox Trot, "The Side Walk." Hawaiian Guitar, "Leila." Soprano, "Old Folks at Home," Yvonne Gall. Piano, "Polish Dance," Scharwenka. Code Practice, C.W. and Buzzer. Baritone, "When I Looked In Your Wonderful Eyes," Earnest Howe. Hawaiian Guitar, "Shadows." Fox Trot, "Molly on a Trolly." ?Cello, "Nocturne No. 2." Chopin. Recitation, "German at the Telephone." One Step, "Oh By Jingo."

ON FRENCH LINERS. A recent issue of "Radioelectricite" contains a description of the radio equipment aboard the steamships Paris and Lafayette of the French Line. On both steamers a 5-kilowatt vacuum tube transmitter has been installed with a wave range of between 2000 and 9000 meters. A 5-kilowatt motor-generator set is employed to produce the plate high-tension current for four oscillating tubes, while the low-voltage current for the filaments of these tubes is obtained from the same machine. Both vessels are equipped with radio compasses or radiogoniometers. A distance of over 2000 miles has been covered by the transmitter of the Paris.

AMATEURS' GLOSSARY. Line of Force: A curve described in an electric or magnetic field, such that the direction of the electric or magnetic force, at any point of that curve, is a tangent to the curve. Magnetic Field Intensity: The number of lines of force per unit area. Magnetic Force, at a Point: The force acting on a unit magnetic pole placed at that point. It is numerically equal to the field intensity in a medium of unit permeability. Magnetic Hysteresis: That property of a magnetic medium, which is measured by the energy losses when the rising and falling (magnetomotive force — induction). i.e. (H-B), dynamic characterics are not identical. Magnetomotive Force: A force tending to produce a magnetic flux. Magnetic Detector (Marconi's).— A detector of oscillations depending on the effect of these on the hysteresis of iron. Microphone: A variable resistance, usually in the form of an electrical contact, whose resistance is varied with, and in a proportional manner, to the movement or pressure of one part. Thus, if the movement or pressure is produced by sound waves acting on a diaphram, which is connected to the moving member of the microphone an electrical current will be produced in the circuit containing the microphone, and a battery, whose amplitude varies in a similar manner to the movement of the diaphram. Mutual Inductance of two circuits, each on the other, is that portion of the in-ductance of one due to the magnetic field common to both. Note on tone tuning: A receiver is tuned to the note of the transmitter, when a circuit or part of the indicator, is designed to resonate to the spark frequency. Oscillograph: An apparatus for observing or recording quickly varying currents or potential differences. Period, Periodic Time: Any varying quantity which repeats its values regularly at equal time intervals, is said to periodic, and the time interval of one repetition is called the periodic time or period. Permeability of a Medium: The ratio of the magnetic flux density, produced in that medium, by a given magnetomotive force to the magnetic flux density produced by the same magnetomotive force in vacuum (or, for practical purposes, in air).

TIRELESS WORKER. Mr. O. F. Mingay, one of the most energetic workers in the cause of the experimenter, has been elected to the committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club. He was one of the principal movers in forming the Military Radio Association, and, until pressure of work forced him to resign, held the position of hon. secretary.

'PHONE IN EUROPE. The radio station on the Rundemandon, a mountain towering 2500 feet over the city of Bergen, Norway, is being modernised and equipped with more powerful equipment, as well as radio telephone apparatus. As the new equipment has a radius of 1800 miles, it is believed that direct communication with American radio stations will be possible under good conditions. Radio telephones with a 500-mile radius are also to be installed and communication established with England and continental Europe.

IN THE CLUBS. The Metropolitan Radio Club held another well attended meeting at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday night. The principal item or the evening was a lecture by Mr. Colville, of Queensland, on "Amateur Transmission." The talk was much appreciated by the experimenters, many of whom intend to go in for transmitting when the authorities allow it. The Wireless Institute's annual general meeting, called for September 12, has been postponed for a week. Members will therefore assemble on September 19. The rooms of the Institute in Queen's Chambers, Dalley-street, City, are to be given up, so the meeting will be held in the Royal Society's Rooms, Phillip-street. Experimenters will be pleased to hear that the hon. secretary. Mr. Phil Renshaw, is making good progress on his recovery from his serious illness. The Military Radio Association will hold a general meeting on Monday at 8 p.m. All members are requested to be present, as certain phases of the constitution are to be discussed. The North Sydney Radio Club held a meeting on Tuesday night, when the question of apparatus for the club was discussed. It was decided to concentrate on a valve receiver at present, the transmitting apparatus to follow when the receiver has been completed. The next meeting of the club will be held at the club house (corner High and Alfred streets), on Tuesday, September 5. Members and all interested are asked to be present.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. "Oldar" (Banksia): Mr. Maclurcan sends out his concerts on a wave length of 1400 metres. To get him, you would have to have an inductance that would tune to this wave length. The most efficient change ??? would be to make a loose coupler of sufficient size to bring in the music. S. Clifford (Redfern): Your information re the station you heard is too vague for us to state definitively which it is. "Aero-Beginner" (Linden): The best thing you can do is to use a telephone transformer. This will make your telephones equally ???? more efficient than those of a higher resistance.

Mr. Maclurcan (Photo Caption); Mr. Mingay (Photo Caption)

1922 09 09

33rd "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 9 September 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. AMBITIOUS SCHEME. BY DOT DASH

An experiment, which will be watched with interest by amateurs all the world over, is to be carried out by Australian experimenters. It is intended, with the co-operation of amateurs in California, to endeavor to receive signals sent out from America in Australia. The scheme originated in Victoria among members of the branch of the Wireless Institute there. A special body, known as the Trans-Pacific Test Committee, has been appointed, and Mr. H. K. Love is chairman. The Americans have agreed to send out the signals, and the committee is now busy seeking the co-operation of amateurs all over Australia. The power used on the transmitting side will be 1 k.w., and, or course, continuous wave signals will be sent. The wave length will be between 250 and ??? metres. If everything goes well, it is hoped to begin the tests in December, and continue them for six months.

THE WONDER MUSIC. Mr. Maclurcan has arranged another fine concert for tomorrow night. The programme, which will be commenced at 7.30 p.m., on a wave length of 1400 metres, comprises the following items:— Fox Trot, "Say it with Music." Violin Solo, "Humoresque," Dvorak. Tenor, "Mother Macree," Chas. Harrison. Hawaiian Guitar, "Kawaka." Code Practice. Whistling, "Listen to the Mocking Bird." Fox Trot, "Fluffy Ruffles." Hawaiian Guitar, "Wailana Waltz." Piano, "Rhapsody No. 13," Liszt. Soprano, "My old Kentucky Home," Yvonne Gall. Recitation, selected.

CONCERT SERVICE. At the annual meeting of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, during the week, the chairman said that the company was preparing to establish a Radio Concert Service. This would mean that residents and settlers in all parts of Australia would be able to receive in their homes daily vocal and instrumental entertainments. It was also hoped to arrange with the principal newspapers for their news to be made available to people in isolated districts. Weather forecasts and market quotations would be similarly broadcasted. The whole equipment could be manufactured in Australia, giving entertainment to many.

N.S.W. ASSOCIATION. At the second meeting of delegates of radio clubs and associations, last week, the proposal to form a New South Wales Association was advanced another step. The following clubs were represented — Wireless Institute, Waverley, Illawarra, Metropolitan, and Western Suburbs. The Military Radio Association's delegates intimated that the association had decided not to co-operate for the present. A question which caused a deal of discussion was that of the capitation fee. The Metropolitan Club stood out for 1/-a member, but Waverley and Western Suburbs wanted 2/-. It was finally resolved that the latter sum stand. Following were the remaining decisions:— That the capitation fee be levied on all club members. That 15 members, 17 years old and over, five of whom must be licensed constitute a club. This entitles the club to one delegate, and 50 members and over, two representatives. That all new clubs wishing to join the association be charged pro rata on a monthly basis. That delegates agree that all clubs associated undertake to refrain from commenting upon or taking any action ?????? club administration, other than through the association. That the meeting adjourn till Thursday, September 28, when delegates must be authorised to proceed with the formation of the association.

AMATEUR'S GLOSSARY. Phase: (a) In an operation which recurs harmonically the stage or state to which the operation has proceeded. (b) In an operation which recurs harmonically the fraction of the whole period which has elapsed, measured from the same fixed origin. Phase Difference: The difference of phase (usually reckoned in time or in angle) between two periodic quantities which vary harmonically. Each of the circuits of a polyphase apparatus sometimes called a phase. Plain Aerial: An early form of transmitter, in which the spark gap was placed directly in series with aerial and earth — so that the only condenser in which the energy of the transmitter could be stored was the capacity of the aerial to earth. The term is also applied to the receiving aerial when the detector is placed directly in series with the receiving aerial and earth. Polarisation: ???? A wave is said to be plane polarised when its electric and magnetic displacements are propagated in the same plane. When the plane of the electric and magnetic displacement rotates uniformly with time, the waves are said to be circularly elliptically polarised. Such waves result from the compounding of two plane polarised waves having the same frequency and line of propagation but different relative phases and polarised in different planes. Potentiometer: An instrument for adjusting at will the potential between any two points of a circuit. An instrument for measuring potential differences. Power: The amount of work done in unit time. Quenched Spark: A spark, whose duration is shortened by conditions at the discharger, designed to rapidly increase the resistance of the spark gap, is said to be "quenched." Radiation Resistance: The resistance multiplied by the square of the R.M.S. current in the aerial equals the energy lost by the aerial in radiation.

IN THE CLUBS. The Metropolitan Radio Club's committee is busily engaged finalising arrangements for the forthcoming public exhibition. Intending exhibitors are requested to send in their entrance forms, which may be obtained from the secretary, as soon as possible. All apparatus exhibited is to be insured, so entrants must put the value of the apparatus on the entrance form. The Illawarra Radio Club held a meeting recently when two lectures were given. Mr. E. G. Bailey spoke on "Aerials and Tuning Circuits" and Mr. F. H. Kirkby dealt with "Crystal Receivers." The following lectures have been arranged for the next three meetings:— September 14, "Constructional Details of Receiving Apparatus," Mr. Gorman; September 28, members' night, display of apparatus and general discussion; October 12, "Elementary Valve Work, " Mr. Hewett. The secretary would like to hear from any intending members and others interested. His address is 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale. The Military Radio Association has decided to hold a dance on October 25 at the Engineer's Depot, Moore Park. Tickets are obtainable from the Secretary at the Depot, or from Mr. Dewis, Wireless House, Clarence-street. There will be a lecture on Wednesday next by Mr. Maclurcan. All members are requested to be present.

1922 09 16

34th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 16 September 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. MR. MACLURCAN AGAIN. BY DOT DASH

Another record has been established in low-power transmission by Mr. Charles Maclurcan of Strathfield. It will be remembered that Mr Maclurcan recently succeeded in sending messages to the steamer Montoro, north of Darwin, a distance of over 2000 miles, using a power of under 9 watts. The significance of this performance may be realised when, according to the July American "Wireless Age", the latest English record is: Speech 84 miles, and telegraph 200 miles, with 28 watts input. Mr. Maclurcan's latest experiment was to find out the lowest power necessary to establish daylight communication with Melbourne and Mungindi (near the Queensland border). With this object in view arrangements were made with Mr R. A. Hull, Melbourne, Mr. H. A. Warden, Mungindi, and Mr. L. V. S. Todd, Tamworth, to "listen in" on Friday, September 8, at 7.30 p.m, and on Sunday, September 10, at noon. A secret code letter was used for each change of power, and three changes were made each day, as follows: Friday, full power 8.5 watts, medium 6 watts, low 3.2 watts; Sunday, full 8.7 watts, medium 6.2 watts, low 3.8 watts. All receiving stations reported all the code letters both days. Mr. Warden and Mr. Todd also clearly heard the speech and music on the lowest power. This performance quite eclipses Mr. Maclurcan's previous records, and stands alone as the most remarkable radio feat ever accomplished.

AUDIBILITY. The human ear is only capable of responding to a certain range of note frequencies. This range has been given as from 30,000 to 40,000. The figures represent the extreme limits of audibility. There are notes which can be emitted from organ pipes at so low a pitch as to be inaudible. At the other end of the scale there are notes (emitted by animals) the pitch of which is so high that human beings cannot hear them. The highest note that can be heard by a person depends largely on that person's age and natural sensitiveness of hearing. It is usually in the neighborhood of about 14,000. For practical purpose we can assume the highest effective note that can be heard, has a frequency of 3000 per second. The most useful note is the one given by a frequency of about 1000. A telephone receiver responds most efficiently to this frequency, higher frequencies not giving such loud signals.

TOMORROW'S CONCERT. The following Pathe records will be played by Mr. Maclurcan for his radio concert tomorrow. The entertainment will start at 7.30 pm, wave length 1400 metres.— Fox trot — "Humming." Duet — "Change your name to Linder Lee." Hawaiian guitar — "Honolulu Bay." Soprano — "Musetta's Song," ("La Boheme"), Rosina Buckman Piano solo — "Rustles of Spring." Code practice — C.U. and Buzzer Hawaiian guitar — "Silver Sands of Love." Violin solo — "Sonata," Paganini. Tenor — Song from "Rigoletto." Fox trot — "I Want My Mammy." Recitation — Selected "God Save the King."

THE EXHIBITION. Mr. R. C. Marsden, president of the Metropolitan Radio Club, writes:— Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23, are the dates for the Radio Exhibition, in the Congregational Hall next to the Criterion Theatre, Pitt-street, Sydney. It is the first exhibition of its kind in Australia. The idea of the exhibition originated in the Metropolitan Radio Club, and the committee has decided to show the public what the experimenter is capable of doing. If Fate is kind, it is proposed to treat the public to radio music, broadcasted from an amateur station. The will be a variety of apparatus on view, from the humble crystal set to the multi-valve set, also comic sets and commercial exhibits. During the sessions there will be short and snappy addresses to the public on radio in simple language. There will be two sessions daily, from 2 p.m. till 5 p.m., and from 7 p.m. till 10 p.m.

AMATEURS' GLOSSARY Rectifier: An apparatus for converting alternating or oscillating currents into continuous current, or into pulses unidirectional current. Reflection of Electromagnetic Waves: (1) When a wave impinges on a conductor its electric and magnetic energy is expended in the production of electrical oscillations therein. The oscillations expend their energy in radiating waves and in heating the conductor. Part of the energy of the original wave therefore appears in the form of a wave of the same wave length radiated from the conductor, and this wave is called a reflected wave. When the dimensions of the conducting surface are large compared with the wave length, the laws of reflection of electromagnetic waves are in general the same as for light. (2) When waves are being guided by a conductor, such as a wire, which has a certain inductance and capacity per unit length, any abrupt change in the value of these constants (such as are produced by inserting an inductance coil, or occur at the end of the wire), causes the production of alternating potentials. These result in a wave, which travels along the wire in the opposite direction. This second wave is also called a reflected wave. Refraction: The change in the direction of a wave propagation when passing from one medium to another. Relay: An apparatus by means of which a current, too small to perform a required work is made to control a larger and adequate current. Resistance: The measure of that property of a conductor by the action of which electrical energy is transformed into heat in that conductor. It is numerically equal to the rate of the heat energy liberated per second, measured in watts, to the square of the current in the circuit, for stationary conditions; it is also equal to the ratio of the applied electromotive force in the resulting current, both being constant.

IN THE CLUBS The Metropolitan Radio Club's next general meeting will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, city, on Wednesday next at 8 p.m. The business of the evening will include a lecture by Mr. O. F. Mingay. With a view to dealing more effectively with the club's ever-increasing membership, the committee is working on a scheme of reorganisation which will be submitted to members at an early date. The Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association held a meeting on Wednesday at the clubroom, Auburn. Mr. G. R. Challenger lectured on "Radio Frequency Transformers." He made the lecture simple, explaining the manufacture and working of the transformer in such a manner that his hearers fully grasped its subject. Lectures for the next meeting, on September 27, will be "Condenser," by Mr. A. Pickering; and "Elementary Principals of Crystal Reception," by Mr. R. S. Burman. A Goulburn Branch of the Metropolitan Radio Club has been formed in that city. The following office-bearers were elected: — President, Mr. W. Drescher; vice-presidents, Messrs. Claydon and E. Burke; committee, Messrs. Macdonald, L. Nicholls, and L. Williams; secretary, Mr. G. Culham; treasurer, Mr. D. McLean. To F. Monteath (Bondi): Write to the Director of Radio Telegraphy, Prime minister's Department, Melbourne, for an application for a license.

1922 09 23

35th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 23 September 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. MR. MARSDEN'S WORK. BY DOT DASH

The many visitors to the first Australian Radio Exhibition in the Congregational Hall, Pitt-street, Sydney, little realised the vast amount of work entailed in organising such a unique display. The committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club, under whose auspices the exhibition is being held, has devoted a good deal of time to the work of organisation, but nobody has worked harder than the president, Mr. R. C. Marsden. Always a staunch advocate of the rights of the wireless experimenter, Mr. Marsden, when he accepted the presidency of the club, conceived the idea of showing the public what the amateur could do in the way of building up his own apparatus. So it came about that the exhibition was decided on. The interest taken in the show by the general public, proves that Mr. Marsden was not wrong when he asserted that the science would be furthered by such an exhibition.

CONCERT PROGRAMME. Mr. Maclurcan's concert tomorrow evening will commence at 7.30, as usual, on a wave length of 1400 metres. The following records will be played:— Fox Trot, "Rosie." Hawaiian guitar, "Oahu." Soprano, "They Call Me Mimi," Rosina Buckman. Cello, "Nocturne No. 2" (Chopin). Piano Solo, "Lieberstraum" (Liszt). Code practice, C.W. and Buzzer. Orchestra, "Bal Masque." Fox Trot, "La Veeda." Tenor, "An Evening Song," Cheetham. Hawaiian Guitar, "Dreamy Hawaii." Recitation, selected. God Save the King!

TRANSMITTING LICENSE Mr. E. T. Vears, the Leura experimenter, has been granted a transmitting license by the authorities. He is, it is understood, installing a c.w. set, and will be able to work with Sydney amateurs. On the reception side Mr. Vears has been most successful with his up-to-date apparatus, picking up the stations of the world.

INSTITUTE OFFICERS The annual general meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. Division) was held last Tuesday evening. After the annual report had been submitted to the council:— Messrs. P. Renshaw, C. D. Maclurcan, C. P. Bartholomew, H. A. Stowe, H. R. Gregory, R. D. Charlesworth, and S. C. Perry.

EXPERIMENTERS' GLOSSARY Resonance: A circuit will resonate to an impressed frequency when the reciprocal of 2 pi times the square root of the product of inductance and capacity is equal to the impressed frequency and provided that its resistance is less than the critical resistance. Under conditions of resonance the amplitudes of successive half-periods of the resultant current gradually increase to a maximum which is dependent only on the impressed electromotive force, and the resistance of the circuit. Resonance Curve: A curve showing the relation between the current induced in an oscillatory circuit and the inducing frequency. Root Mean Square Value: R.M.S. value of an alternating or oscillating current or voltage, is the value given by the square root of the mean of the squares of the successive values throughout the half period. Selectivity: The power of a receiving system to discriminate between a number of simultaneous signals. Self Inductance, of a Circuit: That portion of the inductance which is due to the magnetic field, produced by the current in that circuit. Shock Excitation: A name given to the method of exciting oscillations in the aerial circuit by a sudden and very short transference of energy from another circuit. Skin Effect, of Varying Currents: The non-uniform current density through the cross section of the conductor. It is greatest at the surface and least at the centre. Spark: An electrical discharge across a gap. It may consist of one discharge in either direction, but generally consists of a number of rapid oscillatory discharges.

RADIOPHONE PROGRESS The development of the radio telephone during the past few years is illustrated in the following paragraph from "Radio Broadcast" (America):— In November, 1907 the United States Navy installed 26 sets of radio telephones upon as many battleships, torpedo-boat destroyers, and auxiliaries, prior to their famous round-the-world cruise. The specifications at that time called for five-mile transmission for inter-fleet work. Some of those instruments, crude though they were compared with the present type, maintained communicationsfor forty and fifty miles. Today — such is the progress in this new art — the American Navy calls for instruments capable of a hundred mile conversation between warships and nearly as many miles between sea-planes and ship stations. In another year, it is safe to forecast the requirements will be twice as rigorous as these, but the equipment of the science will keep pace.

IN THE CLUBS. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB held a general meeting on Wednesday night, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, when there was a good attendance. The principal business of the evening was a lecture by Mr. O. F. Mingay, on "Interference in Radio Work," and the president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, gave a talk on "Radio Frequency Transformers." The report of the delegate to the last inter-club conference, to form the New South Wales Association, was adopted, and power was given to the club's representatives to act at the next meeting. At the last meeting of THE ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB a lecture on "Constructional Details of Receiving Apparatus" was delivered by Mr. C. A. Gorman, who dealt with the design and construction of leading coils, lose couplers, variometers, condensers, transformers, potentiometers, rheostats, etc. The delegates reported the result of last inter-club meeting, and were instructed to go ahead with the formation of the proposed Association of Clubs, on the lines laid down. Mr. J. McNeill, has placed a room at his residence at the disposal of the club. The next meeting will be held there on September 26, at 8 p.m. The address is No. 75 Montgomery-street, East Kogarah. This meeting is to be a members' night, with a display of apparatus, discussion and questions. Members are asked to bring along apparatus. At the MILITARY RADIO ASSOCIATION Mr. Maclurcan lectured to members and visitors from other clubs. Much instructive information was imparted with reference to radio telephony circuits and practice. Mr. Maclurcan also explained the need for research work among wave lengths of 200 metres and under for amateurs. A meeting of the social committee was held on the same evening and further arrangements for the Radio Dance on October 25 were discussed. The tickets are now available from either the secretary, Engineers' Depot, Moore Park, or from Mr. Dewis, Wireless House, 97 Clarence-street. Arrangements have been made for the erection of a transmitting and receiving station, and the work is already in hand. On Wednesday evening last Mr. R. Hill gave a lecture on valves and valve practice. There will be a lecture on October 4 at 8 p.m. by Mr. Basil Cooke on loop aerials. Mr. Marsden. (Photo Caption).

1922 09 30

36th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 30 September 1922

Bad scan on Trove, little readable, but infinitely better copy provided by SLNSW - thanks Renee

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. PROPOSED ASSOCIATION. BY DOT DASH

The clubs' delegates to form the proposed N.S.W. Association met again on Thursday night. Mr. Stowe was elected chairman. He announced that the Wireless Institute would not join the proposed association immediately, but would await the decision of the new council. The Institute, however, was in full accord with the principles of the scheme. He held that the Association could not be formed immediately, but exception was taken to this by the Metropolitan Club delegates. On behalf of the Institute it was suggested that the Association take over the registration of that body and that the affiliated clubs become branches of the Association. There was considerable discussion as to the immediate formation of the Association, the Metropolitan and Illawarra Clubs delegates being for, and those of the Institute, Waverley, and Western Suburbs against. After heated argument the Waverley delegates moved: "That this Association affiliates with the Institute, under the broad lines suggested by Mr. Stowe." This was subsequently altered to" "That the Association take over the Articles of Association of the Institute, subject to arrangement to be decided on between this meeting of delegates and Institute council," and carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned till Thursday, October 5, when the parties will meet, and if matters are favourable the association will be formed and a council elected.

THE EXHIBITION. The recent public exhibition under the auspices of the Metropolitan Radio Club was a great success, and the club's funds will benefit considerably. The fact that the average citizen is keen to learn something about radio was revealed by the large number of visitors at each session. The amateur competitive exhibits revealed splendid workmanship, and the judges, Messrs. Maclurcan, Reed, and Stowe, had no easy task in selecting the best. Following are the prizewinners:— Smallest crystal set, Mr. R. P. Addison. Smallest valve set, Mr. E. B. Crocker. Best single vale set, Mr. E. B. Crocker. Best multi valve set, Mr. A. E. Grigg. Best single piece of apparatus, Mr. R. R. Wilshire (honeycomb coil panel). Special prize, Mr. C. R. McKenzie (shell loud speaker). Best complete crystal set, Mr. J. Watson, highly commended, Mr. O. H. Silver. Most novel idea incorporated in any exhibit, Mr. A. E. Grigg (Radio Frequency Transformer Selector). During the sessions on the second day the visitors were treated to concerts by Radio. Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, who were sending to a station located at the University for the fete, and this music came in splendidly at the exhibition. The prizes will be presented at the next general meeting of the Metropolitan Club, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade on Wednesday week.

AMATEURS GLOSSARY. Specific Inductive Capacity: The S. I. C. of a medium is the ratio of the capacity of a condenser, having the medium as a dielectric, to its capacity with air as a dielectric. Syntony and syntonisation: The adjustment of one circuit to another, or of one transmitter taken as a whole to one receiver taken as a whole, in such a way that their time periods are the same, and waves of a different time period produce little or no effect on the system. Ticker: A rapid make and break device used in conjunction with a resonant circuit and a pair of telephones as a receiver, for continuous waves. It discharges the condenser of the resonant circuit at every make. The speed of the make-and-break device has no relation to the wave frequency. Tone Wheel: A high-speed commutator used as a receiver for continuous waves. It is run at a speed slightly different from the synchronous speed for the wave frequency, and in effect converts the high frequency current into a current at audible frequency. Train of Waves: The waves produced by one discharge of the primary condenser. Transformer: A stationary induction apparatus for transferring energy from one circuit to another, by the medium magnetic energy. It may or may not transform the current into another current at different potential. Tuner: An apparatus made in a convenient form, which, in conjunction with a detector, provides all necessary circuits, and adjustments for selective tuning. Valve, Fleming: A detector for oscillation. It depends on the rectifying properties of the ionised space between a hot filament, a cold electro, in an exhausted vessel. Wavelength: Twice the distance (taken in the line of propagation of the wave) between two successive points of zero disturbance. The wavelength is numerically equal to the velocity of the waves divided by the frequency. Wave-Meter: A frequency meter calibrated to read wave lengths.

ANOTHER COUNTRY CLUB. At a meeting of wireless amateurs of Tamworth, it was decided to form a radio club. A temporary committee, comprising Messrs. Todd, Frazer, and Paterson, was appointed to draft rules for approval at the next meeting.

NEW ZEALAND'S WAY. The possibility of thorough development of a "broadcast" system of wireless telephony in New Zealand is brought measurably closer by the recent announcement of the Government's proposals, says a Dominion newspaper. The scheme shows evidence of very careful thought, and while it offers substantial encouragement to amateurs and business firms interested in wireless telephony, allowing a greater power for transmission than in England, there are effectual safeguards against creation of the chaotic state of affairs experienced in the United States. There the "broadcasting" stations were allowed to increase and multiply far too freely, the result being confusion, congestion, mutual interference and "jamming," to remedy which special legislation had to be evoked. Profiting by this lesson the New Zealand authorities propose that the timetables for the chosen centres will be arranged by the Telegraph Department, the object being that only one "broadcasting" station will operate in any one centre at a time.

TOMORROW'S CONCERT. The following items will comprise Mr. Maclurcan's radio concert tomorrow evening. The music will start at 7.30, on a wavelength of 1400 metres:— Fox Trot, "I Want Me Mammy." Hawaiian Guitar, "My Isle of Golden Dreams." Soprano, "Good Bye" (Tosti), Yvonne Gall. Piano Solo, "Study Op. 10 No. 1" (Chopin). Operatic, "Pilgrims' Chorus" (Tanhauser). Code practice, C.W. and Buzzer. Flute Solo, "Offertoire Op. 12" (Doujon). Xylophone, "Snowdrops." Hawaiian Guitar, "My Land of Memory." Baritone, "Toreador Song" from "Carmen." Waltz, "Mississippi Cradle Waltz." Recitation, Selected. God Save the King.

1922 10 07

38th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 7 October 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. MR. MALONE SPEAKS. BY DOT DASH

The annual dinner of the Victorian Branch of the Wireless Institute of Australia, was held during the week. The guests of the evening were Mr. J. Malone, Controller of Wireless Telegraphy for the Commonwealth; Colonel Williams, representing the Army Signalling Corps; Commander Creswell, representing the Navy; Mr. L. Hooke, of Amalgamated Wireless (Aust.), Ltd., and Radio Inspector Martin. Referring to the control of amateur stations, Mr. Malone said that the new regulations have been prepared, but had not yet been approved. They would be available to the public in about a week. In the preparation ofthe regulations, close attention had been given to the conditions obtaining in other countries. The vexed question of licence fees was receiving attention, and a reduction in the present fee (£2 a year) would be made. The Institute could do a great deal to help the Government to "police" the ether. He suggested that the amateurs should appoint one of their number to act as an honorary radio inspector. Colonol Williams said that he looked to the Institute to provide operators in any future wars in which the Empire might be involved. Wireless would be the most important method of signalling in the next war.

ASSOCIATION FORMED. The New South Wales Clubs' Association has been formed. Delegates from the various Sydney clubs met on Thursday, when the first question considered was that of taking over the Wireless Institute's incorporation. The meeting turned this down. Another proposal was that the present council of the Institute resign, and the delegates all join the Institute and submit their names for ballot for the council, which would then be the supreme body in New South Wales. This was also rejected. The meeting then decided to form the association, which will be known as the Radio Association of Australia N.S.W. Division. The following officers were elected, pro tem:— President: Mr. Hewitt (Illawarra Radio Club). Secretary: Mr. O. F. Mingay (Metropolitan Radio Club). Treasurer: Mr. A. Atkinson (Illawarra Radio Club). Committee: Mr. R. C. Marsden (Metropolitan Club), Mr. W. Best (Metropolitan Club (Goulburn Branch). It is intended to move for divisions of the association in all the capital cities. The next meeting will be held on Monday week, when the constitution drawn up by the committee will be considered. A telegram has been sent to Mr. Malone, Controller of Radio Telegraphy informing him of the decision of the council.

ABOUT AN AERIAL. "That application for permission to stretch two wires across a lane at rear of property in Alison-road for the purpose of a wireless outfit be not granted." This recommendation to the Works committee caused Ald. ????, M.L.A. to wax ???? at Randwick ???? during the week. "I'm rather astonished," he said. "Every encouragement is being given to amateurs to perfect themselves. It is difficult to understand what grounds we have for refusing." Ald. Baker: We don't want to allow them to occupy the streets. Why it might be struck by lightning an cause an immense conflagration among the fences. "A youth's hobby," replied Ald. Goldstein. "It is an extremely harsh view to take of it." Ald. Dunningham: Why didn't they do it without asking questions? The application was refused. Ald. Goldstein: This is a kill-joy institution. It is evident that the Randwick aldermen have never made a study of wireless. Alderman Baker's suggestion that the aerial "might be struck by lightning" will bring a smile to the face of every experimenter.

BENDING A WAVE. A number of interesting experiments have been carried out in Washington, U.S.A., to discover to what extent a wireless signal might be turned out of its course, and it was found that electric cables, steel structures, rivers, trees and stone and iron monuments, would all affect the direction of wireless waves. This was found out in a very simple way. Signals were sent out from a transmitting station, and their strength was measured at different points with a direction-finding receiver, says a London newspaper. It was found that a large concrete bridge bent the rays fourteen degrees out of their course, while the Washington monument turned them as much as eighty degrees out — or, in other words, almost bent them at a right angle. Monuments, buildings, and bridges readily act as wireless reflectors; the waves meet them, and glance off again at an angle. Most curious, perhaps, was the discovery that a thing like a monument itself acts as a sort of aerial, and by a tune of its own, depending on its height or size and the particular material of which it is made. It will sometimes happen that the tune of an obstruction like this will be about the same as the tune or wave length of the wireless signals, and when this occurs the reflection is the greatest. Thus, if the receiving station were near a large building, it might pick up signals far more readily from a wireless station round the corner, as it were, than from one in a direct line with it. It is a very interesting and important discovery, and may lead to some striking developments in wireless.

ANOTHER NEW CLUB. Another radio club is in progress of formation, in the Sydney suburbs. This one is at Leichhardt, and is to be called the "Leichhardt and District Radio Society." There has been a preliminary meeting, when Mr. W. J. Zech was appointed hon. secretary pro. tem. The meeting to get the club going will be held at No. 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday, October 10 at 8 p.m., when all amateurs of the surrounding districts are invited to attend. The promoters have been fortunate in securing a room for lectures, etc. Any further particulars may be obtained from Mr. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

UNIVERSITY DEMONSTRATION. At a largely attended meeting of the Institution of Engineers of Australia (junior and students section) at the Melbourne University during the week, a demonstration was given of the capabilities of the Thermionic valve for reception purposes. Arrangements had been made by the Amalgamated Wireless Limited for a concert to be broadcasted from the Domain, and this was heard clearly by the audience in all parts of the room.

ROUND THE CLUBS. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB will hold its next general meeting on Wednesday at 7.45 p.m., in the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. The principal business of the evening will be the presentation of prizes won at the recent exhibition, and prizewinners are asked to make a special effort to be present. The report and balance-sheet of the exhibition will be submitted to members for adoption. Mr. Swinburne is to lecture on circuits, and Mr. W. Best will also give a talk. THE ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB'S last meeting was held at Mr. McNeill's residence, 175 Montgomery-street, Kogarah. After formal business had been disposed of members entered upon a general discussion as to the club's present position. Its proposed future activities, and means of augmenting the funds. Having secured a permanent place of meeting it is proposed as soon as practicable to apply for a license and have a set working in the club room. The next meeting will be held at the above address on October 12, when a lecture on "Elementary Valve Work" will be given by Mr. Hewitt.

1922 10 14

39th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 14 October 1922

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THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. THOSE REGULATIONS. BY DOT DASH.

The delay in the issuing of the new Radio Regulations is causing annoyance among experimenters and others interested in the science. They should have been made public weeks ago, but were hung up for some reason best known to the authorities in Melbourne. Very few licenses are being applied for at present, as many are waiting to get the benefit of the reduced fees which are provided for in the new regulations. The latest, according to the Melbourne correspondent of the "Evening News," is that they will be available on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the newly formed N.S.W. Division of the Radio Society of Australia, which represents practically the whole of the experimenters in the State has not been idle. When the regulations did not come to light during the week, the secretary sent telegraphs of protest to the authorities and the Prime Minister.

TOMORROWS CONCERT The absence of Mr. Maclurcan's concert programme from this column last week caused his telephone to work overtime on Sunday. He got thoroughly tired of answering the question: "Are you going to give us a concert tonight?" However there was a concert and will continue to be one every Sunday at 7.30 p.m. till further notice. Pressure of business has prevented Mr. Maclurcan compiling the programme for days ahead. During the week Mr. Maclurcan had made considerable alterations in his transmitting set, and he would like all experimenters to take careful notes and report comparative results to him. SOME TELEPHONY? During a lecture on Radio and the Eclipse, at the Metropolitan Radio Club's meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Swinburne, who accompanied the Royal Astronomical Society's party to Stanthorpe, to receive wireless time signals for the observers, told an amusing story. The wireless receiving outfit attracted much attention, and there were many who desired to "listen in." Among those was a woman from New York. At the time she came along the radio men were reading Morse messages from the New York Central Station, and she was very excited when told that she could hear something being sent out from her native land. The visitor adjusted the 'phones, listened for a while, remarked that it was "very wonderful," and went away looking rather disappointed. Later the woman was discussing the experience with one of the scientists. "You heard New York?" he asked. "Well," she replied, I am sure I heard the traffic in the streets quite plainly, but I was disappointed that I did not hear them talking." NEW CIRCUIT. The circuit given here is being used by advanced amateurs in England with considerable success. It gives simultaneous high and low frequency amplification, and although looking rather involved, makes for very good results.

RADIO DOCTOR. Considerable interest has been aroused by the newspaper accounts of a case when a ship's doctor treated by wireless a patient hundreds of miles away (writes a cargo steamer officer in a London newspaper.) Yet this method of prescribing is by no means a novelty in these days when nearly all ships are fitted with wireless installations. During the worldwide influenza scourge, it was quite common for a doctor to treat several patients at a time in this manner. For instance, on one occasion a cruiser in which I was serving was escorting a large convoy of tramp steamers from Sierra Leone when the epidemic broke out, not only in our own vessel but in the convoy, which was without a single doctor. And to make matters worse we had left one of our two doctors at Sierra Leone to help to fight the outbreak there. Imagine, therefore, the task that lay with the one and only medico! But he proved himself equal to the job. Skippers were instructed to report by Marconigram twice daily, 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., the temperature, pulse, respiration, and symptoms of each case, which was designated by a letter of the alphabet. Thus the message, shorn of superfluous words, would read something like this: A. 101.90, irregular, breathing normal, pains in limbs, fairly cheerful." Then reports were kept separate. That is to say, our ship was allotted one file. And in this way the doctor was enabled to follow at a glance the progress of his many invisible patients. Of course, the actual nursing had to alert to the initiative and commonsense of the respective captains; though even in this the latter were greatly assisted by wireless, which enabled the doctor to send out from time to time hints and suggestions for all ships to pick up. And by the time the convoy reached home all the patients, with the exception of one who died, were convalescent — a truly remarkable testimony to the efficaciousness of wireless for the treatment of sickness.

LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONY. The "Evening News" correspondent at Suva reports that music, broadcasted by wireless, was received at the Apia Station from a distance of 2223 miles. The speech was good. Two-hour concerts were also received, but, although the music was clear and strong, the speech was not so good. The concerts were those given nightly to the residents of Honolulu.

THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB'S meeting on Wednesday night was well attended. In presenting the prizes won by exhibitors in the recent radio exhibition the president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, said that it was intended to make the exhibition an annual fixture. He hoped, however, that next year the exhibition would be more representative, and that the club would receive support from kindred bodies. The report and balance-sheet of the exhibition showed that the club benefitted considerably from the financial point of view. Mr Swinburne gave a talk on "Radio and the Eclipse," and Mr. Marsden lectured on various valve circuits. THE NORTH SYDNEY CLUB held a well-attended meeting at the clubrooms last Tuesday night. The report of the delegates to the Australian Association of Radio Clubs was submitted, and it was decided to fully co-operate with the other clubs in this matter. Mr. J. O'Brien was appointed as delegate for the ensuing term. A feature of the evening was the admission into the club of their first lady member, Miss Pitcairn, who was given a hearty welcome. For the visit of the club to Mr. Maclurcan's station on Tuesday next members are requested to meet "under the clock" on Central station at 7.15 p.m. sharp. The next meeting at the club's premises will be held on Tuesday, October 23. THE LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT RADIO SOCIETY. was formed on Tuesday, when a number of local experimenters gathered together at No. 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt. Rules and regulations were put before the meeting, and after they had been put into shape were adopted. The following office-bearers were elected:— President, Mr. L. Morrison; vice-presidents, Messrs. Ross and Bird; hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech; hon. treasurer and assistant hon. secretary, Mr. W. Bird; councillors, Messrs. Harrington, Cantrell, Kirkpatrick, and Harrison. All interested are invited to attend the next meeting of the society, at No. 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next. Inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1922 10 21

40th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 21 October 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE. BY DOT DASH

That the authorities are willing to work in with the amateur is revealed in a letter received by Mr. O. F. Mingay, hon. secretary, pro. tem., of the newly formed Radio Association of Australia, N.S.W. Division, from Mr. Malone, Controller of Wireless. Mr. Malone wrote:— "I desire to thank you for your telegram and memorandum relative to the formation of the Radio Association of Australia, and to forward my congratulations on this very important step taken by the wireless enthusiasts of Sydney. I am sure it will turn towards obtaining harmonious relations in all wireless activities, and assist in the maintenance of desirable wireless discipline, and will also enable the controlling authorities to be able to discuss questions of mutual interest with a recognised responsible body. "I am glad to know that you are in touch with Mr. Crawford, who will represent my views, and with whom I will be glad if you will discuss the question of honorary inspectors. "Action has already been taken to arrange for a supply of application forms for licenses to be available at various places, in addition to this office. These forms will be available when the new regulations are printed. Owing to the congested state of Parliamentary Works recently it has been impossible to have the regulations approved, but I am confidently expecting to have them through this week."

BOOM IN ENGLAND. A wireless man, who arrived in Sydney from England during the week, asserts that the radio boom in Britain is rapidly spreading. "With the advent of broadcasting," he said, "and the new receiving permits, the public began to wake up to the fact that wireless was a comparatively cheap and absorbing hobby. The Press helped things along, and wireless journals dealing with the science from an amateur point of view, soon made their appearance. "Then came the demand for apparatus. Shops which stocked it were soon sold out, and there was an acute shortage of some kinds of gear. Manufacturers were kept busy, and even when I left England, only a few weeks ago, it was hard to purchase certain parts. "All over the countryside and in the cities aerials are to be seen, and wireless societies and clubs are flourishing." The visitor added that it was hard to make any forecast of the length of time the boom might last. "There are many who think that amateur wireless will always flourish, though not so strong as at present."

CLUB OFFICERS RESIGN. Mr. R. C. Marsden (president), Miss F. V. Wallace (hon. treasurer), and Mr. W. Mitchell (hon. secretary), have announced their intention of resigning from their offices in the Metropolitan Radio Club. Mr. Marsden stated that he is now connected with wireless in a commercial sense, and therefore for obvious reasons, does not think it is right that he should continue as the head of a club composed of amateurs. He will, however, still remain a member of the club, and do everything in his power to forward its interests. Miss Wallace's reasons are practically identical, and she also promises the club her continued support. The resignations of these officers leaves the committee without a quorum, and it has been decided, therefore, to conduct an election of committee and officers at the next general meeting of the club, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday week. At this meeting also, the reorganisation of the club will be discussed, and this will have to be the first task of the new committee. Nominations for the committee will close with the secretary, care of Royal Arcade, on Monday, October 30. Nominations must be signed by the nominee, and also by another member of the club, who will second him.

CHEAP TRANSFORMER. A writer in "Popular Science Siftings" describes the construction of an amplifying transformer which can be made easily and cheaply. All that is needed is an old motor car spark coil. It does not matter if the vibrator contacts are worn out or gone, the condenser shorted, or primary damaged, just as long as the secondary and core of the coil are intact, for these are all that are needed. The coil can be left, as it is in its case without removing any part of it, A test should be made to ascertain whether the secondary is all right. A suggested form of mounting the coil to economise in space and give it a better appearance is as follows:— The case is broken open and the coil removed carefully so as not to damage the secondary winding. The secondary winding with the core and primary inside are then placed in a section of cardboard tube of the proper diameter for a close fit, the two ends of the secondary winding being brought out at one end for connection.

A piece of thin sheet brass is then cut to the proper size to form an outer covering for the cardboard tube and tied firmly in place with string, while solder is used to fasten the sheet of brass into a cylindrical form. A disc of the right size to fit into the top of the brass cylinder is cut from one-sixteenth inch thick black fibre. Two binding posts from an old dry battery are put on this disc, the terminals of the coil being soldered to the ??? head of these posts on the bottom of the disc. Some insulating compound which may have been taken from the coil case is then heated and run into the top of the cylinder, sealing in the coil and the fibre disc pressed tightly into place on top while the compound is hot. When it has cooled the disc will be fastened securely. A disc of half-inch wood is cut for a drive fit into the bottom of the cylinder and wedged into place. A square wooden base is then made and fastened to the wooden bottom disc with two wood screws. The diagram shows how these transformers are connected.

NEW COUNTRY CLUB. The "Evening News" Armidale correspondent telegraphs: A strong radio club, under the auspices of the New South Wales branch of the Wireless Institute, was formed at Armidale on Thursday evening. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, A. Purkiss; president, Rev. H. S. Runtine; vice-presidents, H. A. Marshall, P. C. Hipgrave, and T. Flynn; secretary, E. Barlow; treasurer, P. Knight. It is proposed to inaugurate the club's activities by giving a wireless concert from Sydney or Melbourne in the Town Hall.

ROUND THE CLUBS. The ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB'S last meeting was held at its new room, 13 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, when an interesting lecture was given by Mr. L. R. Hewett on "Elementary Valve Work." The lecturer dealt lucidly with the subject, explaining in detail the construction, the detecting, and amplifying properties of the valve, and the principle on which it functioned. On the delegates reporting the proceedings of the last interclub meeting, the members unanimously confirmed their actions, and passed a vote of thanks. The next meeting will be held at the club's room next Thursday, at 8 p.m., when "Constructional Details of Apparatus (2nd series)" will be dealt with by Mr. Gorman. All members and intending members are asked to be present. Members of the NORTH SYDNEY RADIO CLUB, at the invitation of Mr. C. Maclurcan, paid a visit to his station at Strathfield last Tuesday night, when a pleasant and instructive evening was spent. The visitors greatly appreciated the advice given them. The club's next meeting will he held on Tuesday next, when all members are requested to be present. Visitors from other clubs are assured of a hearty welcome at any time. The newly formed LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT RADIO SOCIETY. held its meeting at 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday last, when beginners and advanced members were divided into classes. It is intended by buzzer practice to work all members up to the regulation code speed of 12 words a minute. The next meeting is on Tuesday evening. Inquiries concerning the society should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1922 10 28

41th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 28 October 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. AMERICAN BOOM. By DOT DASH.

If Marconi's latest invention announced in Wednesday's "Evening News," ever works out as he anticipates, there is no doubt that the ordinary telephone will die as quick a death as the electric telegraph has at the hands of the wireless in America. The new device of Marconi's is a machine that enable messages to be sent directly between two points and eliminates risk of outside parties listening in. This will, of course, popularise radio, as it has been due mainly to the listening in by others that has caused business men to ignore it as an adjunct to business. Many big firms have installed radios on their delivery wagons in the United States, in order that they can catch the men and give them directions. One big firm of carriers has installed a receiving outfit on 70 motor lorries, and report greatly increased business, a tremendous saving in time and money. Trains America are fitted with both receiving and transmitting plants, and travellers find it a boon. Australians who have just returned from America tell of radio concerts in the hotels, gardens, and cafes. Many farmers, they say, have installed plants so that they can keep in constant touch with the market prices, lists of which are broadcasted daily. The police also find it useful in making movements of criminals known, and many arrests have been made as a result of the messages sent out. Even motorists have receiving outflts installed on their cars, and crooks are using them and finding them as useful as do the police. Experts predict that the telephone will be obsolete in a few years.

THE ASSOCIATION. The second meeting of the Radio Association of Australia (N.S.W. Branch) was held at the Protestant Hall, Castlereagh-street, on Tuesday last. Mr. Hewett, provisional president, occupied the chair. The letter from Mr. Malone, as published in the "Evening News," was read, and it was agreed that the association should do everything in its power to assist the authorities. A lengthy discussion took place on the advisability of having experimenters who were connected with the commercial wireless as officers of the council. The main contention was that it was up to the amateurs to realise the situation, and if they did not want such persons on the council or committee of their association or club then the prominent amateurs should come forward, and take over the government of the various bodies. The following motion was unanimously agreed to:— "That this council expresses its opinion that experimenters on the council, engaged in commercial wireless have in no way acted against the best interests of the association or amateurs generally." It was also agreed that this council affirms its confidence in Mr. O. F. Mingay; and, further regrets that he is unable to accept the position of hon. secretary." Adoption of rules and bylaws — The rules and bylaws as presented by the constitutional sub-committee, were unanimously adopted. The full ???? printed and circulated to all sub branches when funds will allow of same. The election of officers resulted:— Mr. Hewett, president; Mr. Swinburne and Mr. Bowman, vice-presidents; Mr. Atkinson, hon. secretary; and Mr. Best, treasurer. The secretary can be communicated with at the Electricity Department, Sydney Town Hall.

THE CONCERT STATION. Mr. Maclurcan, of Strathfield, has completed some interesting alterations to his transmitting set. The high tension supply has been converted to rectified alternating current and the power increased to ??? volts. With this input the aerial radiation is 1.5 amps. The circuit has also been materially altered, and the one now in use, which gives such excellent results, includes several entirely new ideas that Mr. Maclurcan is developing. The aerial has been slightly altered, further reducing the resistance, which now stands as low as 1.9 ohms. Experimenters will probably notice a marked increase in signal strength, and they are especially requested to notify Mr. Maclurcan of the results after next Sunday's concert.

SINGLE WIRE AERIALS. The Orient liner Ormonde, which was berthed at Circular Quay during the week, has the single wire aerial. The single wire is fast becoming popular for ship work, and operators are loud in their praise of its efficiency. It certainly has the advantage of being neat. As against the two or more wire aerials, the single wire is lighter and offers less resistance to the wind. There is comparatively little risk of the new type of aerial being blown down in a gale. Tho ship's bo's'n, too, is pleased with the single wire, for he is responsible for the rigging of it. When it has to be lowered for repairs, his men simply coil it down on the boat deck, for there are no awkward spreaders and masses of loose wire.

EXPERIMENTAL TELEPHONY. With the granting of transmitting licenses, many experimenters will, no doubt, take up the study of Radio Telephony. The type of apparatus and circuit with which to make a start is an important point. The circuit here shown is given by Mr. J. Scott Taggart in his work on Vacuum tubes. It is a good arrangement for low-power experimental work. The ordinary oscillatory circuit is employed and the microphone is connected across, a portion of the aerial tuning inductance L2. The minimum amount of apparatus has been shown in the diagram. Instead of connecting the microphone where indicated, it may be connected across an inductance coupled to L2 or L1; this arrangement becomes more suitable, especially in the case of high powers. Where it is only desired to use a single vacuum tube the circuit is to be recommended, although the speech is not so good as some of the other arrangements.

INSTITUTE'S POLICY. At a special general meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. Division) the following expression of policy was carried:— "That the policy of the institute for the immediate future be limited to the holding of monthly meetings, and the reading of papers, demonstrations, and discussions thereat." A general meeting will be held on Thursday next at the Protestant Hall, Castlereagh-street, at 7.30 p.m. Mr. C. D. Maclurcan will give a discussion on "Transmission." He will exhibit his transmitting set and explain its operation. Mr. F. B. Cooke will also give an address.

ROUND THE CLUBS. The METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB'S general meeting will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Members are asked to make a special effort to be present, in view of the election of the committee at the meeting. The reorganisation of the club is also to be discussed. Nominations for the committee will close on Monday evening with the hon. secretary, care of Royal Arcade. Nominations must be signed by the nominee, and also by another member of the club, who will second him. THE NORTH SYDNEY RADIO CLUB'S fortnightly general meeting was held at the club rooms last Tuesday night. There was a good attendance. Mr. ????, who recently met with a severe motor accident, has now completely recovered, and has resumed his activities with the club. A lecture on "The Elementary Principles of Wireless and the Construction of Small Sets," was delivered by Mr. Hill. The club will be open to visitors on Tuesday evening. Radio clubs and experimenters generally are requested to note that the club's call signal has been changed from N676 to 2GY, as from November 1. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT RADIO SOCIETY'S third meeting was held at the club room, No. 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday last, when Mr. W. Bird delivered a lecture on the construction of loose couplers. The rest of the evening was spent in Morse practice and members are making steady progress. The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday, when another lecture will be given. Any inquiries concerning the society should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1922 11 04

42nd "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 4 November 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. SIMPLE VALVE SET. By DOT DASH.

The International Union of Scientific Radio Telegraphy was organised two years ago for the purpose of furthering, through international co-operation, the systematic study of the fundamental problems of radio communication. Separate sections habe been formed for a ???? of different countries and the work of the American section has been in progress for over a year. Recently systematic measurements have been made at receiving stations in the United States of the intensity of signals received from various French stations and by a continuance of these measurements it is expected that ???? comprehensive knowledge will be obtained of the phenomena of radio transmission. A meeting of the American section was held recently, at which various ???? ???? reported including the ???? the study of radio wave intensity of atmospheric disturbance. ???? radio wave direction, measurements of radiations which cause interference ???? electron tubes. Particularly in the case of measurements of the intensity of radio waves, it is important that International co-operation be promoted, since it is only by frequent simultaneous measurements made co-operatively by widely separated sending and receiving stations that ???? results may be obtained.

NO REGULATIONS YET. There is still no sign of the new radio regulations, and amateurs in this State are loud in their condemnation of the authorities for holding them back. It is understood that the regulations have been printed and are all ready for issuing. Only the authorities know why they have not been made public. Meanwhile the experimental perience is "in the air" so to speak, but it is known that the regulations ???? provisions of the utmost importance to experimenters, and nobody cares to start any work that may be upset in a few weeks. About three weeks ago the Prime Minister promised that the regulations would be made available "within a week." There is a rumor current ???? that it will be three months before they are issued. Experimenters are asking why.

BEGINNER'S VALVE SET. An efficient valve set for the beginner graduating to this stage is suggested by "The Broadcaster" (England). The diagram shows the circuit and method of wiring in a panel. An important part of the set is the inductance, and on this point ??? says:— There are many types of ???? which may be employed ???? opinions are expressed ???? tive efficiency. For such ???? sire to construct the ???? which it is desired to ???? the highest being of the order of ???? metres or so. Where space is limited and a high wavelength is to be ???? inductances of the honeycombe type are usually used. In the case under consideration, there is plenty of space at our disposal, and we can, therefore, employ inductances of the single layer former type, which are, on the whole, the most efficient. An ebonite tube, 3¼in diameter, 8in long, and 1/8in in thickness should be obtained. This former must be wound full with 24 S.W.G. double silk covered wire, and tapped at six points, evenly spaced throughout the inductance. The tapping points are taken to a selector switch. The reactance is wound on an ebonite tube of such a diameter that it will slide into the inductance. It should be of the same length as the inductance, and wound full with 30 S.W.G. double silk-covered wire. The reactance coil should be mounted on a brass rod or other suitable support, so that it may be readily moved in or out of the inductance. An insulated arm can be arranged so that the capacity effect of the hand does not affect the tuning. Further details may easily be gleaned from the diagram.

RADIO SIMPLIFIED. A 15-storey skyscraper in San Francisco erected by a navigation company, will be wired throughout for radiophone installation. Tenants wishing to put in a receiving set will only have to "plug in" to a wall socket, as for a desk lamp, to be connected with the antenna on the roof, and receive broadcasting programmes from stations in San Francisco and vicinity. Not only will the new building be completely wired as a convenience to tenants who are radiophone enthusiasts, but the company intends to install a powerful sending and receiving set, with which it is expected it will be possible to give orders to the captains of the company's nine freight and passenger ships, which maintain a weekly service between San Francisco and the Hawaiian Islands. Within the next year the company hopes to be able to talk by radiophone with its agencies in the islands.

CLUB OFFICERS RE-ELECTED. There was a good attendance at the meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Wednesday evening, when the officers tendered their resignations. As has already been explained in this column, the president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, resigned because he is now interested in wireless in a commercial sense, and did not think it right that he should be at the head of an amateur body. This he explained at length to the meeting. The members, however, had other views and several voiced complete confidence in the officers, and urged their re-election. This was done, and the new officers and committee are as follows:— President, Mr. Marsden; hon. secretary, Mr. A. Mitchell; hon. treasurer, Miss F. V. Wallace; committee, Messrs. W. Best, F. Swinburne, W. Bird, S. Atkinson, and W. Cotterill. Mr. Marsden and Miss Wallace were appointed delegates to the Radio Association of Australia (N.S.W. Division).

ANOTHER NEW CLUB. It is proposed to form a new club on the North Shore line, to embrace Kuringai and districts. Messrs. P. Renshaw, H. Stowe, O. F. Mingay, and R. R. Wilshire have constituted themselves into a committee to organise the inaugural meeting. Mr. Wilshire has been appointed hon. secretary pro tem., and can be communicated with by letter to "Lauriston," Help-street, Chatswood.

IN THE CLUBS. THE LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT RADIO SOCIETY held a well-attended meeting at the club room, No. 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday. Three short papers by Mr. W. J. Zech were read by the author. The subjects were: "Crystal Detectors and their Action," "The Construction and Action of the Telephone Receiver," and "A Few Points on Magnetism." After the conclusion of each, discussion was entered into, and many interesting points raised by those present. The rest of the evening was spent in Morse practice. The membership of the society is steadily increasing, and the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, of 145 Booth-street, Annandale, will be pleased to reply to anyinquiries from those interested. The next meeting is to be held at the club room at 8 p.m. next Tuesday. THE ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB'S last meeting was held at the club room, 78 Montgomery-street, Kogarah. Mr. Hewett reported the result of the last meeting of the new Radio Association, and pointed out that as the present delegates (he and Mr. Atkinson) held offices in the new body, it was necessary that the club should appoint a new delegate. Mr. C. A. Gorman was appointed. Mr. Gorman continued his lecture on "Constructional Details." He dealt fully with various forms of inductances, giving formulae for the winding of honeycomb, duo-lateral, basket-wound, and longwave coils for given wavelengths. He also gave some useful hints on the construction of panel switches, valve holders, rheostats, etc. The next meeting will be held at the club room next Thursday at 8 p.m. Lectures by Messrs. Hewett and Gorman on "Valve Circuits" and "Constructions Details" (third series), respectively. THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE'S general meeting was held last Thursday at the Protestant Hall, Castlereagh-street, Mr. C. P. Bartholomew presided. The chief business of the evening was a lecture on "Amateur Transmission, " by Mr. Charles Maclurcan, assisted by Mr. Basil Cooke and Mr. Joe Read.

1922 11 11

43rd "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 11 November 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. WOMAN DELEGATE. By DOT DASH.

There are many women experimenters in Australia today, and from all accounts they are very successful in the work. One of the best known, and an enthusiastic worker in the amateur cause, is Miss F. V. Wallace. At the last meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club, of which she is hon. treasurer, Miss Wallace was appointed, with the president, Mr. Marsden, to represent the club on the Radio Association of Australia (N.S.W. branch). She is also a member of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. division).

PICTURES BY WIRELESS. Following in the footsteps of Edouard Belin, the French inventor who transmitted facsimile handwriting and cartoons across the Atlantic by radio over a year ago, comes the successful experiment of Dr. Arthur Korn, of Berlin. Dr. Korn recently transmitted a photograph from Rome to Bar Harbor, Maine. According to the New York "World," Dr. Korn makes use of a code in transmitting photographs, instead of transmitting the photographic images themselves, as in the case of the Belin system. Dr. Korn's transmission is in the form of a coded message, which must be decoded, or "translated" into a picture. First of all, the original photograph is reproduced in halftone, that is to say it is broken up into dots of various sizes, just as it is reproduced for printing purposes. The halftone photograph is then placed in the coding machine, which, by means of an optical system and a selenium cell, combined so as to classify the dots into seventeen or more sizes, assigns a given letter or word to each size of halftone dots, and prints the letter or dot on a paper tape. The letters and words on the paper tape are then transmitted by cable, telegraph, or radio, and received in the usual manner. The message is finally decoded by means of a special typewriter, which has the necessary arrangement of key board, and handles a sheet 12 by 15 inches. The typewriter turns out an arrangement of large and small dots which constitutes the coarse photograph, and by reducing it to the desired size the image is sharpened accordingly.

MANY HINTS. In a lecture before the Wireless Institute, Mr. Chas. Maclurcan gave members many useful hints, especially with regard to transmission work. He stressed the necessity for any amateur contemplating the erection of a transmitting set to design the whole station first and then build it according to the complete specifications. It was not right to build the aerial first and then try to fit the whole apparatus to it. "Pay attention to details" is Mr. Maclurcan's motto. The peculiar effect of grid leaks, counterpoises, variation of filament voltage, and the rectification of A.C. to D.C. (which is one of Mr. Maclurcan's strong points) were thoroughly discussed by the lecturer.

RADIO RECORDER. An interesting radio circuit employing a mechanical vibrator as a recorder has been devised by H. Pratt. It appeared in a recent issue of the "Wireless Age." The currents induced in radio receiving systems are ordinarily of too high a frequency to enable them to produce direct mechanical movements, but the tendency of radio during recent years has been towards lower frequencies, so that at the present time, frequencies are being employed for long distance communication which are sufficiently low to equip them to make mechanical motions directly. Radio-telegraphic stations have been in continuous operation for trans-Atlantic communication, which have been regularly employing radio frequency currents between 17,000 and 20,000 cycles per second. This recorder is worked from currents of such frequencies. The illustration shows a receiving circuit. The aerial tuning inductance has its terminals connected to the input of a radio frequency amplifier and transferred through transformer 1, to an electrically tuned circuit containing a condenser and an electromagnet 2. Associated with this electromagnet is a mechanically tuned armature, 3, of steel permanently magnetised, and placed so that one of its magnetic poles may be acted upon by the electromagnet. An alternating radio frequency current flowing in the electromagnet producing a magnetic field at the end of its core which is also alternating, thereby causing vibrations of the magnetically polarised, mechanically tuned armature. These vibrations are made possible through the spring action of the armature as the latter is fastened rigidly to a fixed base with its upper end free to vibrate. The mechanical tone of the armature must be such that its vibrations will be in synchronism with the radio frequency current used. This mechanical vibration may be dampened by immersing the armature in a fluid, so that such vibration will not continue after the flow of radio frequency current in the electromagnet has ceased. If this armature is arranged for tracing an inked record upon a moving cylinder advanced by screw 5, the radio telegraphic signals may be recorded in a legible manner by means of a pen 6 from the groups of radio frequency currents generated in the system.

WHO WILL HELP? Mr. Maclurcan particularly wishes to find out the hours of working of N.P.U. Tutuila (Pago Pago), and the wave length, especially between 8 to 8.30 p.m. Any experimenter who will concentrate on this station during the next week or so, and can find this out, will be greatly assisting Mr. Maclurcan. It is, of course, necessary to know if he is receiving at this time instead of transmitting.

IN THE CLUBS. THE WESTERN SUBURBS AMATEUR WIRELESS ASSOCIATION'S social and dance, held in the Masonic Hall, Auburn, recently, was a great success. Over one hundred people listened to music transmitted from Mr. Maclurcan's station at Strathfield. The music was loud, being heard all over the hall without any difficulty. The instruments were designed and built by the club, and were operated by Mr. Brown, a member. Mr. Brown used stages of amplification, the music being magnified by a magnavox. THE LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT RADIO SOCIETY'S fifth general and second business meeting was held at the club room, 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday. The first election of members was conducted, resulting in 14 names being placed on the register. The rules and regulations, which had been draughted at the inaugural meeting were read, confirmed, and adopted. The hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale, will be pleased to forward a copy to anybody interested. At the conclusion of the meeting the president, Mr. Morrison, announced that Mr. Thompson, a member of the society, had stated his intention of building a receiving set for the use of members. The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday next, when all interested are invited to attend. NORTH SYDNEY RADIO CLUB'S fortnightly business meeting last Tuesday night was well attended, and two new members (Messrs. Evans and Brennan) were elected. Members are specially requested to attend the next general meeting on Tuesday, November 21, when the half-yearly election of officers will be held. The club will be open to visitors next Tuesday night. The Metropolitan Radio Club is embarking in a campaign to popularise Radio, and with this end in view is arranging popular fortnightly lectures, beginning from November 22. All those interested in the science are invited to attend as guests of the club. At the first of these meetings Mr. Swinburne will give a lecture, illustrated by lantern slides. All inquiries concerning the club should be addressed to the Secretary, c/o 6 Royal Arcade, City. (Photo Caption) Miss Wallace.

1922 11 18

44th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 18 November 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. ANOTHER PROMISE. BY DOT DASH.

Mr. Hughes made another promise on Monday night. He was asked at a meeting when the new radio regulations would be issued. The Prime Minister expressed surprise that they had not been made public, and promised that they would be issued this week. They are not to hand yet, but everybody has hopes for their early appearance.

THE WHISTLERS. A prominent experimenter had a grievance the other day. He was complaining bitterly about the badly controlled valves during last Sunday's radio concert. "All through," he said, "there were two or three valves whistling at a great rate, and it was impossible to disregard them. One in particular was very bad. Every time a record was being changed at the sending station I could hear him going up and down the scale. At times the oscillations distorted the music considerably." Inquiries reveal the fact that this experimenter is not the only sufferer in this respect. There are badly controlled valves throughout the suburbs of Sydney. If this sort of thing continues it will result in the authorities coming down on experimenters with a heavy hand. All those who are using valves should know how to control them so that they do not radiate. Seeing that the evil is so prevalent, it would be a good idea if the various clubs arranged lectures on the subject, and gave members some sound instruction and advice on how to control their valves.

GOOD WORK AFLOAT. During the past 12 months many thousands of radiograms have been sent and received by the wireless operators of the R.M.S. Niagara, and a careful examination of the records has shown that there was only one complaint during that period, and in that isolated case it was subsequently discovered that the radiogram referred to failed to be delivered because the address had been mutilated before reaching the wireless service. A passenger on the voyage just recently completed, despatched and received a large number of code messages to and from all parts of the world, and upon arrival in Vancouver he informed the senior wireless operator of the Niagara that he was very pleased with the promptness and accuracy of the service. In all his difficult messages there had not been one single error. The apparatus, operators, and the wireless service in this and other vessels of the Union S.S. Company's line are supplied by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited.

RADIO INSPECTOR MOVES. The popular Sydney Radio Inspector, Mr. W. T. S. Crawford, has moved from his office at the G.P.O., and is now located in Macdonell House, Pitt-street, City. When writing to him, the following address should be used: The Radio Inspector, care of P.M.G.'s Department, Construction Branch, Macdonell House, Pitt-street, Sydney.

PRAISE FOR THE LOOP. THE LOOP AERIAL. (Photo Caption) The loop aerial possesses qualities that the overhead antenna cannot match, notably directive properties, low resistance, and greater freedom from strays and static. Moreover, as was pointed out by Thomas W. Benson in an article in "Radio Digest Illustrated" (Chicago), the loop aerial "is more efficient on short wave-lengths than on the longer waves, and thus fits in nicely for radiophone work." Mr. Benson gives hints on design and construction of loop aerials that will be of interest to amateurs. He says: Too general forms of loop are in use, the solenoid and the helix. From the standpoint of simplicity the helix is to be preferred, and it makes a neater appearance when completed. A form of frame suitable for a helix loop has a vertical shaft of wood or fibre tubing with a crosspiece rigidly attached slightly above centre. If turned wood parts are used a beautiful instrument results. Holes are drilled the proper distance apart in the sticks and the wire strung through them. The lower stick is fitted into a base so the frame can be stood on the floor or table. Two binding-posts are mounted so that flexible leads can be connected to the loop. To get the benefit of the directional effect the entire structure can be turned. In using a loop aerial it will be found that the signals are increased at times by grounding one or the other terminal of the loop. The following table shows the wave lengths loops will receive and voltage reception factors at these wave-lengths.

Loop Size . . . 4ft by 4ft . . . 6ft by 6ft

Turns. . . . W. . . V.R.F. . . . W. . . V.R.F.

5 . . . 250 . . . 2500 . . . 400 . . . 4500

10 . . . 450 . . . 3100 . . . 600 . . . 5000

15 . . . 800 . . . 3700 . . . 950 . . . 5400

20 . . . 1200 . . . 4300 . . . 1450 . . . 5900

25 . . . 1450 . . . 4700 . . . 1700 . . . 7000

TELEPHONY RECORD. The wireless officer of the American steamer Easterner, which arrived at Sydney during the week, claims to have heard by radiophone a performance of a symphony orchestra, conducted by Mr. Verbrugghen, 4000 miles away. This, he claims, is a world's record for telephony reception. The feat, it is explained, was made possible by abnormal atmospheric conditions. Another remarkable feat during the voyage was that the captain sent a message to his family at their home, and they were in communication with him at a distance of over 4000 miles.

IN THE CLUBS. The ILLAWARRA RADIO CLUB'S last meeting was held at No. 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, when Mr. Hewett spoke of the last meeting of the Radio Association, and of the action taken by it in endeavoring to have the new regulations made public. There was a discussion on the future policy of the club, and the necessity for regular buzzer practice, with a view to making members proficient in the reading of Morse signals to qualify for valve licenses. The club's proposed benefit entertainment in the near future was also talked over, but no definite arrangements could be made until certain permission had been granted by the authorities. Mr. Gorman continued his lecture on "Constructional Details." A vote of thanks was unanimously carried to Mr. C. D. Maclurcan for having entertained two parties from the club at his station. The next meeting of the club will be held at the same address on Thursday at 8 p.m. All interested are asked to communicate with Mr. W. D. Graham, hon. secretary, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale. The Metropolitan Radio Club's first popular lecture meeting will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Wednesday, at 8 p.m. The club is con-ducting these meetings every fortnight, with the object of popularising the science, and visitors will be welcomed, also members of other clubs. On Wednesday there will be lectures by Mr. Swinburne (illustrated with lantern slides), and Mr. W. B. Veitch. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society's sixth general meeting was held at 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday, when Mr. Thompson presented a crystal receiving set to the members. A vote of thanks was accorded the donor. The loose-coupler contained in the set raised points for discussion, and Mr. Thompson was kept busy supplying members with information relative to its construction, action, etc. The hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale, will be pleased to answer any inquiries regarding the club. The next meeting is to be held next Tuesday, at 8 p.m. The inaugural meeting of the Kuringai Radio Club will be held at the Chatswood Memorial Hall (opposite Railway Station), at 7.45 p.m., on Tuesday, November 28. All Radio enthusiasts living anywhere from about Artarmon up to Hornsby are specially requested to attend. Mr. R. R. Wilshire, "Lauriston," Help-street, Chatswood, is acting secretary pro. tem, and will answer any inquiries.

1922 11 25

45th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 25 November 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. THE REGULATIONS. By DOT DASH.

The long-delayed regulations are out at last, and amateurs must congratulate themselves on having been given a very fair deal. It is pleasing to note that the authorities are out to give the bona fide experimenter encouragement, and if this is carried out, it is up to the experimenter to help the authorities in every way. The principal points in the provisions of the regulations are:— Transmitting licenses will be granted to proficient experimenters. Fee for license, £1 a year. Receiving license fees reduced from £2 to 10/- a year. No transmitters of the undamped spark type permitted within a radius of five miles from a commercial station. Within this radius, other types of transmitters will be allowed, but power must not exceed 10 watts. Over five miles, and up to 50 miles from a commercial station, any system of transmission will be allowed, but power must not exceed 20 watts. Any station over 50 miles from a commercial station may, with authority, use power up to 25 watts. Wave length for amateur stations: — Spark, telephony, C.W. and I.C.W.,150 to 250 metres. Special band for C.W. and telephony only, from 410 to 440 metres. It will be necessary for applicants for experimenters' licenses to produce evidence of their technical fitness, by experience or training, to conduct experiments usefully, and operate their sets satisfactorily, before license will be granted. The regulations will be strictly enforced, and to ensure that all stations are properly licensed a regular inspection will be made of suspected plants. Every retailer of wireless apparatus will be required to keep a record of the disposal of apparatus, and may not sell any gear unless the purchaser has, or is getting, a licence. Provision made for broadcasting stations. Regulations come into force as from December 1. When a person under 21 years of age applies for a licence a responsible person must give a guarantee that the station will be operated in accordance with the regulations.

TIME BY RADIO. There has appeared in England a line of radio time signal indications, for use in shop windows and on outside walls, so that the time signals may be flashed to a large number of persons in the streets. One of the indicators takes the form of a miniature Eiffel Tower (for the signals are received from the Eiffel Tower, in Paris), with an electric light at the top. As the radio time signals are received, an operator presses a key, so that the light flashes in accordance with the intercepted signals. It is true that an appreciable loss of time takes place, because of this relative delay, it is estimated that the interval of lost time is not greater than one-hundredth second. Another form is in the shape of a metal frame, with a glass face carrying the necessary lettering to indicate the elapsed minutes, such as "10-46," "10-47," and so on to the final dash at 11 o'clock. A system of lights controls the flashing of the proper minute reading; while a lamp on top of the frame and an electric bell are activated when the final 11 o'clock dash is received.

A KEEN EXPERIMENTER. Mr. Zech. (Photo Caption) Another instance of a commercial operator turning experimenter is Mr. William J. Zech, the energetic hon. secretary of the newly-formed Leichhardt and District Radio Society. Mr. Zech became interested in the science in 1912, and studied with a view to becoming an operator during the next year. He passed successfully, and served in the merchant service from March, 1914, till January, 1915. Since the war he has taken a keen interest in the science as an experimenter. He is a member of the Wireless Institute, and one of the founders of the club, of which he is now secretary.

FACTS ABOUT WAVES. Sound waves travel 1090 feet per second (or 330 metres); and radio waves travel at the same period as that of light, which is 186,000 miles per second, (or 300,000,000 metres. Memorise these simple figures, or write them in your notebook, as they are important, and will prove useful later as a means of comparison with other speeds, or facts, connected with radio. The more the surface of a pool of water is displaced by dropping small or large stones into it, the greater is the amount of energy passed along from one wave to the next. The amount of energy transmitted by water waves depends upon the height of the ripples' crests. This is also true of all other kinds of waves, and so the same principles apply to radio waves. In radio, however, the height of the waves — that is to say, the displacement between the trough (bottom and the crest (top) — is called the amplitude of the waves. Thus we say that the energy in wave motion depends upon the amplitude.

BROADCASTING WANTED. "What is Australia doing to give the people radio information?" writes a correspondent. "To the man on the street this science is as foreign as a new language; he has a vague idea it is something that will take the place of the telephone and the cables, but there his knowledge ends. "In America this radio information is known by the people like the chorus of a popular song, every town and city have their broadcasting stations, and every form of trade is being developed in an extraordinary way by this invention. "In fact, America is radio mad, and industries are being created with the same speed as in the early days of the bicycle. Ships at sea are supplied with musical programmes and news, and life for everyone is changing. The lonely places on the prairies are being hitched up and the most isolated haunts of men are brought alongside the city. "here in Australia we are back in the time of Noah; there seems to be no progress. The multitude think more of the winner of the hurdle than the fostering of a new idea which is the real miracle of all the ages. "The Government should encourage the people to understand this science. It could do so in many ways. Perhaps the new regulations will help.

CLUB'S NEW OFFICERS. The principal business at the last meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association was the election of officers. This resulted as follows:— President, Mr. R. S. Burman; vice-president, Mr. G. R. Challenger; secretary, Mr. W. B. Martin; treasurer, Mr. S. St. Hill; committee, Messrs. H. Browne and Lucas; technical committee, Messrs. G. R. Challenger, R. S. Burman, and Lucas; trustee, Mr. Challenger. It was decided that the members be divided into two sections, one to devote its activities to the transmitter and the other to look after the receiver. After the business had been disposed of, some long wave duo-lateral coils made by the club, were tested, and found to work splendidly, American stations being received remarkably well. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, when the redrafting of the club's rules will be considered, and also a discussion on the erection of the transmitter, and a new receiver.

IN THE CLUBS. The popular lecture night of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Wednesday at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, proved popular indeed. Mr. W. Best, in the absence of Mr. Swinburne, gave an interesting talk of various stations, showing lantern slides of them. Mr. Veitch, a well-known radio expert, gave a splendid address on the vacuum tube in radio frequency amplification. Inquiries concerning the club should be addressed to the hon. secretary, c/o 6 Royal Arcade, Sydney. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society's seventh general meeting was held at the club room, 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday last. Members spent the evening at Morse practice, and all show steady progress in this work. It is the intention of the council of the society to draft a syllabus of elementary lectures, which will form a complete amateur wireless course, and it is expected that the first of these will be ready in a week or two. The hon. secretary of the society is Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale, who will be pleased to answer any inquiries. The North Sydney Radio Club met at the club rooms on Tuesday night when the half-yearly election of officers was conducted, and the following elected:— President, Mr. J. O'Brien; vice-presidents, Mr. Raymond McIntosh and Mr. H. Buick; secretary, Mr. R. H. Evans; treasurer, Mr. E. Kruckow; committee, Messrs. O'Brien, Evans, McIntosh, and Planner; auditor, Mr. H. M. Planner; delegate to the Radio Association, Mr. J. O'Brien. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday.

1922 12 02

46th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 2 December 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. TRANS-PACIFIC TESTS. By DOT DASH.

Arrangements for the forthcoming trans-Pacific tests are being pushed forward apace. The subcommittee of the Wireless Institute of Australia (Victorian Division), which has the organisation in hand, has asked the Waverley Amateur Radio Club to deal with the arrangements in New South Wales. The club has formed a committee for this purpose, and has asked other clubs to co-operate. A conference of delegates has been called for Wednesday next in the Christ Church Hall, Pitt-street (near Central Station) at 8 p.m. In a letter to the Waverley Club Mr. H. Kingsley Love, of the Victorian body says:— "Regarding the number of valves required to successfully receive American signals, it is thought that the greatest possible number should be used, which, of course, will depend upon atmospheric conditions, local interference, other elements of obstruction. This we think, can be discovered only by experiment. We have a technical subcommittee whose duty it is to advise on all such matters. A circular embodying their views is being prepared. "We have not yet commenced transmitting; other routine work in ???? ???? with the test having ???? ???? available time. We have received a letter from America which comes close to complying with these arrangements for carrying out thr test. We have however, asked them to postpone the date of commencement to May 1 next ???? ing conditions in this country are better at that period of the year. "Please use your best endeavors to get sets built and your experimenters organised to handle the work as early as possible. A preliminary test will be conducted between America and this country by a Federal Telegraph Co.'s station in Buffalo, U.S.A., beginning the latter end of this month (November) into December.

LARGS BAY'S WORK. The wireless installation on the Commonwealth Government liner Largs Bay was designed and manufactured at Sydney. It was sent to London for installation in the vessel, and it is now giving results which are a credit to the Amalgamated Wireless Company. On the last trip of the vessel, radiograms were handled with Colombo station when the vessel was 1500 miles to the westward, and again when the Largs Bay was 1100 miles south of Colombo. Under normal circumstances, these distances do not call for special attention, but, according to "Notice to Mariners," December 1921, communication with Colombo Radio Station, from either the south or west is doubtful at any time, owing to marked screening effect. Good work was carried out with Australian coast stations, as the Largs Bay maintained communication with Perth Radio up to a distance of 2500 miles, and working was carried out with the Geraldton Radio Station at 985 miles in daylight. The value of the wireless was further demonstrated during the voyage in connection with several cases of illness on board the steamer Australglen. As a result of radiograms exchanged, the prescriptions and advice of the surgeon in the Largs Bay were given effect to on the Austraglen, and before passing out of range the captain of the Bay liner had the satisfaction of knowing that the sick men were all steadily recovering. Another case of giving wireless aid to those in ill health occurred in the Red Sea. A small steamer had picked up by visual signalling, from the lighthouse keeper at Centre Peak, a message to be sent to Aden, appealing for assistance. As the small steamer was being passed by the Largs Bay, the message was passed on to the liner, and in a few minutes was being sent by wireless to Aden. A sloop was sent out promptly, and the sick man was soon on his way to hospital in Aden.

DEMONSTRATION AT KOGARAH. The Illawarra Radio Club is having a benefit entertainment, in the form of a wireless concert and picture show, at Tolley's Subway Picture Theatre, Kogarah, on Tuesday, at 8 p.m. The Controller of Radio has given permission for a programme of music to be received from 8.30 to 9 p.m., and arrangements have been made with Mr Maclurcan to send it from his Strathfield station. The set to be used in the reception of the music has been constructed, and will be operated by Mr. C. A. Gorman, of the club, and will employ one stage of radio, detector, and three stages of audio-frequency amplification. A magnavox will be used in conjunction with this set, which will make the music easily audible throughout the theatre. With good weather, the club is confident of complete success for the show. The proceeds will go towards providing apparatus and equipment for the club room. The club's next meeting will be on Thursday, at 8 p.m.

COAST STATION RECORDS. During the last three months Amalgamated Wireless coastal stations have effected several long-distance radio records, and it appears that such consistent long-range transmission is not equalled by wireless stations of similar power in any other parts of the world. These results are not confined to one State, but are regularly reported throughout the Commonwealth. One of the most interesting occurred when the Makura, while at a distance of 3168 miles, received messages direct from Sydney Wireless station. On June 26, while on her great circular track, signals were exchanged with the steamer Argyllshire, by Adelaide, 4547 miles distant. One of the best daylight results was affected by the interstate liner, Katoomba, in working the Geraldton station at over 1100 miles.

TELEPHONY AT SCOTS. The Burwood Radio Club (Call 2IX) and Mr. R. C. Marsden (2JM) are, with permission of the Controller of Wireless, carrying out a public demonstration of radio telephony at the Scots' College fete, this afternoon and evening. The music will be sent by the club and received by Mr. Marsden at the College. For the receiving he will use a single wire aerial, 360 feet long, a three valve panel, consisting of a detector and two stages of audio frequency amplification, and the latest type of Brown loud speaker.

GO AHEAD CHINA. A system enabling telephone subscribers of Peking and Tientsin, China, to talk to each other by radio from their house ???? telephones, the conversation taking place over wire lines to the central office and then by radio between the two ???? distance of over 80 miles. ???? by the China Electric ???? and tested successfully. The equipment ???? product of an American company. It is believed that this is the ???? radio telephone service open to ???? in the world. And the average Australian thinks it is marvellous for an amateur to receive music of ???? wireless over a distance of a few miles.

IN THE CLUBS. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society held its eighth general meeting at the club rooms, 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, last Tuesday night. The meeting was very well attended, and members spent the evening at Morse practice. It has been decided to set aside a separate night in each week for this work, and for the present, the club room will be open to members from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays. A syllabus of elementary lectures has been draughted by the council, and the first of these, under the heading of "Electricity," will be delivered by Mr. W. J. Zech on Tuesday night, at 8 p.m. All inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold the second of its popular lecture meetings on Wednesday next at 8 p.m., at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade. The principal business of the evening will be a special lecture. Members of other clubs and others interested are invited to attend. Inquiries should be addressed to the secretary, c/o 6 Royal Arcade, City. The North Sydney Radio Club's activities last Tuesday night were, for the most part confined to code practice, and the finishing touches were put upon the receiving set. The set, which is of the panel type, combined valve and crystal, was designed by the members and built by Mr. T. Hill, and is a very fine example. The club expect to have their transmitting set completed shortly, when regular broadcasting will be commenced. Visitors desiring to inspect the above set may do so at the meeting to be held next Tuesday night.

1922 12 09

47th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 9 December 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. WORK ON LOW POWER. By DOT DASH.

Mr. Morrison. (Photo Caption) That ???? Mr. F. Morrison ???? of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society. He first became interested ???? ???? and had ???? of instruction. During the war, as was the case with every experimenter, he had to close down, but he resumed again as soon as permission was granted at the close of hostilities. Realising the need for a ???? body in the Leichhardt district Mr. Morrison joined with Messrs. W. J. Zech, W. Bird and A. B. ???? forming the Society. Their work completed, Mr. Morrison was elected president. He makes a point of always endeavoring to help the amateur beginner, and for this reason he is very popular.

350 MILES ON 2/5 WATT. During low power transmission tests ???? conducted by Mr. Charles D. Maclurcan, Strathfield, signals were received and the test letter correctly ??? ??? by Mr. Channon, Inverell, 350 miles and also by Mr. L. Todd, Tamworth, ??? miles. The input plate voltage was ?? and the current 6 milliamps, total power ??? watts. Mr. Channon in a letter to Mr. Maclurcan said:— "Your set seems to be in good running order tonight. The music often came in better than I have ever heard it before. I am still using the single ??? ???? Valve. The letters ???? power F, V and W. There was considerable static but I'm sure I could get ???? C.W. stuff with less power than the ???? you used tonight. Mr. Channon little knew at the time that less than 2/5 of a watt was the lowest power used and he ???? The country radio "bugs" can ???? ???? in the receiving line, but the ???? ???? hard to please.

CRUSOE'S ISLAND. It would be interesting to know what Robinson Crusoe would have done had he been greeted on his island after his shipwreck by the whine of a 1½ K. W. spark set. The island of Juan Fernando ???? became in Defoe's story Robinson Crusoe's isle, lies about 360 miles out in the sea west of Valparaiso. It is at present owned by the Chilean Government which maintains a radio station there with sufficient power to communicate with Valparaiso. In the 18th century the island was a favorite rendezvous of pirates ???? of the French and British sea fleets. More recently in 1915, the hunted German commerce raider, Dresden, was sunk by British warships there, in Cumberland Bay. The radio station is situated on one of the high points some 1000 feet above the sea. It is operated by the Chilean Navy, which expects soon to replace the 1½-K.W. "chispa" (spark) transmitter with more modern and more powerful apparatus.

NEW COUNTRY CLUB. The Armidale Radio Club has just been formed in that city, and the following officers have been elected: Patron, Mr. A. Purkiss; president, Rev. H. S. Buntine; vice-presidents, Mr. T. Flynn, Rev. Canon Rdy?, Mr. P. C. Hipgrave and Mr. H. A. Marshall; hon. secretary, Mr. E. Barlow; hon. treasurer, Mr. P. Knight; Committees:— Rules: Messrs. Flynn, Knight, N. R. Cottrell, and V. Mallom. Technical: Messrs. Flynn, Cottrell, W.' Scott, and H. Haynes. Finance: Messrs. McLeod, Knight, Hipgrave, and Bigg. At a recent meeting practical instructional work on the club's set (a crystal), and also a valve set, was commenced. At a later date it is the intention of the club to instal a transmitting set.

MILITARY WARNING. A recent military order contains the following warning:— "Officers and other ranks of the permanent and citizen forces, who wish to install private wireless sets for sending or receiving messages, are subject in all respects to the Prime Minister's Department's regulating governing the installation and working of such sets. They should apply in their private capacities to Controller of Wireless, 146 Flinders-lane, Melbourne, who will treat the applications on the same lines as those received from the public generally. "Army Headquarters accept no responsibility for wireless sets other than those held on the authorised establishment of units.

CRYSTAL RECEIVING RECORD Mr. Maclurcan has received the following letter from Mr. H. Hinks, Mount View, Mulgoa. "I am writing to tell you that I heard your concert last night, on a home-made crystal set, using a pair of Brown's 'phones. The lady's voice came in very clear, and also the steel guitar, of which I never missed a note. "I have an aerial 600 feet long and about 80 feet at the highest point, single wire only 7-20 g. I do not think it a bad performance for a crystal set as the distance is about 40 miles. I would be very much obliged if you would let me know what power you were using, my call number is 2IS." Mr. Maclurcan says that this is, as far as he is aware, the furthest distance at which his concerts have been received on a crystal, and that he considers Mr. Hinks' performance a very excellent one. Even at five miles very skilful tuning is necessary with a crystal set, for there is no "carrier wave" to help the adjustment.

IN THE CLUBS. The Kuringai District Radio Society was formed at a recent meeting of experimenters, and 18 members were enrolled. The following officers were elected. President, Mr. W. W. Wilson; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. Stowe and O. F. Mingay; hon. treasurer. Mr. R. Hinton; hon. secretary, Mr. R. Wilshire; committee, Messrs. P. Renshaw, Wooldridge, and Mate. At a committee meeting on Monday the club rules were drawn up for submission to the next general meeting, to be held on Tuesday in the Chatswood War Memorial Hall. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society, held a general meeting at the Club Room, No. 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday last, when six new members were elected. The main business of the evening was the first of a series of elementary lectures. The lecture — Electricity and Its Application to Radio Communication — was delivered by Mr. Zech, who also dealt with Ohm's Law and simple calculations in connection with it. The second lecture, under the heading of Accumulators, is to be delivered at the meeting to be held next Tuesday night. Members are reminded that the Club Room is available for Morse practice on Thursday nights. Any inquiries about the club will be answered by Mr. W. J. Zech, hon. secretary, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. THE METROPOLITAN RADIO CLUB held its third popular lecture meeting on Wednesday evening at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade. The principal business was a much appreciated lecture by Mr. Robert Hill, of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., who dealt with amplification. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 20, at 8 p.m. THE NORTH SYDNEY RADIO CLUB's fortnightly business meeting, held last Tuesday night, was well attended, and a number of important matters were dealt with. The auditors report, which was read, showed the club to be in a very satisfactory position financially, a substantial credit balance being carried forward to the current half-year. To those desiring to polish up their code, an invitation is extended to be present next Tuesday night, when a competent operator will be at the key. A new Radio Club for Marrickville is proposed. A meeting of those interested in the formation of such a body is to be held on Monday, at the rear of 14 Park-road, Marrickville, at 7.30 p.m. All inquiries may be addressed to Mr. R. G. Ellis, 40 Park-road.

1922 12 16

48th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 16 December 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. WORK FOR TEST. BY DOT DASH

Mr. Perry. (Photo Caption) The results of the Trans Pacific tests early in the new year will not be disappointing if New South Wales amateurs can help it. The committee formed recently to supervise the amateurs of this State during the tests is working hard to get the arrangements completed. Mr. Malcolm Perry is chairman of the committee. All those wishing to take part in listening for the American signals will be required to fill in a form issued by the committee in order that a record may be kept and that the experimenters may be properly organised with a view to keeping an efficient watch. There is another form, which should be filled in and sent to the committee by amateurs who do not intend to take part in the tests. It is an agreement not to operate a station during certain hours when the Americans will be sending. This is to eliminate any risk of interference with the listeners.

RECEIVER SHIELDING. Until the advent of the modern regenerative receiver, the term "shielding" as applied to radio apparatus, was quite unknown. The regenerative receiver, however, being supersensitive to all electrical influences, has been found to require protection against external electrical disturbances. Shielding accomplishes this. This shielding absorbs any electrical influence which would normally find its way to the windings of the receiver, and induce in them an electric current, in the same manner that radio waves induce electric currents in a receiving antenna (writes Thomas C. Hibbey in "Radio Broadcast"). In this instance the windings of the receiver wirtually act as an antenna, absorbing energy from the ether. This energy may be radio telegraph or radio telephone signals "induction" from electric light or power lines or the summer pest of radio-static. In setting about to shield the apparatus, the entire interior of the receiver cabinet should be covered with copper and which must be connected to the ground post of the receiver, great care being taken to have all pieces in perfect electrical contact. This can only be done by lapping and soldering the ???? Before the foil is put in place the interior surfaces of the cabinet should be given a coat of shellac or vanish, allowing it to become very tacky. This will render it easy to smooth out the foil and hold it so. As each side is held in the foil should be fully secured by quarter inch brass brads ???? through the foil into the wood. The nailing should be done through the ??? ??? seams near the edges after a row of brads has been placed ???? along the centre line of the sides. Cutting the foil in such shape that the entire box may be lined with a single piece of metal will remove the necessity of soldering any joints. The shape of the metal is shown by the illustration. Copper foil, however, is not readily obtainable in widths greater than 8 inches, and in case it cannot be obtained sheet copper known as "twelve pound" should be employed. The shielding of the cabinet should project sufficiently to enable connection in be made with the shielded rear surface of the panel. If the panel is set in a rabbet, the foil should project over the face of the rabbet and be secured by brass brads, which should be sunken flush with the surface by means of a nail set, so that the shielding of the panel will make good contact with it when the panel occupies its position in the box. The shield for the rear of the panel should be cut to size, and openings provided with 3/8in clearance around all projecting switch points and terminals, with the exception of the "ground" binding post to which it should be soldered. After cutting the required openings in the foil, the rear of the panel should be coated with shellac or varnish and allowed to become very tacky. The copper foil is then warmed, laid in position on the rear of the panel, rubbed smooth, and dried under a slight pressure such as may be provided by placing a perfectly flat piece of wood — previously oiled to prevent its sticking — on the shielded side of the panel, and resting a weight upon it. Unless great temperature changes are experienced, the foil applied in this manner will retain its close contact with the panel. However, to make certain, thin strips or discs of bakelite may be placed under any nuts on the rear of the panel, projecting over the cut out space on to the foil, thus securing it. With panels of 5-16in in thickness or more, "blind" holes may be drilled in the panel from the rear to within not less than 1-16in from the face of the panel. These holes should be tapped for a suitable thread with a bottoming tap, or an ordinary tap with the point ground off, to accommodate round head machine screws, the heads of which will secure the shield. This is an operation which requires considerable skill in order not to have the panel bulge where the drill almost penetrates, and is only recommended on the heavier panels.

SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION. The Illawarra Radio Clubs benefit entertainment and wireless demonstration, held at Tolley's Pictures, Kogarah, was a success. A test having been conducted on the previous Sunday, all seemed well for the occasion; but the night of the demonstration was wet. The rain and static grew steadily worse, and were responsible for a serious falling off in signal strength, due to local conditions, aerial leakages, etc., to say nothing of the corresponding losses at the transmitting end. Mr. Gorman, who was operating had an unenviable job. When at 8.30 the music, was put through the magnavox, the results were surprising, and, although the earlier items were not so strong, most of the later numbers (especially "Coming Through the Rye") came out particularly strong and clear. They were audible throughout the theatre. The success attained in the face of such adverse conditions was remarkable, and was mainly due to the able manner in which Mr. Gorman handled the set. The club's thanks are also due to Mr. Maclurcan for having transmitted the programme. The next meeting of the club will be held at 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, on Thursday, at 8 p.m. The secretary (W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale) would like to hear from anyone interested, or desirous of joining the club.

BROADCASTING. For the time being, at least, America is fortunate as regard its radiophone programmes. The broadcasting stations maintain a high standard, and their services are free. Furthermore, there is nothing to prevent anyone from listening in, and small but adequate receivers can be made without great difficulty or expense. In Great Britain, however, no one is willing to do the broadcasting, unless assured of some definite return. Consequently it is not surprising to learn that the British radio organisations which are to do the broadcasting have asked the Postmaster-General not to license a receiving set unless made by a member of one of the broadcasting organisations. In this way, the profits derived from the sale of radio receiving equipment would go to those who maintain the broadcasting services. Still another plan is to have the Postmaster-General exact a modest fee for each receiving license, and then turn over a part of the receipts to the broadcasting organisation. Already the British radio enthusiasts have been asked for voluntary contributions toward the maintenance of the station in Holland, which is providing entertainment for so many of them. How will it be in Australia?

WIRELESS LIGHTHOUSE. On the Island or Inchkeith, in the Firth of Forth, experiments are being made with what is described as a wireless lighthouse. It is designed for use in fog, and will only be of service to craft equipped with wireless (says the London "Daily Chronicle"). By means of reflectors, wireless waves are concentrated into a beam with a radiation of about 100 miles which revolves and, in passing each point of the compass, assumes a distinctive signal. Some months ago the American authorities set up a series of radio "beacons" on the Atlantic seaboard by which, with directional apparatus, craft could work out their position in a fog; but the wireless lighthouse is an advance upon this system.

IN THE CLUBS. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society held a general meeting at the club room, 3 Annesley-street, Leichhardt, on Tuesday. The business of the evening consisted of a lecture on accumulators. by Mr. F. Thompson. Owing to the rapid increase of membership, it is anticipated that it will be advisable to secure a more commodious room for the use of the society early in the new year. The next meeting is to be held next Tuesday night, when there will be a lecture on magnetism, after this the society will dispense with meetings until January 9. All inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1922 12 23

49th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 23 December 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. WONDERFUL COIL. By DOT DASH.

MR. A. V. GRAHAM (Photo Caption) A Sydney experimenter, Mr. Alexis V. Graham has just perfected an invention that promises to revolutionise the science as far as the amateur beginner is concerned. The invention is a coil of peculiar design, a small thing in itself, but it promises to have very far-reaching results. The coil is so wound that internal resistance is lowered, distributed and ??? is reduced, high frequency ???? are minimised and self-inductance is increased. It combines all these qualities with great simplicity. With the aid of the coil the inventor has been able to design a crystal receiving set on a ring of 3 inches diameter 1 inch deep. This is now on the market at a price within the reach of everybody. The set is by no means a toy. It has been thoroughly tried out on experimental work and with an ef??? aerial gives results equal to those ????ed with the more elaborate and expensive crystal sets. The outstanding feature ?? ?? ?? are that it requires no ???? ??? operate it, and there are no ?? ?? manipulate. Its size makes it an ideal set for use when camping. Mr. Graham was assisted in his experiments on the set by ?? ?? Slee?? of the city Electrical Department. The Radio Company ??ng and ?? venor streets are the wholesale distributors of the set.

RADIO COMPASS. The radio compass in the ?? ?? com?? in America consists of several turns of wire wound ?? ?? ?? tram?? which may be oriented by a handle or other device, coupled to the proper turning apparatus. As the coil is rotated the operator can notice a marked increase in the signal strength from a given station at a given point in the scale mounted below the handle of an indicating device. Where a magnetic compass is used in conjunction with this device it is possible to determine with only a slight error the direction from which the signals emanate. By employing this system, vessels at sea can determine their bearing or direction from some receiving station on the coast whose latitude and longitude are known. It is not necessary for the ship itself to be equipped with a radio compass for the direction is determined at the shore station, where a compass coil is in operation, and the result is then sent by radio to the vessel. It is possible for a vessel to secure a very definite idea of its position, as well as its bearing from a given point. In this case, however, it is necessary to receive bearings from two shore stations located at different points. The point at which the bearings cross indicate the position of the vessel.

THE BIG TESTS The organisation for the forthcoming Trans-Pacific radio test is now in full swing and the committee have circularised all licensed stations in New South Wales. As the work will be exceptionally heavy, the committee wants applications from intending competitors as soon as possible. Application forms may be obtained at the following places:— Colville and Moore Wireless Supplies; Electricity House; Grace Brothers; Anthony Hordern and Sons; Miss F. V. Wallace; Radio House; F. F. O'Sullivan's; Burgin Electric Company; Australectric Limited; and W. Harry Wiles. The next general meeting of experimenters taking part and all interested in the tests will be held in the Railway Institute Hall on Tuesday, January 9, at 8 p.m.

THE BY-PASS CONDENSER. Much unnecessary mystery surrounds the use of the bypass condenser used to improve the efficiency of detectors, connected around the telephone receiver. A condenser consists of two conducting metal plates pressed close together with an insulating substance between them. The metal plates will allow electrons to gather on them but the insulation will keep the electrons from crossing from one plate to the other. There are electrons everywhere. Therefore, in what might be called the state of rest or "zero" electric pressure, there are still a large number of electrons present on everything, including the two sides of a condenser (says an American radio journal). Electrons are quite human in not liking to be crowded too much. If more electrons are then forced upon one side, the density of the electrons will, of course, be increased on that side, which means more electric pressure, and there will be a rush of the electrons off the other metal side. For very rapid movements back and forth of electrons, the condenser will therefore act exactly like a straight wire connection, as there will be a motion of electrons into it on one side and out of it on the other. So such a condenser will let such electron vibrations pass through it easily. A good value for a bypass condenser is one or two one-thousandths of a microfarad. This condenser is connected across the telephone receiver, making it possible for the rapid electron impulses to pass through the turnstile detector quickly, and on through the bypass condenser to ground. They would have much more difficulty in getting through the telephone receiver at this rapid rate, due to the many turns of fine wire of which it is made.

MUSIC FOR PITTWATER. An interesting experiment is to be carried out in connection with the Pitt-water Regatta, on December 30. The committee has arranged a social evening and dance for the night before the regatta, aboard the steamer Newcastle, which is to act as flagship. The vessel will be moored at Bayview Wharf for the evening. Mr. R. C. Marsden has consented, with the permission of the Controller of Wireless, to instal his set aboard the Newcastle for the occasion, to receive the music. The programme will be sent by the Burwood Radio Club. Mr. Marsden intends using a three-valve set — detector and two stages of radio amplification — in conjunction with a Brown loud speaker. This will be the first occasion on which a Radio concert has been given under such circumstances in Australia.

AN AMERICAN OUTPOST. There is a station of 30-KW power within the Peking Legation Compound, surrounded by the 40-foot-high Tartar Wall, which encloses the American Legation, to prevent the American Minister from becoming isolated from the outside world when internal disorders are in progress in China. The ordinary communication facilities in China are unreliable under normal conditions, and the service is frequently interrupted altogether when disorders are in progress. The Navy's radio station at Peking has afforded the only medium of communication on more than one occasion, not only for the American Minister, but also for the other foreign diplomats in Peking. The Peking Station is operated by members of the Marine detachment guarding the American Legation. This station exchanges communications with the high-power station at Cavite, with the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, with vessels of the Yang-The Patrol and with the station at Vladivostock.

IN THE CLUBS. Club for Balmain.— There are numerous experimenters in the Balmain district, and the advisability of forming a club has been discussed. In order to thrash the subject out, it has been decided to call a meeting of all interested. The promoters have been successful in securing a hall in which meetings can be held. The date and place of the meeting will be announced later, and in the meantime all interested in the proposal are invited to write to Mr. P. G. Stephen, hon. secretary pro tem., 69 Phillip-street, Balmain. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society held its usual general meeting on Tuesday last, when an interesting and instructive lecture on magnetism was delivered by Mr. P. Stevens. The society has now gone into recess until January 9, when the next meeting will be held in the new club room, Victory Hall, at the rear of the Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale.

1922 12 30

50th "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 30 December 1922 (no reference to Dot Dash)

THE MAGIC SPARK. Granting of Licenses. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS.

It may not be generally known that licenses are being granted to bona fide experimenters only. The nature of the experiments must be stated on the application form. Endorsements like "Hobby and to listen to broadcasting" naturally cannot be acceptable, particularly in view of the fact that no agreement about broadcasting has been reached by prospective companies and the Government. The genuine experimenter, however, need not be daunted as the field is large, offering unique opportunity for genius. During the past fortnight 500 application forms have been distributed.

SOUTH COAST TOUR The genial and popular president of the Metropolitan Radio Club, Mr. Marsden, is at present enjoying a motor tour along the South Coast. He intends returning by way of Goulburn. He has taken a set with him and on his return should be able to give some information of great value to those interested in portable radio sets.

BROADCASTING. During the week the Wireless Company has been sending out concerts at 4? p m. and 8 p.m. with excellent results. Some great reception was experienced with amateur crystal sets of the single coil type. Fine tuning was necessary. But it proved that the day of the crystal is not past, as some of the valve enthusiasts declare.

NEW "B" BATTERY A new "B" Battery is being put on the market. It is a departure from the separate glass container for each cell element. These are placed under the new construction in a one-piece eleven-compartment glass container and are arranged to be clearly visible and easily accessible for recharging. The improvement of this method over the old style is apparent. The integral glass jar arrangement makes it much easier to inspect the condition of the battery and the height of the electrolyte.

DIRT AND DAMP. The two main enemies of wireless reception which are most under the control of the amateur are dirt and damp. There are so many places where these two link, and, consequently weaken received signals, that it may not be out of place to point out where they frequently cause trouble. In the smoky atmosphere of towns aerial insulators quickly become covered with a film of grime which can easily weaken signals by forming a path to earth for the minute currents. If the insulators are glass or highly glazed porcelain, heavy rain will be able to keep them clean, but it is a good plan to rub them over every two or three months. If the lead in tube is so placed that heavy rain can fall directly on to it there may be considerable leakage there in wet weather. Inside dampness can generally be obviated to a large extent, but the receiving set should be kept in a dry place, otherwise moisture will be sure to condense on ebonite panels, switches, terminals, etc., causing surface leakage, which is extremely troublesome. The aerial and earth connections require to be quite free from dirt, and all terminals should be kept scrupulously clean. Dust has a habit of settling among wireless apparatus even when it is boxed up, and places to watch for it are between terminals, contact studs, and on the plates of variable condensers. A new camel hair brush is the most useful for cleaning awkward corners. high tension batteries of the dry-cell type are quickly affected by dampness, and care should be taken to keep them quite dry, one plan being to stand them on a non-hygroscopic insulator with each cell insulated from its neighbor.

A LIQUID POLE FINDER. The liquid pole finder consists essentially of a glass tube, containing a colorless solution, and provided at each end with sealing caps holding the electrodes, which project into the liquid separated from each other about one inch. These electrodes should preferably be of copper. Normally the solution is colorless; but on passing a current through it a red-dish purple color will be observed at the electrode connected to a particular lead. The explanation is that when a current is passed through a neural solution containing some salt of potassium or sodium the metal is liberated at the negative electrode. This at once reacts with the water, producing hydrogen gas and potassium, or sodium hydrate. The presence of the alkali at the negative electrode may be demonstrated by having in the solution some chemical indicator; for example, phenel phthalien; hence a reddish purple liquid round the negative electrode will show the formation of the alkali. On shaking the liquid the acid and the alkali formed respectively at the positive and negative electrodes in equal quantities recombine, and the color is discharged. A suitable solution may be made up in the following manner:— In 1oz. of distilled water dissolve 2 or 3 grains of sodium sulphate, and add a few drops of a 1 per cent. solution of phenol phthalien dissolved in alcohol. Normally this solution is colorless. On passing current through it the electrode connected to the negative supply lead will be surrounded by reddish purple liquid.

KURINGAI SOCIETY. The next meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society is to be held on Tuesday, January 9, at 7.45 p.m., in the Chatswood Memorial Hall, Victoria-avenue, Chatswood. Mr. P. Renshaw will give a lecture on a subject of interest to experimenters. Members are invited to make use of the key and buzzer which will be available for those wishing to practice Morse.

QUESTION ANSWERED. To G. E. Riley, Bulli.— The Burwood Radio Club will be transmitting on 975 metres.

1923

1923 01 06

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 6 January 1923

Bad scan on Trove, better copy provided by SLNSW - thanks Renee.

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. AT A REGATTA.

Officials at the Pittwater Regatta made arrangements to receive wireless music on board the flagship, the Newcastle, on Saturday last. The reception was all that could be desired. Amalgamated Wireless were responsible for the sending. The receiving set was operated by Mr. Marsden. The aerial, simply a single wire, was hooked up between the masts of the steamer, and the earth comprised a copper wire slung overboard. During the preliminary tuning in, Mr. Marsden noticed that the signals kept coming strong and then diminishing, without any apparent reason. All the connections were thoroughly examined, and found in order, but still the intermittent fault seemed to be on. Eventually it was found that one of the small boys on the ship had discovered the "earth," and not knowing what it was was fishing the coil of wire in and out of the water, thus making and breaking the "earth." After an explanation of what would be likely to happen to him if he did not leave things alone, the signal strength remained constant. On the Sunday evening, with Burwood Radio sending, atmospherics were so bad that, unfortunately, reception was almost impossible. When one considers the very screened position in which the flagship lay, and the more or less temporary character of the layout, just praise is due to the operator for his efficient handling of the set.

TRANS-PACIFIC TESTS. The hon. secretary of the Trans-Pacific Radio Test Organisation Committee advises that a general meeting of all experimenters, who have entered, and all others interested, will be held on Tuesday next, at the Railway Institute Rooms, at 8 p.m. All are invited to attend.

RADIO COMMUNICATION IN MINES. Experiments designed to demonstrate the possibility of radio communication between the shaft heads and the lowest workings of the mine have recently been carried out in England by a party of Birmingham amateurs. The colliery used for the tests was chosen because its main shaft was one of the deepest in the district — nearly 700 yards. The receiving set employed in the experiments was of the three valve type, and a temporary aerial was made by suspending a length of insulated copper wire between the top of the steel-hoisting gear, above the shaft, and an adjacent railway bridge. The earth connection is made by clamping a wire to one of the rails of the permanent way. From this makeshift arrangement messages were heard from Bordeaux. The portable transmitting set was first installed in the steel cage of the shaft, the aerial being insulated wire suspended in a lattice pattern across the roof of the cage, the ground being a connection to the steel door. It was expected there would be much screening on account of the steel framework of the cage, and by the structural steel work built inside the shaft for a depth of more than 100ft. This did affect the first transmissions, which were begun from the cage at the top. As it slowly descended, however, signals became stronger. When the cage was at a point 300 yards or so down the maximum signal strength was attained, and this remained undiminished until the cage reached the bottom. At the bottom there was more steel work, and the signals became inaudible. The transmitting set was, therefore, taken from the cage, and a new aerial made by suspending the wire between pit props. The earth was improved by attaching the wire to a length of cable laid along the ground. The new arrangement resulted in faint signals being received. A distance of nearly three-quarters of a mile was spanned by the radio set, working through solid earth. Radio telephony was tried, and worked quite well.

SOUTH COAST TOUR. During the Christmas holidays Messrs. Marsden and Sinclair, of radio fame, had an enjoyable trip through the South Coast, via Bulli Pass, Bateman's Bay, and returning through Goulburn. A portable single-cylinder valve three-coil (honeycomb) set accompanied them, and the results obtained were interesting. Whenever possible aerials were rigged, consisting of a single wire, earths, connected to water tanks, particularly at Bateman's Bay, where it is on record that the operators, due to the extreme heat, were in turn connected to the bar. The results obtained here were, as may be expected, good. Tests were carried out for screening in Kangaroo Valley, and this was found to be very bad. On this occasion the aerial was strung between trees, and the earth consisted of tyre levers well driven into the ground. The tests in this spot resulted in some interesting data being obtained. The source of current for the operation of the set was the car battery. The usual joys of motoring were experienced, particularly on the first day, when the party were pulled up by two punctures and three blowouts.

BROADCASTING IN ENGLAND. From English files it seems as though the long-delayed broadcasting service is at last a reality. The Postmaster-General has accepted the Articles of Association of the Broadcasting Company, and at the same time the constituent companies have agreed as to methods and organisation. There really never was disagreement on the majority of the proposed conditions, the chief differences being finance and patents. These have now been apparently mutually disposed of. Six companies, the largest manufacturers of radio apparatus — The Marconi Co., Radio Communication Co., Metropolitan Vickers Electric Co., British Thomson-Houston Co., General Elect. Co., and Western Elec. Co. — will form the Broadcasting Co., with a capital of £100,000. Any other British firm may join the company by taking one share and agreeing to pay into the common fund 10 per cent. of the receipts from the sale of complete apparatus.

RECEPTION APPARATUS. Regarding reception apparatus, it is important to note that it must not contain any valves so connected as to cause the aerial to oscillate. Reaction in the first receiving circuit must be incapable of causing oscillations, though adjustable reaction may be employed between a second valve on to the anode circuit of a valve connected to the aerial, provided there is no specific coupling between the first receiving circuit and the first anode circuit. Should any apparatus, after approval, cause oscillation, authorisation will be cancelled. It would appear that amateur radioists will be hit hard by one of the conditions relating to broadcast receivers. This states that:— "The apparatus shall be so constructed that it is difficult to change the arrangement of the circuits embodied in the design by means of external connections." Another is.— "The following units, each of which must consist of apparatus assembled, connected, and mounted in a single container, shall be approved:— (a) Combined tuner and rectifier; (b) combined tuner, high frequency amplifier, or rectifier; (c) audio frequency amplifier. Any combination of the above will be allowed." All sets sold under the broadcast scheme shall bear the registered trade mark of the broadcasting company and the post office registered number. Now that finality has been reached in England, one naturally wonders when we in this country will reach that condition. It is hoped soon, and that the bonafide amateur will not be compelled to buy a compact double sealed box with a few knobs stuck on before he can "listen in."

CLUB NOTICES. North Sydney Radio Club held its first meeting of the year, when there was an exceptionally large attendance. A lecture was delivered by the vice-president Mr. Raymond McIntosh, upon the subject of "Wireless Telephony," which was so well received that it has been decided to ask Mr. McIntosh to lecture again on the same subject. On opening the rooms after the holidays, the North Sydney officials received a shock. Somebody gained access to the room, smashed the apparatus, and left the room in an indescribable condition. The club regrets that owing to this damage the set will not be in working order for the next meeting, which is on Tuesday next. Leichhardt and District Radio Society will commence its New Year activities on January 9 with a meeting in the new club room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale. All interested are invited to attend. The hon. secretary is Mr. W. J. Zech, of 145 Booth-street, Annandale. Those who wish to join the Balmain District Radio Society should note that the inaugural meeting will take place on Monday next at St. John's School Hall, Birchgrove-road, at 8 p.m. P. G. Stephen, 69 Phillip-street, Balmain, is hon. secretary pro. tem. The Marrickville and District Club will hold its next meeting on Monday, at the rear of 14 Park-road, Marrickville, at 8 p.m. Reg. G. Ellis, of 40 Park-road, Marrickville, is the hon. secretary.

1923 01 13

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 13 January 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED.

Mention has been made in this column that bona fide experimenters must state on license application forms the nature of the anticipated experiments. One of the great problems is that of overall efficiency. In a large transmitting station we think nothing of plant of several hundred kilowatts capacity, and are quite ???? to receive at the other end about one hundredth of a watt. Compared with the steam engineer with boiler house compensation, etc., usually considered ???? serious, is nothing short of ????. A large amount of the loss in radio work, is of course, inevitable from the nature ???? the case, but not all. A considerable portion of the energy produced is ???? in heating the transmitting instruments, the aerial stays or masts (if of ???? and the ground in the immediate neighborhood. The last named is now being tackled by the use of the counterpoise, a frame of wires stretched under the aerial, since it is now considered that the majority of earthing losses are due to earth currents surrounding the feet of the ???? forces rather than to anything of a purely ohmic nature at the earth plates. High frequency resistance is another ????. It may not perhaps be generally known to amateurs that an inductance may easily have a high-frequency resistance of twenty times its continuous current resistance.

"JAMMING" AND "HARMONIES." Two problems brought home very strongly to the amateur are "jamming" and "harmonies." About the former there is no need to say anything. The latter is yet another reminder of the fact that the aerial circuit is not a simple one, but that it contains inductance and capacity throughout its length in varying degrees. Such a circuit when excited may respond not only to the harmonics of the exciting current but also to the free periods of various sections of itself. As soon as the energy gets into the other it passes more from our control then if we knew the factors governing distortion and reflection, it is difficult to see how we could control them. It is generally held that the state of the upper layers of the atmosphere have a great bearing on these points, and as we cannot get up there to investigate them directly it has to be done in an indirect manner. One such method now being employed is to investigate the abnormal variations sometimes occurring in directional radio telegraphy and if possible to deduce from these the nature of the electrical state in the upper atmosphere capable of producing results like those actually observed. We have to deal with the ether as it is not as we should like it to be and must hope that even if we cannot control the ether we may be able to foretell its effect. Atmospherics, x's, or strays present another big problem now being attacked.

NEW CRYSTAL DETECTOR. A new crystal detector in which the known properties of galena are employed in a novel manner has been patented in France. The device consists of a container partly filled with mercury and hermetically closed by a plug of insulating material through which passes two terminals on the inner ends of which are carried galena crystals which dip into the mercury.

ATMOSPHERIC ELIMINATOR. An atmospheric eliminator has been designed, using "tuned" diaphragms each being of a different known frequency. A suitable electromagnet receives all currents from a telephone condenser. passing same on to each return placed closed to the face of this electromagnet, are the tuned diaphragms. These are termed "proximates," and are operated by the magney at all frequencies. At this point, having all the "proximates" vibrating magnetism and electricity are dropped fur the time being, and sound taken up by the following means — Placed close to the proximates are a series of diaphragms termed "adjacents," "each one being of exactly the same frequency or tune as their particular "proximate," one proximate and three adjacents forming a set. Now when a "proximate" vibrates at its correct frequency, the "adjacents" vibrate in sympathy with it, but when the "proximate" vibrates at an incorrect frequency the adjacents remain motionless, as there is no sympathetic action of sounds. On the last "adjacent," a small platinum tip is fitted, and a suitable adjustable platinum contact screw is fitted to form contacts. Electricity in again taken up by supplying a power circuit, which is broken so long as the adjacent diaphragms are motionless. Immediately they vibrate, contact is made, and current flows, which may operate telephones or relays ae required. Experiments have been carried out to ascertain the maximum number of frequencies that may be transmitted into the electro magnet without causing resultant frequencies, and it has been found that sixteen may be correctly sorted out; all diaphragms are the same size, thickness, and temper, and are tuned by means of large or small separators, which control the "mass" in motion. RESULTS ATTAINED. This eliminator is a combination of magnetism, electricity, and sound, arranged so that only signals of correct frequency will operate. The following results have been attained.— Atmospheric discharges entirely eliminated. Jamming obviated. Signals that ordinarily would jam can be received. As many as twelve simultaneous signals can be received by attaching the instrument to the telephone condenser. The eliminator sorts them out, and by means of relays or other suitable gear, switches for motors, lamps, etc., control may be operated without human agency.

CLUB NEWS. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club are asked to note that the next meeting of the club will be held at the Laurel Tea Rooms on on January 17 at 8 p.m. Besides the usual business two lectures are listed — one by Mr. F. C. Jones, and the other by Mr. S. Atkinson. Leichhardt and District Radio Society commenced the New Year with its fourth business, and twelfth general meeting in the new club room, Victory Hall, Johnston-street, Annandale on Tuesday last. Four new members were elected. An address was delivered by Mr. Atkinson, secretary of the Radio Association, who supplied the members with much valuable information regarding the activities of his association. The trustees of the hall have granted permission to erect an aerial and instal a set. Advantage or this is being taken at the earliest opportunity. Enquiries should be addressed to Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. The members of Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association Club, put in some good work when they erected a 55ft mast. It is in one piece, and went up satisfactorily. A single wire aerial was put up 140ft long, but it was found that it did not have such a great advantage over the old one, about 40ft long, previously in use. Short waves were received with noticeable increase, but long wave stations come in equally well with either aerial. The Kuringai District Radio Society has appointed a committee to go into the matter of the trans-Pacific radio tests. Mr. Perry, of the N.S.W. committee explained the proposed method of conducting the tests. The main features so far as non-participants are concerned is the request that during the period that the tests are being carried out these folks would refrain from using their sets. This would not entail any hardship on the local station, as the times would be between 6 and 7 o'clock each evening. At the last meeting of the Marrickville and District Radio Club several new members were enrolled. An application for a transmitting and receiving license is to be lodged. Meetings are held every Monday at 8 p.m. Lecture and buzzer practice will constitute the items at the next meeting. The club meets at the rear of 14 Park-road, Marrickville. Mr. Reg. G. Ellis, 40 Park-road, Marrickville, is the hon. sec.

1923 01 20

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 20 January 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS. For some time the position regarding the operation and procedure of public demonstrations of radio telephony has been more or less obscure, but a definite ruling has been given, which should set all doubts at rest. Through the courtesy of Mr. A. E. H. Atkinson, hon. sec. of the Radio Assoc. of Aust. (N.S.W. branch), the following is made public:—

Mr. J. Malone, Controller of Wireless, Melbourne. Radio Association of Aust., N.S.W. Branch, 21/12/'22. Dear Sir.— I have been directed by the council of the association to ask if you would advise us as to the position of wireless societies in giving public demonstrations of wireless. A few weeks ago the Illawarra Radio Club, having received your permission, advertised that they were going to give an exhibition of wireless telephony, and thought they had done all that was necessary. To their great surprise they received a message from the Amalgamated Wireless Company, asking why their permission had not been obtained. After some consideration they said they would give their permission on condition that it was announced at the show, which was done. We should like to know for guidance in future what authority the Amal-gamated Wireless has to control any activities in amateur wireless matters. We thought that, having secured your permission we had done all that was necessary, and do not understand why the Amalgamated Wireless Co. should raise any objection. All we desire is to know the exact rules and regulations, so that we can instruct the clubs accordingly and prevent any friction or conflict with any of the authorities. (Signed), Arthur E. H. ATKINSON Hon. Sec.

In reply to this the Controller of Wireless stated on December 28:— In reply to your memorandum 21.12.1922, relative to permits for public demonstrations in wireless, I desire to inform you that, in accordance with the wireless telegraphy regulations, which are administered by this department, the permission of the Controller of Wireless is necessary, vide regulation 4 (8), before any demonstration or procedure not covered by the license is carried out. This is the only authorisation required by the regulations, and can only be given by this department. (Signed), J. MALONE, Controller of Wireless.

MECHANICAL MORSE. There are many potential experimenters, particularly those in the country who by reason of distance are unable to enjoy the privilege and pleasure of Radio Club membership, and who in consequence find it difficult and disheartening to learn Morse. The only way to achieve familiarity is constant reception at slow speeds until the letter is received as a whole, not spelt as dots and dashs. It is hopeless to try buzzing to oneself, because one knows what is coming, so that the only obvious thing to do is to adopt some means of "buzzing" unexpected signals to oneself. This may appear at first rather a difficult matter, but in reality it is quite simple. By means of a thin cord or stiff paper appropriately perforated which, lying on a sheet of metal, allows contact to be made through the perforations as the end of a piece of flax is drawn steadily across along the line of perforations. The method of making such cards is by means of a hollow punch or a pair of perforating pliers used for paper punching for filing. A convenient size hole is about 3-16in, the dots, of course, consisting of one perforation, and the dashes of four perforations running into each other so as to give a length of hole about 9-16in, the spacing between holes being 3-16in, on either side of the perforations strips of card should be glued so as to form a guide groove 1/8in wide. A single wire contact is not so good for making contact, the best being a heavy flex bared and bound to within about 3-16in of the end, forming in reality a brush contact. The cards are made preferably of tough Manilla paper. To use the system the letters are arranged not in any special order, with the more difficult ones duplicated. It is not advisable to play right through a card but to stroke through three or four letters at random and take up another card; naturally the motion of the hand should be steady and rather slow. A beginner will almost certainly read a quickly stroked X for B, and in such a case it is well to pick out an X and B and compare the two both sent quickly and at the same speed. At the same time there is no advantage in running of the letters faster than is the practice in commercial stations; in fact, the sine qua non should be "hasten slowly." An improvement ever the hand method would be the use of a series of long strips running from a loaded drum on to an empty one, passing, of course, between the fixed metal contact and wiping flex. The strip could contain any number of words or letters. The drums should be driven by means of clockwork or a small electric motor, the speed of which can be regulated. After the strip has been run through one way it should be reversed as there is a possibility that the words may be remembered when going through in the right direction, but the beginner may rest assured it is entirely another thing to "read Morse backwards," to use an "Irishism."

CLUB NEWS. At the last general meeting of the Marrickville and District Radio Club a lecture on symbols, as applied to wireless, was given by the hon. secretary, Mr. R. G. Ellis. There was also buzzer practice. The club meets each Monday evening at 8 o'clock at the Congregational School Hall, Perry-street, Marrickville. The secretary, whose address is 40 Park-road, Marrickville, will be pleased to answer any inquiries re the club. The North Sydney Radio Club meeting last Tuesday night was marked by another good roll-up in anticipation of a repetition of Mr. Raymond McIntosh's lecture on wireless telephony. Unfortunately, however, Mr. McIntosh was unable to be present, so the gap was filled with a lecture on "The Elementary Principles of the Valve," delivered by Mr. C. McClure. Members are reminded that a business meeting will be held next Tuesday night, when all are requested to be present. On Tuesday last members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society held their usual weekly meeting at the club-room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale. The evening was spent in Morse practice, and an informal discussion on wireless matters generally. The erection of an aerial and the installation of a set is now being considered, and it is expected that the society will have the gear in operation at an early date. For the benefit of members the club-room will in future be available for Morse practice for half an hour before the commencement of each meeting. At the last meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association, a simple explanation of resonance was demonstrated by Mr. Challenger. This was done by suspending equal weights by thread to a cord stretched across the room. As long as two of these were suspended by equal lengths of thread, an impulse given to one was communicated to the other. Weights suspended at different lengths remaining unaffected. This demonstration gave a clear explanation to beginners as to why stations working on different wavelengths did not interfere with each other. Mr. Challenger also gave an exhibition of high frequency currents producing very brilliant results with Geisler tubes, etc. Recently the club did a little practice, transmitting, and, although the results were gratifying, it was thought that the transmitter was not as efficient as it might be. It was decided that the fault lay in the aerial, and a new one of a higher capacity, in lieu of the single-wire aerial now in use, is to be erected.

1923 01 27

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 27 January 1923

Bad scan on Trove, little readable, but infinitely better copy provided by SLNSW - thanks Renee

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. AMERICANS TAKE NOTICE. By DOT DASH.

Americans are beginning to realise that Australians are not so far behind in the radio game after all. Several articles have appeared recently in American radio magazines, showing photographs and giving particulars of Mr. Charles Maclurcan's station (2CM), at Strathfield. The January issue of "Radio Broadcast" devotes several pages to Mr. Maclurcan's operations, and prefaces the article with the following editorial remarks:— "In Australia, as here, the tendency in amateur transmitting is toward reduction in the power, accompanied by increase in the distance covered. In this account of an Australian amateur's station, there are several features which may well be taken advantage of by Americans. Operating power tubes below their rated filament voltage, for instance, is a practice not usually found in this country. Transmitting 450 miles on 3.8 watts is quite an achievement and we find that our confreres in Australia are using such highly developed receiving arrangements as the "reflex" circuit. We should like to hear more from Australia."

THE BIG TESTS. Arrangements for the amateur trans-Pacific tests are well in hand, and the N.S.W. committee is working hard to bring success. Mr. Harvey, who was hon. secretary of the committee, has been appointed to the position of operator at Vila. The secretaryship has been taken up by Mr. G. W. Tatham, 58 Adelaide-street, Woollahra, to whom all inquiries should be addressed. The following are entering for the test, and will endeavor to receive the American messages:— Messrs. C. D. Maclurcan, W. Hudson, P. Spencer Nolan, Robert James Sharpe, Sydney V. Colville, R. C. Marsden, F. T. S. O'Donnell, Edward B. Crocker, Western Suburbs Amateur Radio Club, Burwood Radio Club (Calibration Test). Mr. C. P. Bartholomew has announced that he will not enter, but has given a donation of £2/2/-. "Sea, Land, and Air;" Australectric; Ltd.; Colville and Moore, Wireless Supplies; Electric Utilities Supply Co.; Burgin Electric Co.; Miss Wallace; Mr. Malcolm Perry; Mr. Frank F. O'Sullivan, Radio Company; Mr. W. Harry Wiles; Electricity House; "Wireless Weekly"; Western Electric Co.; Sydney Motor and Dynamo Co.; Universal Electric Co.; Mr. H. G. Dewis.

ANOTHER EXHIBITION. The N.S.W. Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia is arranging a radio exhibition week, to be held in Sydney in the near future. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Crocker, Cooke, and Mingay are now making the preliminary arrangements. It is the aim of the institute to make this exhibition one of the landmarks in the bringing of radio in this State. All the leading wireless firms have agreed to assist and the various clubs in the city and suburbs are being asked to co-operate. The hon. secretary of the organising committee is Mr. Mingay, whose address is care the Burgin Electric Company, 353? Kent-street, City.

"ALL ABOUT WIRELESS." A neat and instructive booklet entitled "All About Wireless," has been published by Grace Bros., Limited, which establishment has now a splendidly stocked radio department. To the beginner the book is extremely useful, as it explains such points as what wireless costs, what it will do, how to know what to buy, etc. Descriptions of aerials, and the various types and parts of sets are given, and there is also a section dealing with the secret of tuning sets. No experimenter will regret acquiring a copy of the booklet, which is well worth the small charge made for it.

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE. Experiments to determine the feasibility of reception of wireless signals by the sense of taste have recently been carried out. Silver electrodes were used, one of which made contact with the inner part of the upper lip of the operator and the other with the tip of his tongue. Using four stage amplification it was found possible to decode signals and to tune in a station by noting when the intensity of the taste sensation was at a maximum. For messages to be read the speed must not be greater than ten words per minute. The Department of Commerce of the United States has licensed about 20,300 wireless stations and of this number 3375 are ship and commercial stations, 11 trans-ocean, 560 special and stations, such as colleges and experimental stations, 451 broadcasting, and 15,780 amateur stations.

CLUB NEWS. A meeting to form the Drummoyne and District Wireless Club will be held at 216 Bridge-street, Drummoyne, on Wednesday, February 7, at 8 p.m., when the rules and standing orders will be put before the meeting for adoption, and an election of officers will take place. All interested are invited to be present. Enquiries should be made to one of the hon. organisers, Mr. Mellor, Fire Station, Lyons-road, Drummoyne, or Mr. R. W. J. Guthrie, 281 Bridge-street, Drummoyne. On Tuesday members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society held their 14th general meeting at the club-room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale. The main business of the evening was an address by Mr. Malcolm Perry, chairman of the Trans-Pacific Radio Tests Organisation Committee, on the various phases of the forthcoming radio tests to be conducted between experimental stations in America and Australia. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Perry was accorded a vote of thanks. The society's next meeting will be held on Tuesday night, when all interested are invited to be present. All inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. A meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club was held at the Club-room, 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, on Thursday, January 18. Mr. Gorman reported the proceedings of the last meeting of the Radio Association, when some important matters had been dealt with. He also spoke of the work carried out to date by the Trans-Pacific Tests Organisation Committee as disclosed at their last meeting. Arrangements, he said, were going along well, but it was desirous that all intending competitors enter early to enable proper organising to be carried out. Many points of interest in connection with the tests were explained. The club's single valve receiving set, it is hoped, will be in operation at an early date. A license (transmitting and receiving) has already been applied for. The next meeting of the club will be held at the clubroom on Thursday next. Mr. J. G. Reed (of Amalgamated Wireless, Limited) will lecture on "Short Wave Transmitters and Receivers." The secretary (Mr. W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale, will be pleased to hear from anyone interested in the club.

1923 02 03

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 03 February 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. ECHO OF THE PAST. BY DOT DASH

The monster wireless exhibition being organised by the N.S.W. Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia is to be held about June next in the basement of the Sydney Town Hall. The reason for fixing the date so far ahead is that many wireless firms are waiting for supplies of apparatus from overseas, and when these arrive they will be able to exhibit the most up-to-date of the world's gear. It is hoped to arrange daily broadcasting programmes during the exhibition which will be open for a week. Special sessions will be set apart for periods? Competitive displays of apparatus for wireless clubs and individuals are being arranged and the organisers urge that those intending to compete should get to work on their exhibits without delay. A number of special prizes have been promised. The Institute is considering a proposal to hold a big convention of Radio Clubs and Societies while the exhibition is on. The preliminary organising is in the hands of a committee, of which Mr. O. F. Mingay is hon. secretary. Mr. Mingay carried out organising work in connection with the successful exhibition held by the Metropolitan Radio Club last year. Mr. Mingay. (Photo Caption)

RADIO'S 12 POINTS. A prominent experimenter was asked the other day to give the 12 most prominent points in the control and working of a receiving set. "The subject," he replied, "bristles with as many points as a porcupine," but he gave the following:— 1. Sets must have an efficient aerial. For coastal work it is no use connecting up with an aerial that is too small or not high enough. See that joins are soldered. 2. More amateurs are discouraged through poor results, caused by a bad earth than many other faults. For satisfactory results a good earth is essential. 3. Thoroughly master the principles of the science before you tackle even the most simple set. 4. Don't want to run before you can walk. Start on a simple crystal set and leave the more complicated valve apparatus till you know something about wireless. 5. Before obtaining a valve set learn to control the valve. There is nothing more annoying than interference from a whistler. 6. Keep all connections, terminals, etc., on the set absolutely clean and free from grease or lower signals will result. 7. ???? 8. ???? 9. Get a good headset and use it with the greatest care. Many a fine outfit has been ???? 'phones. 10. Do not work with the object of getting ???? 11. Never ???? delicate thing, look after ???? the filament before ???? 12. ???? and when you get a good one stick to it.

AN EARLY SET. The progress of the science during the past 10 years is revealed in a newspaper account of a field wireless outfit designed by Staff-Sergeant Major Jones, Area 24B, Erskineville, published in 1912. The set was extremely portable, and had a sending range of from five to six miles, which was almost doubled over water. The power used was 35 watts. The receiving range was about 150 miles, but this could have been increased by making the aerial higher. The account continues — The transmitting portion consists mainly of a transformer, capacities, inductance, key, and a special form of spark gap, which emits a peculiar tone, thus minimising the effects of interference from other stations. It is tuned to emit a wave length of 55 metres, known as a pure wave. "The receiving set consists of special multiple tuner so constructed that it can be tuned to any wavelength up to 4000 metres, three detectors of the crystal type, one intensifier, which raises the pitch of received signals 100 per cent., interference preventer, and head telephone." The aerial used was a two-wire one, with a counterpoise. One ?ight mast carried the wires, and was so arranged that the aerial could be made directive. "Staff-Sergeant Major Jones's outfit," concludes the report, demonstrates what it is possible for officers and non-commissioned officers to do in their spare time. The study of wireless telegraphy offers wide scope for experimenting, and it is a pity to penalise the stations owned by amateurs. It would be a good plan to call for suggestions from amateurs and experimental stations before any drastic measures are adopted for their suppression in Australia." From the concluding paragraph it would appear that the authorities, even in those early days of experimenting, looked upon the amateur experimenter with an unfriendly eye.

AT NEWCASTLE. The radio science is getting very popular in the Newcastle district. The Newcastle and District Radio Club was only formed on October 10 last, but it is making splendid headway. The clubrooms are at 35 Winslip-street, Hamilton, where members meet every Wednesday. The membership roll now contains 80? names, and is constantly growing. On January 10 a wireless exhibition was held, when members made a splendid display of apparatus. The club's aerial has been erected and is of the inverted L type, twin wire, 170ft long, and 50ft high. Mr. Metham, a club member, has lent his valve receiving set to the club until the set for the body is completed. The club is making application for a transmitting license, and, if this is granted, it is the intention to broadcast concerts.

CLUB NEWS. Members and those interested in the Kuringai District Radio Society are reminded that the next meeting will be held at the Memorial Hall, Chatswood, on Tuesday, February 6, at 7.45 p.m. A key and buzzer will be provided for the use of members wishing to practice Morse. Enquiries should be addressed to the hon. sec., Mr. R. R. Wilshire, Help-street, Chatswood. There was a committee meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club on Tuesday night for the purpose of compiling the syllabus for the ensuing month. An attractive programme has been arranged and the lecture on February 13, "C. W. Receivers," by Mr. C. McClure, should prove of great interest to amateurs. The next meeting will be on Tuesday night, when prospective members are invited to be present. At the fifteenth general meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, held at the Club Room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday, the first section of a lecture on "Inductance," was delivered by Mr. W. J. Zech. The second portion will be given next Tuesday night, when all interested are invited to be present. Members also discussed the question of the erection of an aerial, and many useful suggestions were put forward and adopted.

"WIRELESS REVIEW" The "Australasian Wireless Review" for February is a particularly bright and interesting publication for those interested in the science. Within its covers may be found the latest account of wireless doings in Australia and abroad, in addition to informative technical articles. It is profusely illustrated.

1923 02 10

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 10 February 1923

Bad scan on Trove, better copy provided by SLNSW - thanks for not walking away Renee!

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. POPULAR PRESIDENT. BY DOT DASH

One of the most popular men among the amateurs of this State is Mr. R. C. Marsden, who was on Wednesday evening elected for a second term president of the Metropolitan Radio Club. Mr. Marsden was one of those who realised the necessity of a club that would cater for all sections of amateurs, and he took a prominent part in the formation of the Metro, being unanimously elected its first president. His energy and hard work were largely responsible for the club becoming the most influential in the State. It was he, too, who conceived the idea of holding a Radio Exhibition — the first in Australia — and all experimenters know how successful it was. Mr. Marsden started experimenting in the days when most of the present-day amateurs could not tell a terminal from a valve.

"MAC" IS BACK. Mr. "Charlie" Maclurcan, who last year delighted so many with his excellent Sunday evening radio concerts, is back at his Strathfield home after two months' well-earned holiday. In view of the absence of music in the air nowadays, it is sincerely hoped that "Mac" will please large unseen audiences as of yore. It should certainly be worth while tuning to 1400 metres at 7.30 p.m. during the next few Sundays. Mr. Maclurcan will be busy tomorrow altering his aerial for the forthcoming Trans-Pacific tests, for he is one of the experimenters who will endeavor to pick up the signals sent out by the American amateurs.

REGENERATIVE HOOK UP. One of the greatest barriers that arises when the ordinary radio enthusiast wishes to change from a crystal to a vacuum tube detector outfit is the price of an efficient tuner. Without a good tuner he knows that he will not get good results, so he usually backs and decides to quit the radio game for life. If, however, he does get a vacuum tube detector and uses it with a variometer, variocoupler or tuning coil, he will soon become discouraged because he cannot get the distant stations as well as his friend who has a high-class outfit (says a writer in an American wireless magazine). If he has a loose-coupler he may try it in a circuit that is commonly used, but even this will not give him satisfaction. Now, if you happen to be one of these fellows, do not get discouraged, because in this article there is a ray of hope. If you have a loose-coupler you can use it as your tuner. If you have not, build one. Here are a few suggestions for building a loose-coupler. Wind 60 turns of No. 22 double cotton covered wire on primary coil and 60 turns of No. 20 double cotton covered wire on secondary coil. Tap primary every five turns and the secondary every ten turns. It is advisable to put secondary coil on rods because if there is any up and down or side notion is very hard to tune in those distant stations. The next thing to consider is the detector. If you have a mounted detector you can use that even though you may have to make a few changes. Of course your detector does not have to be mounted, but it seems that having everything behind the panel is the style now. In addition to the loose-coupler and detector you will need 'phones, 'phone condenser and batteries. After hooking up everything according to diagram try to tune in some station that you are familiar with. If you do not get good results at first, do not get discouraged. You probably do not know how to tune your loose-coupler. Since all loose-couplers are not made exactly the same, you will have to experiment a little until you find out how to tune yours. After finding out you will never have any trouble in tuning those far-off stations.

SHORT WAVE WORK. Members of the Illawarra Radio Club were fortunate in securing Mr. J. Reed, Radio Engineer, Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, to lecture them recently. Mr. Reed chose for his subject the all-important question of "Short Wave Transmitters and Receivers." He mentioned that it was not until recently that any serious consideration had been given by experimenters to the lower wavelengths, comparatively all experimental work having been done on wavelengths of from 600 metres upwards But with the advent of the new regulations (which confined experimental transmission to much lower wavelengths a closer study of the factors involved in short wave transmission was necessary. He spoke of aerials and their capacities, and the relative advantages of different types and their efficiency with regard to situation and surrounding objects was explained. It was shown how a tuned counterpoise used in conjunction with an aerial would give maximum efficiency, and certainly much greater radiation than when the ordinary earth was used. Various transmitting circuits were shown, giving the values of the different capacitances, inductances, resistances, etc., employed, and the general operation described. Another interesting phase touched on by the lecturer was that of harmonics, which, he said, were very prevalent in short wave transmitters. It was shown how interference often caused by harmonics could be overcome. Rectification was next dealt with, the electrolytic and valve systems of rectification being fully explained, and the functions of the component parts employed in both systems described in detail. The effective use of filter circuits and choke coils as a means of cutting out the A.C. hum was shown. The lecturer gave details of construction of various forms of choke coils and transformers used. With regard to receivers, Mr. Reed stated that as only small variable inductances were to be used in short wave work, capacity must be kept down to a minimum. Amplification of short waves by the radiofrequency, audiofrequency and resistance-coupled amplification methods were also considered. Hookups were shown for making one and two valves perform the functions.

SPIDER-WEB ROTOR. An interesting departure in the design of a variocoupler has been made by a radio engineer with the Bureau of Engineering, U. S. Navy, who has substituted a 40-turn spider-web rotor for the usual form of secondary coil. This gives maximum coupling when the plane of the spider-web is parallel to the plane of the cylindrical primary and minimum when at right angles. The base, instead of being made of bakelite, uses hard rubber containing less than 1 per cent. of free sulphur. It is claimed that this variocoupler is extremely selective and gives particularly good results with radio frequency amplification, as it has an electrostatic capacity of less than 1 micro-microfarad at zero coupling and 5 micro-microfarad at maximum coupling.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The first annual meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club was held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday evening, when there was a large attendance of members. The principal item of the evening was the election of officers and this resulted as follows:— Mr R. C. Marsden, president; Mr. A. Atkinson, vice-president; Mr. C. R. McKenzie, secretary; Miss F. V. Wallace, treasurer; Messrs. D. McIntyre, S. Atkinson junr., W. Cotterell, and P. Sewell, committee. Mr Marsden and Mr. Atkinson will be the club's delegates to the N.S.W. Radio Association. It was decided that the meetings of the club be held on Monday evenings, instead of Wednesdays. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society's sixteenth general meeting, held in the club room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tueday last, was well attended. Formal business, including the election of four new members, having been dispensed with, Mr. W. J. Zech continued his lecture on "Inductance," the first part of which had been delivered at the previous meeting. The lecturer was accorded a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the discourse. MARRICKVILLE AND DISTRICT. At the January meeting of the Marrickillle and District Radio Club, a member gave a demonstration with a two-valve set made by him. There was also a talk on the principles of the honeycomb coil. The club is arranging a syllabus of demonstrations and lectures, and buzzer practice is also a feature of meetings. Mr. R. G. Ellis, 40 Park-road, Marrickville, is hon. secretary. ILLAWARRA. The next meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club will be held at the club room, 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, on Thursday, at 8 p.m. A lecture on "Crystals" will be given by Mr. Watkin Brown. A cordial invitation is extended to all interested. The secretary (Mr. W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale) invites inquiries concerning the club. NORTH SYDNEY. A lecture of interest to amateurs will be delivered at the North Sydney Radio Club next Tuesday night on "C.W. Receivers." The lecturer, Mr. C. McClure, will deal with the subject with special regard to the amateur, and an invitation to be present is extended by the club to all those interested in valve work. The lecture is to start at 8 p.m. at the club rooms, corner Alfred and High streets, North Sydney. Mr. R. C. Marsden. (Photo Caption)

1923 02 17

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 17 February 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. IRRITATING RESTRICTIONS. BY DOT DASH

Even though the restrictions on the use of wireless by amateurs were lightened somewhat by the new regulations, which came into force recently, they are still too severe. Wireless as a pastime will never become popular till the harsh restrictions are eased considerably, so amateurs through the various clubs and societies, should now get busy on another campaign. Success attended the last one, why not this? There are hundreds of people who would like to have a set, merely to listen to wireless concerts. These do not want to know how the set is constructed, or how it works; they would be content to hear music. It is no use regarding this class of amateurs as "experimenters," for they are not. Yet, as things are at present, they have to get an experimental license before they can put up an aerial. This means they have to satisfy the Controller of Wireless of their technical qualifications to conduct experiments scientifically, and to adjust and control the apparatus they propose to operate. So if a man were to tell the authorities that he knew nothing about the science, but wanted to buy a simple set to hear concerts and learn just sufficient to tune it, he would, presumably, be refused permission to instal a set. Then again, the lad who wanted to operate his simple little crystal set has to go through the tedious business of getting a license. Surely, with such apparatus all that should be necessary, is a permit obtainable from, say, any post office on payment of a shilling or two to cover the cost of paper and registration. Other countries allow amateurs more freedom and it should be done in Australia. The New South Wales Association should get busy in this direction without delay.

VALVE RECEIVERS. The path of the experimenter is not all a bed of roses. The following paragraph taken from a license application form, should be carefully studied by the amateur who contemplates changing from crystal to valve work:— "The use of valve receivers employing regenerative circuits capable of energising the aerial is discouraged, owing to risk of interference with other stations, and it is hoped that careful attention will be given to circuits and operations, and thereby render more stringent regulations unnecessary. "Applicants who propose using valve receivers likely to energise the aerial will not, except in special cases, be permitted to utilise regenerative circuits; they must be capable of receiving Morse signals at a speed of twelve words per minute. Should the applicant not be able to comply with this operating requirement, he should arrange for a person to be in attendance during the operation of the set, who is capable of receiving such signals. "Certificates of such capability will be accepted from the secretary of a wireless institute, officer in charge of a radio station, postmaster, or instructor in a telegraphy school, or school of army signalling."

SUNDAY MUSIC. Those amateurs who have been bewailing the lack of Sunday radio music can take heart. There will be some tomorrow. Those who are not at church may tap the ether on 1550 metres at 10.45, when our old friend, Garden Island, will be sending a programme of music for experimental purposes. The operators at the Island have got their instruments in splendid condition, so a good entertainment may be looked forward to. Amateurs will appreciate the broadcasting, and we venture to suggest that it be made a regular thing. It might be worth while tuning in on 1400 metres tomorrow evening at 7.30, for "Charlie" Maclurcan is home again, and it is stated that he will be sending as he did a few months back.

WEATHER AND WIRELESS. I have often been asked by those having no knowledge of wireless if weather has any effect on the reception of wireless signals. Many people think that when it is raining or foggy wireless communication is impossible or at least impaired (writes John Scott-Taggart, in a London newspaper). This, however, is not the case. I have explained that wireless signals are send through a medium called ether, and that, unlike sound and light waves, they are not affected by the air or weather conditions. It, therefore, makes no difference whether it is raining or snowing, or whether it is foggy, wireless signals come in just the same. The only time weather conditions affect wireless reception is during a thunderstorm or in thundery weather. There is trouble sometimes experienced during a storm, when the air is charged with electricity. When a lightning flash occurs somewhere, wireless waves of all kinds are sent out for long distances and these are received by your wireless station, and produce irregular crackling noises — known as "atmospherics" or "X's" — which are very annoying, and prevent your receiving clear signals. Fortunately, however, this trouble is not prevalent in Britain, but it is inadvisable to work a wireless station when there is lightning about. It is customary to disconnect the instruments, although there is no ground whatever for suggesting that a house fitted with a wireless set is more likely to attract lightning than any other kind of a house. Even if the lightning is a long way off, you are liable to get these unpleasant noises, and if there is no actual lightning, provided the air is heavily charged with electricity, you are liable to have your wireless signals interrupted.

APPRECIATION. The wireless concerts sent out by the Radio Department of Grace Brothers Limited, are eagerly listened for by many amateurs. The success gained by Mr. Frederick Thompson (2HF), of Balmain, is revealed in the following letter sent by him to the firm:— "I am writing you this letter of congratulation on the excellence of your transmission of the wireless concerts. I have been using two valves, and although I cannot get down to your true wave, I hear the music fully 15 feet from the 'phone. Myself and friends fully enjoyed your concert every afternoon this week."

IN THE CLUBS. WESTERN SUBURBS. The last meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association was devoted to demonstrations and buzzer practice. The club has carried out some fine receptions lately. One of the feats was the hearing of a Victorian amateur (music and speech) at about strength five. Good results were obtained working with a single V24 valve without "B" battery, coast stations being particularly loud and numerous ships being heard. With one stage of radio, still using six volts, New Zealand was brought in. Static under these conditions is reduced to a minimum, even when it is very bad with "B" battery. The club advises amateurs to give this method a trial, and feels sure that the results will cause surprise. Members meet every Wednesday night. Any information re the club will be given by the hon. secretary, 4 Childs-street, Lidcombe. KURINGAI DISTRICT. The Kuringai District Radio Society is adding to its numbers at each meeting. It is hoped that the construction of the society's set will be commenced shortly. A committee of three, Messrs. Wilson, Mingay, and Stowe, have the matter in hand. The next meeting of the society will be held at the Memorial Hall, Chatswood, at 7.45 p.m. on Tuesday next. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. Members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society rolled up force to their usual weekly meeting last Tuesday night, when a very interesting and instructive lecture on "Alternating Current" was delivered by Mr. F. Thompson. The lecturer handled his subject ably and well, and was accorded a vote of thanks. Arrangements for the erection of the society's aerial are going on apace, and members will shortly have a set at their disposal. Inquiries regarding the society should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. NORTH SYDNEY. At the North Sydney Radio Club last Tuesday night, an interesting lecture on "C.W. Receivers" was delivered by Mr. C. McClure, who dealt with the subject, with special regard to the amateur. The next meeting will be held next Tuesday night, when code practice will be held for the benefit of all who care to attend.

1923 02 24

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 24 February 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. GAME LOSING GROUND. BY DOT DASH

Amateur wireless seems to be losing ground. Public interest in the science has waned, and even the established amateurs and experimenters are getting apathetic. The reason for this state of affairs is not hard to seek. One often hears the advice to buy a wireless set and hear the music in the air. But there is no music to hear, and, Hearing an odd concert now and again, there is apparently no prospect of there being any. If only there were concerts at regular hours, as in other countries, things would go ahead like wildfire, but until that comes about there will continue to be stagnation in the amateur wireless game. The many clubs and societies are doing splendid work in keeping interest alive, but they have a hopeless task to make the "man in the street" realise the value of this wonderful method of communication. If something is not done soon in the way of broadcasting, the clubs should get together and see if they cannot do anything themselves.

THE POOR BEGINNER. "Beginner" (Marrickville) thinks we were right about the further easing of the radio restrictions. He writes:— "Your paragraph in last Saturday's column on the irritating Government restrictions on beginners certainly hit the nail on the head. A little while ago I became interested in wireless and determined to put up a little crystal set. I knew practically nothing about the game, but I was assured by those who did that I could operate a crystal set. Like a good citizen I determined to apply for a license before buying a set, but after getting an application form and noting the questions I was required to answer, I dropped the idea of wireless and made up my mind to keep fowls instead. It seems to me that the Government ???? for such as I, and that they want to prevent us using a set. Why is this? I am told that the type of set I intended using could not possibly have interfered with anything or anybody. It would take little or no skill to operate it, and it would not have an effective receiving range of more than a couple of hundred miles. What harm could I do with such a set? I do not even know the Morse code, and did not intend to learn it. I wanted merely to try to pick up a little wireless music and listen to a few signals occasionally, but this simple pursuit has been denied me, unless I study hard hard to qualify for the license. The Controller of Wireless would do well to look into this little matter.

ANOTHER NEW CLUB. A meeting to form the Drummoyne Radio Club was held at the School of Arts, Drummoyne recently. Mr. Mellor occupied the chair and there was a good attendance, of those interested in the wireless art. After accepting a proposition that this meeting form itself into the Drummoyne Radio Club, the following officers were elected. President, Captain F. Rolson; vice-presidents, Mr. Menzies, Messrs. Mellor, Moore and ????; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. G. Lucas; hon. assistant secretary, Mr. J. Manning; technical committee, Messrs. Colville, Guthrie, Wood-????, Vincent, W???? and Coy. The rules and standing orders were left in the hands of the committee for a report to the next meeting. Subscriptions are: Full members: £1 a year or 5/- a quarter; juniors, 10/- a year or 2/6 a quarter. A vote of thanks was passed to those who helped to make the meeting a success, especially to the "Evening News" and the Drummoyne "Examiner." All communications should be addressed to Mr. A. G. Lucas, "Columbo," Tavistock-street, Drummoyne.

GARDEN ISLAND AGAIN. Amateurs are to be given another treat tomorrow morning, when Garden Island Station will be sending a concert beginning at 10.45 and ending at 11. The same wave length as last week will be used. The officer in charge of the station has received many reports from those who heard last week's programme, and these praise the excellence of the transmission. The power used is 10½ watts.

ABOUT CRYSTALS. At the last meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club the main feature of the evening was a lecture by Mr. Watkin Brown on "Crystals." The lecturer took the subject in two sections, firstly, crystals and their characteristics, and, secondly, the various minerals used as crystal detectors in wireless. It was shown that all crystals were classified chiefly into six systems, under one of which each particular crystal came according to its own peculiar formation or construction and that the whole of the innumerable crystal substances known were governed by these laws. The distinct physical features of crystals of the different classes were illustrated, and the various forms of crystal structure described. Several specimens of crystal were exhibited, including galena, magnetite (so-called, being really granular galena), iron pyrites, copper pyrites, zincite, borate, molybendenite, carborundum, silicon, etc. The chemical composition of all these forms, and their properties and uses in wireless, separately and in combinations was explained. It was interesting to note that most crystals were sulphides. Another rare crystal which had been used with remarkable results in wireless, was stanite (sulphide of tin). It had yet to be discovered just why crystals were detectors, and it was a remarkable fact that of two pieces of crystal of a given species, containing, apparently, exactly similar physical features and ??? ups, one would be an efficient detector and the other absolutely useless. The lecturer pointed out that there were many mineral substances with potential possibilities, yet untested with regard to their uses for wireless work. This left an enormous field for investigation and research, which would probably result in some remarkable discoveries of great value to radio science. Mr. Brown was accorded a vote of thanks, and, in responding, offered to assist any of those desirous of engaging in a little crystal research work.

IN THE CLUBS. ILLAWARRA. Another well attended meeting of the club was held recently, when three new members were elected. The marked increase in membership which the club has shown of late is very encouraging, and is an indication of the wide appeal it has to radio enthusiasts in this area. Mr. Gorman (delegate) reported the proceedings of the last meeting of the Radio Association, when new rules had been adopted, the effect of which he explained. Mr. A. E. Atkinson also spoke on the present position of the association ???? and that in view of the amended constitution a re-election of the club's delegate became necessary. Following a discussion, Messrs. Hewett and Gorman were nominated for the position, and Mr. Hewett being elected. The next meeting of the club will be held at the club room, 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah on Thursday, March 1, at 8 p.m. when Mr. Gorman will recount his experiences over many years of experimental wireless work. An invitation is extended to all interested.

1923 03 03

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 3 March 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. A SUGGESTION. BY DOT DASH.

Garden Island station has shown Sydney amateurs that they can dispense excellent radio music. The Sunday morning experimental transmissions have entertained hundreds, and many expressions of appreciation have been voiced. In these days, when there is so little music for the amateur to listen to, Garden Island's contribution is doubly welcome. The suggestion is made now, that the naval authorities should allow regular transmission of telephony from Garden Island, say, twice weekly. It must be realised that the station, is a busy one, but surely an hour or so on two days in each week could be set aside for a concert. Such a move would be immensely popular with experimenters. The station could also send out by telephony each night the weather reports, which would bit of great value to the man on the land. Market reports could be given out, too. As was pointed out last week in this column, the amateur wireless game in New South Wales is dying out, because there is no broadcasting. Perhaps the authorities want the amateur to go. If this is not the case, let them do something on the lines suggested here.

Winding 'Phones. The following tip may be of use to amateurs who desire to rewind their telephones. If one has access to a gramophone, says "Amateur Wireless", the matter will be found quite simple. Obtain an empty cotton reel which has a hole through its centre just large enough to fit over the projecting portion of the spindle of the gramophone turntable. Then take the bobbin which is to be wound and fix it to the top of the reel by means of a spot of glue or sealing-wax. The wire can then be attached to the bobbin and the turntable allowed to revolve. The speed at which it revolves can, of course, be regulated by the controller which is fitted to most gramophones.

Another New Club. An excellent attendance and enthusiasm marked the inaugural meeting of the Manly and District Radio Club on Monday night last. For some time a number of radio enthusiasts had been discussing the possibility of forming a club in Manly, and the fact that their estimate of the attendance at the first meeting was exceeded by over 50 per cent was more than a sufficient reward for the enter-prise. Mr. F. C. Swinburne, a well-known and highly proficient radio experimenter, who was one of the pioneers of the move to form a club in Manly, was elected president. Messrs. Brown, O. Sandel, and Clarke were elected vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively, and a committee of three was appointed, consisting of Messrs. M. Dixon, Crocker and Symes. It was decided that the club should consist of senior and junior members, those under the age of 17 comprising the latter section. An entrance fee of 2/6 per member and an annual subscription of 15/- for seniors and 5/- for juniors was decided upon. Forty-seven members were enrolled at the meeting, and since then an additional five have joined, making a total of 53. It was decided to hold general meetings on Monday nights, and buzzer classes on Wednesday nights. It is the intention of the club to construct two portable sets at an early date. ???? a novel feature of its activi-???? into two parties, ???? portable sets. Transmitting and receiving practice will then be indulged in between the two widely-separated parties. The next meeting of the club will be held on Monday evening, at which an interesting lantern lecture will be delivered. Visitors and members of other clubs are invited to attend.

In England. A Sydney experimenter has received a letter from an English enthusiast who returned home from Australia recently. "The wireless boom," the writer says, "is still in full swing here. The game is getting plenty of publicity, and the ranks of the amateurs are being increased every day. Wireless societies are springing up on every hand, and there is no lack of members for them. "So great has been the rush on certain apparatus that there is a chronic shortage. I recently spent several days visiting many wireless shops all over London in an endeavor to get a pair of a popular brand of 'phones. I was not successful, and had to place an order for a pair to be reserved when supplies became available. There is a deal of broadcasting, but much of it is very poor. There is a promise, however, that good regular transmissions will be made shortly, and everybody is waiting. "Conditions here contrast strangely with those in Australia. Here a man may put up an aerial and get a license without being looked upon with suspicion by the authorities. Nor is he regarded as a "crank" by the general public. "Despite the fact that amateurs are so free from restriction by the authorities, there is, as far as I can tell, no interference with commercial work."

Phone Noises. Are you troubled at times with cracklings in your receivers which, cannot be due to the baleful influence of atmospherics? Most of us are. As a rule the H.T. battery is the culprit, especially when it is no longer in its first youth (says a writer in an English radio magazine). The remedy is to use a far larger bypass condenser across its terminals than is usually recommended. Most writers lay down that from .05 to .3 mfd. is the most suitable capacity. As a matter of fact, I never use less than 1 mfd., and frequently double this capacity when the battery is growing old. You will find, too, that if you employ low-resistance telephones it pays to shunt across them something much big bigger than the .0005 or .001 condenser of convention. If the 'phones are of the high-resistance type the larger condenser does no good at all, but with low-resistance gear capacities up to .025 mfd. may be used with advantage. Tests with various condensers will soon show which capacity is best suited to the 'phones.

In the Clubs. NEWCASTLE AND DISTRICT. The Newcastle and District Radio Club continues to forge ahead. At the last meeting on February 21 Mr. Filmer gave a lecture on aerials. He showed diagrams and answered many questions. The members carried out buzzer practice after the lecture. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the 19th general meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, held at the club room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday last, Mr. W. J. Zech delivered a lecture on "The Condenser and Its Uses." As the hon. secretary will be away from Sydney from this date until March 19, all correspondence before that date should be addressed to the hon. secretary pro tem., Mr. F. Thompson, 12 Pearson-street, Balmain. The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday next, when all interested are invited to be present. METROPOLITAN. The Metropolitan Radio Club held its second meeting of the year at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Monday last. There was a good attendance. Mr. H. A. Stowe, the well-known experimenter, gave an interesting and instructive lecture on "Wavemeters, Their Uses and Construction." The next meeting will held at the Laurel Cafe on Monday, March 19, when Mr. Nangle will give an address on "Time Signals." All inquiries concerning the club should be addressed to the hon. secretary, care of 6 Royal Arcade, City. The committee is endeavoring to draw up a syllabus for the ensuing six months. Anybody who would care to assist the club by giving a suitable lecture is invited to get in touch with the hon. secretary. BALMAIN. There was a good attendance at the the inaugural meeting of the Balmain and District Radio Society, recently. The following were elected to hold office for the ensuing 12 months: President, Dr. R. Stopford, M.L.A.; vice-presidents, ? Cookson and Mr. Bogle; hon. secretary, Mr. P. G. Stephen; hon. treasurer, Mr. Preston; technical committee, Messrs. D. Dickins. G. Every, T. Wy??? and Mort; hon. auditors, Messrs Dickins and McCarron. The society is obtaining the necessary license, and intends to install a 10 watt c.w, i.c.w., and telephony set, and a 10 watt spark set. The receiving apparatus includes a simple crystal set, valve set, and a multi-valve set for long-distance work. To V. F. (Parramatta): We would require to know much more of the set before we could answer your first question. As to the second, if you are with-in a radius of 15 miles and have a good aerial and an efficient set, you should be able to hear the concerts. NORTH SYDNEY. An interesting lecture was delivered at the North Sydney Radio Club last Tuesday by Mr. Raymond McIntosh on "Amplification." This lecture which was the first of a series of three, dealt with the first principles of the subject, and was supported by the use of a two stage amplifier. The second lecture of the series will be given on Tuesday week, and will deal with the amplification of wireless signals at radio frequency. KURINGAI DISTRICT. Members and those interested in radio work are reminded of the society's Kuring-gai District Radio meeting, to be held on Tuesday, when it is hoped Mr. R. Hill, of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., will lecture on a subject of interest to experimenters. Meetings of the society are held every alternative Tuesday at 7.45 p.m., in the Memorial Hall, Chatswood (three doors from the Post Office).

1923 03 10

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 10 March 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. A VALVE TRAGEDY. BY DOT DASH.

There was a valve tragedy in Sydney this week, which was not without its humorous side. An enthusiastic young amateur, something under 12 years of age, had purchased a costly socket valve, for which he had been saving for months. Hugging his purchase excitedly, the youngster dashed from the wireless shop — and cannoned into an elderly gentleman who happened to be passing. The precious valve bounced from the young experimenters hands, out of its nest of wool in the box, and shattered itself on the pavement. So keen was the grief of the lad that he lapsed into tears, and the kindly old gentleman took pity on him. "Never mind, sonny," he said, "Come along into the shop and we will get another." The two entered the shop, and the man wondered why the boy's grief did not cease when he bought him — an ordinary electric light globe.

RADIO FALLING OFF. Mr. Percy L. Sewell (Paddington) agrees with us that radio is falling off, but he has his own ideas. He writes. Your statement about amateur radio falling off, I feel, is only too true, but I am afraid you have overlooked one of the most important factors. No matter to which radio shop one may go, the salesmen are totally incompetent to handle the job they have. Instead of giving some recognised amateur of standing a position, we find the man who sells valves does not know any more than he can read on the outside of the packing case. If he has a license, in nine cases out of ten, he tries to work a crystal set, and belongs to the ten bob rush. Now, do you think it a fair deal either to the employer or the public? Certainly I do not. Would the unqualified man be tolerated in any other scientific concern? If a man cannot talk what he is selling, what is the good of him? I firmly believe that if "Beginner" (Marrickville) could have laid his hand on an amateur who has been a few years in the game, he would have had no trouble in getting his license. I consider the regulations quite lax enough, although not quite clear on certain points. Again, if Mr. Malone had qualified men to initial his stamped signature, no one would be led to believe that a crystal would interfere with commercial work. If "Beginner" is still interested in radio, I would be very glad to hear from him.

IN BYGONE DAYS. Some interesting incidents in radio experimental work before the war were given by Mr. C. A. Gorman at a meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club. Going back to 1911 (when he commenced), he outlined the various experiments he had undertaken from that time up to 1914, when the war resulted in the dismantling of all experimental stations, much to the distress of the individuals concerned. Interesting light was thrown on the means and methods of experimenters of those days, when the crystal was "the thing" — valves then being a pleasure to come. Amateurs at that time were under a considerable disadvantage with the scarcity of materials, but on homemade sets, which were more or less crude in comparison with those of today, some remarkable results had been achieved. Most amateurs did transmitting as well as receiving at that time, and licenses could be had for the asking. Mr. Gorman produced a log he had kept during that time, wherein was recorded notes of the various coast, ship, and amateur stations of the day, which he had received and worked with: and MQI (Macquarie Island) (which was considered record reception then with a crystal) was shown regularly and consistently logged. This was a good indication of the excellent results of crystal work of those times, though, of course, a great number of the stations were using considerably greater power then than is the case now. He also described the military pack sets used during the war and their methods of working. Recently Mr. Gorman tried audio-frequency amplification, but subsequently replaced it with the radio-frequency method, which he is using in his set today with great results. He strongly favors the latter method as the best of the two when brought up to efficiency.

WHEN STATIC IS BAD. Here are a few suggestions for use where static comes in very badly. If you are using a two or three-stage amplification in connection with a loud speaker, forego that pleasure for a little while and cut out the whole lot (says "Amateur Wireless," England). By listening-in direct from the detector you will necessarily sacrifice some degree of volume of sound, but you will gain much in the clarity of the signals from the headphones. Remember that the amplifying valves extend their power to all currents that come in, and that static, being stronger than the radio-frequencies, is amplified to a greater volume than the signal sounds. Another hint is to reduce the amount of current passing through the valve filaments to the lowest possible amount consistent with the result of static, because the more current passed through the valve the more the static is increased in intensity as compared to the music. Above all, make all tuning adjustments carefully and very slowly.

WIRELESS SPEECH. Many of those who use a set for the reception of speech by wireless are unable to explain just how it is done. The following simple steps toward understanding the fundamentals, should be of use to the beginner: If you plunge a stick vertically into a sheet of still water at regular intervals, a series of small waves will start from the stick and gradually widen in circles across the water, until they diminish in size and disappear. The radio telephone transmits speech by starting similar waves in the air. The human voice is produced by vibrations of the cords in the throat. These vibrations, varying in frequency from 4000 to 10,000 a second, set up sound waves in the air. Now, if these waves are changed into electric vibrations, instead of sound vibrations, they can be sent broadcast over great distances in much the same way that the water waves travelled on the water's surface. The sounds are easily converted into electrical waves by the vacuum tube. This tube, when fed with electric current, commences to vibrate, or, as it is technically termed, oscillate. The waves that it sends out do not vary in intensity until a voice, speaking into an ordinary telephone transmitter, is impinged upon the current passing through the tube, when the sound vibrations will be added to the normal vibrations of the tube, and the ether or air waves will vary with the sound vibrations.

IN THE CLUBS. DRUMMOYNE. The Drummoyne Radio Club held its first meeting in the local School of Arts. There was a good attendance, and from all appearances the club will make rapid progress. The club's rules and regulations were adopted. The following officers were elected: President, Captain S. Robson; vice-presidents, Dr. Menzies, Messrs. Moore, Bruce and Mellor. hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. G. Lucas; hon. assistant secretary, Mr. J. Manning; committee, Messrs. Colville, Guthrie, Woollacott, Vincent, Cox and Wright. An interesting lecture on "Wavelength and Frequency in the Reception of C.W." was given by Mr. Percy Sewell. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society held its 20th general meeting at the Victory Hall, Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday. After buzzer practice, the question of the new aerial for the society was discussed, and it is hoped to erect it by next Saturday. The aerial will be a three wire, inverted "L," 60ft. long and about 50ft. high. At the meeting six new members were accepted, bringing the total membership up to 34. During the absence of Mr. Zech, who is on holidays, Mr. Fred. Thompson is carrying on the secretarial work. His address is 12 Pearson-street, Balmain East. The next meeting will be on Tuesday evening, when a lecture on "Commercial and Naval Procedure" will be given. ILLAWARRA. The 17th general meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club was held at the club-room, on Thursday, March 1. A letter from the Controller of Wireless was read, granting approval of the club's application for a transmitting and receiving license (in the name of Mr. C. A. Gorman). Arrangements are going on apace for the erection of the club's aerial, and construction of the sets, the receiving portion of which will shortly be put into operation. Before long a transmitting set will also be working in the club, when it is hoped that local amateurs will frequently have the pleasure of listening in to some telephony from their own centre. The next meeting of the club will be held at 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, on Thursday, March 15, at 8 p.m., when a selected lecture will be given by Mr. S. Atkinson. The secretary (Mr. W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale) would particularly like to hear from all amateurs in the Illawarra suburbs (not already members), with a view to their joining up. METROPOLITAN. The M.R.C. held a committed meeting on Tuesday at which was Mr. L. R. Nicholls, of the Goulburn branch. After discussion a number of doubtful points existing between two bodies were cleared up, and when Mr. Nicholls returns home things radio in Goulburn will be a lot better. Members of the Sydney branch are reminded that Monday, March 19, is the date of the next meeting, when Mr. Nangle will be lecturing on "Time Signals." There will also be a discussion on the new rules of the club, which the committee are placing on the table for adoption.

1923 03 17

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 17 March 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. UNDERWRITERS REGULATIONS. BY DOT DASH

The Fire Underwriters' Association of New South Wales has been watching the spread of amateur radio, and at the last meeting regulations were passed concerning installations. The principal points for receiving stations are as follows:— In setting up equipment, all wiring must conform to the association's general rules for wiring for the utilisation of electrical energy, and the additional rules just passed. Out side aerials shall not cross over or under any electric light or power wires, nor be placed in any position where there is a possibility of contact. Splices and joints in the antenna span, unless made with approved clamps or splicing devices, shall be soldered. For the ordinary receiving aerial, about 100ft long, No. 16 gauge soft drawn copper wire may used, or other wire of equivalent strength. Where the span is longer the wire should be larger. Lead-in wire shall be of copper, approved copper-clad steel, or other approved metal which will not corrode excessively, and in no case shall they be smaller than No. 16 S.W.G., except that approved copper-clad steel not less than No. 18 (0.044) S.W.G. may be used. Lead-in wires on the outside of buildings shall not come nearer than 12 inches to electric light and power wires un-less separated therefrom by a continuous and firmly fixed non-conductor that will maintain permanent separation. The non-conductor shall be in addition to any insulation on the wire. Lead-in wires shall enter building through a non-combustible, non-absorptive insulating bushing. Each lead-in wire shall be provided with an approved protective device properly connected and located (inside or outside the building) as near as practicable to the point where the wire enters the building. The protective device shall be an approved lightning arrestor which will operate at a potential of 500 volts or less. The use of an antenna grounding switch is desirable, but does not obviate the necessity for the approved protective device required in this section. The antenna grounding switch if installed shall, in its closed position, form a shunt around the protective device. The protective ground wire if of copper, shall not be smaller than No. 16 S.W.G., and if of approved copper-clad steel it shall not be smaller than No. 18 (0.044). S.W.G. The ground wire shall be run in as straight a line as possible to a good permanent ground. Preference shall be given to water piping. Gas piping shall not be used.

TRANSMITTING STATIONS The regulations mention that transmitting stations are regarded as involving more hazard than those used only for receiving, and require additional safeguards. The requirements for aerial, protective device and ground wiring are similar to those for receiving only. When the current supply is obtained directly from street mains, the circuit shall be installed in approved metal conduit. In order to protect the supply system from high potential surges and kick-backs, there must be installed in the supply line, as near as possible to each radio-transformer, rotary spark gap, motor in generator sets, and other auxilliary apparatus, one of the following:— (1) Two condensers each of not less than ½ microfarad capacity and capable of withstanding a 600 volt test) in series across the line and mid-point between condensers grounded; across (in parallel with) each of these condensers shall be connected a shunting fixed spark-gap capable of no more than 1-32in separation. (2) Two vacuum tube type protectors in series across the line with the midpoint grounded. (3) Non-inductively wound resistors connected across the line with mid-point grounded. (4) Electrolytic lightning arresters such as the aluminium cell type. In no case shall the ground wire of surge and kick-back protective devices be run in parallel with the operating ground wire when within a distance of 30 feet. The ground wire of the surge and kick-back protective devices shall not be connected to the operating ground or ground wire. Many of the amateur installations have been placed without giving much thought as to what the effect of the radio power devices will have upon the balance of the system and supply authorities may require these stations to take current from a separate transformer, and in addition to place all of the wiring in conduit, also to have it protected at each radio-transformer, rotary spark-gap, motor in generator sets, and other auxiliary apparatus. This precaution tends to preserve the quality of the light and power service in the neighborhood and obviates fire hazards.

A PROGRESSIVE CLUB The popularity of wireless is demonstrated by the recent application for license by the Queensland Insurance Radio Club, which has been formed from the staff of the Queensland Insurance Company, Limited. It augurs well for the science and the good will of the staffs, when the large commercial houses are so interested as to encourage and facilitate such undertakings. The constitution of the club has already been adopted and an aerial has been erected on the roof of the company's building in Bridge-street. The use of an office has been given to the club, and an instructional practice system has ben installed. The construction of various apparatus is being proceeded with by members, and it is hoped that experimenting will be carried on at an early date. The office-bearers are:— Patron Mr. A. McVernon; president, Mr. S. A. Grace; secretary, Mr. A. S. Llewellyn; assistant secretary, Mr. A. G. Dodd, treasurer, Mr. J. H. Taylor.

RADIO SHOP ADVICE. Miss F. V. Wallace takes Mr. Percy Sewell to task on the subject of the knowledge of salespeople in radio shops of the goods they sell. She writes:— "In last Saturdays 'Evening News' you published a letter in "The Magic Spark" column, in which some misleading statements are made. The letter was by Mr. Percy Sewell, and stated that 'no matter into which radio shop one may go, the salesmen are totally incompetent to handle the job they have;' also. ' . . . the man who sells valves does not know any more than he can read on the outside of the packing-case." "Such statements will give the amateur a very wrong impression of the Sydney radio shops. Taking my own shop, for example, we have taught not hundreds, but thousands, of lads and men the use of wireless instruments, and have endeavored always to set them on the right track. "Mr. Marsden — surely he is an amateur of standing — is at the shop for at least two hours every day to explain to and assist amateurs, and there is hardly a valve made with which I have not experimented and I am all day long advising and assisting amateurs. It is absurd to insinuate that we have only the knowledge of valves, etc., obtained from the packing-case. "The Australectric, Ltd., employ Mr. Malcolm Perry as their salesman, and he has been an amateur 'of standing' since 1910. Mr. Basil Cooke is the salesman of the 'Radio Company's' shop, and he is one of the best-known amateurs in the State. Messrs. Colville and Moore have a radio shop, and they are both amateurs of many years' standing. "I could give further instances, but the above are the first to occur to me."

NEAT BATTERY CHARGER. A neat piece of apparatus is being shown by the Colville-Moore Wireless Supplies, in the form of the "Radio home charger." This rectifier, which is of handsome appearance, obviates the necessity of the experimenter taking his batteries to a garage for recharging. It is provided with a socket for attachment to any electric lamp point. With this machine a battery may be charged overnight, without removing it from the radio room.

In the Clubs. MANLY AND DISTRICT. The first general meeting of the above Radio Club attracted a good attendance. Prior to the commencement of the lantern lecture by the club president, Mr F. C. Swinburne, Mr. Marsden, president of the Metropolitan Radio Club, and Mr. Atkinson, of the Illawarra Club, were invited to address the meeting. Both volunteered sound advice on the formation and running of radio clubs, and congratulated Manly on having made such an excellent beginning. In the course of his lecture Mr. Swinburne displayed 70 lantern slides of wireless stations in various parts of the world, and different types of apparatus in use. These were accompanied by brief details. Several members have expressed the intention of having their sets on view at the next general meeting, affording those unfamiliar with the construction of radio apparatus an opportunity of learning something of the subject. METROPOLITAN. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold its next general meeting on Monday, at 8 p.m. at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, when Mr. Nangle, of the Technical College, will lecture on Time Signals. The subject of the lecture is one that is rarely tackled, and experimenters are advised to take advantage of the occasion. The Drummoyne Radio Club held their second general meeting, with the full number of members. A letter of congratulation on the formation of the club from the Western Suburbs Club was read. Mr Colville gave an interesting lecture and demonstration on the working of a single-valve set. The set worked from a temporary aerial, but owing to it being badly "screened" the signals did not come in too well. The next meeting will be held at Bridge-street, Drummoyne, on Wednesday, when all interested are invited. Inquiries re the club should be made to the secretary, H. G. Lucas, Colombo, Tavistock-street, Drummoyne.

1923 03 24

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 24 March 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. HELPS THE POLICE. BY DOT DASH.

An interesting little booklet entitled "Police Radio," has been issued by the Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited. The work deals with the part played by radio in the prevention and detection of crime in the more progressive countries of the world. An especially interesting section is that which tells of the work of the Victorian Police with regard to radio. The account is as follows:— "The Victorian Police have regular motor patrols during the dark hours. The usual practice is for these cars to carry several plainclothes constables and tour all the suburban and outlying districts of Melbourne, and make special observations of all irregular occurrences. "The occupants of the patrol cars are required to report by telephone to the C.I. Branch every hour, in order to receive the latest report of any crime or suspected crime. "This arrangement, while being very useful, has the obvious disadvantage that for hourly periods the patrol is out of touch with headquarters, and during this hour the car may be getting further away from the source of crime, with which the head office is cognisant. "The Amalgamated Wireless Company, by arrangement with the Victorian Police, fitted a receiving set in the No. 1 Patrol Car, and one afternoon and evening exhaustive tests were carried out. The transmitter was installed in the company's Domain Wireless Station, South Yarra. The results were phenominal, and the police said that they were an unqualified success, and surpassed their highest anticipations. "The car was driven out up to a distance of 15 miles from Melbourne, and perfect speech, maximum strength, was obtained throughout, in fact, so strong was the speech that by holding the head set in the hands, the speech transmitted from the Domain Station was audible to all in the car. "The apparatus is quite inconspicuous, there is nothing to indicate to even a close observer that the car is fitted with wireless, and in constant touch with headquarters. This is a very desirable feature. "In January of this year the car was again fitted up by an engineer of the Amalgamated Wireless Company. For a couple of nights the patrol was accompanied by an officer of the Melbourne Office of the company, to instruct the constables in the art of 'tuning in' the set, a process which is as simple as turning on or off an electric light. Since the radio representative left the car the set has been worked entirely by the crew of the patrol, men who have no knowledge of wireless — with perfect success. "On January 10 at 3.15 a.m. the following was sent to the car: "Please get in touch with C.I. Branch immediately." "Three minutes later the car pulled up at a police station, and Constable West, in charge of the patrol, was in touch with his superiors at Russell-street. It is worth noting that without the Radiophone it would have been 4 a.m. before the patrol would have been in touch with Russell-street. On January 12 last, while the car was travelling at a good speed along High-street, Malvern, Constable Durham, who was wearing the phones, received the following message from headquarters:— "Proceed immediately to corner of Williams-road and High-street, Armadale, two suspicious characters reported hanging about." The car rushed to the spot indicated, and two men were interrogated. "Under the old system half an hour would have elapsed before the message could have reached the car."

PHASE RELATION. At the last meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club, Mr. S. Atkinson gave an interesting lecture on "Phase Relation Between Current and E.M.F. in Tuned Circuits." An understanding of these underlying principles, he said, enabled one to see better why, in operating a set, best results or loudest signals were possible only when these factors were in proper relation to each other. On the question of phase difference, it was stated that while the frequency of an alternating current flowing as a result of an applied electromotive force would be the same as the frequency of the e.m.f., it did not necessarily follow that the two would rise and fall in unison, or, otherwise, would be in phase with each other. Due to conditions existing in the circuit, the current may reach its maximum value either before or after the e.m.f., i.e., may be leading or lagging behind the e.m.f., in either of which cases they were said to be out of phase. The causes of these variations or phase differences in electrical circuits, the lecturer added, were analagous to corresponding conditions existing in mechanical systems. The properties of an electrical circuit to be considered were resistance, inductance, and capacity, which, in a moving mechanical system were equivalent to friction, mass and flexibility respectively. There were also to be considered the factors of quantity, current, and e.m.f. in the electrical circuit, analogous to the mechanical factors of movement, speed, and twisting force or torque. By means of these mechanical analogies the lecturer was able to make clear what took place, and the resulting variation in flow of e.m.f., and current in an electrical circuit on (a) resistance, (b) inductance, and (c) capacity, being introduced into the circuit, and the consequent effects on phase relation were fully illustrated by means of sine curve diagrams.

STILL ANOTHER CLUB. (Start Photo Caption) Mr. Spencer Nolan (End Photo Caption) A radio club to embrace the whole of the Wentworth electorate has been formed. A couple of meetings have already been held, and the following officers appointed:— President. Mr. J. Spencer Nolan; vice-presidents, Messrs. Leslie Holland, R. C. Marsden, and J. Skinner, hon. treasurer, Mr. A. Peters; hon. secretary, Mr. Wallace Best. The club, which has been named the Wentworth Radio Club, will hold its next meeting on April 4, at 414 New South Head-road, Rose Bay. The officers of the club are embarking on a progressive policy, and any wireless enthusiasts in the district will benefit by becoming members.

THE BIG EXHIBITION. The council of the Wireless Institute of Australia, N.S.W. Division, has decided to hold the monster wireless and electrical exhibition during the last week in June, in the basement of the Sydney Town Hall. The primary object of the exhibition is to "boost" wireless and electricity, and to prove to the community the value of these two branches of science, especially to such a sparsely populated country as Australia. The exhibition will feature many interesting and new applications of both wireless and electricity. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and demonstrations in wireless telephony will be given at the most popular times of the day. Mr. O. F. Mingay has been appointed organising secretary, and details as to stalls, plans, etc., can be obtained from him at 352 Kent-street, Sydney. An organising committee consisting of Messrs. C. P. Bartholomew, Crocker, F. Basil Cooke, and C. Maclurcan, are assisting Mr. Mingay.

IN THE CLUBS. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society held its first social evening at the Club Room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday last, when a number of members and their friends attended and a pleasant evening was spent. Unfortunately, the severe lightning storm, which developed during the evening, not only affected the attendance, but also prevented the effective carrying out of a proposed demonstration in wireless reception. The next meeting will be held next Tuesday night, when all interested are invited to be present. METROPOLITAN. Mr. Nangle, who was to have lectured on "Time Signals" at the last meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club, was unable to be present owing to indisposition. His lecture was, therefore, postponed till the next meeting, which will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Monday, April 9, at 8 p.m. At the last meeting a novelty was introduced in the form of 10 minute lecturettes by various members. There was also a three-cornered discussion on the three coil circuit by Messrs. Marsden, Sewell, and Cotterill. Mr. S. Atkinson talked on bank-wound coils, and Mr. Steane, a member of the Victorian Wireless Institute, said a few words on a valve transmitter, using a high tension coil on the plate circuit. ILLAWARRA. At the 18th general meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club, at the club room, 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, two new members were elected. The secretary reported that the club's receiving set would be ready for operation by next meeting. The next meeting will be held at the club room on Thursday, at 8 p.m. when Mr. Hewett will lecture on "Valve Reception and Circuits." All interested are invited to attend. CONCORD. The last meeting of the Concord Radio Club was held on Thursday, March 14, when Mr. Chas. W. Slade, principal of Croydon Radio School, gave a lecture on "Radio Waves, Damped and Undamped." He compared them with sound and light waves, explaining step by step how how the different frequencies and wave lengths affected each. Mr. Slade recently returned from the Royal Navy, where he had 13 years radio experience. KURINGAI DISTRICT. The meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society, which was to have been held on March 20, has been postponed till Tuesday next. Mr. H. Stowe has consented to lecture on crystal sets, and Mr. R. Gannon has promised to be present with a portable valve receiving set. At a recent general meeting, it was decided to affiliate with the Radio Association of New South Wales, and Mr. P. Renshaw was elected as delegate. Information regarding the society may be obtained from the hon. secretary, Mr. R. R. Wilshire, "Lauriston," Help-street, Chatswood.

1923 03 31

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 31 March 1923

Bad scan on Trove, better copy provided by SLNSW - Thanks Renee

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes. PATENTS QUESTION. BY DOT DASH.

The question of wireless patents, which has been the subject of so much discussion among amateurs, is dealt with in the following letter from Mr. Jno Payne, editor of the "Australasian Wireless Review":— I have just read the advertisement of Amalgamated Wireless (Australia), Ltd., headed "Warning to Infringers," in the Saturday's issue of the "Evening News," which, if allowed to go unchallenged, would seriously cripple the establishment of radio apparatus manufacturing industries in Australia. Regarding the warning of infringement of patent rights, any patentee must, under the Commonwealth Patent Act, 1903-1909, "manufacture to an adequate extent, and supply on reasonable terms, the patented article, or any parts thereof of which are necessary for its effective working." Failing this, any person desiring to manufacture the patented article, may after two years from the date of the patent, apply for a compulsory license to manufacture the patented article. The needs of the public have not been met in the matter of supplies of radiophone transmitters and receivers, and most patents applying to wireless are several years old, so that any intending radio apparatus manufacturer cannot fail to obtain the compulsory license provided for in section 87 of the Commonwealth Act. This section has been embodied in both the British and Commonwealth laws for the express purpose of preventing any patentee taking up a dog-in-the-manger attitude regarding a patent." Section 125 of the Act provides, that: It shall be the duty of all patentees and their assigns and legal representatives and of all persons making or vending any patented article for or under them, to give sufficient notice to the public that the same is patented, together with the day and year the patent was granted, and the number of the patent." Under this section the public of Australia is entitled to something more concrete than the sweeping statement in the advertisement.

EXPIRED PATENTS. What is definitely known about wireless patents is that the Lodge Loading Coil Patent, the Marconi Four Circuit Tuning Patent and the Fleming Valve Patent, have all expired, and the public is now entitled to the free use of any of the benefits hitherto covered by the patents. The expiry of the Marconi Four Circuit Tuning Patent releases the use of a loose coupled circuit, in either a transmitter or a receiver. The De Forest three-electrode valve has been held by the Court to be an infringement of the Fleming valve and the De Forest patent was declared invalid. Any person may, therefore, manufacture three or two-electrode valves. In the list of patents claimed to be the the property of Amalgamated Wireless Ltd., is "generation." What patent has the company on "generation," and what can they mean by the term? The next item is "regeneration." The company certainly has not acquired the Armstrong Regenerative Patent, nor do they control Patent No. 12.134/14?, the Arco-Meissner Patent. Amplification, rectification, and detection are accompanied by the three-electrode valve, the basic patent of which has expired. The employment of valves in cascade, both as radiofrequency and audiofrequency amplifiers was originally patented by Mr. Lee de Forest. What patent does Amalgamated Wireless hold in that respect?

SECRET COMMUNICATION. M. Edouard Belin, who recently in-vented a process by which photographs could be transmitted by cable, has now invented a method which prevents the tapping of wireless messages. The apparatus used is called by M. Belin the "cryptotelestereograph," and the "radio-cryptotelestereograph." The principle of the apparatus derives from results which M. Belin had previously obtained in synchronising by wireless telegraphy two motors placed any distance, no matter how far apart (says the London "Times"). For the present purpose two motors, which are strictly synchronised, are used to set in motion cylinders, one at the transmitting and another at the receiving post, through the intermediary of a series of six concentric discs which turn on an axis joining the cylinder with the motor. Each of these discs, which can be adjusted as desired with regard to the others, carries a notch into which falls at intervals at lever which sets in motion the cylinder. Since the discs can be turned at will, the relation of the notches to one another can be varied practically infinitely. In this the apparatus resembles a combination lock, and the transmitter and receiver of a wireless message have only to agree to a combination in order to secure secrecy. According to the intervals separating the notches as the discs revolve, the cylinder will turn in a series of jumps and the wireless emissions will follow an irregular rhythm with periodic silences due to the stopping of the cylinder. Everything depends on the precise angular adjustment of the discs both at the transmitting and receiving posts. It may be objected that by long and careful observations, and by noting the duration and periodicity of the silences, it would be possible for a third person to discover the system and adapt the instrument in the same manner. In order to overcome this difficulty there is an arrangement by which false signals are made during the pauses of the cylinder. A third person could not distinguish between those false signals, and the real signals.

A SCOTCH IDEA. In Scotland tenement dwellings are very numerous, and many difficulties have been experienced in the erection of aerials by residents therein. A novel suggestion has been made that a stout cable should be stretched parallel to a tenement and at some distance from it, the ends being attached to the chimney stacks of adjacent tenements running at right angles to the one which is to be served. This cable could be used to support any number of aerials running from it to the various houses in the tenement.

IN THE CLUBS. WIRELESS INSTITUTE. The annual general meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia, New South Wales Division, will be held on Wednesday, April 11, at the Royal Society's rooms, Elizabeth-street, city. The institute has also arranged for a later date an all club night. At this gathering an important lecture is to be given by Mr. Alex. Hector, manager of Burroughs, Wellcome and Co. on the corelation of different forms of energy. Members of all clubs will be welcomed at this lecture, which no experimenter should miss. SCHOOL CLUB. A radio club was formed at Naremburn Evening Continuation School on Monday, March 26. The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mr. J. Broome (headmaster); governing committee, N. Hunt, Mr. Lamb (science master), N. Toyer, J. Barret; hon. secretary, J. McFarlane; hon. treasurer, R. Beehan. Twenty-seven members were enrolled. Any person wishing to join this club can get full particulars by writing to the Secretary, Radio Club, Evening Continuation School, Narremburn. The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 9, at 7 p.m., at the school. DRUMMOYNE. The Drummoyne Radio Club held its third general meeting on March 21 at 218 Bridge-street, Drummoyne, when 20 members were in attendance. There being no lecture for the night, the members indulged in buzzer practice and finished the evening by a general discussion. Next meeting will be held on Wednesday next, when all interested will be welcomed. Enquiries re the club can be made to the hon. secretary, H. G. Lucas, "Colombo," Tavistock-street, Drummoyne.

1923 04 07

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 7 April 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News. CHAOS IN THE ETHER. BY DOT DASH.

There is plenty doing in the ether over New South Wales these days, or rather nights. The trouble is that there is too much doing at the same time, and a state of chaos is fast developing. On Monday night there were about half a dozen amateur transmitting stations working at the same time, and as they were all on wave lengths between 400 and 440 metres, there was a lot of "jamming." It was amusing, nevertheless, for one could take a choice of jazz, speech, or grand opera by a slight variation of tuning on the receiver. The leading amateurs realise that this state of affairs is no good, and that it must lead to trouble with the authorities sooner or later, so they have taken action. A meeting of all those holding transmitting licenses will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Tuesday night, when all interested are invited. The whole position will be discussed, and an endeavour made to draw up a programme whereby only one station will be working at one time.

HULLO, MELBOURNE! Mr. Colville (station 2FA), the well-known Sydney experimenter, carried out a splendid piece of transmitting work on Thursday night. He succeeded in establishing communication with Mr. Hull, in Melbourne, and the two carried on a conversation by wireless telephone. Mr. Hull is one of the leading experimenters in the Victorian capital, and will be remembered in connection with his experimental work with Mr. Maclurcan of Strathfield.

NEW TRANSMITTING STATION. A splendid transmitting station is being completed by Mr. R. C. Marsden at his Edgecliffe home. The power used will be 10 watts, and the wave length 420 metres. The set will include two Cunninghayme tubes, a special transformer with intermediate tappings for different voltages on the plate, a step up or down voltage switch, kick-back preventer and fuses, and a Stromberg-Carlson microphone. The power will be A.C., rectified through a 10-jar chemical rectifier using aluminium and lead plates. There will be a Weston thermos milliammeter in the aerial circuit. The signalling methods will be C.W., interrupted C.W. and telephony. A four-wire cage aerial of the "T" type will be used, together with highly glazed special transmitting insulators. Mr. Marsden hopes to have his station going in a couple of weeks.

BATTERY DISCOVERY. When storage batteries or dry cells are cooled down to minus 170 deg C., the temperature of liquid air, these producers of electricity may reverse their voltage. This is the scientifically startling phenomenon that has been discovered at the United States Bureau of Standards, by G. W. Vinal and F. W. Altrun, who were making tests to determine the reliability of batteries at arctic temperatures. So far as is known, this is the first time this phenomenon has been observed. Down to 80 deg. below zero the voltage remained at the normal value. At about minus 100 deg. C. the voltage dropped down to nothing, and then, at a slightly lower temperature, strangely registered a minus reading as high as 10 volts. The voltage fluctuated violently, ranging from positive 10 volts to negative 10 volts. These reversals happened whenever the frozen electrolyte of the cell "ticked." No hope is held out by the Bureau that storage batteries can be recharged by the simple method of cooling them to the low temperature used in the tests. The currents at these low temperatures are vanishingly small, and practically they hardly exist.

WHO WAS HE? G.E.R. (Bulli) writes:— I was listening in at midnight (29 8 '23) for Melbourne's time. After receiving this I tightened up the coupling on the set, to bring in some faint station, when a valve station started to work. I did not pay much attention till I heard a voice. My tuning at the time was the commercial wave length of 600 metres. After a few words the station shut down. I was wondering if anybody could tell me who the station was. I heard him much more clearly than I do Mr. Maclurcan, and the fact of him being so close to the 600 metre wave surprised me. Perhaps some experimenter can supply the necessary information.

IN THE CLUBS. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the seventh business meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, held on Tuesday, the membership was further increased by the admission to its ranks of four enthusiasts. The proposal to move into new premises was dealt with, and it was decided to accept an offer of more commodious quarters, which would be available for use at more frequent intervals. The new club room is situated at the rear of No. 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, two doors from the Electric Light Substation. The first meeting in the new room will be held on Tuesday, April 17. The final meeting in the old room, Victory Hall, rear of Methodist Church, Johnston-street, Annandale, will be held on Tuesday night, when all interested are invited to be present. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold a meeting at the Laurel Cafe, Royal-arcade, on Monday night, when Mr. James Nangle will deliver his postponed lecture on "Time Signals." WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club held a meeting on Wednesday, when Mr. R. C. Marsden gave a talk on crystal sets. The club's next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 18. NORTH SYDNEY. The fortnightly business meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club was held last Tuesday night, when a number of questions pertaining to the science were discussed. The lecture on the "Armstrong Super Regenerative circuit," which was unavoidably postponed, will be delivered by Mr. Raymond McIntosh next Tuesday night, when all interested are invited to be present. The lecture will be given at the clubrooms, corner Alfred and High streets, North Sydney, commencing at 8 p.m. sharp.

1923 04 14

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 14 April 1923 (First Part)

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. AMATEUR TRANSMITTING. BY DOT DASH.

An important meeting of all amateurs holding transmitting licenses was held during the week, under the auspices of the New South Wales Radio Association. The meeting was to discuss the question of keeping order in the ether, as far as amateurs are concerned, and to arrange for some programme by which not more than one station would be going at one time. Mr. R. C. Marsden was appointed as independent time keeper and umpire, and his duties will be to keep a list of transmitting stations and allot them times for sending. The umpire will have his transmitting station working shortly, but he will not be on the list. He will keep a listening watch, and act as a kind of aerial policeman to see that the programme is adhered to. The programme drawn up for the ensuing week is as follows:— Tonight: 7.30 to 8 p.m., 2BB (Mr. Crocker); 8 to 8.30, 2LI (Mr. B. Cooke); 8.30 to 9, 2FA (Mr. Colville). Sunday: 7.30 to 8.30 p.m., 2CM (Mr. Maclurcan); 8.30 to 9, 2FA. Monday: 8.30 to 9 p.m., 2FA. Tuesday: 7.30 to 8 p.m., 2BB; 8 to 8.30, 2IX, (Burwood Radio Club). Wednesday: Open. Thursday: 7.30 to 8 p.m., 2BB, 8.30 to 9, 2FA. Friday: 8 to 8.30 p.m., 2IX; 8.30 to 9, 2FA. Saturday: 7.30 to 8 p.m., 2BB; 8 to 8.30, 2LI, probably followed by 2FA. These times, of course, are subject to alteration or cancellation, should unforseen circumstances arise, but they will be adhered to as far as possible.

HONORARY INSPECTORS. The question of honorary radio inspectors to assist the Government inspector for the State in controlling amateur work was also brought up at the meeting. The authorities have requested that four be nominated for Sydney. It was decided that the Radio Association circularise all the clubs asking that the names of men suitable for the positions be submitted for selection. Nominees will have to be able to send and receive Morse messages at at least 12 words a minute. They must have good technical knowledge of the working of valves, both transmitting and receiving. Their character and standing in the community will also be taken into consideration.

THE BIG STATION. Browsing in a recent copy of a London newspaper, I came upon a column advertisement headed Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, calling for tenders for "modern wireless service between Australia and England, and between Australia and Canada." The first clause invites tenders for the "supply, delivery, and erection, complete, and ready for operation, of a suitable high power, duplex station at a site to be selected by Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, within 100 miles of Sydney or Melbourne, such station to be designed for direct commercial communication with England 24 hours daily throughout the year." The receiving plant must be capable of receiving simultaneously from not less than four separate distant stations at high speed, and each receiver is to be equipped with modern selective devices, and to be capable of independent directive reception. The transmitter is to be of such type as will generate continuous waves and radiate energy free from injurious harmonics, and so designed that the least possible change in wave length during transmission shall take place when the set is operated on a system having the least total resistance, and the greatest radiation resistance practicable.

HIGH SPEED WORK. The transmitting and receiving stations must be equipped with efficient apparatus for high speed working at those stations, and for duplex high-speed operation direct from the central telegraph office at Sydney or Melbourne. Tenderers will be required to state the respective values, and for efficiencies they propose to guarantee for the following items, assuming a wavelength of 24,000 metres — (a) overall efficiency of the transmitting system from the power input from mains to that in the antenna; (b), range of wave lengths over which the transmitter can be effectively varied, together with the percentage of efficiency at a suitable number of wave lengths on either side of the optimum; (c), the effective height of the antenna and the antenna current in amperes at such height; (d), total resistance of the radiating system; (e), capacity of the antenna system; (f), maximum variation of frequency during transmissions. Tenderers are required to guarantee days, hours, and speed of working, and the minimum guarantee that the company will entertain is 300 days a year, 12 hours a day, and 20 words a minute each way. There are 33 clauses in the tender, covering patent rights, materials, labor conditions, tests, shipping of materials, rates of messages, etc. The tenders will close on April 30 next at the company's Sydney office.

BROADCASTS. The conference of the various firms who wish to secure broadcasting licenses has been postponed till the return of Mr. Fisk, of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., from London. Messrs. Malcolm Perry and R. Charlesworth were two of the defeated candidates in the election of the council of the N.S.W. Division of the Wireless Institute. Mr. Crawford, the popular State Radio Inspector, is back in Sydney after a business trip to Melbourne. The single wire aerial on ships seems to be becoming more and more popular. They may be seen frequently on the harbor now. One of the finest lectures heard in Sydney for a long time was given at the last meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club by Mr. J. Nangle, Superintendent of Technical Education. He spoke on "Time Signals," and explained how the ancients took their time from the sun, and led right up to the present day radio signals. The club's vote of thanks was never better deserved.

IN THE CLUBS. NORTH SYDNEY. Mr. Raymond McIntosh gave the last of his series of three lectures on the Armstrong super regenerative circuit to members of the North Sydney Radio Club on Tuesday last. The president (Mr. J. O'Brien) in conveying a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said that the talks had been of great value to those who had heard them. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. This body will hold its first meeting in its new club-room on Tuesday. The erection of an aerial and the installation of a set will be gone on with at once. Secretary's address: W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. WENTWORTH. At the meeting of the Wentworth Radio club on Wednesday Mr. R. C. Marsden will lecture on the reception of telephony. He will also give a practical demonstration. All interested are invited. WIRELESS INSTITUTE. At the annual general meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia, N.S.W. Division, on Wednesday night, the following council was elected for the ensuing year: Messrs. Maclurcan, Stowe, Cooke, Renshaw, Mingay, Gregory, and Crocker. The council will elect its own officers. At the same meeting, Mr. G. Taylor gave an address on the history of wireless in Australia.

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 14 April 1923 (Second Part)

FORTHCOMING CLUB MEETINGS. NORTH SYDNEY, Tuesday night, at Club Room, corner Alfred and High streets, North Sydney. METROPOLITAN, April 30, at Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. LEICHHARDT and DISTRICT, Tuesday night, at new Club Room, rear of 176 Johnston-street, Annandale. WENTWORTH, Wednesday next, at ??? Old South Head-road.

1923 04 21

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 21 April 1923 (First Part)

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES AND NEWS. Screaming Valves. BY DOT DASH

The "howling" valve nuisance is becoming serious. Many prominent experimenters are loud in their condemnation of those amateurs who do not know how to control their sets properly, or do not trouble. The offenders cannot possibly be getting good results themselves, and they are certainly spoiling the pleasure of others. As has been pointed out in this column there can only be one end to the trouble if something is not done by the amateurs themselves. The authorities will take a hand, which is not desirable. What happens when there is a screaming valve is this: somebody in using an oscillating circuit with the coupling too tight, thereby over feeding back into the ATI circuit, and energising the aerial. To remedy the trouble, the operator should loosen the coupling and see that there is not too much current on the filament. The "B" battery should also be carefully watched. It can hardly be the experienced amateurs who are causing the nuisance, for they know that telephony cannot be received well when the set is oscillating. So it must be those who do not know better. There are now plenty of radio clubs where amateurs can learn all about their hobby, and if there are any enthusiasts who own valve sets and do not know how to control them, they would be well advised to join up. The clubs would be helping the situation if a short lecture on the control of valves was given at meetings at intervals.

AMATEUR IN TROUBLE. The authorities have had cause to step in where one amateur transmitter is concerned. This experimenter, it is said, has his station not 50 miles from the G.P.O., and one night he gaily opened up with music and speech — on the commercial wave length of 600 metres. Then the fun began. V.I.S. (Sydney Radio), was working a well-known mail steamer at the time, and the operator did not seem to appreciate the music in the air. It is also rumored that the amateur asked that V.I.S. ring him up if he was interfering with him. Anyway, the commercial work was held up for something like half an hour. This is evidence of the fact that those who hold transmitting licenses cannot be too careful in the matter of keeping to the wave length allotted them. Unless you are absolutely sure that all is right, get your set properly calibrated by an expert.

TRANSMITTING PROGRAMME. The system of allotting certain times for amateurs to transmit, in order to avoid interference, is working splendidly. There is one fly in the ointment, however, and that is the trouble experienced in getting the experimenters to arrange their times. Mr. R. C. Marsden, who is acting as record-keeper, opens the list each Wednesday for the week beginning the following Saturday. It is his desire that those wishing to arrange transmitting dates and times should make a note of this and let him know before Thursday in each week. Mr. Marsden can usually be communicated with by 'phone (Edgecliff 1619) any day between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The programmes arranged for the weekend is:— Saturday: 7.30 p.m. to 8. station 2BB; 8 to 8.30, 2LI; 8.30 to 9, 2FA. Sunday: 7.30 p.m. to 9, 2CM.

COUNTRY TRIP. Mr. A. E. Atkinson, hon. secretary of the N.S.W. Radio Association, and vicepresident of the Metropolitan Radio Club, has had a trip to Goulburn. He went to the southern city on behalf of the Metro Club with the object of outlining the whole position to members of the branch there. He also gave several lectures, and made arrangements for the close co-operation of the branch and the parent body.

Mr. Atkinson (Photo Caption)

RADIOGRAMS. During a demonstration of radio telegraphy at a meeting of the Wentworth Club during the week, Mr. Maclurcan's music was received so well that it was audible 250 feet from a Brown loud speaker. A three-valve set (detector and two audio frequency) was used. Jack Davis, of Vaucluse, a 15-year-old experimenter, has obtained his transmitting license, and will have his set going shortly. Young Jack is a splendid operator, and his theory is sound. Mr. Wallace Best is another who is going in for transmitting. A Melbourne experimenter, Mr. Newman (call 2MC), is doing fine transmiting work these days. He is using a single Marconi "R" valve, with 800 volts on the plate, and his speech and C.W. are received well in Sydney. The Wentworth Radio Club has made something of a record in rapid expansion. At a meeting during the week 14 new members were enrolled. A welcome addition to the local wireless publications is "Radio," a fortnightly magazine which emanates from the Wireless Press, Sydney. The second number, just to hand, is splendidly set up, and contains much of interest to those who dabble in the science, and the professional wireless man. The technical information it contains in each issue should prove beneficial to those on the fringe of the game. At the last meeting or the Kuringai District Radio Society, Mr. Beard, of H.M.A.S. Adelaide, gave a talk on valves and valve circuits.

IN THE CLUBS. WOLLONGONG. Mr. J. H. Dewis, of Australectric, Limited, was the guest of the Wollongong Wireless Club last weekend. On the Saturday evening he gave a lecture on the history and general principles of wireless to a well attended meeting. Many questions were asked, and it was after 11 p.m. when the meeting finally closed. The secretary, in thanking the lecturer, mentioned the good work that was being done by this newly formed club. ILLAWARRA. Although not quite complete, this club's single valve receiving set was given a try-out at the latest meeting. No music or telephony was received (only a temporary hookup and a very poor earth was used), but a number of Australian, New Zealand, and other stations were heard. It is hoped to have the set O.K. for next meeting. The hon. secretary, Mr. W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale, is always pleased to hear from anyone interested or desirous of joining the club. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the latest meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society a "suggestion" evening was held. All present were invited to submit for discussion suggestions which would be helpful to the council in carrying out the society's policy of "Go ahead!" Many useful ideas came to light. The hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, of 145 Booth-street, Annandale, will be pleased to supply information regarding the activities of the society. Next Tuesday night Mr. Raymond McIntosh will lecture on the Armstrong superregenerative circuit, and will also give a demonstration. NORTH SYDNEY. There is a real treat in store for members of this club and visitors. On Tuesday night Mr. C. D. Maclurcan will lecture at the club's meeting, on valve control. At a business meeting of the club held last Tuesday night it was decided that the general meetings, as held at present, should be dispensed with, and the whole of the business management left to a committee, with a general meeting every six months for the purpose of election of officers and so forth. With the new system of administration it is intended to increase its activities as an experimental club, and all experimenters are invited to communicate with the secretary, corner Alfred and High streets, North Sydney, or to call upon Mr. H. Planner, 25 O'Connell-street, City, during the day.

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 21 April 1923 (Second Part)

FORTHCOMING CLUB MEETINGS. NORTH SYDNEY: Tuesday at Club Rooms, corner Alfred and High streets, North Sydney. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT: Tuesday, at 176 Johnston-street, Annandale. ILLAWARRA: Thursday at 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah. KURINGAI DISTRICT: Tuesday, at banquet hall above "Almond's," corner of Victoria-avenue and Anderson-street, Chatswood. WENTWORTH: May 2, at 444 Old South Head-road, Rose Bay. METROPOLITAN: April 30 at Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City.

1923 04 28

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 28 April 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. PROPOSED RELAY LEAGUE. BY DOT DASH.

The Radio Clubs of Sydney are not doing their bit, as far as the New South Wales Association is concerned. When the Association was formed it was intended that all the clubs should affiliate, so that united action could be taken whenever necessary. A number of clubs joined up at once, but many hung out. This means that the burden of carrying on the work is falling on a few, which is an undesirable state of affairs. The authorities have recognised the value of the association, and are prepared to conduct negotiations with amateurs through it. Therefore it is desirable that all the clubs be represented on the body. It is easily seen that the authorities have enough work to do without devoting a lot of time to amateur radio, and if I interpret things right, they mean to let the amateurs control themselves, provided it is done properly. Unless this is done in a businesslike manner, ther will be new regulations to govern them, and this will mean practically a return to the old state of affairs. Those clubs that are not members of the association should consider the question at once, for there is plenty of work to be done.

RADIO INSPECTORS. The N.S.W. Association met on Tuesday and again considered the question of honorary radio inspectors. In response to a circular to the clubs asking for nominations, seven names were placed before the meeting. After a long discussion, four of these were selected for submission to the authorities. Those chosen are all well-known experimenters — with a sound knowledge of the technical side of the game, and should be suitable in every way for the position. The honorary inspectors are already at work in other states.

RELAY LEAGUE. The formation of an Australian Relay League has been discussed in Sydney, and it is probable that steps will be taken to get the organisation going shortly. The question came up for discussion at a meeting of the N.S.W. Association and the general view was that the scheme was an excellent one. It was decided, however, not to proceed with it at present, as it is considered that the association in its present state is not sufficiently representative of the experimenters of this State. The appeal to all clubs to join up with the association is being made and when the clubs respond, the matter will be reopened. The League will be on similar lines to the American body, which has supervised some really splendid relay work. In that country amateurs get their messages right across the Continent in wonderful time. When the League is going, amateurs in Sydney will be able to relay their messages, private, of course, to Perth or other far away cities, in a few minutes. Such a scheme would double the interest in transmission experiments and served to link up those who conduct them all over Australia.

GOOD WORK. Amateurs in New South Wales and Victoria are carrying on good work between them. Mr. J. N. Stanley, of Naremburn (2JS) picked up Mr. Newman, of Canterbury, Melbourne (3MC), on a single valve set, using an aerial only 15 feet high and 90 feet long. Mr. Stanley is using a two-coil circuit, tuned, with variocouplers, and a Cunningham valve. The telephony and C.W. came in strongly. Mr. Jack Davis, of Rose Bay (2DS) has been working with Mr. Newman, and the two secured splendid results.

EASY LICENSES. It is easy to get a receiving license in England. You just go to the local Post Office, pay your money (ten shillings), and get one. The conditions, printed on the back of a British license, are as follows:— 1. The licensee shall not allow the station to be used for any purpose other than receiving messages. 2. Any receiving set, or any of the following parts, viz., amplifiers (valve or other), telephone head receivers, loud speakers and valves, used under this license must bear the mark shown in the margin. 3. The station shall not be used in such a manner as to cause interference with the working of other stations. In particular valves must not be so connected as to be capable of causing the aerial to oscillate. 4. The combined height and length of the external aerial (where one is employed) shall not exceed 100 feet. 5. The licensee shall not divulge or allow to be divulged to any person (other than a duly authorised officer of His Majesty's Government or a competent legal tribunal) or make any use whatsoever, of any message received by means of the station other than time signals, musical performances and messages transmitted for general reception. 6. The station shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by duly authorised officers of the Post Office. 7. This license may be cancelled by the Postmaster-General at any time either by specific notice in writing sent by post to the licensee at the address shown hereon, or by means of a general notice in the London "Gazette" addressed to all holders of wireless receiving licenses for broadcast messages. N.B. — Licenses may only be held by persons who are of full age, and any change of address must be promptly communicated to the issuing postmaster.

RADIOGRAMS. The howling valve nuisance is as bad as ever. Transmitters are now prefacing their work by an appeal to amateurs to control their valves properly. Mr. R. C. Marsden will be transmitting next week. He has nearly finished building his set. The transmitting programme for tonight is:— 7.30 p.m. to 8.30, 2LI; 8.30 to 9, 2FA; 9 to 9.30, 2BB. Tomorrow night: 7.30 to 8.30, 2CM; 9 to 9.30, 2FA. Those who wish to be put on the transmitting list are asked to give their times to Mr. Marsden each Wednesday for the following week. His 'phone number is Edgecliff 1619.

IN THE CLUBS. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The usual weekly meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society was held on Tuesday last, when Mr. F. Lett gave a demonstration of reception of telephony, using one stage of amplification and a loud speaker. Music and speech from 2BB and 2LI came in very strong, and C.W. Morse was also received from 3MD (Melbourne). The society's monthly business meeting is to be held next Tuesday night. All inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. WIRELESS INSTITUTE. The Wireless Institute of Australia, N.S.W. Division, is holding an "all clubs" night on Thursday, May 10, when Mr. A. Hector will lecture on the corelation of the various forms of energy. The meeting will be held in the Lecture Hall of the Education Buildings, Bridge-street, City, and members of all clubs are invited to be present. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, at 414 New South Head-road, Rose Bay. There will be a lecture by Mr. Wallace Best. METROPOLITAN. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club will gather at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Monday night, when there will be a discussion and demonstration of practical working apparatus. Members are invited to bring apparatus along to the meeting for discussion and exhibition.

1923 05 05

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 5 May 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Amateur Wireless. GREAT IMPROVEMENT. BY DOT DASH.

The little band of experimenters who conducted the strenuous fight for the relaxation of the restriction on amateur wireless — and won — are beginning to see the results of their work. One of the principal arguments used during the campaign was that the amateurs of Australia were far behind those of other countries, as far as knowledge of the science was concerned, simply because they were not allowed any latitude in experimenting. During the few months that the amending regulations have been in force there has been a wonderful change. Many transmitting licences have been granted and the amateurs have proved that they are well fitted to be trusted with them. Many professional wireless men have expressed astonishment at the splendid quality of the transmissions from experimental stations, especially where telephony is concerned. The authorities cannot overlook the fact that these experimenters are something in the nature of an asset to the country. Should an emergency arise, here is a body of skilled men, who, by the way, have cost the country nothing for their training, who could be put on to any wireless work at the shortest notice. Happily the day when the experimenter was regarded as a crank and an interfering busybody has gone.

TRANS-PACIFIC TESTS. The Trans-Pacific tests started on the first of this month, but how things are progressing is not yet made known. Those responsible for the organisation of the tests have to keep things dark, in order to avoid interference from non-competitors. It is no joke trying to pick up weak signals when the valves of the fellow in the next street are howling like an army of tortured cats. The arrangement is that various bands of American amateurs are sending between certain times on wave lengths between 250 and 400 metres, and the test will go on for a month. If Australian amateurs do manage to pick up these signals, it will be a wonderful performance, and they should be given every chance. Several of the competitors have built special sets, and put a lot of work into altering their apparatus, so as to get the best results, and their labors ought not to be in vain. The screaming valve nuisance, which has been very bad of late, is going to do more to kill any chance of success than anything else, so it is up to all to see that their apparatus is properly controlled. It was suggested that all amateur stations, with the exception of those taking part, should be closed down during the tests, but the competitors were satisfied to put their trust in their comrades. It was an unselfish decision, and should be borne in mind by those valve offenders. There are rumors about the tests, of course, and one of them is that Mr. Maclurcan has succeeded in copying the Americans. If this is so it is a big feather in his cap.

THOSE HONORARY INSPECTORS. Sydney amateurs are all eager to learn who are to be the honorary radio inspectors. The N.S.W. Association has submitted names to the State Inspector, and the Wireless Institute has also sent a nomination along. It should not be long now before the authorities make known their decision. In the meantime I might mention something a little bird whispered to me on the subject. My little informer said that Mr. Maclurcan was practically a cert. for one of the jobs. Mr. Stowe is another whose chances are of the brightest. Others in the running are Messrs. Robinson, Macintyre, Hewitt, and Crocker. I leave it to you to make the choice of the four to be appointed. They are all good men, and the authorities would not go far wrong if they appointed the whole six.

AN EXPERIMENT. I am going to get my set in tip top order as soon as I can, for I have just heard that Mr. R. C. Marsden is going to conduct an experiment with his new transmitter, some microphones, and an amateur jazz orchestra. His object in this case will be to find out something about the collection and blending of sound. When music from a gramophone is being sent out, the blending is done by the machine, but with an orchestra it is different. Mr. Marsden only got his transmitter to work during the week, and from all accounts it is working splendidly. In the preliminary tests he got 350 milliamps radiation, and the modulation was distinctly good. He has a new aerial, a "T" cage type, 65ft high at one end, and 30ft the other. It is his intention to put in a tuned counterpoise later.

SPARK COIL FIENDS. There has been a bit of illegal transmitting going on lately. Those doing it are using spark coils, hooked up to plain aerials, and they can be heard on all wave lengths from 450 to 2000 metres. These irresponsible persons are skating on very thin ice, and they would be well advised to take heed of this warning. The authorities are looking for one of them, in order to make an example of him. The genuine experimenters have no love for this kind of radio maniac. They know very well that sooner or later, if he is allowed to carry on, he will spoil the whole business.

RADIOGRAMS. It is becoming quite the thing to exchange nightly greetings with Victorian amateurs. Many of our Sydney experimenters are doing it, some of them by radiophone. Mr. Maclurcan's transmitting has been wonderful of late. His telephony is very close up to perfection. Nearly all the Sydney radio clubs have affiliated with the N.S.W. Association, and a full meeting of delegates will be held in about a week to elect office-bearers. Those acting at present are anxious to get this business over, so that several important problems can be tackled. Mr. Fry (2KC), of Crydon, is the latest experimenter to enter the transmitting field. He is getting along well. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club had an interesting visitor at their last meeting. He was Mr. Butler, operator of an American vessel then in Sydney. He gave an absorbing account of his 14 months' duty on a station in the wilds of Alaska.

IN THE CLUBS. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club decided to join up with the N.S.W. Association at its last meeting. Mr. Wallace Best has been appointed the club's delegate. The next meeting of the club will be on May 16. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal-arcade, on May 21, for which date something good in the way of lectures has been arranged. WESTERN SUBURBS. The Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association wants more members. This club meets every Wednesday, and then are always good lectures and discussions. Those interested may get all information from the hon. secretary, Mr. T. V. Gow, "Glenroy," Dudley-street, Lidcombe. NAREMBURN. At the last meeting of this club, held at the Naremburn Technical School, Mr. J. Barrett gave a lecture on loose couplers, and Mr. N. Hunt spoke on elementary electricity. BALMAIN DISTRICT. The Balmain District Radio Society is making good headway. The members hope to have the club's transmitting set in operation shortly, and they will work on a wave length of 400 metres. The society would be pleased to hear from any experimenter or club willing to conduct tests with them. Communications should be addressed to the hon. secretary pro tem, Mr. F. W. Riccord, 77 Grove-street, Balmain. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The eighth business meeting of members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society was held on Tuesday last, when three new members were elected. At the meeting to be held on Tuesday next, an interesting lecture will be delivered by Mr. H. Whitworth, a member of the society, and a demonstrator on the staff of the Sydney University. All inquiries regarding the society should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. KURINGAI DISTRICT. Members are reminded that at the next meeting of the society, to be held on Tuesday, buzzer practice will be held at 7.30 p.m. sharp. During the evening Mr. O. F. Mingay will lecture on a subject of interest to experimenters. The society now meets over Almond's Confectionary shop, about 100 yards from Chatswood railway station, on the Town Hall side.

1923 05 12

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 12 May 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. A GREAT FEAT. BY DOT DASH.

The Pacific has been spanned by amateurs, working under amateur conditions, and the feat was a remarkable one. Here is the story:— Prior to the Trans-Pacific test scheme, Messrs. F. Basil Cooke, F.R.A.S., of the Sydney Observatory, Chas. Maclurcan, of Strathfield, and J. Reed, of Clyde, decided to combine in an endeavour to span the Pacific. Major Lawrence Mott, of the U.S.A. Signal Corps, Avalon, Catalina Island, California, was written to and asked to co-operate. He expressed his pleasure and offered to do what he could at his end. It was decided to use Mr. Maclurcan's station (2CM) for the attempt. It was arranged that Major Mott was to send a special signal from 6 to 7 p.m., Sydney time, commencing April 28, and from 7 to 7.30 p.m. Mr. Maclurcan was to call "M-O-T-T" regularly, using only 100 watts. So as to have every chance of receiving these signals, two other prominent experimenters were invited to listen in at their respective stations. These were Mr. J. H. A. Pike, of Epping, and Mr. C. A. Gorman, of Kogarah. On April 28 the three enthusiasts were on duty at 2CM, and ten minutes before the appointed time the valves were lit and the circuits tested. Atmospheric disturbances were fierce, and the first part of the test passed without success. The transmitter was started, and for half an hour the three took turns to send the single word "M-O-T-T."

SUCCESS AT LAST. The second night the results were the same as the first, and the three held a conference and decided to slightly alter the circuit. On May 1 at 6.40 p.m., Mr. Maclurcan was listening and his companions did not have to be told that at last success had rewarded their strenuous labors. Mr. Pike rang up to report having heard Major Mott, and the time he first heard him coincided with that at 2CM. Mr. Gorman also was successful. The following night there was very little difficulty in reading Mott, and Mr. Pike also received him. On the third, the last night of the test, 2CM was the only one to receive Major Mott. In all Strathfield heard America three nights in succession, Mr. Pike twice, and Mr. Gorman once. The power used by Major Mott was 1 K.W., and the wave length was 270 metres. Thus it has been definitely established that Australian amateurs have spanned the Pacific, working under amateur conditions. Further, the mysterious signal "M-O-T-T," which has caused so much speculation in amateur circles, both in Sydney and Melbourne, has been explained.

ASSOCIATION'S OFFICERS. The New South Wales Radio Association held an important meeting during the week, when the principal business was the election of office bearers. There were two nominations for the post of chairman — Mr. Phil. Renshaw and Mr. L. R. Hewitt. The latter, however, withdrew in order to save a ballot, and Mr. Renshaw was elected. The remaining officers are: Vice-presidents: Messrs Hewitt (Illawarra Club) and B. Symes (Manly). Hon. secretary: Mr. A. E. H. Atkinson (Metropolitan). Hon. treasurer: Mr. J. O'Brien (North Sydney). Auditors: Messrs. F. B. Wade (Western Suburbs), and R. C. Marsden (Metropolitan). Mr. Marsden was also appointed publicity officer. The election over the delegates settled down to discuss questions of importance to experimenters. In reference to the broadcasting conference, to be held in Melbourne on May 24, it was decided to write to the Postmaster-General, asking that the rights of the genuine experimenter be well guarded, and that his status be fully protected from interference by trade interests. The P.M.G. will also get another letter from the association, asking if it cannot be arranged that licences for this State be issued in Sydney, in order to save the delay that occurs at present in making application to Melbourne. Another problem tackled was that of "howling" valves and unlicensed stations. It was agreed that the association should take a very determined stand in regard to these evils.

RELAY LEAGUE. The much discussed question of the formation of an Australian Radio Relay League was brought before the N.S.W. Association at the last meeting. Delegates expressed the opinion that the formation of such a body was not within the association's sphere of activities, and that it would be best left to those who held transmitting licenses. In amateur circles there has been a lot of talk about the matter, but it is apparent that nothing will be done unless a good organiser makes a move. The League would put a deal more interest into experimenting and would also do much toward bringing amateurs of the various States together. Somebody should make a move.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Monday, May 21, when there will be a lecture of more than usual interest. WENTWORTH. At the meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club on Wednesday next, Mr. F. Swinburne, president of the Manly Club, is to give a lecture. MANLY. There will be a special meeting of the Manly Radio Club on Monday evening. At the last gathering Mr. R. C. Marsden gave an address. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The weekly meeting of members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society was held on Tuesday when a lecture on "Chemical Rectifiers" was given by Mr. H. F. Whitworth, a lecturer on the staff of the University. He also gave a demonstration of rectification of alternating current, and explained the action of the apparatus in use. The erection of the society's aerial is now well in hand and when completed will have a height of 45ft and a length of 100ft, giving a clearance over all surrounding buildings. The society meets at the club-room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, every Tuesday night at 8 o'clock. BONDI. At the last meeting of Bondi Radio Club, held at 276 Birrell-street, Bondi, on Wednesday, Mr. R. Shaw gave an entertaining talk on wireless matters in general. No further meetings will be held at 276 Birrell-street until further notice, as negotiations are proceeding for a club room in a more central position. Members are asked to watch this column for further particulars. Those interested in the club's activities should apply to A. H. Callaway, 23 Ocean-street South, Bondi. DRUMMOYNE. At the sixth general meeting of the Drummoyne Radio Club a lecture and demonstration was given on "Spider Web Coils" by Mr. P. Sewell. The club has decided to affiliate with the Radio Association and elected Mr. H. G. Lucas as delegate. The secretary, Mr. Lucas, "Colombo," Tavistock-street, Drummoyne, will give intending members or visitors full particulars. WESTERN SUBURBS. Mr. Reid was the lecturer at the meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association on Wednesday. The next meeting will be held at the club room, Auburn, on Wednesday. Inquiries re the club will be answered by Mr. T. V. Gow, "Glenroy", Dudley-street, Lidcombe.

1923 05 19

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 19 May 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. Tests With N.Z. BY DOT DASH.

The true spirit of radio experimenting seems to be in the air at present, and tests are the order of the day. The latest in the way of tests is being organised by the Metropolitan Radio Club, the object being to see what can be done in the way of working with New Zealand under amateur conditions. Mr. D. McIntyre, a New Zealander and a committeeman of the Metro Club, is arranging things at the Dominion end, and from all accounts the experimenters there are very keen on the idea. Work on the tests will start within the next couple of months, and they will be on for about a week. The committee of the club have decided to make public the whole of the arrangements and appeal to all experimenters to assist in making the proceedings a success. Those who intend taking part in the tests will be charged a small fee to cover the cost of organisation. Prizes will be given for the competitors returning the most complete logs. Though not as spectacular as the Trans-Pacific tests, the New Zealand affair will arouse great interest among wireless enthusiasts and should be fruitful of useful information as far as low power transmissions is concerned.

RADIO ON THE RAILWAY. An interesting experiment was carried out last week by Mr. Basil Cooke who rigged up a receiving set on a railway carriage. The carriage formed part of the Commissioners' train, and the object of the experiment was to get an idea of the possibilities of telephony reception while the train was in motion. Mr. Maclurcan sent out telephony when the train left the Central Station early in the night, and Mr. Cooke, who was using three valves, picked it up immediately. The Strathfield sending station was heard well till the train reached Picton, when the music faded and only the carrier wave could be distinguished. The results obtained by Mr. Cooke were good, when it is considered that his aerial was a wire stretched along the carriage only eight inches above the roof. It could not have been put higher on account of the tunnels. An earth was obtained by a wire to the axle guides.

2CM IN TROUBLE. Mishaps are likely to happen to the best-regulated transmitting stations, but it is seldom that they interrupt the work of Mr. Maclurcan. During his telephony transmission on Sunday night, his aerial started to spark to one of the downleads, and this necessitated his closing down till the fault could be remedied. Mr. Marsden, who was listening in when 2CM went off, stepped into the breach and carried on with telephony. He gave vocal and pianoforte selections using several microphones to concentrate the sound, and the unseen audience reported excellent results. Sufficient say that within 15 minutes of opening up he received no fewer than 43 telephone calls from those anxious to report the good work. Mr. Marsden's telephony has been heard in Newcastle, an 80-mile air line, and the experimenter who received it reported that it came in strong enough to be audible all over his house.

STILL ANOTHER CLUB. The inaugural meeting of the Northbridge and District Wireless Experimental Society was held at Mr. L. Forsythe's residence, Sailor Bay-road, Northbridge on Wednesday, May 11, when there was a large attendance. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. L. E. Forsythe; vice-president, Mr. R. W. L. Woolridge; hon. sec., Mr. A. H. Vincent; hon. treas. Mr. R. Larsen; executive, Messrs. E. Mills, E. Beard, and J. Figgis; technical committee, Messrs. Scrivener, Forsythe and Beard. Commodious club rooms have been acquired through the courtesy of Mr. L. E. Forsythe, where it is proposed to instal the latest in wireless equipment. The objects of the new society are to further the scientific and technical investigation of wireless telegraphy and telephony, and assist social intercourse. The club rooms will be available at all time, thereby giving members the oppor-tunity of carrying on experimental work. Already workrooms have been erected for this purpose. A general meeting of the society is held each Wednesday, when new members and visitors are welcome. A lecture and concert have been arranged for next Wednesday night. Buzzer sets have been installed and members are reminded that ample facilities are now available for code practice. Particulars concerning the society may be obtained from the hon. sec., Mr. A. H. Vincent, "Abbeville," Sailor Bay, Northbridge.

RADIOGRAMS. News has been received in Sydney that an honorary radio inspector has been appointed in Brisbane. No reply has yet been received from Melbourne concerning the inspectors for this State. Members of the Wentworth Radio Club provided radio music at a dance held at Rose Bay during the week. The receiving end was in the hands of Mr. Wallace Best and the music was sent from Mr. Marsden's station by Mr. Jack Davis. Mr. J. P. Cureton, of the Burwood Club, has gone to Brisbane for a fortnight. He is staying with a friend who is also an experimenter, and during the next couple of weeks the two will carry out tests with the club members in Sydney. The transmitting programme for the weekend will be:— Tonight: 7.30 p.m. to 8, 2LI; 8 to 8.30, 2IX; 8.30 to 9, 2UW (Mr. Otto Sandell, Manly); 9 to 9.30, 2XX (Mr. O. F. Mingay). Sunday: 7.30 p.m. to 9, 2CM; 9 to 9.30, 2UW.

A SUNDAY TREAT. Experimenters will be pleased to hear that Miss Lee White, Mr. Clay Smith and Mr. F. Charlton are to sing for the radiophone tomorrow night. The artists will be at Mr. Marsden's station and the demonstration is being given in connection with his experiments in the collection of sound by the use of several microphones. Mr. Marsden will switch on when Mr. Maclurcan has finished his transmission which will be about 9 p.m. IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. There will be a meeting of members of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Monday night at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. A lecture has been arranged and there will be important business to discuss. ILLAWARRA. At the last meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club, Mr. Hewett gave a lecture on circuits. The next meeting is on Tuesday at 73 Montgomery-street, Kogarah. Inquiries should be addressed to the secretary, Mr. W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale. KURINGAI DISTRICT. At the last meeting of the society buzzer practice was conducted officially for the first time. Mr. Hilton, who has had considerable commercial experience, took charge of the key, having been elected operator at the previous meeting. Later in the evening Mr. R. Hill gave a lecture. The secretary requests members to regularly attend the buzzer class, which commences on meeting nights at 7.30. The next meeting of the society is to be held on Tuesday at 8.15 p.m. in Almond's, Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. For information concerning the society communicate with the hon. secretary, E. R. R. Wilshire, "Laurieton," Help-street, Chatswood. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the usual weekly meeting held at the club room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday last, Mr. F. Thompson, on the eve of his marriage, was presented by his fellow-members with an eight-day clock. The presentation was made by the president of the society, Mr. F. Morrison. Mr. Thompson expressed great appreciation of the gift which, he said, "would assist him to arrive punctually at the meetings in future." The society holds its meetings at the club room at 8 every Tuesday night, and all inquiries should be addressed to the Hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1923 05 26

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 26 May 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Bad Club Attendance. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. BY DOT DASH.

Can there be too much music in the air? This question is prompted by the manner in which the abundance of radiophone work is affecting the attendance at radio club meetings. Many of the leading clubs have had good cause to feel concerned of late, for some of them having a membership of well over 50, see only about a dozen at meetings. The cause of the falling off in the attendances is undoubtedly due to the fact that there is so much to listen to these days, and there are many experimenters who would rather sit at home in comfort and listen in than go out to club meetings. The fact that every member owes a duty to his club should not be lost sight of, otherwise the amateurs will lose the good organisation that has taken so long to build up. The lecturers at the various meetings should be given some consideration. They give up their time and often travel long distances to oblige their fellow enthusiasts. Every amateur, too, should endeavour to improve his knowledge of the science, and this can be done best by hearing the lectures and talking things over with his clubmates.

AMALGAMATED AGAIN. Amateurs will be pleased to hear that Amalgamated Wireless Limited, is broadcasting again. The first transmission was on Tuesday night, when a good programme of music was sent out. The operator of the company's set asked that a candid criticism of the transmission be sent back by radiophone, and there was a good response. The principal faults, judging from the replies, was that the commutator ripple was very pronounced, and that the modulation was somewhat faulty, the music breaking on the high notes. But for all this the set has tons of kick, and should be heard over long distances. The power used was 40 watts, and the radiation 1,000,000 milliamps. It was announced that the company would broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.30 to 8.30 p.m., on a wave length of 410 metres.

RELAY LEAGUE FORMED. The much discussed Relay League was formed at a meeting of those holding transmitting licenses, during the week. The officers appointed were:— President, Mr. C. Maclurcan; vice-presidents, Messrs. P. Renshaw and B. Cooke; hon. secretary, Mr. Charlesworth; hon. organising secretary, Mr. Colville, hon. treasurer, Mr. Maclardy; committee, Messrs. Crocker, Davis, Best, Whitburn, McIntyre, Marsden, Perry, McIntosh, Fry, and Cureton. It is now up to the League to interest itself in the formation of similar organisation in other States, so that some interesting transmission and relay work can be got on with.

LEE WHITE CONCERT. There is so much gramaphone music being sent out these days that a vocal item from the actual singer is a very welcome change. For this reason, if no other, nearly every amateur tuned up his set last Sunday night to hear Miss Lee White, Mr. Clay Smith, and other artists who were at Mr. Marsden's station. The operator was testing on the collection of sound by the use of several microphones, and the success he attained can be gauged by the fact that the artists were heard well as far as Armidale and Mudgee. A friend of Mr. Marsden happened to be camping that night in the wilds of the Burragorang Valley. He had his portable receiving set with him, and by merely stringing a bit of aerial wire between two trees and getting an earth from a piece of iron stuck into the ground he was able to hear the whole of the programme. This is another demonstration of the value of radio in helping to brighten life in the back country. In response to many requests, the artists have promised to visit the station again in a couple of weeks and give another programme.

AMATEUR TRANSMITTERS. I have been asked several times of late to give a list of experimenters who are transmitting just now, together with their call letters. Those on the nightly roster are:— C. Maclurcan (Strathfield) 2CM; Burwood Radio Club (Burwood), 2IX; B. Cooke (Clifton Gardens), 2LI; J. Davis (Vaucluse), 2DS; Marks (Rose Bay), 2GR; Fry (Croydon), 2KC; Sandel (Manly), 2UW; Mingay (Turramurra), 2XX; Keogh (Marrickville District), 2ZA; Marsden (Edgecliff) 2JM; Crocker (Marrickville), 2BB; Whitburn (Leichhardt), 2DK; Best (Rose Bay), 2EP [?]; Amalgamated Wireless, Limited (Camperdown), 2MB. There are others, of course, but they are not so prominent as those mentioned.

RADIOGRAMS. The latest amateur to start on transmitting work is Mr. Wallace Best. He has been testing with various experimenters, and his results have been gratifying. It is understood that the Education Department is thinking seriously of establishing radio as a subject in certain high schools. Croydon is to have a radio club if several experimenters of the district are successful in their project. A meeting is to be held in the Foresters' Hall, Elizabeth-street, Croydon, tonight. [???] [???] question and form the club, if it is considered desirable. All interested are invited.

IN THE CLUBS. BONDI. The Bondi Radio Club held its [first?] meeting at the residence of Mr. [???] and, at the conclusion of business, listened to some long and short wave reception on his three valve set. The next meeting will be at 276 Birrell-street, on Tuesday evening, when the question of new premises for the club will be finalised. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the next meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, on June 5, the question of changing the meeting night from Tuesday to Monday will be considered. Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale, is anxious to hear from anybody interested in the work of the society. METROPOLITAN. Mr. C. W. Mann was the lecturer at the meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Monday. He talked on waves and wave motion. NORTH SYDNEY. The annual meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club was held at the Club Building, corner of Alfred and High Streets, North Sydney, on Tuesday evening, when the following office-bearers were elected for the following year:— President, Mr. H. M. Planner; vice-presidents, Messrs. Raymond McIntosh and S. A. Grace; hon. secretary, Mr. J. O'Brien; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Mogonie; committee, office-bearers, Messrs. P. McClure and E. Kruckow; hon. auditor, Mr. N. Pitcairn; delegate to Radio Association, J. O'Brien. The various reports of the officers showed that very satisfactory progress had been made by the club during the past twelve months, and members had considerably benefited by the lectures and demonstrations arranged during that period. At the conclusion of the business, the club was called by Station 2GR, and received some excellent music through the ether. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, at 8 p.m. NORTHBRIDGE AND DISTRICT. At the Northbridge and District Wireless Society's Rooms, Sailor Bay-road, Northbridge, on Wednesday, Mr. E. G. Beard gave a lecture on the "Elementary Principles of Wireless". The next general meeting will be held at the club rooms on Wednesday evening at 7.30 p.m., when a good lecture will be delivered. All inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. A. H. Vincent, "Abbeville," Sailor Bay-road. WENTWORTH. At the last meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club, Mr. F. Swinburn of the Manly Club, gave a lecture. There was also a demonstration of power amplification, a three-valve set, and a magnavox with two power valves being used. The volume of sound produced was enormous. The next meeting of the club will be on Wednesday.

1923 06 02

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 2 June 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. QRT from VIS. BY DOT DASH.

Since amateurs have taken to transmitting, there have been several instances when commercial work has been hung up through interference. The most recent case was on Wednesday night, when an experimenter off his wave length caused a peculiar whistling on 600 metres. V.I.S. was busy at the time, and it was impossible to carry on work while the noise continued. The ether fairly sizzled when the commercial operator ground out the QRT at about four words a minute. Mr. Marsden, the keeper of the amateurs' transmitting roster, happened to hear the incident, and he immediately chipped in and asked experimenters to close down. Thereupon the trouble ended. It is incidents such as this that will soon bring amateurs under the wrathful eye of the authorities, and then there is no telling what might happen. Taking them all round, the amateur transmitters of this State manage their instruments very well, but there are a few, apparently, who do not know sufficient about transmitting, and will not trouble to learn. It seems to me that the whole thing boils down to a question of wave metres. There should be a regulation requiring every person to have a wavemeter that has been calibrated to a standard instrument, before opening a sending station. More than this, the person should be required to know how to use the wavemetre. There would be no excuse then for anybody getting off his wave length. In the meantime, those who have no wavemeter can tune their sets to the amateur wavelength in the following manner:— Wait for V.K.Q. (Garden Island) to open up on his 3200 metre wave. You will then find that his eighth harmonic is approximately on the 425 metre mark. Set the receiver on the eighth harmonic and tune the transmitter to just under it. But better still, get a wavemeter and learn how to use it.

(Start Photo Caption) Mr. Frank Charlton singing "Burning Sands" into the radiophone at Mr. Marsden's Station (2JM) (End Photo Caption)

THE UNSEEN AUDIENCE. What is the number of the unseen audience who "listen in" to the wireless music each night? There have been many guesses, but whether they are right or not remains to be seen. The problem has been troubling Mr. C. Maclurcan, and he has conceived the idea of taking a census. He is asking, therefore, that all amateurs who listen to his music tomorrow night, write and tell him the number in the house who were entertained. Of course, there are some unlicensed stations from which, it is assumed, no returns would be received. While Mr. Maclurcan condemns these stations, and advises them to become licensed at the earliest possible moment, he would like them to write and give him the information he requires. There is no need for these people to give their names and addresses, if they are afraid. If amateurs respond to Mr. Maclurcan's appeal, the results will be interesting.

NEW ZEALAND HEARS. Mr. Chas. Maclurcan, from his station 2CM, Strathfield, has made another transmitting record. During the week he received a cable from Mr. Bell, an experimenter of Christchurch, New Zealand, saying that on Sunday last he heard 2CM at work. The music and speech, he said, came in splendidly. Mr. Maclurcan, several Sundays ago, had trouble with his aerial, but this has now been overcome, and the station is again doing excellent work, as the New Zealand message shows. AMONG THE TRANSMITTERS. Mr. R. C. Marsden (2JM) has been getting good results in the transmission of pianoforte music by radiophone. He has been heard over a 300 mile air line, and he is only using 10 watts. Young Jack Davis (2DS) has practically rebuilt his transmitting set and tests have proved that it is working much better since the change. He is using a single 5-watt Cunningham tube. Amalgamated Wireless have been having trouble with their set, and had to shut down on one occasion during the week. It is understood that the company will broadcast only on Tuesdays, from 7.30 to 8.30 p.m. The transmitting times for the weekend are as follows:— Tonight, 7.30 to 8 p.m., 2LI; 8 to 8.30, 2BB; 8.30 to 9, 2GR; 9 to 9.30, 2IX. Tomorrow: 7.30 to 9 p.m., 2CM; 9.30 to 10, experimental. The roster system for transmitters was adopted some time ago, so that there would never be more than one station working at one time. If experimenters do not stick closely to the times allotted them, the system will be a failure. It is up to all to stick to their times in a sportsmanlike manner.

CRYSTAL DISCOVERY. The man who goes in for wireless in the proper experimenting spirit, never knows what discovery he might accidentally make. A certain Sydney amateur, who does a lot of work with a crystal was much troubled by interference from Pennant Hills, when listening to amateur broadcasts. He set to work, and eventually, by an alteration to his secondary coil, and making certain changes in condenser and crystal leads, was able to tune VIS out completely, without losing any of the music. Such discoveries are of great value to the science.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Monday, June 11, when there will be a lecture and demonstration. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club will meet again on June 13. A demonstration of radio apparatus at work will be given, and members are invited to bring their sets. ILLAWARRA. At the 23rd meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club, Mr. F. Swinburne lectured on "Factors governing the choice of apparatus." The next meeting will be on Tuesday at 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah. The hon. secretary, Mr. W. D. Graham, 44 Cameron-street, Rockdale, will answer any inquiries re the club. CROYDON. On Saturday last the Croydon Radio Club was formed, and 23 members enrolled. The club rooms are at "Rockleigh," Lang-street, Croydon, and Mr. C. W. Slade has lent members his up-to-date apparatus. Enquiries re the club will be answered by the hon. secretary, Mr. G. M. Cutts, "Carwell," Highbury-street, Croydon. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. Members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society are particularly requested to be present at the ninth business meeting, to be held in the club-room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday next, at 8 p.m., as there are several important matters to be discussed. All communications should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1923 06 09

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 9 June 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Interstate Jealousy. BY DOT DASH.

Certain amateur radio men who recently visited Victoria, have returned with the conviction that there is something wrong in the ranks of the experimenters in the southern State. They found that there was a lot of bad feeling among the Victorians, and that there was a certain amount of antagonism towards amateurs in New South Wales. It is hard to understand why this should be. Amateurs of this State have done nothing, as far as can be ascertained, to antagonise the Victorians. The only explanation seems to be that the Southerners are a bit jealous of the fine work being put up by the New South Welshmen. In any case, such feeling should not be allowed to exist. The opinion has often been aired in these columns that there should be closer co-operation between the experimenters of the various States. But the feeling is there, and an effort should be made to do away with it. There are two bodies that can tackle the job — the N.S.W. Radio Association and the newly-formed Relay League. The League would probably be able to work in this direction, with the most chance of success. It is up to members to see what can be done.

TRANS-PACIFIC TESTS. There was a meeting of the Trans-Pacific Test Committee during the week, when the logs of the competitors for May were opened. The logs will be sent to Radio-Inspector Crawford, who has the various code words and secret calls, for checking purposes. From all appearances, the most successful reception of American signals has been carried out by Mr. A. C. Gorman (2EC), of the Illawarra Radio Club. Mr. Gorman's log showed that it was impossible, taking it all round, to get results on the 375 metre wave length bands, owing to Q.R.M. from local valve transmitters and "howling" valves. On the 200 metre bands, there was a certain amount of interference from VKQ (Garden Island) and VIS (Pennant Hills). Static was also bad during the period. Despite these handicaps, Mr. Gorman managed to hear about eight American stations. It is stated that there are about 600 American amateurs sending, and their power varies between five watts and one kilowatt. Mr. Gorman, by the way, is using a two-valve set, one audiotron detector and a Radiotron for the radio frequency stage. Though nothing has yet been done, it is probable that the next amateur test organised will be between Australia and Great Britain.

RELAY LEAGUE MEETS. There was a meeting of the Relay League on Wednesday night, when the question of rules and regulations was discussed. There was a letter from the Wireless Institute stating that that body would agree to the request of the League to become registered under the Institute's articles. This means that the League will be a kind of branch of the institute. Another subject of discussion was the grades of the amateurs who ??? members. Messrs. Basil Cooke and Maclardy, who were in Melbourne for the broadcasting conference, addressed the gathering on the work done there. It was gathered from the discourse that the rights of genuine experimenters are being well guarded. The N.S.W. Radio Association will meet on June 20, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, when delegates from the clubs affiliated will discuss the latest developments in amateur wireless. The association intends to call a combined meeting of all clubs at the end of the month., when prominent men will be invited to speak from the points of view of the broadcaster and the amateur.

THE UNSEEN AUDIENCE. Mr. Maclurcan's endeavour to ascertain the number of the unseen audience at his radio concert on Sunday night was only partly successful. He is grieved by the fact that a good many of the "old brigade" did not send in returns, and he asks that they kindly do so. At all events the Strathfield postman had a busy time, for "Mac" got about 500 letters from amateurs in the metropolitan area alone. They are still coming in, too. Considering that there are still returns to come from country districts, and a few from other States, the unseen audience should prove to be a very large one. Mr. Maclurcan has been receiving flattering reportsabout his transmissions. Mr. Bell, of Christchurch, New Zealand, has reported that on six valves he can hear 2CM, 100ft from the loud speaker. The music from Australia, he said, was as strong as that of the local radio station. Mr. Hull, of Victoria, says that on a loop aerial, Mr. Maclurcan's harmonic on 200 metres comes in as strong as most Sydney radiophones on their correct wave lengths.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. Jack Davis (2DS) of Vaucluse and Mr. Osborne (3BG) of Terang, Victoria, carried out ???? successful tests during the week. They worked both ways in telegraphy one night, and the following evening carried on a radiophone conversation, despite heavy rain in Victoria. The honorary radio inspectors have lost no time in getting to work. Mr. Maclurcan has inspected stations 2JM 2DS, 2ER and 2GR, among others. Mr. Crocker has also been hard at work. The inspectors have found many unlicensed stations, some of which have been closed down, while others have sent in applications for licenses. On Monday night there was chaos in the ether on the amateur transmitting wavelengths. This was due to transmitters not adhering to their roster times. The Vaucluse Progress Association is giving an entertainment on Wednesday, when a wireless telephony demonstration will be a feature of the evening. Mr. S. Colville has consented to officiate at the receiving end, and Mr. Marsden will send out the music. Mr. E. S. Ralls, representative of Radio, Ltd., Auckland, is on a visit to Sydney. He is keenly interested in amateur wireless here.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held on Monday, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. Something special in the way of lectures has been arranged, and a good attendance is desired. KURINGAI DISTRICT. Members and those interested in the above radio society are reminded of the next meeting on Tuesday, at Almond's, Victoria-avenue, Chatswood. Buzzer practise will be held from 7.30 p.m. to 8.15, followed by the business of the meeting, and various lectures on subjects of interest to experimenters. DRUMMOYNE. The Drummoyne Radio Club held their eighth general meeting on May 30, at 216 Bridge-street, Drummoyne, when there was a good attendance. Their being no special lecture for the evening, members had a general discussion and buzzer practice. The hon. secretary, H. G. Lucas, "Colombo," Tavistock-street, Drummoyne, will be pleased to give any particulars re the club. NORTH SYDNEY. The usual weekly meeting of the North Sydney Radio club was held at the room, corner of Alfred and High streets, North Sydney, on Tuesday night. The construction of the club's transmitting panel was further advanced, and this should be completed at the next meeting. In view of the interference and "jamming" by amateurs, which has been bad of late, the club took this matter up strongly with its members at a previous meeting, and the importance of the necessary knowledge of the use of wavemeters, their technique, and construction, was stressed. Members were asked to proceed with individual construction of such apparatus for their own stations. At this meeting, those who had prepared their sets brought them along for calibration, preparation of charts, and general experimenting. It is thus felt by the club that its members will now know where they are in the ether, and that risk of interference with other experimenters has been reduced to a minimum. CROYDON. On Saturday evening, the members of the Croydon Radio Club enjoyed a radio entertainment at the club rooms, "Rockleigh," Lang-street, Croydon. The Burwood Radio Club transmitted music for the benefit of the club, and other stations heard were 2BB, 2JM, and ???. American stations were heard by using 2 L.F. and one H. F. amplifying valves, and a Brown's loud speaker. The club meets every Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Tonight, a lecture is to be given by Mr. C. W. Slade on Wireless Waves. NORTHBRIDGE AND DISTRICT. At St. Thomas' Memorial Hall, Maclaren-street, North Sydney, tonight, the Northbridge and District Wireless Experimental Society are conducting a dance, when the use of wireless music will be demonstrated. Wireless music will be used for dancing. Tickets may be obtained from the hon. sec. of the club, Mr. A. H. Vincent, "Abbeville," Sailor Bay-road, Northbridge. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. Members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society held their ninth business meeting on Tuesday last at the club-room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, when the question of affiliation with the Radio Association of N.S.W. was discussed. It was unanimously agreed to join up with this body immediately. The proposal for a change in the society's meeting night was not finally dealt with. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday night, when it is expected that a lecture on valves will be delivered by Mr. Connolly.

1923 06 16

"Magic Spark" column (first part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 16 June 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. New Zealand Tests. BY DOT DASH.

The topic which is causing the most interest in amateur circles at the present time is the forthcoming radio tests between this State and New Zealand. The test, which was organised by the Metropolitan Radio Club, will include radiophone and C.W. work both ways. The date of commencement is August 4, and work will conclude on August 18. It is to be a competitive test, open to any amateur holding a valve or transmitting license, and the entrance fee is 2/6. Entries close on Saturday, July 14. Prizes will be awarded the most successful transmitting and receiving stations, and the latter are to be graded according to the apparatus used. The committee of the Metro. Club will be the judges. Entrance forms may be obtained from the principal city wireless shops, or from the organising secretary, Mr. D. McIntyre, "Barooga," Living-stone-avenue, Pymble. Final particulars will be sent to competitors a few weeks before the tests commence.

UNIFORM CLUB NIGHT. The poor attendances at club meetings are causing the officers of the various bodies to think very deeply. As has been stressed in this column, the position has been brought about by the amount of music in the air, which keeps the experimenters at home listening-in. The Kuringai and Metropolitan clubs are the originators of a scheme which, it is thought, will solve the problem if universally approved. The idea is to get all the clubs to hold their meetings on the same night each week or fortnight as the case may be. When the night has been decided upon, all amateur transmitters will be asked not to send on that night, so that there will be nothing for the stay-at-homes to listen to. The scheme will be put before the club delegates at a meeting of the N.S.W. Radio Association.

ELECTRIC LIGHT AERIALS. The electric light aerial is fast becoming popular in Sydney, and it would be interesting to know how the authorities regard this method of receiving. As a breeder of illicit receiving stations, this method is in the front rank. All that the operator has to do is to buy a cheap adapter and plug into the electric light socket. Thus no outside or loop aerial is required, the electric street wires serving the purpose. Some surprisingly good results have been obtained with this method, and experimenters would like to know how the authorities classify stations using ?. There is one great point in its favor; those who use it in conjunction with a valve set cannot energise their aerial, and do not, therefore, cause trouble with howling valves.

QRM AGAIN. There was another face of a Sydney amateur interfering with Pennant Hills, during the week. On this occasion the experimenter's transmitting set was very broadly tuned and the commercial station was getting his modulated wave. VIS happened to be trying to read a very faint ship at the time and his QRT was sent out with that precision of touch that betokens keen disapproval. Every amateur, especially transmitters, should know that the job of the commercial operator is no bed of roses. Give him a chance; get a wave meter, and learn how to use it.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. Maclurcan has been busy this week trying out the neutradyne receiving circuit. He is of opinion that for all round work it is an improvement on the super-regenerative, being, for one thing, much more simple of operation. The neutradyne circuit was devised by Professor Hazeltine. The N.S.W. Radio Association will meet at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday, and all those clubs not yet affiliated are asked to send delegates to the meeting, in order to get an idea of the work the association is doing. Matters pertaining to the proposed broadcasting regulations will be discussed, also the question of holding a combined meeting of all clubs. Mr. Malcolm Perry, who was well-known to amateurs, as a member of the staff of Amalgamated Wireless Limited, has severed his connection with that firm to join up with the New Systems Company.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. There was a meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Monday last, when a lecture on the construction and design of sets was given by Mr. Mackenzie. The next meeting is on July ?. ATARMON. At a meeting of radio enthusiasts in the Scouts' Hall, Artarmon, on Tuesday, it was decided to form a radio club there. Messrs. R. C. Marsden and F. Joseph addressed the meeting on club activities and the history of amateur wireless in this country. ILLAWARRA. The Illawarra Radio Club has under consideration proposals by which it is hoped to give members additional club-room facilities, and more opportunities of "getting together." The next meeting of the club will be on Tuesday night, at 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah, when Mr. Gorman will continue his lecture on radio frequency amplification on short waves. BONDI. The Bondi Radio Club will hold a meeting and demonstration in the Bondi-Waverley School of Arts on Tuesday night. The Acting Premier, Mr. C. W. Oakes, and Mr. E. T. Fisk, of Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, will be present. A multi-valve set and a magnavox will be used for the demonstration. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. Members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society held their usual weekly meeting on Tuesday last at the club room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, when Mr. A. C. Connolly delivered a lecture on vacuum tubes. The lecture was supported by a demonstration with apparatus which Mr. Connolly brought with him. The next meeting of the society will be held next Tuesday night. Inquiries should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

"Magic Spark" column (second part) in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 16 June 1923

THE UNSEEN AUDIENCE. Mr. Maclurcan's effort to find the number of the unseen audience, who listen in to the wireless music, has been responsible for some interesting figures. Replies to his appeal have been received showing that 1500 persons listened to the concert. He estimates, however, that there were easily four times this number.

1923 06 23

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 23 June 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. A Problem. BY DOT DASH.

With the introduction of commercial broadcasting, several interesting little problems will crop up. Not the least interesting of these will be the defining of the "experimenter," as distinct from the man who merely wants to listen in to concerts. The genuine experimenter will, of course, be given a license as hitherto, but others will have to pay the broadcasting fees, and have a set with a wave length locked to that of the broadcasting stations. It is thus easily seen that an experimental license will be much sought after, as the holder may use any apparatus he desires, and will be able to get everything in the ether. The N.S.W. Radio Association is appointing a subcommittee of three to confer with a similar body from the Wireless Institute, on the question of the constitution of a board, on which the public and the Government will be represented, to determine what constitutes a genuine experimenter. It is not generally known that the issue of licenses ceased on May 28, and it is probable that no more will be issued till some body is constituted to deal with each individual case. It is interesting to remember that there are about 2500 licensees in the Commonwealth, and there must be about ??000 unlicensed stations.

NO AFFILIATION. The question of the affiliation of the Radio Association and the Relay league was discussed at the last meeting of the association. It was found, however, that this could not be brought about, owing to the fact that the league is constituted as a branch of the Wireless Institute. This is a pity, for it would be better for amateurs if there were fewer central bodies. It is hoped that there will be a complete understanding between the League and the association, and that some kind of a working agreement will be made between them.

RADIO ASSOCIATION. There was a meeting of the N.S.W. Radio Association during the week, when delegates talked on many things. It was announced that there are now 13 clubs affiliated. A letter from the Broken Hill and District Radio Club was read, in which the club asked for affiliation. The question of having the same night for the meetings of all clubs did not find favor with delegates. This was mainly because many of the clubs have members who are attending Technical College, and are therefore unable to be present at club meetings on certain nights. The matter, though, its supporters declare, is not dead, but had to be shelved. The meeting of members of all clubs was also brought up. It was agreed to hold it about July 10. The gathering will be addressed by Mr. G. E. Taylor, president of the movement for the betterment of wireless in Australia who will talk on broadcasting from the point of view of the amateur and the general public. It is hoped that other men prominent in wireless will also speak. BEFORE THE DAWN. Mr. E. C. Marsden and young Jack Davis found it cold the other morning when they left their warm beds to carry out a little test with New Zealand in Christchurch. Mr. Orbell was also feeling chilly as he waited for signals from Aussie. The Australians got to work and succeeded in opening up communication with 3AAA, Mr. Orbell's station. The C.W. signals were received strongly by the Sydney stations, and the New Zealander asked that he be sent telephony. The Sydney station thereupon opened up with speech, but with what result is not yet known, for before they could get a report back it became daylight in New Zealand, and Mr. Orbell's signals faded completely out. It might be mentioned that Jack Davis has been doing some good receiving work on his own account. Using a detector and one stage of audio, he has heard a good deal of the New Zealand broadcasting. The test was arranged by Mr. McIntyre, who checked the proceeding from his station, 2VX.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. A. B. Hector, who recently gave a much-appreciated lecture to a large gathering of wireless men, has invited two delegates from each of the clubs to visit his laboratory at Greenwich on Saturday, July 14. Apparently, all is not as it should be with regard to the amateur transmitting roster. Mr. Marsden, who devotes much time to keeping the list, is experiencing difficulty in getting amateurs to book their times early enough. He is trying to get the roster filled a week in advance, and would like the co-operation of transmitters in this matter. Arrangements for the forthcoming competitive tests between Australia and New Zealand are well in hand, and entries are coming in well. The entries close about July 14, and the tests will be carried out between August 4 and 18. Entry forms may be obtained from the principal Sydney wireless shops. The Bondi Radio Club gave a successful public demonstration of wireless telephony during the week. The Acting Premier, Mr. Oakes, Mr. E. T. Fisk and Mr. Goldstein, M.L.A., were present. The transmitting for the occasion was carried out by Mr. Marsden and Mr. Marks. From the station of the ???? Mr. Phil Renshaw gave an address to those in the hall. Owing to the advent of commercial broadcasting, amateur transmitters, it is understood, will have to send on wavelengths of about 200 metres. The present 400 metre band used by them will be taken by the commercial broadcasters. This will mean that many amateurs will have to practically rebuild their sets.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on July 2. A special lecture will be given, and important business brought up. BALMAIN DISTRICT. The Balmain District Radio Society (2ZB) is now located at 28a Ballast Point-road, near Yeend-street wharf. Here have been erected two aerials — one for receiving and one of the cage type for transmitting. The club hopes to be transmitting shortly. Inquiries will be answered by the acting hon. secretary Mr. F. W. Riccord, 77 Grove-street, Balmain. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club will hold its next meeting at 444 New South Head-road on Wednesday evening. A good attendance is desired, as there is important business to be dealt with. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. A good attendance of members is anticipated at next Tuesday's meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, when Mr.Raymond E. McIntosh will lecture. On the following Tuesday, July 3, a test will be carried out with the assistance of Mr. Marsden, who is making arrangements to transmit music to be dispensed by the society's orchestra. NORTH SYDNEY. The usual meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club was held at its quarters, corner of Alfred and High streets, North Sydney, last Tuesday evening, when Mr. Malcolm Perry lectured. The club's transmitting set was further tested, and gradual improvements are being carried out.

1923 06 30

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 30 June 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. More Roster Trouble. BY DOT DASH.

There was a glorious "bust up" in the ether during the week, and the upshot of it all was that Mr. R. C. Marsden has vacated his job as honorary keeper of the amateur transmitters' roster. It came about this way. One amateur started up on his roster time when another one "butted in." Mr. Marsden was not listening in at the time, and, consequently, could not play his part as policeman as he usually does. When he did switch on he heard a few things which prompted him to take a certain course, and he has now definitely relinquished the roster. "It was a regretable incident," Mr. Marsden told me, "but I cannot see my way to continue to act. The whole trouble is that experimenters do not pay sufficient attention to their transmitting times, and their is a lot of interference in consequence." What will happen now as regards the roster is not yet clear, but it is probable that the whole question will be considered by the Relay League and the N.S.W. Radio Association.

A NEW VALVE. A new valve — the Cunningham type 299 — has made its appearance in Sydney, and is considered by several amateurs to be something out of the ordinary. The valve is about the size of the well-known V24, and is fitted with a special socket. It has the usual filament, grid, and plate. For use with a portable set the valve is well adapted, for it can be used with dry cells, thus dispensing with the ungainly accumulater. For the filament the C299 requires but three volts at .06 amp. and from 20 to 40 volts on the plate. When tried out against several well-known valves the new one brought in signals in a very satisfactory manner.

SYDNEY STATIONS. An interesting test was carried out recently by Mr. Phil Renshaw, secretary of the Wireless Institute, while he was holidaying at Mackerel Beach. This experimenter took with him a portable receiving set and put in a lot of time listening to Sydney radiophones. He reports that all came in well, but he set about amusing himself by comparing them for strength and quality. After much consideration he set them down in the following order of merit: 2CM, 2JM, 2KC, 2GR, 2DS, 2LI, 2ER, 2BB, 2DK. It will be seen that Mr. Maclurcan heads the list as usual, and that he is followed by Mr. Marsden. Mr. Renshaw explains that he did not use an audibility meter, but tried them all out for general efficiency.

STORM HAVOC. The storm in the early part of the week left in its track a number of lamenting experimenters whose aerials had suffered. Sheltered as he is from the south, Mr. Marsden did not escape, nor did Mr. Marks, who lives near him at Bellevue hill. Mr. Marsden's lofty topmast, an iron one, was bent over like a hairpin, leaving a tangle of wires that made the experimenter tear his hair. However, it is an ill-wind that does not blow good for someone, for Mr. Marsden philosophically declares that he intended to put up a new one, anyhow, and that the wind saved him the trouble of taking the old one down. He is now hard at work on one of the fan type, and hopes to have it ready for use tonight.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr Fisk, of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., gave a lecture of the possibilities of the science and the new schemes before members of the Millions Club during the week. He also gave a demonstration of telephony, using a set with 11 valves. A letter has been received from New Zealand giving the result of the test between Mr. Orbell, of Christchurch, and Messrs. Marsden and Davis, of Sydney. Mr. Orbell reports that the Sydney signals came in very well. He also mentions that he listens in to Sydney radiophones every night, and he is much amused at our roster troubles. Mr. Maclurcan, he says, he can hear 200 feet from the 'phones. Jack Davis, by the way, has been getting music and speech from station 5BG (Mr. Camper, South Australia). For this work Jack used a detector and one stage of audio frequency amplification, and a three-coil circuit. Mr. Marsden is giving a lecture and demonstration tonight at Barker College, Hornsby, of which he is an old boy. He has been asked to lecture at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Croydon.

IN THE CLUBS. MANLY. There will be a general meeting of the Manly District Radio Club on Monday night. On the following Monday Mr. E. T. Fisk will give a lecture on the broadcasting proposals. WENTWORTH. At a meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club, on Wednesday, there was a demonstration of the use of the electric light aerial. In future the club will hold its meeting in a room lent by Mr. Spencer Nolan, at his residence, "Monesk," Bellevue-road, Double Bay. The next meeting is on July 11. ILLAWARRA. The next meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club will be held at Montgomery-street, Kogarah, on Tuesday, at 8 p.m. Mr. F. Strom will give a lecture on storage batteries. KURING-GAI DISTRICT. The Kuring-gai District Radio Society holds its next meeting on July ? when buzzer practice will be held from 7.30 to 8.15 p.m. This will be followed by a lecture by Mr. O. F. Mingay. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The inclement weather on Tuesday affected the attendance at the meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, at which Mr. Raymond McIntosh was to have lectured. The lecture was, therefore, postponed to a date to be fixed. Those members who braved the elements were entertained by the society's orchestra. The next meeting, a business one, will be held at 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday.

1923 07 07

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 7 July 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. Lower Wave Lengths. BY DOT DASH.

Experimenters of this State are up in arms at the reported action of the Government in drafting the broadcasting regulations, whereby the transmitting wave length for amateurs is to be lowered from 400 to 200 metres and under. According to reports, the 400 metre band is to be given to commercial broadcasters. When the broadcasting conference was sitting in Melbourne recently, the N.S.W. Radio Association received an official assurance that the rights of genuine experimenters would be fully protected. Such was the "protection", however, that the experimenters are faced now with the problem of rebuilding their sets to a wave length which is, they maintain, a great drawback to experimental work. As the amateurs are contemplating long-distance relay work, and the short wave is unsuitable for it, there is likely to be a vigorous outburst of protest when the broadcasting regulations are made known officially. It is doubtful if the authorities will alter the wave length, with the exception of a few special cases.

BROADCASTING PROBLEM. Though the broadcasting regulations have not yet been officially announced, the provisions are generally known. The concensus of opinion among those who ought to know is that the scheme will fall short of success. The drafted regulations provide that broadcasting services shall be established, each service with a different wave length. Any person wishing to listen in makes a choice of a service, and gets a set which will receive only on the wave length of that service. When he buys the set he has to pay a llcence fee, and a fee for the broadcasting service. Thus those listening will be confined to the one service, unless they care to go to the expense of subscribing to others. It is hardly likely that amateurs will quietly submit to these conditions, when the genuine experimenters, with experimental licenses, can vary their sets to any wave length, and hear all that is going, even though the latter be "poaching." Then again there will be the amateur transmitters which will be free for anybody to pick up. but the subscriber to the broadcasting services will be unable to hear them. The authorities must expect a crop of fresh illicit receiving stations when the broadcasting starts. Now that the electric light system can be used instead of an aerial, they will be almost impossible to detect. Despite restrictions on the sale of apparatus, the average amateur will be able, if he has a mind to evade the regulations, to construct all the gear necessary.

ROSTER CHANGES HANDS. At a meeting of the Relay League. Mr. R. C. Marsden surrendered his post as keeper of the amateurs' transmitting roster. Several members spoke highly of the manner in which Mr. Marsden had kept order in the ether, and had made the work much more pleasant. It was decided to hand over the roster to Mr. W. J. Maclardy, editor of "Wireless Weekly". Unfortunately, Mr. MacLardy has no transmitting station and consequently is unable to set things right by radiophone when experimenters get on their wrong times. Mr Marsden's practice was to announce the times for each evening before the programmes were started, and any transmitter could make arrangements with him at that time if he wished to send during a vacant period. When there is a vacancy now, several experimenters are likely to start, and there is no way in which the roster keeper can communicate with them to adjudicate. I suggest that Mr. MacLardy give the roster times each day to one of the stations to announce.

SUNDAY NIGHT TESTS. Mr. C. Maclurcan sent his last concert on Sunday till August 5, and he is now enjoying the winter sports at Kosiusko. While he is away, the Sunday experiments will be conducted by three leading amateurs, who will transmit for an hour each. Tomorrow night the transmitters will be 2KC (7 to 8 p.m.), 2GR (8 to 9), 2JM (9 to 10). The last-mentioned station, Mr. Marsden, is conducting an interesting test with the transmission of violin music. In this he will be assisted by Mr. Cyril Morris and Mrs. Monk (Isabella Varney-Petersen), pianist. Musical items will also be given by Mr. J. M. Stanley, himself a wireless experimenter, and ???? Marsden, pianist. Mr. Marks ???? assisted by artists.

RADIOGRAMS. When the steamer Hartingdon was on fire off the Queensland coast, VIS sent out a CQ, QRT ???? amateurs obeyed promptly. On July 12, the all clubs' night will be held at the Education Department's Building, when it is requested that all experimenters put in an appearance. Mr. G. E. Taylor will speak on the broadcasting regulations, as they affect experimenters and the public, and there will also be a demonstration of telephony by Mr. Raymond Shaw, of the Bondi Club. The committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club is perturbed at the lack of interest in the forthcoming New Zealand tests. Up till a couple of days ago, only a very small number of entries had been received. As the tests will will only necessitate entrants listening in for half an hour each night for a fortnight, the tests should be popular. It is evident from work already carried out with New Zealand, that the amateur with a single valve set should be able to get as good a log as the man using a multi-valve outfit. The Relay League intends to endeavor to stir up more interest among country experimenters, and to try to get them to take up transmitting. Mr. F. Swinburne, of the Manly Club, gave a demonstration of telephony at the Sydney Press Club on Thursday night. The transmitters were Messrs Marsden and Marks, and the former read a speech by Mr. P. Renshaw, of the Wireless Institute, who referred to the power of the Press and the assistance it could give to amateur wireless.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. There was a poor attendance at the meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Monday, when Mr. R. Hill, of Amalgamated Wireless, gave an excellent lecture on circuits for the prevention of interference. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club will meet at "Monesk," Bellevue-road, Double Bay, the residence of Mr. Spencer Nolan, on Wednesday evening, when there will be a demonstration and lecturette. MANLY. The Manly Radio Club's next meeting will be on Monday evening, when Mr. E. T. Fisk will address the members. A demonstration has also been arranged, for which Messrs. Marsden and Marks will transmit. KURINGAI DISTRICT. The next meeting of this club will be on Tuesday evening. Buzzer practise will be conducted from 7.30 to 8.15 p.m., after which Mr. O. F. Mingay will lecture. The secretary has some interesting information re the forthcoming New Zealand tests. BONDI. A meeting of this club will be held in its new premises, corner of Bondi-road and Park-parade, Bondi, on Tuesday, when important business will be listed for discussion. The secretary, Mr. A. L. Prince, 269 Birrell-street, Bondi, will answer inquiries to the club. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the next meeting of this club, on Tuesday, at 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, Mr. Brown will give a lecture. The transmission test to be carried out in conjunction with Mr. Marsden has been set down for Thursday, July 12. One of the most enjoyable entertainments during the week was broadcasted by New Systems Telephones Pty., Ltd., for Paling and Co. Several prominent artists assisted, and the radiophone work was of the highest order.

1923 07 14

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 14 July 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Valves that Howl. BY DOT DASH.

The "howling" valve nuisance is very bad in the Western Suburbs, according to several amateurs. Mr. Marsden, who gave a demonstration at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, said that they were like a dozen railway engines, with their whistles going. The Honorary Radio inspectors have already done good work in coping with this trouble, but there is certainly room for improvement in the Croydon district. Mr. Marsden's demonstration was carried out in the face of many difficulties. Not only did the valves do their best to drown and distort the telephony, but several mishaps occurred. The Burwood Radio Club was transmitting telephony, and when things were going smoothly the main spring of the club's gramaphone broke, and the instrument had to be turned by hand, which manipulation was not in the best interests of the music. Mr. Marsden's station at Edgecliffe followed, but was interrupted by the failure of the electric lights in that suburb. After a while Mr. Marks took up the running, but a sudden storm went a long way towards marring the work. Still, the demonstration was an undoubted success, despite a chapter of accidents.

LACK OF INTEREST. The lack of interest on the part of experimenters in New South Wales-New Zealand tests is surprising. Up to date the Metropolitan Radio Club, which is organising the test, has received scarcely 20 entries. The tests were arranged with a view to fostering the experimental spirit and the lack of interest is discouraging to say the least. Unlike the Trans-Pacific tests the present proposal calls for no elaborate apparatus, and the man with a decent single valve set should be able to get a good log. The local transmitting stations, too, are hanging back for some unaccountable reason, and their assistance is badly needed. Up to the present only four sending stations have sent in entries. Those who reconsider their attitude still have a chance of entering at this late hour. Though entries close today nominations reaching the organising secretary, Mr. D. M. McIntyre, Livingstone-avenue, Pymble, by Monday, will be accepted. It is up to amateurs to get in while they have the opportunity and make the tests the success they deserve to be.

BROADCASTING. There is still plenty of discussion in amateur wireless circles of the broadcasting regulations which, it is expected, will be made public shortly. The opinion that the scheme will fall through continues to gain ground, and it has been stated by close students of the situation that the Government will be forced to reconsider the regulations within a few months. The rock on which the scheme seems most likely to be wrecked is the problem of defining the genuine experimenter, as distinct from the man who wishes merely to listen to music in the air. It is hardly likely that the latter class will willingly pay broadcasting fees for a set with a fixed wavelength when experimenters can listen to anything on a ten shilling experimental license. There are many who favor the scheme suggested by Melbourne interests. This was that amateurs should pay a fee of £3, including the 10/- for the Government license. The £2/10/- would go to one big broadcasting station, which would be able to give an excellent service. There would be no bar to other stations broadcasting on other wave lengths, but they would receive nothing for it. But doubtless there are some stations that would send for the sake of the indirect advertisement.

RADIOGRAMS. A party of delegates from the various Radio Clubs will visit the laboratory of Mr. A. B. Hector, at Greenwich, tonight. The delegates will meet at Circular Quay at 7 p.m. The honorary radio inspectors have been busy of late, and it is said that they have discovered a number of unlicensed stations. It is also surprising the number of simple crystal sets that need both accumulator and "B" batteries. The elements are unkind to Mr. Marks. In the rough weather during the week his aerial was again dismantled. Mr. Marsden has received flattering reports of his concert last Sunday night. Mr. Cyril Monk gave several violin items, and demonstrated that the instrument is excellent for carrying by wireless. For his demonstration at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Mr. Marsden had a good aerial. It was a single wire slung between two towers each 70 feet high, and with 140 feet between them. Garden Island station will be sending telephony tomorrow 10.45 a.m. on a wavelength of 1100 metres.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Monday, July 23, when there will be an interesting lecture and demonstration. WENTWORTH. The meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club on Wednesday last was poorly attended owing to the inclement weather. It is hoped for better luck for the next meeting on Wednesday, July 25. ILLAWARRA. The first annual general meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club has been set down for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, at 75 Montgomery-street, Kogarah. There is important business listed, and a good attendance is desired. WESTERN SUBURBS. Mr. Burman is to lecture on inductance, and Mr. Challenger will talk on magnetism and electricity, at the next meeting of the Western Suburbs Amateur Wireless Association, to be held on Wednesday, at 77 Park-road, Auburn. WAVERLEY. The Bondi Radio Club has accepted a challenge from the Waverley Club to debate on "panel sets versus isolated apparatus," the challenged club being allowed the choice of the two points of view. The idea is a novel one, and if adopted by other clubs should go a long way towards stimulating interest in the science. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At a meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society on Tuesday, Mr. Watkin Brown lectured on so-called crystal rectifiers. The next meeting is on Tuesday. The transmission test to be carried out in conjunction with Mr. Marsden has been fixed for Thursday night, when the society's orchestra will play at Mr. Marsden's station. There will also be vocal and instrumental items. KURINGAI DISTRICT. The last meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society on Tuesday, was carried through successfully, despite the inclement weather and the failure of the electric lights. A feature of the evening was the spirited discussion on the broadcasting position, led by Mr. O. F. Mingay. The club's next meeting will be be on Tuesday, July 24, when Mr. Best will lecture on transmitting circuits.

1923 07 21

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 21 July 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. A Mystery Station. BY DOT DASH.

The local radio authorities are worried by the operations of a mysterious transmitting station, the operator of which has developed a habit of calling up several prominent Sydney experimenters. Just why he should do this is puzzling. On one occasion the mystery station told an amateur, per medium of the Morse code, that he was a spark transmitter, using ¼ kilowatt. A peculiar incident in connection with the mystery station occurred during the week. The assistant radio inspector happened to be on a visit to an amateur station when the unknown called it up. The inspector was at the key, and, after some conversation, asked the calling station to sign off. The mysterious one did so, signing himself A6W. There is no station in Australia with this call, and it is probable that somebody is having a joke, or that an unlicensed experimenter is at work. Whoever the station is, his signals are of a very high order and his Morse faultless. Garden Island will have to get the direction finder to work on the joker.

BEST AND THE BOTTLES. Mr. Wallace Best was transmitting the other night and very good he was, too. This reminds me of an unenviable experience the experimenter had during the week. He was mixing a calcium borax solution for an electrolytic rectifier, when he corked up a bottle to shake the ingredients. He laid the bottle aside for a while, and when he went to shake it again it exploded in his hands. This gentle reminder was evidently forgotten, for Mr. Best had a second experience on the same lines. It would be as well if other amateurs took a careful note not to cork bottles of the solution.

FLUCTUATING CURRENT. Transmitters in the Edgecliffe district are annoyed with the City Council electricity department. They use the council's power, which is supposed to be 240 volts A.C. The current however, fluctuates considerably, sometimes dropping as low as 215 volts. This means a good deal to transmitters, and their work suffers in consequence.

RADIOPHONE ATTRACTIONS. The quality of the music in the air these days is improving by leaps and bounds. We still have gramophone and worn out records, but there are bright spots when tests are carried out by real vocalists and instrumentalists. Mr. Marsden (2JM) had at his station the other day Mr. Crouch, whose lyrical tenor is reported to be one of the best heard in radiophone work. Tomorrow night, Dr. and Mrs. Silverton, well-known amateur vocalists, and Mr. Milner Stephen, also a singer will assist Mr. Marsden in his experiments between 9 and 10. In the vocal items, Mr. Marsden would like experimenters to take careful note and report to him the proportion of voice to accompaniment. The correct volume is two-thirds voice to one-third piano, but it is not easy to get the correct blending over the radiophone. While on the subject of radiophone attractions, I should like to mention that Mr. Crocker has been putting over some good transmissions. The other day he broadcasted the bagpipes, and finished up with the concertina. Both instruments were carried splendidly by the ether wave.

RADIOGRAMS. Young Jack Davis is at it again. This time he has been getting American amateurs on a single valve. VIS sent out another CQ QRT the other night, and singled out a couple of stations and addressed them by call. The reason for the shutting down he belted out at about 18 words a minute, so very few amateurs were able to read it. Why the commercial station, or the station he was working, was down near the amateurs' wave length does not seem to be known. When Pennant Hills is sending calls to experimenters, it would be as well for him to slow down to 12 words a minute. He would then be understood. The New Zealand-N.S.W. tests should be a success after all. When the entries closed there were between 40 and 50 would-be competitors. Only about half a dozen transmitter stations were entered, which is disappointing. After a silence of about three months, station 2FA is on the go again. His transmission is good, with the exception of a slight A.C. hum.

IN THE CLUBS. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club holds its next meeting at "Monesk," Bellevue-road, Double Bay, on Wednesday night. METROPOLITAN. Mr. Wallace Best will give a lecture at the meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Monday night. MARRICKVILLE AND DISTRICT. At the last meeting of the Marrickville and District Radio Club, Mr. Crocker demonstrated and lectured on his transmitting set. At the conclusion of the proceedings, Mr. Crocker was elected a patron of the club. It was announced that new club rooms in a more convenient locality would shortly be available. For the present the club meets every Monday, at 8 p.m., at the Congregational School Hall, Perry-street, Marrickville. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society is inviting members of other clubs to attend the meeting on Tuesday night, at 176 Johnston-street, Annandale. The special attraction is a travelogue illustrated by lantern slides, by Mr. W. J. Zech. BALMAIN DISTRICT. The technical committee of the Balmain District Radio Society is hard at work on the club's new transmitting set. The society meets each Tuesday at 29A Ballast Point-road, Balmain. Enquiries re the club may be addressed to the acting secretary, Mr. F. W. Riccord, 77 Grove-street, Balmain.

1923 07 28

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 28 July 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Inspector's Day Out. BY DOT DASH.

An honorary radio inspector had a field day in the Rose Bay district a few days ago. Needless to say, he dropped on several unlicensed stations, much to the surprise of those who were operating them. The unlicensed ones show great ingenuity in the manner in which they managed to conceal their aerials from outside observation. A favorite way is to put up the aerial among trees, the foliage of which hides it most effectively. One illicit station had an aerial strung about six inches above the roof of the house, and it would not have been detected but for the fact that the insulators shone in the sunlight. There was a rather amusing incident during the raid. The inspector knocked at the front door of a house, and while he was waiting for someone to answer his summons, the operator of the station came along and slipped in the back door unobserved. Tired of waiting, the inspector made his way round to the back of the house, and was about to knock at the back door, when out rushed the operator with an armful of radio gear. It is hard to say whether the inspector or the amateur was the most surprised of the two.

SUNDAY CONCERTS. Amateurs will be pleased to note that their old friend, Mr. C. Maclurcan, will be back in Sydney shortly, and will in all probability, be transmitting tomorrow week. It has been decided, however, to keep to the practise of having three one-hour transmissions, by different experimenters, each Sunday night. Mr. Maclurcan, of course, will have one of the hours, and the other periods will be allotted to other prominent amateurs. Tomorrow night Mr. Marks (2GR) will be testing for the efficient transmission of orchestral music by the ether wave. He will have the "Nightbirds" jazz band to assist him in the experiment. Miss Campbell, the Digger' friend, will also visit Mr. Marks' station and will say a few words to Digger experimenters. Mr. Marsden, who is still working on the collection of sound problem, will put out some cornet selections, and supplement them with pianoforte and vocal items.

THE HELPING HAND. The Metropolitan Radio Club is out to extend a helping hand to amateurs wherever possible. At the club's last meeting it was suggested that many of those who go in for a listening-in set when broadcasting comes, will desire to extend their operations and become genuine experimenters. Their path, in this case, would be far from easy, for the authorities will want to be convinced in every instance that the applicant for an experimental license is a genuine experimenter, and not merely one who wishes to evade the broadcasting fee. The club will make special provision to coach such aspirants and give them every assistance in getting the coveted license.

"HOWLING" VALVES. Mr. C. W. Slade, of the Croydon Radio School, takes exception to the Croydon district being blamed for too many "howling" valves. He writes:— "May I take up a few lines of your column to reply to Mr. Marsden, who states that howling valves are very bad in the Croydon district. "I beg to state that they are no worse here than they are in any other district, and certainly not worse than they are in Edgecliffe. On Saturday, July 7, a test was carried out with Mr. Holst, a Melbourne amateur. Croydon amateurs received every word, and communicated this fact to Mr. Holst, per Mr. J. Davis' station at Vaucluse. "After Mr. Davis had transmitted Croydon's acknowledgment of these tests, he asked Mr. Marsden if he had heard Mr. Holst reply. Mr. Marsden replied stating he could not read him owing to local Q.R.M. No difficulty was experienced in Croydon with Q.R.M., hence I maintain, with proof, we are no worse than our brother amateurs in other districts.

RADIOGRAMS. It is understood that the mystery transmitting station referred to in these columns last week, has been discovered. It is said that he is not an amateur. The New South Wales-New Zealand tests start on August 4. The organisers have decided to keep the wavelength and other details a secret, owing to the danger of interference from howling valves. The competitors will be given the particulars shortly. Mr. Marsden visited the Kuring-gai District Radio Society during the week, and gave a lecture on the construction of his transmitter. On September 10 the Metropolitan Radio Club will hold an "All clubs night," when the prizes for the New South Wales-New Zealand tests will be presented to the successful competitors. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a musical programme.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club have decided to challenge the Waverley Club to a four aside debate. NORTH SYDNEY. A special general meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club will be held at the clubroom, corner of Alfred and High streets, North Sydney, on Tuesday, at 8 p.m. Owing to the rapid growth of the club, the question of a removal to larger rooms is to be considered. NORTHBRIDGE AND DISTRICT. The last meeting of the Northbridge and District Radio Society was held on Wednesday, when members listened in on the set which has been installed in the club room. It was announced at the meeting that arrangements were completed for the society to charge its own accumulators. ILLAWARRA. The first annual general meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club was held recently, when the following office-bearers were re-elected unopposed:— President, Mr. C. D. Cuthbert; vice-presidents, Messrs. L. R. Hewett and A. E. Atkinson; hon. secretary, Mr. W. D. Graham; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. W. Mann. The election of committees resulted:— Business Committee: Messrs. W. J. Smith, W. T. Watkin Brown, and J. R. Sellenger; Technical Committee: Messrs. C. A. Gorman (club license holder), F. H. Kirkby, and S. Atkinson (one more to be elected). The next meeting of the club will be held on Tuesday, July 31, at 8 p.m.

1923 08 04

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 4 August 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. Broadcasting Venture. BY DOT DASH.

What is going to happen now that the broadcasting regulations have been gazetted? So far there has been no announcement of any proposed broadcasting scheme, and amateurs are watching developments with the keenest interest. It is learned, however, that the retail wireless traders are about to form a company for the purpose of conducting a commercial broadcasting station. A committee has been appointed to consider the whole proposal, and the legal aspect is being investigated. The proposal is to maintain a free service. In the meantime, amateurs will be pleased to hear that Mr. Marks (2GR), has been granted permission to operate a 100-watt broadcasting station, which he will do at his home at Bellevue Hill. Mr. Marks has had to guarantee that he will give one hour entertainments for six nights a week. It is expected that Mr. Mark's new station will be going tomorrow night, on a wave length of 375 metres.

THE GOVERNOR "LISTENS IN." The Governor, Sir Walter Davidson, was a "listener in" on Wednesday night, when a splendid radio entertainment was broadcasted from the New System Telephones' Studio, at Paling's, to mark the advent of the Broadcasting Regulations. Special apparatus was installed at Government House, and their Excellencies and a party thoroughly enjoyed the fine entertainment. During the evening Mr. George A. Taylor, chairman of the Broadcasting Conference, gave an ether address, and Mr. Chas. Maclurcan, president of the Wireless Institute, talked on the outlook. The musical programme was as follows:— Song, "My Heart's Desire", Clem. Q. Williams; violin solo, "Ave Maria," Master Thomas Williams; song "Pipes of Pan," Dorothy Rudder; cornet solo, "The Rosary," A. E. Kerr; song, "O Mio Fernando," Myra Gillon; song, "I Hear You Calling Me," Ernest Archer; song, "Love is Meant to Make us Glad," Emily Marks; song, "My Wishes for Thee," Marsh Little; song, "Vissi ??????? Telfer. The accompanists were John ???? and May Crisp.

AN APPEAL. The N.S.W.-New Zealand tests start tonight. All arrangements to ensure success have been carried out, and all that is wanted now is the sympathetic co-operation of those amateurs who are not competing. There will be work, between Sydney and the Dominion tonight between 9.30 and 10.10, and the committee controlling the tests sincerely hopes that competitors at this end will not be troubled by howling valves or other interference through mishandled sets. Tomorrow night, Mr. Marsden will close down his transmission at 9.50 in order to carry on test work. The latest entrant is Mr. Maclurcan, and he is enthusiastic over the compete-tion, which, he predicts, will prove to be a great success.

AMATEUR TIME SIGNALS. Mr. J. Nangle has started sending out time signals for the benefit of experimenters. He can be heard on Saturday and Sunday nights on spark, wave length 200 metres. The signals start at 6.55 p.m. and continue till 7, the hour is marked by the last dash before the station signs his call, which is 2MU. Amateurs find the signals most helpful and there is scarcely a station that does not set a timepiece by them.

RADIOGRAMS. The Wentworth Radio Club will hold a wireless dance at the Lawn Tennis Association's Clubhouse, Double Bay, on August 23. Tickets are selling well, and the success of the function is already assured. Messrs. Marsden and Marks carried out some duplex telephony during the week, using rapid methods of change over. They were heard at Kerang (Vic.) and Clifden (Q.). Tomorrow night the transmitting will be carried out by 2GR, 2CM and 2JM. Mr. A. B. Hector is to give a demonstration of his color music on August 25 at his laboratory. An invitation is issued to two delegates from each of the radio clubs to attend. The Relay League has decided to affiliate with the Wireless Institute instead of being incorporated. The Radio Association met on Wednesday night, when business pertaining to experimental work was discussed. Mr. Marsden was elected as representative of the Association on the executive committee of the forthcoming public Radio Exhibition, under the auspices of the Wireless Institute. A general meeting of the Wireless Institute will be held at the Royal Society's Hall on August 21. The Radio Relay League will hold a general meeting at the Royal Society's library on Wednesday, at 8 p.m.

IN THE CLUBS. NORTH SYDNEY. The lease of this club's building at North Sydney having expired, the members at the last meeting decided to accept the offer of the vice-president, Mr. Raymond McIntosh, for the free use of a room and his aerial at his residence, "Dalcrose," Burns Bay road, Lane Cove, where the club will meet in future every Tuesday evening, at 8. NEUTRAL BAY. On Wednesday there was a meeting of Neutral Bay experimenters and the outcome was the formation of a club, known as the Neutral Bay Radio Club. Over 20 members were enrolled. Another meeting of the club will be held on Thursday at 8 p.m., when the election of officers will be finalised. All experimenters are invited to attend the meeting, which will be held at "Belle-Vue," 180 Kurraba-road, Neutral Bay. WENTWORTH. The Wentworth Radio Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, at "Monesk," Bellevue-road, Double Bay, at 8 p.m. Mr. Wallace Best is to lecture. KURINGAI DISTRICT. The next meeting of the Kuringai Radio Society will be held on Tuesday, Mr. Best will lecture on rectifiers. Members are invited to attend the buzzer practice class, commencing at 7.30 p.m. on meeting night. CROYDON. Mr. Fry (2KC), gave an interesting talk on the technical side of transmitting at the last meeting of the Croydon Radio Club. At the meeting members welcomed the president, the Rev. W. E. Maltby. The club hopes to start on the construction of a unit receiver shortly. Members are reminded that club badges are now available, and may be obtained at meetings or by application to the secretary. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. A demonstration of radio telegraphy and telephony was given during the week by the Leichhardt and District Society, in the presence of aldermen of the Leichhardt and Annandale councils. A magnavox, loaned by Messrs. Colville and Moore, was used to amplify signals. The next meeting, a business one, will be held at the club room, 176 Johnston-st., Annandale, on Tuesday.

1923 08 11

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 11 August 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Amateur Radio News. MR. MALONE SPEAKS. BY DOT DASH.

Mr. J. Malone put a large gathering of experimenters in a hopeful mood when he addressed them during the week at the Royal Society's rooms. The chief of the Government wireless service spoke on the new regulations and explained the positions of both amateur and broadcasting. He mentioned that experimental licences will still be issued in genuine cases. It is the intention of the authorities to dispense with the 12 words a minute test for valve licenses, excepting in cases where the experimenter wishes to use a regenerative circuit. The regenerative circuit will not be looked upon with favor if used within a 20-mile radius of Sydney, on account of the risk of interference. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Malone invited questions, and he was given some posers to answer. One question was: Who forced the broadcasting regulations, the commercial interests, the amateurs, or the public? Mr. Malone was unable to answer.

QUEER OPPOSITION. The Radio Relay League is likely to meet with a peculiar opposition from a strange quarter, according to the remarks of a member at Wednesday night's meeting. The plan of the league is to organise the experimenters of Australia and New Zealand in order to carry out an ambitious scheme of relay work. The organisation is practically complete and before long it is hoped to have an unbroken chain of transmitting and receiving stations right round Australia. An objection to this scheme is likely to be voiced by a professional telegraphists' industrial organisation on peculiar grounds. The telegraphists assert that the relay work will train men in their work and that in the event of a strike, experimenters so trained may be used as strike breakers! This idea, it seems, originated in Victoria. The league has decided not to affiliate with the Wireless Institute, but to work entirely on its own.

GOOD TEST WORK. The organisation of the New South Wales-New Zealand tests is working perfectly, and, from all accounts, good work is being done. It is known that experimenters have established two-way communication between Australia and the Dominion in daylight, by telegraphy, of course. This is undoubtedly excellent work when it is remembered that the Australians are using only five watts, and the New Zealanders ten. Several receiving stations report that the signals (CW.) from the Dominion come in so strongly that, on a three-valve set they can be heard all over a large room with the 'phones hanging on the wall. The only thing likely to marr the proceedings are Sydney's howling valves. Competitors complain that while they are listening, they can hear experimenters sweeping through the various wave lengths in an endeavor to locate the New Zealand signals. Before the test started experimenters were asked not to cause such interference, but there are, apparently, some who are incapable of giving any body a fair go.

RADIOGRAMS. Addressing a meeting of Sydney experimenters the other night, Mr. Malone mentioned that the amateur radiophone work in this city was controlled much better than that in Victoria. He had listened in here, he said, and was agreeably surprised at the absence of jamming. The new experimental license forms have been printed and are now available. The broadcasting proposal mentioned in this column last week has been advanced another stage. A prospectus has been drawn up and the provisional directors of the company chosen. It is understood that the scheme provides for a 500 watts station somewhere in the City. Mr. Marks will be opening up his new station tomorrow. He is using 50 watts, not 100, as stated last week. Mr. Maclurcan and Mr. Marsden will also be transmitting tomorrow night, and the latter will close down at 9.30 p.m., in order to get on with New Zealand test work. Two new transmitters have entered the field. They are 2AL. and 2AR. Both stations are in the Western Suburbs.

IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. There will be a meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club at the Laurel Cafe, Royal-arcade, on Monday night, when Mr. Malcolm Perry will lecture. The new experimental regulations will be explained at the meeting. WENTWORTH. At a meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club during the week, arrangements were finalised for the club's dance to be held at the Lawn Tennis Associations's club-house, Rushcutter's Bay, on August 23. The music for the occasion will be suppiled by the "Nightbirds" Orchestra. ILLAWARRA. The next meeting of the Illawarra Radio Club will be held on Tuesday at 8 p.m. As there is important business to discuss a good attendance is desired. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. There will be no meeting of this club on Tuesday, as members are to pay a visit to a transmitting station for this purpose. Members are asked to meet at the tramway waiting room, opposite Grace Bros., at 7.30 p.m. Visits to other places of interest have been arranged, and these will be announced at the meeting of the club to be held on August 21. KURINGAI DISTRICT. At the last general meeting of this society, Mr. W. Best delivered an interesting lecture on "Transformers and Rectifiers." The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday, August 21, at Almonds', corner of Victoria Avenue and Anderson-street, Chatswood. Buzzer practice will commence at 7.30 p.m.

1923 08 18

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 18 August 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Checking Wavelengths. BY DOT DASH.

A certain amount of confusion and interference between experimental transmitting stations has occurred recently, mainly due to the fact that many station owners either make a guess at their wavelength or measure it inaccurately. It is very desirable that all wavelengths should be checked and the checking done on wavemeter only, so that, even if this meter has an error, all stations would be in the same relation to each other and there would be much less chance of one station heterodyning another station. This checking of wavelengths is, of course, a job for the radio inspector, but as the departmental station is not yet available, Mr. Malone has arranged for Mr. Maclurcan to undertake this work till Mr. Crawford's station is ready. Mr. Maclurcan's Heterodyne wavemeter has been calibrated from Mr. Crawford's standard instrument and can be taken as accurate within one per cent. All wavelengths will be measured at the receiving station 2CM, and any licensee requiring his transmitted wavelength to be measured need only call up 2CM by radio or land 'phone and make arrangements with Mr Maclurcan for the checking. Should it be found that two or more stations on the same wavelength are close enough to interfere or heterodyne each other, Mr. Maclurcan will explain the matter to the radio inspector, who will arrange for slight alterations to be made within a metre or two so as to rectify the trouble. If any experimenter is interfered with in this way he is requested to notify Mr. Maclurcan. Mr. Malone is anxious to see all licensees avail themselves of this opportunity, and trusts cordial co-operation will be given.

A RUMOR SQUASHED. It is peculiar the number of rumors that circulate among wireless amateurs. One that gained much prominence during the week alleged that experimenters were to be called upon to pay five shillings a year if they used certain circuits. It was stated that Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. intended to impose a fee of five shillings on all amateurs using the circuits for which they hold the patent rights. Mr. E. T. Fisk, manager of the company, was asked about it, and he said that no such fee would be called for. Rumor had said that the forms to be used in the collection of the fee were already printed.

RELAY WORK. With the approach of relay work, two Sydney experimenters have had QSL cards printed, in order that work from distant stations may be recorded by them and the transmitter advised. The cards are the size of a postcard, and bear the call letters, location and power of the station receiving the message. Columns are provided for filling in the time the signals were received, audibility, and particulars of the receiving set. When the postcard is filled in it is sent to the transmitting station with a request that the operator report the signals of the station from which the postcard is sent. This system is to be adopted by the Relay League.

OPERATORS AND AMATEURS. The Radio Telegraphists' Institute takes exception to the statement made by a member of the Relay League, that an industrial organisation of telegraphists are likely to object to amateur relay work, on the ground, that it will train operators who may be used against them as strike breakers. Captain S. Toombs, general secretary of the Institute, writes:— "I am directed by the executive of the Radio Telegraphists' Institute to state:— (1) There is no person in the Southern Hemisphere outside Sydney who has any authority to make any statements on behalf of the institute; (2) that there never has been, and, we sincerely hope, there never will be, any friction between the amateur and the professional wireless man; (3) that professional wireless men consider the strike weapon an insult to their intelligence and use brains, not brute strength and ignorance to better themselves professionally hence they are not concerned with strikes and strike breakers. "As professional wireless men, we are out to develop, advance, and popularise wireless, and the amateurs have quite a legitimate function to perform in regard to these three matters. So we hasten to assure our amateur wireless brothers that they will always receive not only a fair deal from the professional wireless man, but his assistance whenever it is asked for." Professional wireless men were rather quick to jump to the conclusion that it was they who were referred to. As a matter of fact, the "industrial organisation of telegraphists" referred to in this column last week are not radio men, but land telegraphists. But all the same, amateurs will, no doubt, welcome the cordial assurances of the professionals.

AVENUES FOR RESEARCH. The budding experimenter is often confronted by the problem of the direction his experimenting shall take. At the last meeting of the Croydon Radio Club Mr. Malcolm Perry gave an interesting talk on this subject. The avenues of research mentioned by him, and his comment on them, may be summarised as follows:— The Aerial.— Different types and their various advantages. Apparatus:— Isolated apparatus is best if in panel form, the speed of the experimenter is hampered; but if a test table is used, with the different units on it, and a row of terminals (earth and aerial along top and bottom; H.T. and L.T. on each side. with some 22 silk covered wire to make connections), speedy experimenting is facilitated. Telephones.— It was advised to experiment with various diaphragms, and endeavor to eliminate distortion in loud speakers. Tuning Elements.— There is not much room for experiment in method of winding; but much research could be carried out with couplings. Directional Wireless.— There is a large scope for investigation in this direction, and the lecturer pointed out the wonderful possibilities of this phase of wireless. Elimination of Static.— There is a wide field here, and Mr. Perry suggested that the experimenter should make a device which would throw static into the telephone, thus giving a continuous supply of static to work on.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. Marsden is to make a trip to the south-west of the state, in order to conduct experiments in certain reported "dead" areas. The N.S.W.-New Zealand tests close tomorrow. It is to be regretted that the competitors did not get the consideration due to them from their brother amateurs. Much of the good work was spoilt by interference from howling valves. The authorities, it is understood, are taking a serious view of the howling valve nuisance. Users of regenerative circuits will probably be closely watched, and anybody using such a circuit without the necessary permission is liable to be made an example of. The Union Steamship Company's Tahiti was recently in communication with San Francisco over a distance of 4796 miles. She is fitted with Amalgamated Wireless equipment.

IN THE CLUBS. WENTWORTH. There will be a meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club on Wednesday evening. On the following night the club will hold its first dance at the Lawn Tennis Associations Clubhouse, Rushcutter's Bay. CROYDON. The Croydon Radio Club holds its next meeting tonight, at "Rockleigh," Lang-street, Croydon, when there is some important business to be discussed. Inquiries concerning the club's activities should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. G. Maxwell Cutts, Highbury-street, Croydon. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. On Tuesday members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society were the guests of Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, at the company's experimental station, during a transmission test. Members found much to interest them, and they picked up many hints. Mr. Apperley. on behalf of the company, said that they were at all times anxious and willing to assist the genuine experimenter. The society will meet at 176 Johnstone-st., Annandale, on Tuesday, at 8 p.m.

1923 08 25

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 25 August 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Country Interest. BY DOT DASH.

When Mr. Malone, the Director of Wireless said at a recent meeting that the radiophone in this country would have been a dead letter had it not been for the amateurs, he was loudly applauded. Amateurs are certainly doing fine radiophone work on low power, and some of their excellent transmissions are the results of months of careful experimenting. Yet there are some interests that are vigourously opposed to amateurs broadcasting music and speech. This was shown at a recent meeting of the society for the development of wireless in Australia, when a resolution was adopted. protesting against amateur broadcasting, on the grounds that it would operate unfavorably against the commercial broadcasting concerns. It might be pointed out that though the regulations governing commercial broadcasting have been out for several weeks, the commercial stations seem to be as far off as ever. One company, it is true, has reached the prospectus stage, but a broadcasting service cannot be established in five minutes. In order to get their fees the commercial concerns will have to send on a stated wavelength and make a charge on sets tuned and fixed at that wavelength. This means that users of such sets would not be able to hear amateurs. Those holding experimental licenses, however, can hear everything going, for they can operate sets tunable to any wavelength. So it is seen that the amateur broadcasters will do the commercial stations no harm. The thing likely to kill commercial broadcasting is the issuing of experimental licenses. It is hardly likely that any amateur will bind himself to a fixed wavelength and pay a fee for it, when he can, by proving that he intends to experiment, obtain a Government license and hear everything going. Since the authorities announced a couple of weeks ago that the issue of experimental licenses would continue, there has been a rush of applicants. It is estimated that 750 application forms have been given out in Sydney and the suburbs. This is, surely, a straw indicating the wind.

IN THE COUNTRY. Interest in wireless in the country districts is growing day by day, according to Mr. R. C. Marsden, who has just returned from a trip to the Adelong and Mount Horeb district. "I met several squatters who are keenly interested," he said, "and they are all ready to instal sets if there is anything for them to pick up. The things they would appreciate most are radiophone weather and market reports, and, though they would apply for experimental licenses, one or two expressed their willingness to contribute towards a commercial broadcasting station that would supply such a service." Mr. Marsden was surprised at the interest displayed in the Radio Relay League, even by those who know little about wireless. The man in the country evidently sees in the work of the league a chance to keep in close touch with the city, and the establishment of an amateur wireless fraternity that would tend to brighten many a lonely life. The object of Mr. Marsden's trip was to experiment in a reported "dead" zone. He found it very much alive, however, and he is loud in his praise of Mr. Marks' transmissions, which be picked up strongly. The eighth harmonic of Garden Island (VKG) was also well in evidence.

(Photo Caption) Mr. Spencer Nolan.

SUCCESSFUL CLUB DANCE. Though a comparatively young body the Wentworth Radio Club lacks nothing in organisation, as was proved by a dance and wireless demonstration under its auspices at the Lawn Tennis Association's Club-house, Rushcutter's Bay, on Thursday night. Over 200 people were present, and everything went as smoothly as could be desired. At intervals during the evening the club's president, Mr. Spencer Nolan gave demonstrations of radiotelephony. He worked with his own set, using two valves and a power amplifier, and the music came in splendidly. The arrangements were in the hands of the hon. secretary, Mr. Wallace Best, Messrs. R. C. Marsden, John Holland, Peters, and J. Skinner. The dance music was supplied by the "Nightbirds" Orchestra.

RADIOGRAMS. For the first time in Australia, a meeting of Sydney radio men was called by radiophone, recently. How widely the call was distributed may be gauged from the fact that there were about 100 people at the meeting, and 21 radio clubs were represented. The latest addition to the list of transmitters is Mr. Maclardy (2HP). Up to the present, his transmissions have not been of the best, through faulty modulation and an A.C. hum. He is improving, however. Most of the amateur transmitters are about to get busy on their sets, to bring them down to the 100 to 250 metre band, in accordance with the new regulations. Mr. Marsden will be closing down for a couple of weeks after tomorrow, to get his set to the maximum efficiency on 220 metres. Mr. Maclurcan will send in due course on 240 metres. The Leichhardt and District Radio Club has made arrangements to give a wireless demonstration on Thursday, August 30, at the Annandale Theatre, in conjunction with the Druid's Lodge, which is holding a benefit performance.

IN THE CLUBS. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The next meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society will be held at 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday. Mr. F. Lett will give a lecture. METROPOLITAN. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club will meet next on Monday, September 10, when there will be a social evening. The winners of the N.S.W.-New Zealand tests will be announced, and Mr. Crawford, State radio inspector, will present the prizes. CROYDON. At last Saturday's meeting of the Croydon Radio Club, there was an interesting debate on tuning elements. Mr. Walker argued in favor of the loose coupler, and Mr. Bundle advocated the use of variometers. Mr. H. Lees, who acted as judge, decided that Mr. Walker's arguments were the most convincing. These debates are to be a feature of the club's next meeting tonight at "Rockleigh," Lang-street, Croydon, at 7.30. KURINGAI DISTRICT. At the meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society on Tuesday, Mr. Hill delivered an interesting lecture on transmission, and also dealt with receiving circuits. The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday, September 4, at Al-mond's, corner Victoria-avenue and Anderson-st., Chatswood, when Mr. Swinbourne, of the Manly Club, will lecture. Buzzer practice commences at 7.30 p.m. Address all enquires to R. R. Wilshire, hon. secretary, "Lauriston," Help-street, Chatswood . MANLY. At the fortnightly meeting of the Manly Radio Club on Monday, a lecture on "Wave meters and their construction" was given by Mr. C. W. Mann, science master of the Canterbury High School. The lecture was voted one of the finest and most instructive heard by the club to date. Mr. Mann also exhibited and demonstrated a heterodyne wave meter of his own design and calibration. The lecturer stressed the absolute necessity of a wave meter in every station, whether receiving or transmitting. The club's new aerial is finished, and will be used at next meeting. The secretary, Mr. W. J. S. Perdriau, will be pleased to answer any inquiries. 'Phone, Manly 1093.

1923 09 01

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 1 September 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Farmer's Big Scheme. BY DOT DASH.

The radio boom is about to break over Australia. In a few months people who have hitherto thought of wireless only in association with the saving of life at sea, will be deep in the intricacies of the radiophone. And the spark which will fire the train of enthusiasm is the broadcasting service now being established by Farmer and Company Ltd. Public interest in wireless has been growing for several years, but there has been very little inducement for the average person to take up the hobby and instal a set. In Sydney and the suburbs, also in many of the country districts, there are a number of wireless experimenters. These people are (or should be) licensed by the Government to conduct experiments in wireless within certain limits, among themselves and many have achieved some surprisingly excellent results. But experimenting involves a lot of time, and unless a man can go into the science thoroughly, it is hardly worth while touching. With the establishment of Farmer's station, a far more popular avenue will be opened. In short, a man, for the expenditure of a few pounds, can carry home a set, put up an aerial, and listen to a varied radiophone entertainment without having to make a study of wireless.

TYPE OF SETS. The expense of maintaining an up to date broadcasting station is considerable, and to cover this to a certain extent, a subscription rate will be charged, in addition to the Government license fee of 10/-. Regulations governing commercial broadcasting were recently gazetted, and these provide that every set sold by a broadcasting concern must be sealed to one wave length — that of the station giving the service. This is really an advantage to the user, for there is nothing that requires more patience and knowledge than the proper tuning of a wireless set for the reception of telephony, and there is nothing sounds more horrible than badly-tuned wireless music. The projected station has been licensed by the Government to use a power of 5000 watts (the maximum allowed) for transmission. To the layman this means little, but when it is known that amateur experimenters in Sydney can communicate with their brethren in New Zealand, using only 10 watts, it can easily be realised that the new station will be a power in the radio world. Users of the broadcasting receivers, by-the-way, will not be able to hear commercial work, such as between ships and shore, as their sets will not tune to the wavelength used for this work. To the man on the land, the service will be of great value. He will be able to get his weather reports almost as soon as they are issued, and the same with markets, stock exchange, and items from the "Evening News." And life on the farm will be considerably brightened by the broadcasting entertainments. America had a tremendous radio boom a couple of years ago, and then the craze went across to England. Australia's boom has been a long time coming, but as has often been pointed out in this column, it was bound to come, and it was never nearer than at present.

A TEST CHAMPION. There is considerable speculation among amateur radio men as to the results of the recent N.S.W.-New Zealand Wireless Tests. Though the committee of the Metropolitan Radio Club under whose auspices the tests were conducted, has made no declaration. It is learned that young Jack Davis (2DS) has romped home an easy winner. Jack is the youngest experimenter to hold a Government transmitting license, and his station at Vaucluse is one of the most efficient of amateur stations in Australia. The second and third prizewinners in the test have, it is understood, not yet been selected. Many of the competitors sent in very complete logs, and the committee is having no easy task to select the best. The prizewinners will be officially announced at a social to be held at Miss Bishop's, Queen Victoria Buildings, City, on Monday, September 10. The State Radio Inspector, Mr. Crawford, will be there to present the prizes.

THE ORGANISER. The work of organising a wireless test is, to say the least, hard. Everything must be tuned down to the minute, and competitors, as in everything else, have to be carefully watched and prompted. However, the N.S.W.-New Zealand tests went with a swing that is most unsual with these things and this was in large measure due to the organising secretary. Mr. D. McIntyre. He resided in New Zealand before coming to this State, and was able to use his knowledge of the Dominion to advantage in organising the amateurs there.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. Marsden (2JM) has just completed a neutradyne receiver, and he reports phenomenal results from it. It is reported that 1YA, a New Zealand broadcasting station, comes in well in Sydney in the evening. Mr. Marsden left Sydney during the week for a brief holiday in the western district. He will stay with a brother experimenter. Amateurs are loud in their praise of the radiophone work of Mr. Marks (2GR). His transmissions have been excellent of late. With the approach of summer, the bug-bear static is beginning to become a nuisance again. Amateurs who are not already equipped with them should see that aerial ground switches are put into their stations. The thunderstorms will be coming along frequently soon.

IN THE CLUBS. WENTWORTH. The next meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club will be on Wednesday evening at "Monesk," Bellevue-road, Double Bay. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. On Tuesday evening the Leichhardt and District Radio Club will hold its 12th business meeting. At the meeting on September 11, Mr. G. Apperley is to give a leture illustrated by lantern slides. Information re the club will be given by the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. NEUTRAL BAY. At the last meeting of the Neutral Bay Radio Club a lecture on the elementary principles of wireless was given by Mr. E. J. T. Moore, the lecture being followed by a series of short talks on the various parts of a receiver. On Tuesday, Mr. J. G. Reed will address members, his subject being, "The Wireless Receiver, with Special Reference to the Valve." Arrangements are in progress for members to visit the broadcasting studio of the Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. General meetings are held every alternate Tuesday, at "Belle Vue," 180 Kurraba-road, Neutral Bay. All interested should communicate with the hon. secretary, Mr. E. J. T. Moore, "Newstead," Lower Wycombe-road, Neutral Bay.

(Photo Caption) Mr. McIntyre.

(Photo Caption) Jack Davis.

1923 09 08

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 8 September 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Low Power Feat. BY DOT DASH.

When the full story of the N.S.W.-New Zealand tests is told it will be found that the first prize winner, young Jack Davis (2DS), has come very near to creating a world's record for low power transmission. The young operator succeeded in getting readable messages (C.W.) from his station at Vaucluse to Mr. Bell, in Waihemo, New Zealand, using only .8 of a watt power. There is no doubt about the power used, for the feat was observed and checked by Mr. R. C. Marsden and Mr. Macintyre. Since he started his experimenting with a crystal set a couple of years ago, Jack has made wonderful strides in mastering the intricacies of the science. His technical knowledge is far more extensive than that of many experimenters years his senior, and his enthusiasm for the game is unbounded. It is safe to prophesy that if he continues on as he is going, Jack Davis will make a big name for himself in the radio world.

AN AMBITIOUS SCHEME. At a meeting of the Radio Relay League, during the week, the seeds of a very ambitious test scheme were sown. Aa a result it is probable that within a month or so the organisation will be under way with a view to carrying out a low power test between this State and Great Britain. There are many who will say the thing is impossible, but the same was said about the Trans-Pacific tests, and yet they were a success. It is only by trying that success can be achieved in this instance, and it is up to all experimenters to bear a hand when the time comes. At the meeting of the League, Mr. Marriat (England), chairman of the Radio Section of the Pan Pacific Science Congress, gave an address on wireless work in Britain. During his talk he mentioned that he was surprised at the high standard of amateur work here.

CHOICE OF 'PHONES. Controversy has been raging of late regarding the type of telephones for use in valve receivers for wireless work. The majority of experimenters favor high resistance as against low resistance 'phones, and a transformer. Had the high resistance telephones inserted directly into the plate circuit no drawbacks, it would be an ideal system to wind telephones to a total impedance equal to that of the usual impedance of plate to filament portion of the circuit (usually about 30,000 ohms), using them directly as stated. But such system has the drawbacks of liability to bad shocks, owing to the potential difference across the 'phones; liability to depolarise the permanent magnets, owing to wrong connection in the H. T. circuit, and, in high frequency circuits, the alteration of tuning due to capacity to earth of the wearer's body. The balanced resistance method of connecting the H. R. 'phones may obviate the flow of demagnetising current objection, but it involves complication. The usual method is that adopted by all leading companies the transformer. The transformer winding primary is wound to the usual value suitable to the valve resistance, and the secondary to the impedance of the telephones, usually 120 to 200 ohms, thus making the most efficient use of each circuit. The low resistance telephones are much more robust in construction than the high resistance, and can be more roughly handled (as 'phones often are) with a margin of safety. The slight loss occasioned by the step in transforming can be kept quite low in a well designed transformer. Though usually more expensive, the transformer and low resistance telephone method will be found more satisfactory in the long run.

A NEW CLUB. To make an attempt to fill the gap caused by the disbandment of the Burwood Radio Club, a number of experimenters met in the Burwood School of Arts recently. About 40 enthusiasts attended, and talked over the proposal to call the projected body the Burwood and District Radio Club. The question of the aims and objects of the club caused a lively discussion, as did the matters of a meeting place and the subscription fees. Finally a committee of seven was appointed to draw up rules and regulations for submission at the next meeting. The committee will also endeavour to secure a suitable meeting place for the club, and information and assistance in this matter from anybody interested will be welcome. The hon. secretary for the time being is Mr. H. S. Mellor, and his phone number is U5906.

RADIOGRAMS. On Monday the Metropolitan Radio Club will give its entertainment at Miss Bishop's, George-street, City, when the prizewinners in the N.S.W.-New Zealand tests will be announced, and the prizes awarded. The radio inspector, Mr. W. T. S. Crawford, and his assistant, Mr. Armstrong, will be present. The committee of the Metro Club desires the executive officers of other clubs to attend the function as its guests. Mr. Marsden had another trip to the country early in the week. He went out to the other side of Cassilis and made the journey in a Ford car. At the end of the outward trip "Lizzie" went on strike with a smashed big end, but the part was replaced from the stock of the local storekeeper. Mr. Marsden had a neutradyne set with him, and he reports that local radiophones came in well. The State radio inspector has sent round a little note to amateur transmitters requesting them to shift on to the lower wave length allotted them. The following are now on their new wave lengths:— Messrs. Maclurcan (240 metres), Davis (235), Marsden (236), Crocker (235). As yet there have been no applicants for 212 metres, which is not strange considering that it is dead on the ninth harmonic at Garden Island. The next meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club is set down for Wednesday week. At the 12th business meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, it was decided to alter the club's meeting night from Tuesday to Monday. The change will come into operation with the annual general meeting on October 8. At the meeting on Tuesday here will be a lantern lecture by Mr. G. Apperley.

1923 09 15

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 15 September 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NOTES. Country Waking Up. BY DOT DASH.

People in the country are now begining to take a live interest in wireless. A Sydney experimenter who has just returned from an extensive country tour reports that the man on the land and residents of country towns are eager for information about radiotelephony sets. The intention of Farmer and Company to institute a first-class broadcasting service has done more to arouse interest than anything. A farmer told the experimenter that he would gladly subscribe to the service, if only to get the weather and market reports. His family were delighted at the prospect of frequent entertainment, which would do much toward dispelling the monotony of life on a farm away from the towns. The experimenter was struck by the lack of knowledge, of even the outlines of wireless, on the part of the majority of countryfolk. But this was not the case in places where there was a radio enthusiast to spread information. Up to the present the country man has regarded wireless as something only for the expert and to be approached with fear and trembling by the layman, but there is no doubt that this view will be reversed when broadcasting starts.

AT DALKEITH. An illustration of the value of the science to those in the country is supplied by a telegram from Mr. McMaster, of Dalkeith Station, Cassilis, to Mr. R. C. Marsden, the Sydney experimenter. The telegram reads:— "Please convey to G.R. (Mr. Marks) our best thanks for splendid entertainment. He has succeeded in doing what the Government cannot do, that is to make bush life popular." Mr. McMaster is a keen experimenter, and gets some excellent results from his receiving apparatus. His call letters are 2IZ.

SPEED! Referring to the proposed high-power trans-ocean wireless service in his address at the annual general meeting of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., Mr. E. T. Fisk, managing director, said:— "Instead of locating the operating staff at the high-power station and carrying by wire or wireless all messages from the city to the station, which would necessitate double handling, the operators will be located in an office in the heart of the city, and from that office they will operate the transmitting and receiving equipments some miles distant. "The central office will be equipped with automatic high speed transmitting and receiving apparatus. To send a message the operator will use a lettered Keyboard arranged like the keyboard of a typewriter. The act of depressing the keys will cause Morse signals corresponding to the letters struck to be sent out from the high-power station, and as this apparatus will be designed for working at speeds up to 120 words per minute, and the signals will go direct to England in one-fifth of a second, it will be seen that a very fast service will be available. "The incoming messages from overseas will come through the receiving station into the central office, where they will be automatically recorded by an apparatus capable of recording at a speed of 120 words per minute, and the messages will be delivered by a special messenger to the addressee in clear typewritten characters "A corresponding station of the same type will be provided in England, and will be operated from the G.P.O. in the City of London, so that a message will go direct from here to London without any relays, in a fraction of a second."

METRO CLUB'S SOCIAL. The social evening of the Metropolitan Radio Club, on Monday, was a big success. There were about 120 amateurs and friends present, including Mr. Crawford, State Radio Inspector, and Mr. C. Maclurcan. During the evening the former presented the prizes won in the recent N.S.W.-New Zealand tests, the successful competitors being Mr. Jack Davis (first) and Mr. C. W. Slade (second). During the ceremony Mr. Crawford uttered a warning to those who allowed their valves to "howl." He said, in effect, that if they did not stop the nuisance the authorities would have to take steps to do so. Messrs. R. C. Marsden, president of the club, Maclurcan, Perry and Mann also spoke. The music for the evening was supplied by the Leichhardt and District Radio Club Band, and Mr. Prince gave an exhibition of conjuring.

IN THE CLUBS. NORTH SYDNEY. At the general meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club, held on Tuesday night. It was mentioned that the club's activities appeared to have received something of a setback since its change of address, possibly on account of the increased distance from its old club rooms. It was decided to compile a comprehensive syllabus of lectures, etc., in order to attract members to meetings. The club will be visited on Tuesday by the Croydon Radio Club, at Mr. R. McIntosh's residence, Lane Cove, when a demonstration will be given and matters of mutual interest discussed. An invitation is extended to all local enthusiasts. CROYDON. The Croydon Radio Club held its usual weekly meeting at "Rockleigh," Lang-street, Croydon, on Saturday, when the secretary, on behalf of the members, congratulated Mr. C. W. Slade on his success in winning the receiving prize in the New Zealand tests. Mr. Charlesworth (2CI) gave some valuable hints, pointing out, among other things, the advantages of an accumulator "B" battery for reception. He gave advice as to the best way to construct and charge one. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At this society's meeting held on Tuesday, a lantern lecture was given by Mr. G. Apperley, who dealt comprehensively with the various phases of wireless development, beginning with the Hertz Oscillator and gradually working up to the multi-valve sets of the present day. The lecture was illustrated by slides, which were handled by Messrs. Collett and Burberry. The next meeting will be held in the club room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. All communications should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. KURIN-GAI DISTRICT. The next meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society will be held on Tuesday, at 8.15 p.m., when Mr. Beard, of H.M.A.S. Adelaide, will again lecture. At the meeting arrangements will be made for a party to visit Mr. Maclurcan's station at Strathfield.

1923 09 22

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 22 September 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. What of the Future? BY DOT DASH.

Will the use of radio for entertainment purposes last? I have been asked this question in various forms about a dozen times a week. Is it a passing craze that will die in a couple of years? people ask, or will it become a serious rival of the gramaphone and the telephone? The questions are hard to answer as far as Australia is concerned. America was the first country affected by what might be termed "radio fever." There the people were badly smitten. Broadcasting stations sprung up like mushrooms; young amateurs got busy with spark coils and the weirdest of sets imaginable, and the ether was converted into an inferno of fearful sound, to the detriment of commercial wireless. This condition of affairs continued till the authorities were forced to do something. They called conferences, and, with much labor, eventually succeeded in putting their radio house in something like order. But in the meantime fortunes were made by dealers who unloaded every kind of set, both good and bad, on a public all eager for the new fad. Now, however, though American papers still publish elaborate programmes of the broadcasting stations, and the wireless journals are still composed largely of advertisements for apparatus, there is little doubt that the fever has abated considerably. But it is very unlikely that the radiophones will ever be silenced in America.

ENGLAND'S TURN. The fever began in America took a long time to assume epidemic proportions in England. This was because the British Government, always conservative where communications are concerned, took a tight grip on the situation and limited the work of amateurs, while affording them opportunities to experiment in reception within certain limits. But the agitation for broadcasting eventually had its effect, and the authorities evolved, with the assistance of the broadcasting companies, a fairly reasonable set of regulations. When these were put into force the fever began to spread throughout the British Isles. But there was none of the mad rush that marked the American outbreak. The Britisher, who always, it is said, takes his pleasures sadly, purchased his set and listened in earnestly. Recently the British Government found it desirable to amend the broadcasting regulations slightly, and this caused a slight slump. But it has now picked up again and seems to be holding its own. It seems, however, that if the radiophone as an amusement is going to die it will expire in England first.

IN AUSTRALIA. Taking everything into consideration, and despite assertions to the contrary, it must be said that the radio fever has not yet assumed serious proportions in Australia. When the war ceased the Federal authorities began to grant licenses to amateurs who wished to experiment in reception, but transmission was severely discouraged. As in other countries there was agitation for the removal of certain restrictions on the use of wireless by amateurs, but with the example of America before them, the Government was determined to wait and see. After Britain had made a move the authorities here relaxed their grip somewhat and transmitting licenses were granted to amateurs. The majority of the amateur transmitters began to send telephony and became, in a way broadcasters for their experimenter friends. But their work, good as it was, did not suffice to cause a genuine radio boom, though it aroused a lot of interest. And so the position is at present. The genuine radio rush will come, if it is ever coming, when commercial broadcasting is commenced, and the public are supplied with efficient sets and something to hear. As to the duration of the use of the radiophone as a means of entertainment in the country, it is impossible to give an accurate forecast. The position in Australia, where we have such widely scattered population, cannot be compared with that of other countries, and it is extremely unlikely that their experiences will be ours. However, the onward march of science is sure, and we can not tell what the next few years will bring.

RADIOGRAMS. Young Jack Davis has been distinguishing himself again. Mr. Basil Cooke was to have lectured on wireless to members of the Millions Club, but was unable to attend. Jack stepped in and filled the breach with great ability. Messrs. Maclurcan and Marsden will be transmitting tomorrow night on their lower wave lengths — 240 and 236 metres respectively. Using a three coil circuit to get them there should be 25 turns of wire on each of the primary and secondary, and 35 on the ticker. The tuning will be fine. On hearing of the death of the Governor, the Metropolitan Radio Club sent a letter of condolence to Dame Margaret Davidson. It will be remembered that the late Governor opened the first radio exhibition in Sydney, held under the auspices of the club. Mr. Vickery (2AR), of Hurlstone Park, is one of the newcomers to the transmitting field. He is obtaining good results on about 220 metres. Several other new transmitters are opening up shortly.

IN THE CLUBS. Leichhardt and District. At the Leichhardt and District Radio Society's meeting last Tuesday a most enjoyable and instructive lecture was given by Mr. F. Lett. The lecturer dealt with the construction and action of different types of inductances. Members were also given many valuable hints on the construction of aerials. A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded Mr. Lett. The Society's first annual general meeting is to be held on Monday, October 8. All correspondence should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1923 09 29

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 29 September 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Apathy in the Clubs. BY DOT DASH.

One of the regrettable features of the amateur wireless world at present is the apparent fading off of radio club activities. There is a thing like a well conducted club to put the young experimenter and the beginner on the right track and even the skilled amateur can always learn something at meetings. I have often been asked by would-be experimenters how to make a beginning and my advice has always been, "Join an amateur radio club." The wisdom of the advice has been proven over and over again. In one night at a club meeting the beginner will learn more than he could by weeks of ???? of technical books, and, apart from the educational lectures, his brother experimenters are always ready and willing to inform him on any point on which he is in doubt. The fall off in attendance at club meetings began with the advent of amateur broadcasting, for there were many who prefer just to stay at home and listen-in rather than go to meetings. Nowadays only a few bodies are holding their members while the rest are rapidly falling to pieces. If the amateur wants his rights protected he would be well advised to maintain the organisation afforded by the clubs. The authorities will take no heed of unorganised requests. With the arrival of commercial broadcasting there is sure to be many recruits to the ranks of the amateurs and it seems to me that the time is ripe for the clubs to open campaigns for new members to regain their old status.

QUESTION OF RANGE. Many people who take up wireless as a hobby commence with a crystal set, which is undoubtedly the best beginning. But they are often dissatisfied with the results they obtain and begin to wonder whether this is the fascinating hobby they thought. The whole trouble in these cases is that the range of a crystal set is often over estimated by the salesmen of the more advanced experimenter who advises the beginning. The advisers are apt to overlook the fact that they are experts and are therefore able to get the best out of any apparatus. I know a Sydney experimenter who thinks not ???? of getting Awanui (New Zealand) on a very simple crystal set, but I never manage it myself. His aerial was the most efficient job possible and his 'phones supersensitive and he would have to wait patiently night after night to accomplish the feat. The beginner should not, therefore, hope to get such results. With a crystal set it is absolutely essential to use an aerial 30 feet high or more and 60 feet long. If good results are to be gained, and the set must be well handled. For telephony the beginner must not expect too much. He will be happy if he hears a low power broadcast station more than five miles away. But there is a lot to be learned from the crystal set and it is certainly best for the beginner to become familiar with before ???? the more complicated valve outfit.

HOW LONDON DOES IT. Wireless enthusiasts are already wondering what treats are in store for them when the commercial broadcasting stations commence here. If the musical part is anything like that given to London's listeners-in there will be no room for complaint. Following is one of London's day programmes:— At 3 p.m.— Organ Recital by Mr. F. Armstrong at Aeolian Hall, Bond-street W., and Miss Fedors Rozelli (contralto) and Miss Daisy Kennedy (violin) will be heard. Organ Solos, the Overture from "Tannhauser" (Wagner), "Spring Song" (Hollins); Miss Rozelli, Inter nos (MacFadyen Largo (Handel); Miss Kennedy (violin), Larghetto (Mardini), Tambourine (Ledair), Minuet (Rosseau), Prelude ???? Allegro (Pugani-Kreisler); Organ, Overture "Cecilia" (Batiste), "Sunset and Evening Chimes" (Freiderlein); Miss Rozelli, Kishmuls Galley (Songs of the Hebrides) (Kennedy Fraser), A de Laurie (Traditional); Miss Kennedy, Russian Dance (Zimbalist), ??ennes Melody (Kreisler), Spanish Serenade, ??aminade (arr. Kreisler), Hungarian dance (Brahms), English Hornpipe (??stawski); Organ, "The Ride of the Valkyrie" (Wagner), Overture "1812" Tschaikowsky). At 8 p.m.—Mr. Kneale Kelley with strings and Piano, "Ectase" (L. Ganne), "Passe Med" (Gillet); Mr. Gilbert Bailey, "I will Love Her Till I Die" (Parry), "Faery Song" (Boughton), "Come My ???? (Butterworth); Miss Beatrice Eveline ('cello), "Ave Maria" (Max Bruch). 9 p.m.— The Rev. R. T. Newcombe, M.C., St. Michael's Parsonage, Hull; ??? Rachael Alvarez, "Pleures mes yeuz" (Massenet), "In My Garden" (Anon), Mr. Kelley's "Chanson Napoliaine" (D'Ambrosio), and "Canzzonetta" (D'Ambrosio). 9.30 p.m.— News and weather; Mr. Bailey, "Drink to Me Only." Shy ???? (Rebecca Clark), "Fair Home of Joy (Quilter), Miss Eveline, "Aria Tenas ( 1600), "Rhapsodie" (Popper), "Lulia" (Cyril Scott); Miss Rachael Alvarez (Soprano), "The Prelude" and "Love Have Won You" (Landon Ronald); Mr. Kelley, Slow Movement from concert for two violins and piano (Bach) and with Mr. Ernest Rutledge, "Revere" (Fillipucci).

MUSICAL NEWCASTLE. The Newcastle Radio Club made its first test with radiophone music recently, and the experiment was a marked success. Most of the set was made by club members, and their music was received by Mr. Silverthorne, at Cockle Creek. The club, which was formed in Newcastle about 12 months ago, has been steadily progressing with the erection of this set, the main difficulty being finance. They have every reason to be pleased with themselves on results. They carried out successful conversation by wireless with Mr. Olsen, and also supplied some excellent music from a gramophone.

RADIOGRAMS. Static has been bad of late, and from now onwards till the autumn it will be the chief source of annoyance to amateurs. Now is the time to experiment on static eliminators, for there is a big reward for success in this direction. It is understood that the transmissions from the proposed broadcasting station of Farmer and Co. will be on 1100 metres. Though Sydney's amateur broadcasters have shifted their wavelengths from the 400 to the 200 metre bands, the quality of their transmissions has not been varied thereby. According to an experimenter who recently returned to Sydney from England the London broadcasting station has had some difficulty in securing good modulation. Many of its little troubles, it is said, were the result of sending on too short a wavelength.

IN THE CLUBS. Leichhardt and District. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society will hold its first annual general meeting on Monday, October 8, when the arranging of a new syllabus of lectures will be discussed. The final Tuesday meeting will be held next week. North Sydney. Members of the North Sydney Radio Club are advised that in lieu of the regular meeting next week they are invited to attend a wireless telephony and lantern lecture by the Northbridge and Neutral Bay Clubs at Manresa Hall, Carlow-street, North Sydney, on Tuesday. Croydon Radio Club. On Tuesday last the members were the guests of the North Sydney Radio Club, when they were entertained by music transmitted by 2GR. Mr. C. W. Slade gave a short lecture upon the circuit be used for receiving N.Z.

1923 10 06

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 6 October 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. A Warning. BY DOT DASH.

There is an unlicensed transmitter causing trouble in the ether just now, and the culprit would be well advised to discontinue sending. For a long time experimenters have been hearing an occasional mysterious voice in the receivers, and the absence of any call signal with it has forced them to the conclusion that it is an unlicenced station. The matter got beyond a joke recently, when a mysterious person rang up Mr. Maclurcan, of Strathfield on the land line, and saying the speaker was 2DS (Mr Jack Davis, of Vaucluse) asked for a test. Fortunately Mr. Maclurcan knows Mr. Davis' voice and he rang off and confirmed his suspicion that the speaker was an imposter. It would be well for the offenders to remember that they can be located with the greatest of ease ease by the use of direction finders. The authorities are equipped for this work and one of these days they will decide, to use them. Then there will be sudden trouble for somebody.

JAZZ IN THE ETHER. There was jazz in the ether last Sunday night. It was inferior jazz, but this was only to be expected, as the static was the worst for many a night. Mr. Marsden thought he would give listeners a treat, so he got a jazz band of nine performers out to his station and broadcasted their music. The band dispensed excellent fox trots and one steps, but the selections were considerably mutilated when they reached the receivers. In order to collect the sound for transmission, Mr. Marsden used four microphones. One was used as a main collector, another was placed for the violin and clarionette, another for the piano, and the other for the saxaphones and drums. But the result was disappointing and the operator has been forced to the conclusion that a jazz band is one of the most difficult combinations to broadcast. It is a peculiar thing that the banjo was the cause of a lot of trouble. This instrument is most difficult to dull down and is in consequence, always out of harmony with the rest of the band for wireless work.

WHEN THE LIGHT FAILED. It was on Sunday right, too, that Mr. Marks, of Rose Bay, had some bad luck. He had as a visitor to his station, Alderman Cohen, Lord Mayor of Adelaide. It was the intention of the visitor to address Adelaide amateurs by means of the radiophone, and just when he was about to begin, the lights of the district failed, leaving Mr Marks without power. There was nothing for it but to wait till the lights came on again, which they did in due course. By this time Mr. Marks' time on the transmitting roster had run out, but Mr. Maclurcan came to the rescue and gave up half an hour of his time, so the address was given after all. It is reported that the speech was heard by amateurs in Adelaide, and if this is so, it was a very fine piece of work on the part of both transmitter and receivers, as the static was very bad.

WIRELESS EXHIBITION. The Wireless Institute of Australia has made arrangements to hold a wireless and allied electrical exhibition in the Town Hall from December 3 to 8. This exhibition will provide an opportunity for the general public to see wireless equipment in its various wonderful stages of development. The members of the institute, are an enthusiastic body of men, who devote much of their time to experimenting and carrying out unusual tests, with the object of discovering something new in radio work. Many of the ingenious pieces of apparatus designed, and made, by these experimenters will be on view, and will serve to give the visitors to the exhibition some indication of the value of research work. In addition to this apparatus, the numerous firms interested in wireless are taking special pains to make the exhibition a success. Already many firms have arranged for stands to show wireless apparatus for broadcasting, ships, aircraft, inland telegraph and telephone services, and there will even be information about the giant international station, which will shortly be built to place Australia in direct wireless communication with the United Kingdom.

RADIOGRAMS. At the last meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club there was an interesting demonstration of two circuits. Mr. Wallace Best showed the work of the famous Neutradyne "hook up," and Mr. Marsden demonstrated on a circuit of his own design. Mr. Spencer Nolan, president of the Wentworth Radio Club, has just installed a fine 50ft. radio mast at his home. His son. Mr. Phil Nolan, has been granted a transmitting license and he expects to be sending within a month. Members of the Metropolitan Radio Club are to have a novel outing on Saturday, October 20. It is to take the form of a launch picnic. Permission is being obtained for a receiving set to be installed on the launch for the occasion, so that the picnicers may be entertained by radio music from local stations. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society have changed their meeting night from Tuesday to Monday. The first meeting under the new scheme of things will be on Monday, when the first annual general meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Mr. G. A. Taylor, president of the Association for the Development of Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, and chairman of the Broadcasting Committee, delivered lantern illustrated address to the combined clubs of Neutral Bay and North Sydney last Tuesday, at Manresa Hall, North Sydney. The North Sydney Club were the guests of the Neutral Bay Club for the occasion. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr. McIntosh, of the North Sydney Club, gave a demonstration of two-way telephony.

1923 10 13

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 13 October 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. Amateurs and Broadcasting. BY DOT DASH.

That the success of broadcasting will depend to a large extent on the activities of the amateurs is the opinion of Mr. J. Malone, chief manager of telegraphs and wireless. He states this in the following message to a recent combined meeting of the North Sydney and Neutral Bay Radio Clubs:— "The successful development of wireless broadcasting will depend to a great extent on the activities of the amateurs. Friends of the amateur will seek advice, and will be impressed by the results obtained from the experimental receivers. A factor likely to militate most seriously against successful broadcasting will be interference, some of which can be controlled, if not eliminated, by careful attention to the design and manipulation of receivers. "Regenerative receivers will invariably be the cause of interference and annoyance, and it behoves all who have the interests of harmonious working at heart to endeavour, by advice and example, to guard against this evil. I am confident that the members of the North Shore clubs will realise this and will take whatever action is in their power to help us to establish the early conditions of broadcasting security, by setting themselves against the howling valve nuisance."

2CM PROTESTS. Mr. C. Maclurcan (2CM), the leading experimenter of this State, is annoyed, and rightly so. The cause of his annoyance is the "howling" valve trouble and he makes himself plain in the following statement:— "I wish to appeal to the sporting instincts of some of our most skilful exponents of the genus valvus howlus — if they have any. "On Saturday night, between 10 p.m. and midnight, I was endeavouring to carry on traffic with 4AA, New Zealand. One half-hour's transmission was drawn out for two hours owing to interference from about four howling valves which, owing to their strength, must have been in the Burwood-Strathfield vicinity. These fellows were undoubtedly only listening-in on my transmission, for there was no music at that late hour. I appealed to them twice, both in code and 'phone, to go to bed and give me a chance to finish but my appeal fell on deaf ears or dud aerials. "Doesn't it occur to some of these unsportsmanlike chaps, that many experimenters send out excellent music and give a considerable amount of their time to entertain such as they, and it is only reasonable to expect, that, when one has some long-distance morse to put over and stays out of bed to do it, so as not to encroach on the music time, they should at least, play the game. "Jack Cureton, 2AY, was at this same time trying to work with a South Australian amateur. Although he is situated less than a mile from 2CM, neither transmitter interfered with the other, yet both of us were held up by the "whistlers." "If it is mere curiosity that keeps those birds out of bed, I would gladly send them an extract of all I intend to say when working with an interstate experimenter, together with their replies later on. "Give us a chance, chaps."

NOW THEN, AMATEURS! Amateurs are to have another chance to show the public what they can do at the forthcoming wireless and electrical exhibition, now being organised by the Wireless Institute. To organise and direct the experimenters' side of the exhibition, Messrs. Pike, Bartholomew, and Marsden have been appointed a subcommittee, which will be known as the "Amateur and Science Sub-Committee." At the first Radio Exhibition, held under the auspices of the Metropolitan Radio Club, there was a distinct reluctance on the part of experimenters to exhibit their work, but the subcommittee hope that this feeling has now disappeared, and that the amateur exhibits will be the outstanding feature of the show. It is the desire of the committee that the various clubs discuss the question of putting in club exhibits, which can be subdivided into the displays of individual members. Circulars are to be sent to the clubs to this effect. There will, of course, be prizes for various classes of exhibits, particulars of which will be made known later.

A NEW MOVE. There has been a new move by the authorities in connection with the renewal of experimental licenses. A Sydney amateur, who has had an experimental license for years, received a disturbing note, when the license fell due for renewal recently. The letter, in effect, asked him to give his reasons why his experimental license should not be cancelled and a broadcasting license issued in its stead. It also asked him to furnish particulars of any experiments he had conducted during the year. There is no doubt that the amateur in question will be able to fully justify his right to hold an experimental license, but he could have done so much easier had he known that such a demand would be forthcoming. It seems hardly fair for the authorities to thus worry men who were experimenting long before broadcasting was mooted. There are however, many people holding these licenses who can show little, if any, claim to them, and they could be weeded out with benefit to the experimenters as a whole.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. Marks, of Rose Bay, is still being pursued by bad luck. The other night he burned out a 50-watt Kenetron rectifier, worth over £12. There will be a meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club, at the Laureal Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Monday night, when Mr. Cotterill will lecture. The club's wireless launch picnic set down for Saturday week, is proving a popular attraction, and as the sale of tickets is limited, members are advised to make early application for them. Mr. Marsden (2JM) is putting in an entirely new transmitter, with which he hopes to get some particularly good results. He will be sending within the next three weeks. The Wentworth Radio will hold a meeting on Wednesday night at "Monesk," Bellevue-road, Double Bay. The first annual general meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society was held on Monday, when the hon. secretary's report revealed the amount of excellent work done during the club's first year. The question of the change of meeting night was again raised, and it was finally decided to revert to the Tuesday night forthwith. Three new members were elected at the meeting, bringing the total membership to 55. During the evening a presentation of a leather attache case was made to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, as a mark of esteem from his fellow-members, and in recognition of his service to the society. The next meeting will be held at the club-room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, on Tuesday evening. The next meeting of the Neutral Bay Radio Club will be held on Tuesday at "Bellevue," Kurraba-road, Neutral Bay, at 8 p.m., when a lantern lecture on "The History, Progress, and Development of Wireless" will be given by Mr. Geo. Apperley, of the engineering staff of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. All communications should be addressed to the secretary, 6 Lower Wycombe-road, Neutral Bay. 'Phone North 758.

1923 10 20

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 20 October 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Regenerative Circuits. BY DOT DASH.

Are regenerative receivers being dealt with too harshly by the authorities? A prominent Sydney experimenter declares that they are, and voices the opinion that all circuits suspected of being capable of causing interference, should be given a practical test. At present the authorities have set their hands against all regenerative circuits, and their use is forbidden except in very special cases. The trouble arises from the fact that some regenerative circuits cause aerial oscillations, while others are not capable of causing any material interference. The experimenter referred to asserts that regenerative circuits, where the coupling between aerial plate and grid coils is absolutely fixed, should be allowed. Several circuits approved by the British Broadcasting Company have been turned down by the authorities here, and the only way to settle the whole vexed question seems to be by a practical test of each "hook-up."

MORE MUSIC. The supply of music in the air has been increased by the tests of a Sydney firm, which is to start broadcasting in a commercial way before long. The company, which was formed a couple of month ago, has succeeded in securing an admirable operating-room, and the necessary apparatus has been installed. With the object of broadcasting at the highest standard, the company's experts are conducting a series of tests, which are expected to continue for some weeks. The wavelength is in the vicinity of 390 metres.

NEW TRANS-PACIFIC TESTS. A new series of tests between American and Australian amateurs, organised by the Wireless Institute, commenced on Monday, and will continue till early next month. These tests are often productive of valuable results, and every genuine experimenter should endeavor to do something to help make them successful. It is to be regretted that only three transmitting stations in this State are taking part, and only a small number of receivers. One of the competitors writes requesting that all Sydney transmitters using a wave length below 230 metres refrain from sending before 9 p.m. between October 15 and November 3. The American amateurs will be transmitting between these dates, and local receivers require no interference during their endeavors to pick up the signals.

THE EXHIBITION. The Amateur and Science subcommittee of the Wireless Institute's forthcoming Wireless and Electrical Exhibition, is making vigorous efforts to ensure that the display of experimenters' apparatus will be a good one. Six stalls have been earmarked for the amateurs, and the committee has also arranged for the collection and delivery of apparatus. Amateur exhibitors will be given free passes for the exhibition. Mr. R. C. Marsden, a member of the committee, has been deputed to attend meetings of the various clubs, and explain the exhibition arrangements to members. He will also urge them to display their work. Mr. Marsden has already addressed members of the Manly and Neutral Bay Clubs.

1923 10 27

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 27 October 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. VALVE TRANSMITTERS. BY DOT DASH.

It has now been decided that the valve system will be utilised for the high power equipment in the international service, and for the numerous feeder stations throughout Australia. Similar decisions were reached in Great Britain and in South Africa in their plans for international services. The authorities in Canada have also commenced substituting valve transmitters in existing stations and all future equipment will be of the valve type. New Zealand has not yet made any alteration, but, according to recent announcements made by the Dominion's Postmaster-General, the matter of installing new and more powerful apparatus is being given urgent consideration. As New Zealand prides itself on being thoroughly up-to-date in its public facilities, there is little doubt that they will shortly decide to instal valve transmitters to place New Zealand suitably on the wireless map of the world. The United States of America recently arranged for the Radio Division of the United States Bureau of Engineering to conduct exhaustive tests on every known type of radio equipment, and, as a result, recommendation was made and ultimately accepted by the American Navy that in future all ships and shore stations would be of the valve type, or vacuum tube transmitters.

AMERICAN TESTS. One test carried out by the United States Navy was between a 100 K.W. spark set and a 6 K.W. valve transmitter, and this demonstrated in a most unexpected manner the great superiority of the valve. The stations instructed to listen for both transmitters advised that the valve signals were read more easily and with better audibility than were those of the spark set. Another test was between the 6 K.W. valve transmitter and 230 K.W. arc set, and again the former showed to greater advantage. Results were secured with a valve transmitter on the battleship Wyoming. The Naval report states that some results were unexpected, such as ability to receive on the same vessel, numerous broadcasting stations transmitting on about 400 metres, while the ship's valve transmitter was supplying 26 amperes to the main aerial, on a wavelength of 507 metres. "This condition allows duplex communication, which has actually been put in practice on the Wyoming, and will be further developed on the Colorado and West Virginia," says the report. In the United States naval aviation squadrons new valve transmitters will be installed almost immediately to replace the existing equipment of other types.

HOW GLASGOW DOES IT. According to Glasgow newspapers, that city is very well served in the matter of wireless entertainment. A correspondent forwards us a cutting from one of the papers, giving one day's programme, and we reprint it to show its variety and excellence. It is to be hoped that Sydney will have something like this:— Station 5SC, 415 metres. 3.30 to 4.30 — An Hour of Melody by the Wireless Trio. March,"Florentiner" (Fucik); entriacte, "El Saludo" (Ancliff); selection, "Salambo" (Reyer); one-step, "Doddle-Oddle-Ooo" (Layton); suite, "Summer Days" (Coates); waltz, "Puppchen" (Gilbert); selection, "New Alladin" (Monckton); march, "Palace" (Finck). 4.30 to 5.— Close down. 5 to 5.30.— A Talk to Women. "Poultry Talk," by G. F. J. Buvington; "In and Out of the Shops," by the Copy Cat; one recipe from Mrs. C. S. Peel's Wireless Cookery Book. 5.30-6.— The Children's Corner — "Wool and Water," Part 2 from "Alice Through the Looking Glass." Newspaper. 6.— Special Weather Report for Farmers. 6 to 8.15.— Close down. 8.15.— The Weather Report and First News Bulletin. 8.25.— Orchestra — Overture (Mendelssohn). Short Talk on "Recent Advances in Medical Science," by Joseph Needham, B.A. 8.35.— Miss Elsie Black, contralto — "Constancy" (A. Foote), "Still as the Night" (Bohn). 8.45.— Orchestra Suite, Four Dances from "The Rebel Maid" (Phillips) — 1, Jig; 2. Gavotte; 3. Graceful Dance; 4, Villager's Dance. 8.55.— Mr. John Morton, bass — "Port of Many Ships" (Fred Keel); "Trade Winds" (Fred Keel). 9.5.— Cornet solo by Mr. Maddock, of the Wireless Orchestra — "Love Came from Fairyland" (Lincke). 9.10.— Miss Elsie Black, contralto — "Alike at Morn and Eventide" (Beethoven); "Come, Oh My Fairest Treasure" (Gluck). 9.20.— Orchestra Selection, "Veronique" (Messenger). 9.30.— Mr. John Morton, bass — "Hear Me, Gentle Maritana" ("Maritana"), (Wallace); "Afterday" (Cyril Scott). 9.40.— Orchestra — Entr'acte, "Phul Nana" (Cheyne). 9.50.— Miss Elsie Black, contralto, "Why Should I Sit and Sigh" (K. Fraser); "Bons of Jura" (K. Fraser). 10.— A Talk to Men, a Manuscript Talk from London, "Golf," by C. B. MacFarlane. 10.10.— Orchestra — Selection, "Manon" (Massanet). 10.20.— Mr. John Morton, bass — "More Love or More Disdain" (Purcell); "I'll Sail Upon the Dogstar" (Purcell). 10.30.— Orchestra — Walz, "Venus Reigen" (Cung'l); march, "Right o' the Line" (Walker). 10.45.— The Weather Report and Second News Bulletin. Special announcements. Good night. "God Save the King."

IN THE CLUBS. NEUTRAL BAY. The next meeting of the Neutral Bay Radio Club will be held at "Belle Vue," 180 Kurraba-road, Neutral Bay, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, when it is hoped that all members will attend. In view of the importance of forthcoming events affecting experimenters individually, and the club as a whole. All communications should be addressed to the secretary, 8 Lower Wycombe-road, Neutral Bay. 'Phone, North 758. WENTWORTH. At the next meeting of the Wentworth Radio Club on Wednesday, members will have an opportunity of seeing Mr. Phil Nolan's new transmitter in operation. Mr. Phil Nolan is the son of Mr. Spencer Nolan, president of the club. NORTH SYDNEY. At the last meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club, Mr. Marsden gave a talk on transmission, and related some of his experiences, while operating a sending set. The club now has its set in operation, and experimental transmissions are being sent on 235 metres.

1923 11 03

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 3 November 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Amateur Radio News. DISQUIETING RUMOR. BY DOT DASH.

Owing to the Trans-Pacific test work, there has not been much amateur transmitting during the week. But wherever amateurs have congregated they have discussed the rumor that the authorities may put a ban on amateur broadcasting when the commercial stations get to work. Just why this action should be taken is hard to say. The amateurs have their own band of wavelengths, well out of the way of the commercial work, and if they stick to them they will cause no interference. Nor can the patrons of the broadcasting companies listen to the amateurs, for they will be using sealed sets. It is said that the amateur transmitters will be limited to C.W. Morse work, except in special cases. If this is so it will cause trouble. There is no doubt that at the present time wireless telephony is the chief item of interest to the experimenter, and most of the work in an experimental direction is confined to attempts at improvement in the sending and reception of speech on the ether wave. One effect of the curtailing of amateur radiophone work will be to cause those holding experimental licenses to poach on the commercial broadcasting.

FOR THE BEGINNER. Many people, whose interest has been aroused by the close approach of broadcasting, are very hazy as to their position in regard to the various forms of licenses. One man, who wants to hear the aerial music purely as an entertainment, asked me why he should pay the fees of a broadcasting company when his neighbor could hear everything going for 10/-a year. It transpired that the neighbor was an experimenter and held a Government experimental license entitling him to use a set tunable to all wavelengths. I explained this to my friend, and his reply was: "Why can't I get one of those licenses and listen to everything?" This question is being asked all over the City, and it would be as well to explain here that experimental licenses are now only being granted to genuine experimenters, who can prove to the authorities that they intend to conduct experiments, and indicate the nature of the work they propose to undertake. If necessary they may be called upon to undergo an examination to prove their fitness to handle an experimental set. It is quite right that the issuing of experimental licenses should be limited, as the man who does not know how to handle a set can cause a good deal of interference to other amateurs as well as to commercial stations. Those who wish to take up wireless merely as a form of entertainment must go to the broadcasting company whose service they wish to receive and purchase a set from them. At the same time they may obtain a broadcasting license costing 10/-. The net so obtained is so constructed that anybody can manipulate it, and it will not tune to any other wavelength than that being used by the company that sells it.

APATHETIC AMATEURS. The Wireless and Electrical Exhibition under the auspices of the Wireless Institute will be held from December 3 to 8. The organisation work is now almost completed, and everything points to the exhibition being a big success. There is one regrettable feature, however, and this is the apathy of experimenters towards the show. The committee thought this would be a splendid opportunity for a display of amateur apparatus, and arrangements were made to feature this section. A sub-committee of three were appointed to make arrangements for getting in the exhibits, but their work has been productive of little success up to the present. Amateurs are reminded that their apparatus will be collected and returned to them after the exhibition by the committee, so they will be put to the minimum of trouble. There will be prizes for the best apparatus displayed in the various classes. Intending exhibitors should notify the committee early, for the last day for the reception of entries is November 14.

SHORT-WAVE RECEIVER. A correspondent has asked me to give him a circuit suitable for the reception of amateur transmissions. The one published here will be found suitable, many experimenters having obtained excellent results with it. Variometers, which are admittedly the best in shortwave reception, are used. The variable condenser can be left out, but it will be much more efficient with it. IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held on Monday week, when Mr. Robert Hill will give a lecture. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. At the usual weekly meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, on Tuesday, Mr. G. Mann gave a talk on wavemeters and their construction. All information concerning the society will be supplied to Mr. W. J. Zech, hon. secretary, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. CROYDON. The Croydon Radio Club has been granted its transmitting license, and tests will be commenced in a few weeks. At the last meeting of the club, Mr. Malcolm Perry spoke on loud speakers, and gave a demonstration of their use. The club's secretary is Mr. Maxwell Cutts, "Farwell," Highbury-street, Croydon. MOSMAN. At a meeting of the Mosman Radio Club on Monday, it was decided that the entrance fee to the club be 3/6, and the subscription 10/- per annum, payable in four quarterly instalments in advance. The president, Mr. Young, spoke of the club's apparatus, stating that members would share the privilege of making the parts, and the use of the set. The next club meeting will be held on Monday, at 8 p.m., at 104 Glover-street, Cremorne Junction. All interested are requested to attend.

1923 11 10

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 10 November 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Broadcasting Points. BY DOT DASH.

Commercial broadcasting will officially start in Sydney on November 15, when the service of Broadcasters, Ltd., will be opened. The service of Farmer's Ltd. will commence on December 5. For some weeks, Broadcasters Ltd. have been carrying out tests and excellent results have been gained. Reports commenting very favorably on the transmissions have been received from the country districts, and the station was heard by an experimenter in Tasmania. The apparatus for Farmer's is nearing completion at the works of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., and the installation will be carried out shortly. The broadcasting studio will be located on Farmer's building, and the actual transmitting station at Willoughby. The studio, in which the items for transmission will be given, is being specially designed to ensure the maximum of efficiency. The station at Willoughby will, of course, be in touch with the studio, but the operating of the transmitter will be from the city establishment by means of an ingenious system of remote control. Farmer's service will be given on a wave length of 1100 metres, but this will mean nothing to the subscriber who will want to be supplied with the entertainment, and will not concern themselves with technical details. It might be mentioned, however, that the sets sold for reception of the service will be fixed to this wavelength, so they will be simple to operate, even to the person who has never seen a receiving set.

THE RADIOLA. The Radiola (Photo Caption) There will probably be only two controls to operate, one for the condenser and the other for the valve. Among the sets being prepared for this service is the Radiola, a product of the factory of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. The instrument is contained in an attractive cabinet, the valve and other parts being entirely concealed. The Radiola can be added to in order to receive greater volume of sound over long distances. In this case an amplifier is placed on the top of the cabinet. The amplifier is constructed in a similar manner to the receiver.

WIRELESS NEWSPAPERS. To be hundreds of miles from land, and yet be able to read the news of the world at breakfast time, is one of the blessings conferred upon sea travellers by wireless telegraphy. At present a wireless newspaper, "The Wireless News," is published every day aboard ships running between Sydney and America and Canada. The news is specially compiled in Sydney by the Wireless Press, and sent from Sydney Radio (VIS), on high power and a special wavelength. When the ships are out of range of the Sydney station they pick up the news from Suva or Estevan on Vancouver Island. It is the usual thing for a ship on a voyage to Vancouver from Sydney to receive the news from VIS between this port and Auckland. From Auckland to the equator Suva is copied, and Estevan serves for the remainder of the trip. It says much for both sending and receiving stations, however, that VIS is often copied right to Honolulu and sometimes further. The ships on which "The Wireless News" is published at present are the Niagara, Makura, Tahiti, Manganui, Marama, Manuka, and Ulimaroa?

WIRELESS AND ELECTRICS. In all, 33 firms will be represented at the wireless and electrical exhibition, to be held in the basement of the Town Hall from December 3 to 8. On the first day the session will be from 2 till 10 p.m. and the remaining days from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. It has been decided to charge an admission fee of 1/-. In addition to wireless equipment of all types and descriptions, there will be shown by the various firms the most up-to-date electrical appliances for the home. An interesting section of the exhibition will be the competitive displays of apparatus by wireless experimenters. In this connection, I have received a letter from an amateur in the suburbs, enclosing his entry for a valve panel. He says he sent it to me because he did not know where else to send it. Application forms for entering exhibits are available at all wireless shops, and the address to which to send the entry is printed on the form. If you cannot secure a form, write a letter making the entry, to the official organiser, Mr. F. Daniell, 56 Hunter-street, City.

CLUB NEWS. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, when Mr. A. H. Perrett will give a lecture. There will be another address by the same gentleman at the I.C.S. rooms, 399 George-street, City, on November 20, the subject being "Radio Telegraphy." Practical demonstrations will be given. At the last meeting of the Mosman Radio Club, Messrs. J. W. Scott Fell, M.L.A., Alderman Smith, Mayor of Mosman, Basil Cooke, and A. W. Norton were nominated as vice-presidents. Mr. Cook was also nominated as technical adviser to the club. Mr. Ginger, the club's treasurer, was appointed to supervise the construction and control of the club's apparatus. It was decided to hold a radio dance in aid of the club's funds. The next meeting will be held on Monday at 8 p.m. at 104 Glover-street, Cremorne Junction, when Mr. R. C. Marsden will lecture. All information concerning the club may be had on application to the secretary, Mr. M. Neon, Medusa-street, Mosman.

Experimenters and those interested in broadcasting requiring information are invited to submit their questions to the "Evening News." Questions addressed to "Dot Dash" will be answered in this column each week, or, if so desired, by post if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1923 11 17

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 17 November 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Dealers' Grievance. BY DOT DASH.

Sydney dealers in wireless supplies are being put to trouble and loss of trade because the Commonwealth authorities cannot come to a decision regarding the construction of sealed broadcasting receivers. Any set to receive radiophone transmissions from a commercial broadcasting station, must be so constructed that it cannot be tuned to receive messages on any other wavelength. For instance, a broadcasting station sending on, say, 1100 meters, must be received by patrons of that service on a set that will only respond to messages being sent on that wavelength. In order that this may be carried out, the manufacturers construct the sets specially, and they are sealed, so that they cannot be tampered with. But to allow the operators to tune in their music to the best advantage, the Government allows the set to go a certain percentage each side of the wavelength. Such sets must be approved by the authorities, and, up to the present, none of the sets have been passed. This, it is asserted, is not because of any faults in the sets, but through the absolute sluggishness in the Government Department handling the matter. Meanwhile, with broadcasting starting very shortly, manufacturers are hung up in their work, and are losing business in consequence.

PROGRAMME PROBLEMS. Though many technical problems are bound to beset our broadcasting stations, it is not anticipated that they will be so difficult of solution as those connected with the selection and arrangement of programmes. No matter how good and varied a programme is, there is bound to be at least one "listener-in" who is dissatisfied. At all events, this is the experience of managers of British broadcasting stations. A concrete instance comes from the Cardiff. The station director there received a letter in which the writer condemned the inclusion of such items as "We'm coom up from Somerset" as being an "incitement to militarism." If that is really the case the logical inference is that the broadcasting of "Yes, we have no bananas" would be a direct incentive to a universally excessive consumption of fruit. Truly there is no pleasing some people.

NEW CRYSTAL ERA? With a new device now being constructed by S. G. Brown, Ltd., the well-known makers of headsets, it will be possible to use a loud speaker with a crystal set. Up to now the use of a loud speaker with the crystal has been regarded in the light of a joke, but with the appearance of the "Frenophone," the Brown device, it is turned into pleasant reality. The apparatus has no electrical equipment at all, but derives its energy from an ordinary gramophone motor. This is, however, its only resemblance to the gramophone, for the reproduction of speech and music is finer than that obtained with the ordinary loud speaker. It is asserted that it is possible to hear distinctly on a crystal set of ordinary design ten miles from the London broadcasting station in daylight. An ordinary horn is mounted on a cabinet which contains an A type Brown earpiece. This has a small metal pin which rests on a cord pad and presses it on to a glass disc revolving under the impetus of the motor. The disc is held by two pieces of cotton on one side attached to an anchored spring, and the other to the loud speaker diaphragm, mounted below the horn. "The whole principle rests on the remarkable coefficient of friction exerted by glass and cork, which is in excess of that of any other materials," is the firm's explanation. The only drawback to the "Frenophone" is the price. This, when the firm starts to make them, will probably be £15.

AMATEURS FOR SEA. The announcement of Mr. Maclurcan's forthcoming voyage on the Tahiti with an amateur set, in Thursday's "Evening News," has aroused great interest among experimenters, especially those holding transmitting licenses. It seems certain that Mr. Maclurcan and his assistant on the voyage, Jack Davis, will have their work cut out to arrange a schedule to communicate with the experimental land stations who are desirous of helping in the great experiment. Mr. Maclurcan is particularly desirous of arranging with shore transmitters who can work during the day. Special interest will centre round the use of a tuned counterpoise on the ship. As far as is known this method has never been used on shipboard. The illustration shows how the aerial of the amateur station will be rigged from the mainmast of the Tahiti.

NEW TRANSMITTER. An up-to-the-minute set for his transmission experiments has been completed by Mr. R. C. Marsden. It is a splendid-looking job, mounted on a Radion composition panel, with dials to match. The circuit is an adaption of the Meissner three coil. There is a Weston meter for the plate current reading to 500 volts, and a milliamp meter for the plate circuit reading to 15 milliamps. Another feature is a Weston thermocoupled radiation meter. For "smoothing out" there is one 50-Henry choke, and two 4-microfarad condensers. Two Cunningham oscillators are used. Mr. Marsden is at present using an electrolytic rectifier, but he has installed another method in case of emergency. The set will be seen in the amateur diaplays at the forthcoming wireless and electrical exhibition at the Town Hall.

CLUB NEWS. Members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society are reminded that, instead of the usual meeting at the club-room on Tuesday, they are to visit the I.C.S. rooms, 399-401 George-street, city, where Mr. A. H. Perrett will lecture on wireless telegraphy. He will also give a practical demonstration. Members attending should meet at the corner of King and George streets at 7.30 p.m. At the last meeting of the Kuringai-District Radio Society members agreed to a proposal by Mr. P. Renshaw to hold a field day. A special committee has made the following plans:— Party to leave Chatswood for Kuringai by the 9.8 a.m. train on the day selected. All members to supply themselves with food for the day, but tea will be arranged for. All apparatus for the trip should be left at the secretary's residence, "Lauriston," 19 Help-street, Chatswood, not later than Friday, November 23. All members are asked to take some piece of apparatus. The next meeting of the Northbridge and District Radio Society will be held at the club-room, "Hoylake," Sailor's Bay-road, Northbridge, on Wednesday, when Mr. C. Beard, of H.M.A.S. Adelaide, will lecture. The club's mast is now out of action, having a coat of paint put on. This is by no means the small job it sounds, for the mast is 90 feet high, and is one of the landmarks of Northbridge. The club will be pleased to see intending members and visitors at its meetings.

TRANS-PACIFIC TESTS. All experimenters in New South Wales, who have received American signals are requested to forward details of actual logs, giving date and time of reception to Mr. P. Renshaw, Box 3120, G.P.O., Sydney, in order that results may be forwarded without delay to the Committee of Control in Melbourne.

1923 11 24

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 24 November 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Coming Boom. BY DOT DASH.

The tremendous interest in broadcasting throughout the State aroused by the announcements of the services is reflected in the numerous inquiries now being received by wireless dealers. A large proportion or the inquiries come from the country, where the people are beginning to realise how broadcasting will provide them with the entertainment they now lack. There is still a doubt in the minds of many as to whether any technical knowledge is necessary to operate a set purchased for a broadcasting service. No great knowledge of wireless is necessary; in fact, a child of average intelligence could operate such a set. But anybody who secures a broadcasting set will soon want to know "how it is done," and the study of the theoretical side of the game will be found absorbing. One Sydney firm recently received a letter from a man in the country, in which he said he had heard of the broadcasting, and wanted to be in it. Then followed instructions to the firm to issue him with a license, save him one of the best sets, and send a man to instal it.

MR. MALONE. Mr. Malone (Photo Caption) The photograph herewith is that of Mr. J. Malone, M.I.R.E., M.I.C.E., M.A.I.E.E., chief manager of Wireless and Telegraphs, whose name is known in every part of the Commonwealth where there is a wireless set. Mr. Malone is known to many amateurs personally, and all agree that no better man could be found for the responsible job he fills. He began his career as a telegraph messenger at Lismore in 1898, and two years later was appointed a relieving officer. Later he joined the engineering branch, where he was at the outbreak of war. Mr. Malone enlisted, and was appointed wireless instructor at the Moore Park Wireless School. He served later in France and was awarded the M.C. On his return to Australia he was appointed Deputy State Engineer at Perth, and when the Postmaster-General's Department took over the radio service from the Navy Department, Mr. Malone was given charge of it. When the agreement was signed between the Government and Amalgamated Wireless Ltd., he was made Controller of Wireless, and later Chief Manager of Wireless and Telegraphs.

LOW POWER WORK. It is probable that in no other part of the world are amateur wireless men as skilled in low power work as are those in New South Wales. The records put up by Mr. Maclurcan are well known. Mr. J. S. Marks, of Rose Bay, is another experimenter who is doing exceptionally well. The music from his station (2GR) has been heard in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. The following letter sent to Mr. Marks by Mr. W. H. Gifford, of Hokitika, will show how his music is received in the Dominion:— "I feel so pleased with the excellent concert you broadcasted from 2GR last evening, and I think it only fair that I should write and let you know you are being heard in New Zealand. "I am using the old style variometer tuner, and one stage of audio frequency, and you come in as well as the more powerful stations in this country. "I was so excited at getting broadcast from Australia that I quite forgot to log the programme, but your pianola records stood out well. Your speech, too, was quite clear. I look forward to hearing more from you, and will let you know from time to time how you come in." Mr. Marks was using about 10 watts for the transmission in question.

TAHITI'S GOOD WORK. A splendid piece of work was carried out recently from the Union S.S. Company's R.M.S. Tahiti. Wireless messages from the ship when she was 5600 miles distant from San Francisco were received at a station about 20 miles from that city with such strength that they were put over telephone lines to the city. In the city office the signals were amplified, put on a loudspeaker, and were heard easily in the street a block distant from the office. Thus people in the streets of San Francisco heard signals from the Tahiti when she was nearing the coast of New Zealand. The time occupied for the wireless waves to travel from the steamer to San Francisco was approximately 1-13 of a second. The wireless equipment on the Tahiti is one of the standard sets manufactured and operated by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited.

RADIO RELAY LEAGUE. The Australasian Radio League, which was formed some little time ago, has been handicapped owing to lack of support accorded it. During the past few weeks, however, many experimenters have realised that it will fill a long-felt want, and will do much towards making the working of their stations much more interesting than is the case at present. Mr. R. Charlesworth has been compelled to relinquish the position of honorary secretary owing to pressure of business, and Mr. J. W. Robinson has taken over his duties. The League is now appealing for members, and those interested should communicate with the secretary, "Milano," Edward-street Concord.

CLUB NEWS. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society will hold its next meeting on Tuesday at 8 p.m., at the club-room, 174 Johnston-street, Annandale. Inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale. On Tuesday the North Sydney Radio Club will have been in existence for two years. During the past half-year the club has made wonderful progress, and now stands in the front rank of radio societies in this state. The club's call has frequently been picked up by amateur transmitters, and experiments carried out with them. The secretary, Mr. J. O'Brien, wishes to thank the experimenters who have thus assisted the club. On Tuesday the club's general meeting will be held, when office-bearers for the coming term will be elected. The result of the election will probably be broadcasted between 9 and 10 p.m. The club's call signal is 2GY. Inquiries concerning the club should be addressed to Mr. J. O'Brien, 363-365 Pitt-street, City.

Experimenters and those interested in broadcasting requiring information are invited to submit their questions to the "Evening News." Questions addressed to "Dot Dash" will be answered in this column each week, or, if so desired, by post if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1923 12 01

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 1 December 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Concerning Static. BY DOT DASH.

Now that the sealed set problem has been successfully finalised by the authorities, the way is clear for broadcasting to start in earnest. Already hundreds of people, who, till a few months ago, gave no thought to wireless, excepting as a means of communication between ships and the shore, have purchased broadcasting sets that they may be entertained by radio telephony. So much has been said in praise of this side of the wireless science that the average person is apt to regard it as infallible. It would be as well to write a few words of warning in this connection. Your receiving set, like almost everything mechanical, will do all that is claimed for it under normal conditions, but there are times when first-class results are not to be obtained. These times may not occur once in six months, but there is always the possibility. The great enemy of the wireless man is static, or atmospheric disturbances. These occur most frequently in the summer months and are usually very bad when there are thunder storms about.

WHAT YOU HEAR. There is no mistaking static when heard in the earpieces or through the loud speaker. It may be heard as a fierce crackling or "frying," or it may sound like a regiment of soldiers at musketry practise. However, when it is heard it is quite sufficient to mar a perfectly good wireless concert. So when static visits you, don't blame your receiver. Remember that even important commercial work is sometimes held up by adverse tropospheric conditions. The new chums in the broadcasting game should remember, too, that their set contains a valve, unless it is a crystal set. The more elaborate sets have more than one valve. Now, without going into technical details, it might be mentioned that these valves are delicate things. Handled with reasonable care they will last for years, but they will not stand rough usage. So if you are moving your set put it down gently. A sharp knock may break the filament of the valve and their replacement is a costly matter. Above all, do not hesitate to ask the dealer from whom you purchase the set for advice. It will be willingly given and may be the means of steering you clear of the trifling pitfalls that beset the beginner in wireless, as much as the man who tackles a motor car for the first time.

LISTEN FOR WOR. A private cable received by the editor of the Australasian wireless journal "Radio," states that the radio station of L. Bamberger and Co., of Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A., will be conducting wireless telephony tests from their radio station WOR to Japan, Australia and New Zealand on a wavelength of 405 metres from December 1 to 15 inclusive. The tests will be made between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m, Sydney standard time. All radio experimenters should make a special effort to receive these important tests.

INSPECTORS PRAISED. The four Federal honorary radio inspectors, Messrs. Crocker, Stowe, Maclurcan and Robinson, have received personal letters from the Postmaster-General, Mr. Gibson, thanking them for the manner in which they have carried out their self-imposed tasks. "The system of voluntary inspection and disciplining the amateur movement by gentlemen selected from their own bodies," Mr. Gibson states in his letter, "has been of considerable assistance in securing the observance of the regulations. I am pleased to hear that the experimenters themselves appreciate the work which is being done by their own representatives and I am sure that with such sensible enthusiasm existing the wireless amateurs of Australia will continue to maintain their status."

THE EXHIBITION. That wireless apparatus is not merely a scientific toy but a practical utility, applicable to both business and social life, will be demonstrated at the forthcoming wireless and electrical exhibition to be held in the Sydney Town Hall from December 3 to 8. There will be exhibited numerous types of receiving sets for use in receiving broadcasting concerts, the latest apparatus and circuits for the use of experimenters, the most modern types of wireless apparatus for use in the mercantile and marine, and duplex telegraphy and telephony sets for the convenience of those on the land. There will also be displayed special features connected with the high power station for direct communication between Australia and England, which is to be erected next year.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. C.W. (Marrickville): Your aerial seems to be quite suitable. Test for a loose contact and solder the joins. "Crystal" (Balmain): (1) Such a set is now being made for the reception of broadcasting; (2) From any wireless dealer. C. H. T. Johnstone (Cronulla): If you use a valve set the hills will not make any difference. There have been instances of "deal areas," but none in this State have come under my notice. "Troubled" (Banksia): Your whole trouble seems to be the aerial. For your requirements it should be 100 feet long and 30 feet high.

Experimenters and those interested in broadcasting requiring information are invited to submit their questions in the "Evening News." Questions addressed to "Dot Dash" will be answered in this column each week, or, if so desired, by post if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1923 12 08

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 8 December 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. A Wireless Week. AMATEUR RADIO NOTES. BY DOT DASH.

Wireless has had its fair share of publicity during the past week. The two red letter events of the period have been the Wireless and Electrical Exhibition, and the commencement of testing for Farmers' Broadcasting Service. The exhibition which closes tonight, has been visited by thousands, many of whom had very little idea of what wireless could do, or how a set worked. But they learned and many purchased sets to receive the broadcasting. The great attraction for amateur wireless men has been the experimenters' exhibits. The work put into this apparatus by the experimenters would be hard to better, even for a commercial factory. The present-day apparatus used by the amateur, contrasts strangely with that of a few years ago. The modern tendency is to keep the various parts of the set together, and to construct the panels as small as possible. The result is a neatness that is exceedingly pleasing to the eye. Panel-mounting a set is an art, but from the appearance of most of the experimental sets in the exhibition, the amateurs are well-versed in it. Nickel fittings, too, are taking the place of brass, which makes for additional neatness.

A GREAT SUCCESS. The first experimental transmissions from Farmers' broadcasting station on Wednesday night must be set down as a great success. The radiophone side of wireless has not yet reached anything approaching perfection, but the average experimenter could find nothing wrong with this transmission. And it must be remembered that it was only experimental, and will be even better when the station "shakes down." It is no easy matter to obtain first-class modulation of the wireless music, but Farmers' operator did it right from the first. Since the first night's transmission reports hare been reaching Farmers from all over the State, telling how well the music was received. It was also heard in Queensland and Victoria by experimenters. Mr. E. T. Fisk (Photo Caption) Mr. E. T. Fisk, managing director or Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., gave an address by the radiophone, on Wednesday night, in the course of which he explained that only one-tenth of the maximum power and small portions of the aerial and earthing systems were being used at that time. It is expected that the big broadcasting service will be inaugurated within a week.

BEARINGS BY RADIO. The wireless direction finder shown by Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., at the exhibition, attracted the attention of most or the visitors. So useful and reliable has the direction finder proved for the purposes of navigation that more and more shipping companies are installing sets in their vessels. The invention holds out great possibilities, as an aid to navigation, and those thoroughly conversant with its use anticipate a time in the near future when it will be regarded as an indispensable part of the scientific equipment of every ship. It proved of considerable use to the Navy during the war in the locating of enemy ships and aircraft, and the experiences gained then prompted certain shipping companies to test the apparatus. The test having on more than one occasion proved abundantly satisfactory, the apparatus is now coming into general use. A feature of the device is its simplicity. It is easy to instal, has proved of infinite service in the densest fog, and as an aid to locating of an S.O.S. call, it should be of incalculable aid to the masters of rescue ships. Ships equipped with the direction finder can almost immediately ascertain their position in any kind of weather.

UNIQUE TEST. A prominent Sydney experimenter carried out a unique test recently. He rebroadcasted a wireless concert, getting excellent results. The concert was being transmitted by Broadcasters (Sydney), Ltd., and it was received by an amateur and amplified to the necessary strength. The music was than put through the amateur's transmitting set and sent out on a different wavelength. The experiment necessitated the use of two aerials and skilful handling at the rebroadcasting station. Despite the fact that the music passed through four separate sets — two transmitters and two receivers — before it reached the ears of those listening to the rebroadcasting, it was remarkably clear and free from distortion. This is said to be the first occasion on which the experiment has been conducted is Australia.

A CORRECTION. Concerning the experimental tests from the station of L. Bamberger and Co., Newark, New Jersey (WOR) to Japan and Australasia, from December 1 to 15, it was stated in this column last Saturday that the station would be sending between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. This was a typographical error. The sending will be carried out between 7 and 9 p.m.

CLUB NEWS. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society is holding a guest night on Tuesday, when each member is asked to take a friend. Sufficient gear will be available for everybody to hear wireless music. There will, of course, be no meetings of the club on December 25 or January 1. Tha Northbridge Experimental Radio Society will meet at "Hoylake," Sailors Bay-road, Northbridge, on Monday evening, when Mr. Beard, of the wireless staff of H.M.A.S. Adelaide, will lecture on "tuning and capacities."

QUERIES ANSWERED. J.B. (Redfern): (1) Not if you have an experimental license. (2) There is no need to get permission unless it passes over the footpath or road. B. O'B. (Paddington): You must write to "Uncle Mac," Box 378, G.P.O., Sydney. (If you are puzzled over anything to do with wireless, or if you want to know anything concerning broadcasting, write to "Dot Dash," c/o "Evening News." Questions will be answered each week in this column, or by post if stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1923 12 15

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 15 December 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS NOTES. Farmer's Studios. BY DOT DASH.

To ensure successful broadcasting it is essential to have a well equipped studio. This fact was realised by Farmer and Company when it was decided to inaugurate a broadcasting service. So it came about that the very latest methods and appliances were incorporated in the company's studios on the roof of their city building. I paid a visit to the studios and I subscribe to the opinion that they are as good as any in the world. In these studios the programmes will be given and the sound will be amplified, carried by land lines to the high-powered station at Northbridge, and from there radiated. The studios are unique in their construction, and the system which is employed for their operation is an eye-opener to the "man in the street." Constructed at considerable expense from plans and specifications obtained after consultation with representatives of broadcasting interests in all parts of the world, no stone has been left unturned to ensure the very best results being achieved. Built in a special manner, they comprise large and small transmitting rooms, an instrument room and a special reception room for the artists. The instrument room adjoins both studios, and the engineer is able to watch the progress of the item being broadcasted through a special double soundproof plate glass window. Every effort has been made to deaden or damp all sound except the actual sound which is to be collected by the microphone and carried to the station. Walls and ceilings have been draped carefully so as to prevent echoing, and the floors have been carpeted with thick felt. All the doors are double, and have been constructed in a soundproof manner. The use of two studios will obviate delay between items, the manager of the service being able to arrange his artists in one room while music is actually "on the air" from the other and a quick change over on the part of the engineer results in one item following another in rapid succession.

SIGNAL SYSTEM. Microphones into which the artists will sing are placed in the studios, and are connected to special amplifiers in the instrument room. An elaborate system of switches and signal lamps has been provided. On being assured by a signal from the engineer that the station is operating, and that the studio is ready to go "on the air," the manager of the service merely throws in a switch which connects the studio direct to the station. This action automatically lights three red signal lamps, one of which glows in the operating room and warns the engineers, another lights in the studio itself, warning the artists, and the third is outside the door of the particular studio being used, and serves as a warning to any person who may attempt to open the door. The instrument room itself is connected directly by telephone to the station at Northbridge, and the engineer at the big station is able to ret into touch with the city engineer with the least possible delay. One of the studios is twice the size of the other, and it is intended to utilise the larger room for special items. In it the microphone can be controlled from either of two switches situated in different portions of the rooms, thus enabling the studio manager to control the transmission with the utmost ease. The instrument room is impressive. Bright glowing lamps, special contrivances by which the radio engineer may listen to the actual music as it is being transmitted, systems of signal communication, battery charging boards, loudspeakers for testing purposes, and, in fact, every piece of apparatus suitable for modern wireless communication in connection with the broadcasting, is installed. When work is in full swing, which it is anticipated will be the case within the next few days, Australia should be in the happy position of being the possessor of the most up-to-date, powerful and complete broadcasting station in the world.

HONORARY INSPECTOR RESIGNS. Mr. J. W. Robinson, who was appointed honorary radio inspector by the Federal authorities when the amended radio regulations were issued some time ago, has resigned his position owing to the fact that he is now commercially interested in wireless. Mr. Robinson, who is a keen experimenter, and who has taken a leading part in amateur activities in this State for some time, has joined Farmer and Company's broadcasting service. Although commercially interested he intends to maintain his amateur activities as far as possible, and at present he is working hard on the reorganisation of the Australian Radio Relay League, of which he is the honorary secretary. Wireless amateurs will wish Mr. Robinson success in his new venture.

APPEAL TO EXPERIMENTERS. Mr. Phil Renshaw, secretary of the Wireless Institute, makes the following appeal to experimenters: Farmer and Co.. Ltd., have issued a request to all N.S.W. experimenters to test out reception of their transmissions. Experimenters should carefully log all important points in their reception of the broadcast during the test period ending next Wednesday, both in regard to signal strength (especially country experimenters), audibility, sound vibration, induction, fading, etc., and particularly note when testing on the 1100 metre (Farmer's) wave length whether there is any interference from traffic or other stations. Further, information regarding reception of harmonics will be greatly appreciated. Any technical features should also be carefully logged. Test seriously and forward your reports by earliest mail to the secretary, Farmer and Co., Ltd., Sydney.

EXHIBITION AWARDS. The council of the Wireless Institute of Australia wish to announce that ribbons were awarded at the exhibition last week in respect of the decoration of the stands. No awards were made for commercial apparatus exhibited, and the Institute did not pass judgment on the merits of the various types of apparatus exhibited. Any statements made otherwise should be disregarded or referred to the secretary of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. Division), Sydney, for confirmation.

IN THE CLUBS. On Tuesday night members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society entertained a number of friends at the club-room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale. A quantity of receiving gear was assembled for the occasion and under the guidance of Mr. F. Thompson all spent a pleasant evening. The final meeting of the year will be held next Tuesday night at 8 o'clock. Members of the Northbridge Experimenters' Radio Society visited Mr. Maclurcan's station recently and were loud in their praise of his wonderful equipment. The society's eight-valve set is now in working order and should be the means of attracting members to meetings which are held each Monday evening at "Hoylake," Sailors' Bay-road, Northbridge. Important business is listed for discussion at the next meeting of the N.S.W. Radio Association, to be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. All delegates are requested to attend. Prizes won in the experimental section of the recent exhibition will be presented at a meeting of the Wireless Institute to be held on Thursday, at the Royal Society's Rooms, at 8 p.m.

1923 12 22

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 22 December 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS REVIEW. A Year's Progress. BY DOT DASH.

The year 1923 is drawing to a close, and everybody must agree that it has been a wonderful period as far as the progress of wireless in Australia is concerned. Taking it all through, the radio science has made splendid progress. This is realised when it is recalled that it is only 35 years ago since Hertz announced the remarkable properties of electromagnetic waves with which he was experimenting. Less than 20 years afterwards pictures had been sent from one point to another by wireless. At the beginning of this year the general public of Australia were not much interested in wireless beyond its use to them as a means of communication between ships at sea and ship and shore, but a large number of very earnest experimenters were at work, endeavoring to improve the standard of receiving apparatus. In this they were handicapped to a certain extent by Government restrictions.

ENCOURAGEMENT. They battled on, however, and were considerably encouraged by the appearance of long-delayed amendments to the wireless regulations. When there were gazetted the license fees for experimenters were reduced from £2 to 10/ - a year, and transmitting, which had hitherto been discouraged, became the joy of those amateurs with the necessary qualifications. The experimenters quickly got to work on low-power radiophones, and now experimental transmissions of telephony are carried out almost every night. So much for the amateur side. At the beginning of the year it did not seem likely that commercial broadcasting would be in full swing before Christmas. The Federal authorities had even the evil of badly-controlled wireless work in America, and were studying the better handling of it in Britain, with a view to putting broadcasting on a proper basis in Australia when the time was ripe. In the meantime a much-needed body — the Association for Developing Wireless In Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, had been formed, and, as the result of its work, the Postmaster-General was asked to call a conference of experts to discuss the situation in Australia.

THE SEALED SET. The Minister saw the wisdom of the request, and the conference, after being postponed till the arrival of Mr. E. T. Fisk from England, was held in Melbourne in May. Out or the deliberations of the conference, and special committees appointed by it, arose the "sealed set" principle. The broadcasting regulations, which were afterwards drawn up and gazetted were based upon the conference proposal. The final step on the long road to successful broadcasting was taken last month, when the official appartuus for testing receiving sets was brought into being. Two other milestones on the road of radio progress during the year were the formations of the Radio Relay League and the N.S.W. Radio Association. The firstnamed body was formed with the object of organising amateur stations, so that experimental traffic can be worked between them. This will provide greater interest for all experimenters, and give them a definite line for research. The league is making good progress, guided by the capable hon. secretary, Mr. J. W. Robinson. The Radio Association is composed of delegates from the various wireless clubs and associations. and functions as a central council for the State. It was originally proposed that such a body should be formed in each State of the Commonwealth, and that delegates from these bodies should constitute a Federal Council to work for the protection of experimenters' rights and the betterment of their work. Progress of the association, however, has been somewhat hampered by the apathy of many clubs, which, it is hoped, will be overcome in due course. No review of the wireless year would be complete without a mention of the recent exhibition. It was the direct means of opening the eyes of the general public to the great possibilities and the rapid strides of the science. In short, the exhibition did more towards popularising wireless than could have been done by months of writing or talking.

ANOTHER BIG TEST. British amateurs are desirous of testing on low-power and wavelength to see if they can reach Australian amateurs. Tests have been arranged the particulars of which are contained in the following circular sent to all wireless clubs in Australia by the Victorian Division of the Wireless Institute:— Several members of the Radio Society of Great Britain are desirous of endeavoring to transmit c.w. messages to Australia. Although we did not want these tests to be carried out for some months yet, one of our members now in England (Mr. Newman) has arranged with the R.S. of Great Britain for them to be held from December to March. This does not allow much time to organise the receivers at this end, but the council desires as many as possible to listen in at the times given. The British stations will transmit on 200 metres, calling "Australia de G.5AT," followed by any code word they like. Following are the times:— Greenwich mean time: December 16, 23, and 30; January 6 and 13, 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. February 10, 17, and 24; March 2 and 9, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Melbourne time. December 17, 24, and 31; January 7 and 14, 3.30 a.m. to 6 a.m. February 11, 18, and 25; March 3 and 10, 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Any Australian experimenter receiving any of these messages is requested to immediately forward full particulars to Mr. B. Jermyn Masters, organising secretary of the Victorian Division of the Wireless Institute, Little Collins-street, Melbourne, in order that the reports may be sent to England as soon as possible.

RECHARGEABLE CELL. Wireless enthusiasts will be interested to know that a new form of rechargeable cell will shortly appear on the Sydney market. Tha cell will appeal especially to the experimenter, as it gives from 1.5 to 1.8 volts. By connecting the cells in series up to 150 volts can be obtained. Another good feature of the cells is that the electrolyte is not damaging to clothes or anything on which it might be spilled. For use with dry-cell valves the new cells are particularly suitable, and, as they are easily carried, are well suited for portable sets. Another great feature is that they will be cheap.

QUESTION ANSWERED. "WAVELENGTH".— Assuming that you will use 24-gauge enamel wire and an aerial about 100ft long and 25 to 30 ft high, with a capacity of 0.0003 m.f., you will need 120 turns of wire on a 4¼-inch former, to tune in 1100 metres. Use a condenser or slider for fine turning. (2) No. 24 enamel wire will wind 42 turns to the inch.

Is there anything you want to know about broadcasting or wireless in general? If so, address your questions to "Dot Dash," "Evening News," Market-street, City. Queries will be answered from week to week in this column, or by post if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1923 12 29

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 29 December 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS JOTTINGS. A Busy Xmas. BY DOT DASH

The operators at the various coastal wireless stations of Australia have had a busy time this Christmas. In addition to the ordinary traffic, they were called upon to handle hundreds of messages of Christmas greeting sent between ship and shore. During some of the busy periods the weather was bad for radio work owing to atmospheric disturbances, but the commercial traffic suffered no interruption. The business handled this Christmas was easily a record, and the fact that everything went well at all land stations speaks volumes for the efficiency and skill of the staffs.

BROADCAST TESTS. The tests carried out during the past two or three weeks from Farmer and Company's station (2FC) on a wave length of 1100 metres with a power of 500-watts, have provided experimenters with food for observation. The directors of the company issued an appeal to experimenters to furnish them with reports regarding the reception of the signals from the station. Speech and music of all descriptions have been transmitted during the test period, and in some cases items have been repeated several times, the various instruments used in connection with them being placed in different portions of the studios on each occasion. From all quarters of the State reports have reached Farmer and Company indicating that the transmission has been of the highest quality. Experimenters in practically every suburb have stated that with either a crystal or a valve, the programmes have come in very creditably.

SOME RESULTS. Mr. R. McKenzie, of New Lambton, Newcastle, reported splendid results. He used only one valve, and as it was the poorest detector he had ever come across, the results made the tests more meritorious. The volume, tone, and modulation were, in his opinion, wonderful, while the absence of distortion disposed of the offensive factor which ruins many broadcast programmes. At Scarborough, on the South Coast, Mr. A. E. Wright listened to several tests, and he says the transmissions were perfect. He used only one valve, was over 30 miles air-line from the station, and each item came in with wonderful clearness and great volume. Mr. C. P. Morgan, of Bega, stated the tests were something different to what he had ever heard before. The music was sweet, there was no variation in wave length, and the modulation was perfect. Another Bega experimenter, Mr. John B. Darcy, whose station is just on 200 miles away from Sydney, used one stage of radio frequency amplification and one of detection, both valves being D.E.R. Marconi. His tuning unit consisted of de Forest honeycomb coils, and he used Baldwin's 'phones. From the first, he reported, the most noticeable thing was the total absence of any genersator hum, also when the aerial was in oscillation and no transmission was bring effected, there appeared to be no deviation in the wave length. Mr. H. Williams, of Wollongong, received the programmes on one valve very clearly and distinctly, although not of great volume, the modulation and tone were good. The testing period for 2FC is being continued for a few more days, prior to the establishment of the permanent service.

WELL EQUIPPED. The steamer Maloja, the latest addition to the P. and O. Steam Navigation Company, which left London recently on her maiden voyage to Australia, is equipped with various sets of the most modern wireless telegraph equipment, of which the following are the principal:— 1½ K.W. Marconi quenched spark transmitter, with a daylight range of 700 miles. 1½ K.W. continuous wave valve transmitter, with a daylight range of 1500 miles. Direction finder of the Marconi marine type, which enables bearings to be taken of other wireless transmitting stations within one degree of accuracy. Emergency transmitter with independent power supply, which has a normal daylight range of at least 100 miles. Special Marconi valve receiving set capable of tuning over a range enabling reception of any wireless station. Such equipment ensures that the ship will be in communication with at least one station on land at any time of the day or night throughout the voyage between Australia and England. For the passengers who travel in this new liner it means that they will be able to keep in touch with their friends or business at all times throughout the voyage, just an effectively and simply as could be done on shore over the ordinary telephone and telegraph lines.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. "TUNER" (Kiama): You should have no difficulty, provided you use a good aerial. (2) The call is VIS, Sydney Radio. J. F. K. (Marrickville): I do not think you would get any better results by altering your set as you suggest. The fault is probably in the loose coupler. "INTERESTED" (Gosford): The testing period is still on. Further particulars will appear in the "Evening News" from time to time. "OBJECTOR" (Rockdale): You must have a license.

Is there anything you want to know about broadcasting or wireless in general? If so, address your questions to "Dot Dash," "Evening News," Market-street, City. Queries will be answered from week to week in this column, or by post if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1924

1924 01 05

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 5 January 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. On Circuits. BY DOT DASH

With hardly an exception the average amateur, more especially the beginner, makes the serious mistake of attempting to walk before he is really able to crawl. In the study of wireless the value of a good grounding cannot be over-estimated, and the lack of elementary knowledge will invariably lead to failure to obtain results when any serious reception work is undertaken. Probably the commonest form of mistake made by the enthusiastic experimenter is to imagine that the more complicated a circuit becomes the better results will be achieved. Such a belief, while having much in theory to support it, does not work out at all well in practice. It must be remembered that when a circuit becomes deeply complicated several factors which may spell failure assert themselves! Firstly, the possibility of one incorrect connection in wiring becomes great, and may prevent any results being obtained. Secondly, the set which consists of a multiplicity of wires is, in most cases, greatly reduced in efficiency by capacity effects; and thirdly, a complicated set generally needs the very careful handling of a number of controls, thus making it rather difficult to tune-in weak signals.

CHANGING OVER. With few exceptions the amateur, after making his first crystal receiver, is not satisfied, and scraps almost the whole of his gear, to build a valve set. This means not only a waste of time, but what is more important to most experimenters, a waste of money. Generally speaking, the loose coupler, or the double slide tuning coil, is the unit used in crystal sets, and neither of these tuners need be thrown aside when it is desired to use a valve. The valve fittings, including the grid leak, the valve holder, terminals for the "A" and "B" batteries, telephone jacks or terminals, and rheostat may all be mounted on a small, nicely-finished ebonite panel, and connected to the tuning unit by means of neat leads. If it is not desired to use table type of condensers, then a small panel on which the primary and secondary condensers are mounted may be constructed. The advantage of such a system lies in the fact that no gear need be thrown aside when it is desired to make additions. If one valve does not meet requirements, a second panel may be made, similar in size to the first, and including all the apparatus needed for audio frequency amplification. Or a radio frequency panel may be added between the tuning unit and the detector panel. Another great advantage is that one section may be used while the others are being constructed. When a large multi-valve set is being built on one panel, no work can be carried out until the whole set is complete, but with the panel system each unit may be operated when built. The simple non-regenerative circuit, if used with a loose-coupler and the panel system, will give excellent results, and will operate with a very simple wiring system. Amateurs tempted to use complicated "hook-ups" should remember that the commercial stations which operate continuously and "always get through," are worked with a simple wiring system.

AN AMERICAN VIEW. An American visitor to Sydney is rather amused at the various restrictions placed upon wireless reception by the authorities in this country. He contends that wireless in America is well ordered and broadcasting entirely successful. "I was amazed," he told me, "when I spoke to wireless amateurs in Australia, to learn that conditions in my country were chaotic, as far as wireless was concerned. It is an absolutely absurd idea that has got about. "There is no denying that in the early days, or the crystal and spark coil era, there was a bit of trouble caused by irresponsible amateurs, but this did not last very long. It was hardly necessary for the authorities to act, though they did keep a strict watch, for the amateurs went a long way towards setting things to rights themselves. They had various ways of dealing with the experimenter who caused interference. "As to broadcasting, our people are better served than those of any other country. The stations are plentiful and the programmes are first-class. All kinds of circuits and apparatus are in use, including the regenerative "hook-ups," and there seems to be no interference. I have listened-in in many places, and was never able to detect anything beyond an occasional faint whistle that could be construed into interference. "No, sir," added the visitor. "Wireless in the United States is a most popular form of amusement, and so long as commercial work is not interfered with the Government leaves the amateurs alone."

"DEAD" AREAS. During a talk with the same man, the subject of "dead" areas came up. He mentioned that he had heard of several such spots in his country. "Dead" areas are stretches of country where wireless reception from distant stations is very bad, or altogether impossible. The cause of this state of affairs has not yet been scientifically explained, but many theories have been put forward. One of the most popular explanations is that the ether waves are absorbed by some mineral deposits in the vicinity. There is one such place in America, covering about a square mile, in which no wireless signals can be heard even with the most sensitive apparatus. There was a fairly powerful broadcasting station only about four miles away, too. As a test a transmitting station was put up in the area, and signals from it could be heard over the affected part. Fortunately such spots are rare, and, at far at is known, there are none of them in New South Wales.

CLUB NOTICE. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold its second annual meeting on Monday at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. The principal business for the evening is the presentation of the annual report and the election of officers for the ensuing year. The club will hold another of its popular launch picnics on Saturday, January 11, for which tickets may be obtained at 6 Royal Arcade.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. C. J. J. (Bondi): Cardboard formers will do. The insulation you mention is not necessary. Perplexed (Newtown): 1. You cannot start to operate a set till you receive a license. 2. Such an aerial would be useless. J. Hammond (North Sydney): You omit to mention most of the important factors, so a calculation is impossible.

1924 01 12

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 12 January 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES. Aerials and "Earth". BY DOT DASH.

"I am getting a broadcasting receiver, but I am very hazy about the aerial I have to put up. Can you advise me?" This is an extract from a letter that reached me from the country the other day, and during the past few weeks I have received many on the same subject. The construction of an aerial has been touched upon many times, but in view of the large number of newcomers to the wireless hobby it will not be out of place to give it again. The aerial is one of the most important parts of the radio outfit, and it must be efficient if good results are to be obtained. Its function is to catch the ether waves and convey them to the set. There is an impression abroad among those who know little about wireless that if an aerial is put up in a valley or in a depression among hills, no ether wave can reach it. This is not so, though there might be a little "screening."

ETHER WAVES. The ether waves are everywhere. With a sensitive set it is possible to close up a house completely and get signals from a nearby commercial station by using the wire mattress of a bedstead as an aerial. This, of course, is a freak feat, and could not be done with a broadcasting set. But it serves to illustrate the point. So if you live in a hollow don't be misled by the idea that you are debarred from participating in the joys of the new entertainment. At the same time it is not wise to deliberately place your aerial in a position where it is likely to be "screened." Now for the construction. A good length for the aerial is 100 feet. The majority put in two wires, though excellent results have been secured with one. Assuming that you are making a two-wire aerial, you will need about 250 feet of wire (procurable from any wireless shop), four insulators, two light wooden "spreaders," each six feet long, and a soldering outfit. Notch the "spreaders" a few inches from each end and fasten on the insulators with rope, so that they are six inches or so away from the woodwork.

HEIGHT OF THE AERIAL. Now take 200 feet of wire and run it through the two insulators on one of the "spreaders," and fasten the ends on the insulators of the other. To prevent the first-mentioned spreader slipping, a turn may be taken in the wire before the ends are fastened. Two rope "slings" should be secured to the spreaders, on which the mast halyards are tied. The fixing of the "lead in" is the next consideration. It is desirable to keep this as short as possible. A piece of wire is soldered to each of the aerial wires and joined below them, forming a V-shape. To the bottom of this is soldered a single wire that leads to the set. It is important to see that the "lead in" is well insulated where it enters the house, and that it is protected right to the set. For crystal sets it is essential to have the aerial at least 30 feet high, but in valve work height, though desirable, is not absolutely necessary. It is as well not to let the aerial be less than 25 feet high for any wireless work, and if one end is lower the other should be raised. If you have a high tree in your grounds, the aerial can be fixed to it, but care must be taken that none of the branches touch the wires; also that the aerial is not stretched so tightly as to be in danger of breaking should the tree sway in the wind. When making an aerial it is well to bear in mind that all joins in the wire should be thoroughly cleaned and soldered. If this is not done a thin film of grease is apt to form on the wire, even in the tightest joins, and weak signals will result.

THE "EARTH." Before putting your set into operation it is necessary also to rig an "earth" or "ground" wire. The purpose of this portion of the apparatus is to allow the minute currents of electricity to escape to earth, and care should be taken that they have every facility for so doing. To the City man the "earth" presents no difficulty. All that is necessary is to run a wire to the nearest water pipe and fix it to it. This should be done by means of an "earth clip," after the pipe has been thoroughly cleaned and scraped where the wire makes contact with it. In cases where the house is not served with water pipes, a little more trouble is necessary. Some spot (damp for preference), should be chosen near the operating room, or room where the set is installed, and a hole dug to a depth of about six feet into this should be placed a coil of old fencing wire, or a sheet of galvanised iron. To this the "earth" wire should be soldered, and the earth replaced. If it is not possible or practicable to sink such a hole, an iron rod, driven about six feet or more into the ground, makes a fairly good "earth." So much for the installation of a set. If, after having followed the general outline given in this column, you get good results, so well and good. If, on the other hand, things are not as good as you think they ought to be, don't blame your set, or give up the game in disgust. Experiment with your aerial, and thoroughly test for faults. Place your troubles before the dealer from whom you got your set; He will help and advise you. And remember that wireless, though making great strides, has not yet reached perfection. But with a little patience, an elementary knowledge of electricity, and the application of plenty of common sense, one can get splendid results from a broadcasting receiver.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. G.W. (Gladesville): The use of two valves would certainly make the signals stronger, but, as you suggest, the set would be more difficult to control. Try cleaning all the contacts. "CRYSTAL" (Parramatta): This is the circuit you should use:— (GRAPHIC) The variable condenser, connected as shown by the dotted line may be left out. "GRID" (Katoomba): Have made inquiries at several book shops, but none of them has heard of the work you mention. If you can supply more details I will try again. Is there anything you want to know about wireless or broadcasting? If so, write to the "News." Questions addressed to "Dot Dash" will be answered in this column each week, or by post if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

1924 01 19

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 19 January 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NOTES. Portable Sets. BY DOT DASH.

Experimenters and other wireless enthusiasts do not seem to go in for portable sets like their American brethren do. This in hard to understand in view or the fact that we are a great "outdoor" people. What could be more pleasant than to while away the time in the pleasant surroundings of the picnic or camping place listening to the good music from a broadcasting station? In a case no larger than that of a portable typewriter, can be built a set that will give every satisfaction. As camping places are usually well away from the city it is advisable to employ the valve method of reception. There need be no bother as far as accumulators are concerned, for there are valves on the market that work splendidly off dry cells. 'WAVE VALVE With an ordinary amount of care all the parts of the set can be mounted in the case just as well as in a table panel. And here is a hint: Leave a space in which to "rest" the valve when not in use. The "rest" should be packed with cotton wool so that the tube will have a good chance of surviving the jolts of travelling. The aerial of the portable set should present no difficulty. A hundred feet or so of wire can be coiled down into a very small space. This can be slung between two trees, care being taken to prevent the branches touching the wire. A good dodge is to take a coil of light rope. When a tree is decided upon the rope may be thrown over a suitable branch by means of a piece of rock tied on the end and the wire hauled up. A wire thrown into a waterhole or creek makes a good earth, or an iron rod driven in the damp ground near the water's edge will do.

THE SOLDERING ART. Do you know how to solder? If not read these few hints before you attempt to do any. Soldering is an art, though to watch an expert at work one would not think so. As has often been explained it is desirable to solder all fixed connections in wireless work, excluding, of course, the outsides of all terminals, which can be tightened up at any time. A soldering outfit is not a big item on the expenses account, the only necessities being a small, light soldering iron, a tin of good soldering paste, of which can be procured for a few shillings. The iron should have a pointed head as this is better for fine work such as jointing wire ends. Suppose, for example, you are going to join two pieces of wire by soldering. First thoroughly clean both pieces where the join is to be made. This work is most important, for if the metal is dirty no results can be obtained. Sandpaper will get the metal clean, or you can carefully scrape it with a knife.

HEATING THE IRON. While is being done heat the iron over a gas ring. It is well to remember that the iron should not be overheated. When it is getting near to red hot the portion of the head outside the flame will change color, and this is the time to take it away from the flame. After the metal to be soldered has been cleaned a thin film of soldering paste should be put on it. When the iron is taken from the flame dip it into the paste. Place the metal in position on a table and hold the stick of solder and the iron just above the joint. Apply the iron to the solder, when a small moulten drop should adhere to the copper tip. Then lightly touch the join with the solder drop, using the iron to guide it. If the work of preparation has been carried out properly the solder will cover the join, and will quickly cool and harden when the iron is removed. As in many other such tasks, one's soldering skill improves with practise.

BROADCASTING HUMOR. This sample of American humor as applied to wireless broadcasting, made its appearance in a recent issue of a technical journal. RADIO PROGRAMME 7.20 WASH, Washington (306).— Three O'Clock in the Morning — Solo, by Dalite Saving Thyme; Keeps on A-Rainin — Chorus, by Wetherfor Castors. 7.35 BIFF, Jersey City (105).— All Muddled Up — Trom Bone Solo, by Louis Angel Bimbo. Nocturn in A. Sharp Major (op. 15, No. 2) Sour Krout Band. 7.51 DDD, Detroit (706).— Running Wild — Henry Fords Catarrh — Solo, by Mlle. Luden-Menthol. 8.39 CHAT, Big Bay, N. Y. (1896).— Address on William Jennings Byran and Other Grape Nuts, by Pastum Serial Co.; You've Said a Mouthful, by Wrigley Chorus; Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep — Quartett, by Four Hoarse Men. 9.15 BOO, Phil. (0032). Cut Yourself a Piece of Cake — Falsetta (composed by Fry-Hoffer), Miss Feeda de Face Constant-Lee; How Dry I Am, Max Senats Bathing Beauties.

CLUB NOTES. WIRELESS INSTITUTE. The council of the Wireless Institute has decided to take a step towards assisting the co-ordination of State experimental activities. With this object in view a meeting is being arranged for in the latter part of February, to consist of one delegate from every club. Clubs should now consider this matter as they will be requested to arm their delegate with power to act on their behalf at the meeting in the formulation of a scheme to co-ordinate activities. KURINGAI DISTRICT. At the last general meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society the following officers were elected for the year: President, Mr. H. A. Stowe; vice-presidents, Mr. W. E. Wilson and Mr. Phil Renshaw; honorary treasurer, Mr. A. Nutt; honorary secretary, Mr. R. R. Wilshire; asst. hon. secretary, Mr. R. Hilton; committee, Messrs. Bevan, Finch, and Hinton; publicity officer, Mr. Phil Renshaw. The next general meeting will be held on Tuesday night at 8.15 p.m. (buzzer commences at 7.30 p.m.) at Almond's, Victoria-avenue, Chatswood. Members are invited to bring any apparatus to this meeting for advice, as portion of the meeting will be devoted to practical business.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. J. B. Mackall (North Sydney): The variometer tuning would not be satisfactory for the work you contemplate. Honeycombe coils are the best. C.C.S. (Leichhardt): The method has aroused much discussion, but no great distance can be covered by using it. It stands to reason that only the received signals will be amplified. "Dot": If you wish to build a set yourself and to experiment with it, you must apply for an experimental license. If you obtain this you can build a set to tune to any wave length. Otherwise you would have to get a sealed set and pay 10/- for a broadcasting license. Puzzled (Waverley): Here are principal symbols used in crystal work: They are: (1) aerial, (2) earth, (3) loose coupler, (4) fixed, or blocking condenser, (5) variable condenser, (6) crystal detector, (7) 'phones or headset. Beginner (Bondi): I would advise you to construct a single slide tuner. The slider is much easier to fit than it would be to take off tappings.

1924 01 26

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 26 January 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Static Elimination. BY DOT DASH.

Mr Boberg. (Photo Caption) Of all the problems associated with the wireless science, none have received more attention than that of the elimination of static. The efforts of experts to shut out the atmospherics have met with only partial success, and there is a fortune for the man who attains perfection in this direction. A Sydney experimenter — Mr. G. N. Boberg, claims to have reached the goal. He has completed a device, which, he says, eliminates static altogether. He brought the device to the "Evening News" Office during the week. If it will do the work he claims it will, it is an ideal piece of apparatus. There is nothing complicated about it. It is in the form of a cylinder about nine inches long and about an inch and a-half in diameter. At each end is a terminal, and the device is connected in series with the aerial. "I have been working on the invention for a long time," said Mr. Boberg, "and I am confident that I have hit upon a successful static eliminator. Under all conditions the invention gives completely satisfactory results. Using it when atmospherics are bad, telephony sounds pure and is of equal volume to what it would be without the device. The only noticeable effect of the device on a receiving set is that it cuts down the wavelength silently. This is, of course, easily put right." Another great feature of the invention is the cost. This, the inventor says, is well under £1.

QUESTION OF DISTANCE. "How far will this set receive?" This question is asked radio dealers more than any other, and it is probably one of the hardest to answer. The expert is often at a loss to give any accurate idea of the effective range of a receiver. There are so many factors governing radio reception. Probably the most important is the distance of the set from the sending station. Then there is the size and the efficiency of the aerial and the location of it. Unless one is under a dozen miles from the broadcasting station it is useless to look for good results from a crystal set. And yet the writer knows experimenters who have heard broadcasting on a crystal 30 miles away. But they are men who have a deep knowledge of the game, and who know every trick for getting the heat out of their apparatus. With a good single valve set and efficient aerial, splendid results can be obtained over distances, but for loudspeaker work amplification should be used. The purchaser of a receiver cannot do better than place himself in the hands of the radio dealer. Usually the salesmen have sound knowledge of the subject, and are always ready to give advice. Explain to him carefully the location of the house where it is intended to instal the set, and the height and length of the aerial. He will then be able to give you some rough idea of what the set should do. But it is impossible to say with any degree of accuracy.

ABOUT A MICROPHONE. Good broadcasting is only carried out with the best of apparatus, and one of the most important items in a broadcasting station is the microphone system. These instruments collect the sound for transmission over the ether wave, and the purity of the speech depends a lot on the efficiency of the microphone. The story is being told of a beautiful microphone that was installed in the famous London broadcasting station. It gave splendid results, and everybody was greatly pleased. Then one night it met its end in a peculiar manner. A play was being broadcasted, in the course of which a revolver shot was necessary. The revolver was duly fired, but the shock of the explosion was too much for the microphone, and it refused to function thereafter. The incident goes to show the delicacy of the apparatus used, and the care needed, to give the people their daily radio transmissions.

METRO CLUB. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold a general meeting at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Monday night. A feature of the proceedings will be a lecture by Mr. Alcorn, of Gordon, on "More Telegraphy."

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. AERIAL (Marrickville).— Good results have been obtained from the device, but you would be well advised to use the accepted method. ANXIOUS (Mosman).— The filament of the valve is broken. I know of no place in Australia where it can be repaired. INQUIRY (Katoomba).— The call letters are: Sydney VIS, Melbourne VIM, and Brisbane VIB.

1924 02 02

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 2 February 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. Good Broadcasting. BY DOT DASH.

There is no doubt about the success of broadcasting. During the past few days the transmissions from the station of Farmer and Company, Limited, have been all that could be desired. The modulation and control were perfect, and the music and speech was heard by listeners with great clarity. Especially fine was the broadcasting of the first acts of "Kissing Time" at the Theatre Royal. On the stage special collector microphones picked up all theatre sounds, and the atmosphere of the entertainment seemed to be quite faithfully reproduced. Such details as footsteps on the stage, the hum of conversation among the audience, the cries of chocolate boys, and the laughter and applause following the various items were clearly heard. Farmer's deserve warm congratulation for the success which they have attained in this direction.

A LECTURE. Something altogether new in the way of broadcasting was provided by Farmer's on Tuesday evening, when a lecture on music was delivered and illustrated by various selections. A party of artists, included M. Henra Staell, Messrs. William Beatie, H. Mallam, Grieves, Kelly, and E. H. Richmond and Miss Ivy Dunstone visited the studios. From 8 o'clock to a quarter to 9 Mr. William Beattie lectured on music and the various points he stressed were illustrated by selections on the studio player-piano, and also by violin numbers played by Mr. Farnsworth Hall, of Farmer's Studio Instrumental Trio. A programme including string trios, violin solos, vocal music, and an oboe solo was also given. Listeners-in in all parts of the State were unanimous in declaring the evening an unqualified success.

WIRELESS AND NEWS. During the past two or three weeks the value of broadcasting, as applied to the furnishing of news to large numbers of people over scattered areas has been well demonstrated. This class of broadcasting has made an appeal to most dwellers in remote areas. Care has been taken by Farmer's service to secure full and accurate reports dealing with operations on the Sydney Stock Exchange, the Sussex-street market, the Homebush stock sales, the wool auctions, and the local wheat market. These have been broadcasted at regular hours, and their value to the man on the land can not be gauged. A country visitor, who recently installed a wireless receiving set in his home, stated during the week that the information he received per medium of the ether more than enabled him to pay for his instrument during the first week. On Saturday afternoons sporting results have been gathered by Farmer and Company's representatives, acting in conjunction with the "Evening News," and with remarkable speed results of horse racing, swimming races, tennis and cricket matches, and other sporting events have been broadcasted all over the State.

HON. INSPECTOR RESIGNS. Mr. Robinson (Photo Caption) Mr. J. W. Robinson, who is known to most wireless enthusiasts has just resigned from the position of hon. Radio Inspector for this State. Like many other keen wireless students, Mr. Robinson's knowledge, acquired in the first instance as an experimenter and strengthened by practical experience with Amalgamated Wireless, became an expert one, and with the inauguration of Farmer's broadcasting service he joined the staff of 2FC. He is well-known as a writer on wireless matters, and his activities include the hon. secretaryship of the Australian Radio Relay League.

"B" BATTERY CONTROL. Many experimenters overlook a most important point in connection with the handling of a receiving set — "B" battery control. An inquiry by a would-be purchaser of a valve concerning the plate voltage required to operate it is frequently met with the foolish reply: "Oh, any voltage from about 20 upwards," or "Anything up to about 80 will do." While in a broad sense the reply may be correct, the novice must not for one moment expect that the valve he wishes to buy will operate just as well, irrespective of the voltage applied to the plate. Unfortunately, many experimenters do accept such a statement as being strictly correct, and after building a receiver, purchase a "B" battery and apply any old voltage to the plate of their valves. They then wonder why the results achieved are comparatively poor. Although very little is said regarding "B" battery control, it will be found that careful attention to this particular section of the set will result in greatly increased efficiency. Many batteries are now sold with lugs to which wires can easily be soldered. A cheap switch with a few studs mounted on a piece of wood or old ebonite makes a good means of control. In other batteries the terminals take the form of plugs which may be moved into various positions on the battery and thus give finer adjustment. Anyhow, to those who have not already interested themselves in this direction, it will provide a form of experiment, and in these days, when speech and music need efficient control in order to secure volume and clarity. It will be found very helpful.

LEADING SIGNALLER'S DEATH. By the accidental drowning of Leading Signaller Archie Walne, of H.M.A.S. Anzac in a dam at Glen Innes the experimental field of wireless has lost a young and enthusiastic explorer. While on leave he erected a set at the home of his uncle, Mr. Comber, at Glen Innes, where the first messages were received from France and Garden Island. He had only a few weeks to go for his long service medal at the time of his death. Last week Mrs. W. Wright, of Railway Parade, Marrickville, placed wreaths on his grave from the captain and ship's company on the Anzac, Mrs. West, of Douglas-street, Petersham, and from her own family. Young Walne's mother and two sisters live in England, while another sister is at Glen Innes. His only brother is a lieutenant in the Australian Flying Corps.

CLUB NOTES At the next meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society to be held on Tuesday, the portion of the evening usually occupied with a lecture will be given over to a debate on various types of apparatus. Members are asked to take any apparatus as a subject of debate, and on which they may require any information also to go armed with questions regarding any difficulties they are experiencing with their sets. Buzzer practice will commence as usual at 7.30 p.m. The North Sydney Radio Club will hold its first meeting of the new year on Tuesday at Quaife's Garage, Alfred-street, North Sydney. The honorary secretary wishes to inform members that there is important business to be dealt with, and a good attendance is desired.

1924 02 09

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 9 February 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO JOTTINGS. Concerning Valves. BY DOT DASH.

One thing that has done more to popularise the receiving side of wireless than anything else is the introduction of the dry cell valve. In days now gone, many people were turned from the hobby by the knowledge that they would have to get an accumulator to light the filament of their valve. The average man, who leans towards a receiving set with which to hear the broadcasting, does not want to be bothered with the constant charging and careful handling of an accumulator, and to him the dry cell outfit is a blessing. Constant work and careful experimenting on the part of the manufacturers has resulted in the dry-cell valves being brought to a high state of efficiency and it is safe to say that, in sets for entertainment, they are more in use than those needing an accumulator. But all the experimenting has not resulted in the production of a valve that will stand the rough usage that some people think they can bestow on them. Unless reasonable care is taken with valves, wireless can become a very expensive hobby. Sheer carelessness cost a Sydney experimenter (who ought to have known better) a couple of pounds the other night. He had been using a dry-cell valve, taking three volts on the filament, and for this had two dry cells wired up. Then he changed to a valve rated to take only one volt, but he omitted to cut out one of the cells. As his filament resistance was not capable of cutting down the current sufficiently, the valve "went dud" in a few minutes. Every dry cell contains among its wrappings detailed instructions concerning connecting and operating. You can not go far wrong if you follow these directions in detail. And bear this in mind: the life of the valve — any valve — will be much longer if you operate it with as little filament current as possible.

THAT CRYSTAL SET. When the average man becomes interested in wireless, he usually heeds the advice of those who know something about it, and starts off with a crystal set. This costs him several pounds, and he is usually satisfied with it for a few weeks, when he gets the full force of an attack of "wireless fever," and hungers after a set that will do better. Then his troubles begin. He asks "What can I add to improve my set?" The answer must be that there is no improving a crystal set. Such a set is designed to operate with a crystal detector, and it is not possible to improve on it beyond a certain point. But it is possible to use parts of the crystal set in the construction of a valve outfit. Most crystal sets consist of a loose coupler, detector, 'phone condenser, and the usual terminals. If the owner of such a set wishes to go on to valve reception, he can use his coupler in conjunction with a valve panel, which are sold by almost any wireless dealer. When making such a change, however, it is as well for the owner to get the advice of the salesman, or he may find that his set will not function.

OLD 'PHONES. Many a good crystal set has been set down as inefficient when the trouble really lies in the head set. It is wonderful to look upon some of the old 'phones that have been unearthed from odd corners for wireless purposes. Some of them are nearly as big as saucers, others are as thin as a dress watch, and most are rusty and battered. Where they originally came from is a mystery. If they were used for wireless purposes in their early youth, it is a wonder that the pioneers in the game did not get disgusted. Anyhow, these "dug out" 'phones are nearly all useless for present day wireless work. It is essential to use a pair of good 'phones, especially with a crystal. There are several good types and makes on the market, and those who do not wish to go in for the super-sensitive article can get a very suitable pair for under £2. While on the subject of 'phones, here is a test for sensitivity: Adjust the headset on the ears and take the terminal ends of the cord. Place one between the lips and gently scrape the other on a piece of metal held in one hand. If the 'phones are sensitive, a faint but perceptible scratching will be heard. I have heard of people putting the current of a battery through a pair of 'phones to test them! This is, of course, sudden death to the delicate wirelings.

WIRELESS IN DIVORCE. Wireless has been blamed for many things, but this is the first instance of it being the cause of domestic unhappiness that has come under my notice. The par is from an American Journal:— Mrs. Cora M. White, of Minneapolis, is suing her husband for divorce on the ground that he has suffered from "wireless mania" for two years. She alleges that in order to receive long-distance messages he remained out of bed and forced her to sit up with him. He denied her and their child proper clothing in order that he might have more money to spend on wireless equipment, and according to the complaints filed by his wife, "used vile, indecent, and abusive language" when local stations interrupted the signals of distant stations and cut him out.

FARWELL CONCERT. In response to many requests for a farewell transmission, Mr. Maclurcan will endeavor to give a final concert from 2CM on either Sunday, February 17, or 24. It must be borne in mind that 2CM station is in a rather muddled state at present owing to preparations for the forthcoming Tahiti tests. It is hoped, however, to have everything ship-shape again by the last-mentioned date, at the latest.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. S.P. (Double Bay): Mr. Marsden does not transmit further than New Zealand; nor can they speak direct to England from Pennant Hills station. Sydney amateurs, however, can hear Morse signals from Germany with very sensitive apparatus. Experimenter (Illawarra): For dry cell work, a W.D. 12 or a C. 299 will give good results. Anxious (Summer Hill): The frying noise you complain of evidently comes from your set. Overhaul it for loose connections. W.H.S. (North Sydney): The station you mention did not change its wavelength, the music was rebroadcasted from an amateur station.

1924 02 16

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 16 February 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. "Howling" Valves. By DOT DASH

Despite the fact that regenerative circuits are looked upon with disfavor by the authorities, there are still "howling" valves about. There is nothing so annoying as a "whistler" through a broadcasting programme, and the experimenter who uses a circuit that energises his aerial is a nuisance. He is a "dog in the manger," too, for while his valve is "howling" he cannot get good results himself, and he is spoiling the pleasure of other receivers near him. This flouting of authority will come to a head unexpectedly one of these days, and there will be trouble for somebody. In the meantime, the trouble-makers should endeavor to look at the situation from the point of view of the other man. They might then realise their lack of the sporting spirit, and voluntarily give up spoiling other peoples' pleasure.

FOR THE INVALID. The benefits of wireless broadcasting to the people was very forcibly brought home to me the other day. I heard of the case of a young man who had been a helpless invalid, confined to his bed for years. His was a dreary and dull existence. At first he read for weeks at a time, but this soon weakened his eyesight, and only a certain amount is now allowed by the doctor. Friends came in to talk to the sufferer, but they only accounted for a few hours out of the dreary day. There was a gramophone there, but its charms soon faded when the patient knew all the records down to the last scratch. To this man wireless came as a great joy. The broadcasting set by his bed brings in a wealth of entertainment that would be lost to him without it. There is always something new being sent out, so his interest is sustained. In short, the ether wave carries the outer world to the sick room and brightens an existence that would otherwise be almost unbearable.

TWO-ELEMENT VALVES. The two-element valve, or Fleming valve, which proved popular as a simple detector in America recently, has made its appearance in Australia. It is one of the original valves having two elements, a filament and a plate. It is designed, not to take the place of the three-element tube, but to provide an efficient and reliable detector. A crystal set may work very well, but the operator often finds difficulty in maintaining a contact on the most sensitive spot of the crystal. The two-element valve, when put in the place of the crystal as a detector removes this trouble. All that the operator needs to do is to set the filament resistance at the most sensitive position and leave it. The valve will bring in signals equally as well as the crystal, and all that is needed to effect the change is a dry cell (for filament lighting) and a suitable rheostat. Signals detected by this wave can, of course, be amplified by a three-element tube.

ANOTHER FROM U.S. They get wireless mania very badly in the States. They cannot even be married without it, as the following par, from a New York paper, shows:— A man's voice, calling up the New York broadcasting station, said: "I'm being married tomorrow, and am going to have a little wireless party, so I'd like your orchestra to play the "Wedding March." "Sorry," was the reply, "but we haven't an orchestra tomorrow." Then the wireless man asked, by way of a joke, "Why don't you postpone the wedding, and we'll see what we can do for you?" "Hold the line a minute," said the voice of the bridegroom-to-be. The wireless man heard the faint buzz of conversation, and then the voice said: "Righto, we've decided to put the wedding off until the day after tomorrow." So said, so done; and the "Wedding March" was sent on broadcast as desired.

CLUB NEWS. METROPOLITAN. There will be a general meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Monday at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. On the following Saturday the club will conduct another of its popular launch picnics. Tickets for the picnic may be obtained from Miss F. V. Wallace, 6 Royal Arcade. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. Concerning the outing for tomorrow, arranged by the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, the secretary notifies that members are requested to meet in front of the Customs House, Circular Quay, at 2.30 p.m. WIRELESS INSTITUTE. The N.S.W. Division of the Wireless Institute is calling a meeting, to be held at the Royal Society's Hall, on Wednesday, March 19, to consider what steps shall be taken for the co-ordination and consolidation of amateur and experimental interests in N.S.W. Each club will be invited to send a delegate fully empowered to act on behalf of his club. So that invitations may be issued to attend this meeting, all club secretaries are requested to forward their names and addresses, together with the name of their club, to the hon. secretary of the Wireless Institute, Box 3120, G.P.O., Sydney. This particularly applies to those in country centres. The next meeting of the Institute will be held at the Royal Society's Hall on Thursday next, at 7.45 p.m., when Mr. Jas. Nangle will give a lecture on "Time Signals." NORTH SYDNEY. At a special meeting of the North Sydney Radio Club, last Tuesday, it was decided to call another meeting for Tuesday at the clubroom Burns Bay-road, Lane Cove, to discuss the future of the club. As the meeting will deal with important business, members are asked to make a special effort to attend. KURINGAI DISTRICT. A meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society will be held on Tuesday, when the society's future policy will be discussed, also the arranging of a syllabus for this year. Owing to Mr. Hill being unable to attend the meeting, Mr. H. A. Stow has consented to take up the lecture.

THE GREATEST WONDER. If there is anything that will make life in the backblocks attractive, and bring the joys of the city to the pioneer of the bush, it is wireless telephony. "Radio" is the greatest wonder of the age. It has now reached a stage of advancement at which its reliability is reasonably certain. In a year or so it will have attained a position wherein its reliability in all conditions of weather and atmosphere will be beyond the shadow of a doubt. And the beauty of it all is that the actual apparatus used in the reception of radio telephony is so delightfully simple and inexpensive to construct and maintain. A book which it is safe to assert, is the best yet published on the subject, is "Practical Radio." Any reasonably intelligent schoolboy of 14 years can, with its assistance, construct a set cheaply and perhaps use his mother's clothes line as an aerial. And there are chapters on advanced radio for those who know or think they know, something of wireless. The book is fully illustrated and has many interesting diagrams. It really is a "first-rater."— "G.G." "Practical Radio," by Henry Smith Williams. Published by Funk and Wagnalls Co., New York and London. Our copy from Angus and Robertson, Ltd.

1924 02 23

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 23 February 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. Broadcasting and Theatres. BY DOT DASH.

There has been considerable discussion in England as to whether broadcasting from theatres is likely to spoil the attendance. Now that the broadcasting is being carried out here, the question is brought home to us. At the outset I think it may be definitely stated that the theatres are in no way suffering, in time, on the other hand it seems that they will benefit. Because a man or woman hears portion or the music of a production it does not mean that he or she immediately loses all desire to see the show. Nine times out of ten the effect is just the opposite, and the "listeners-in" make a vow not to miss the thing at any cost. This is especially so if the music is good. A case in point came under my notice the other day. A wireless enthusiast who lives and has his station in the Blue Mountains, tuned into the first broadcast of "Sybil," now running at Her Majesty's Theatre. His wife was there ??? and they were so struck with the production, that they came to Sydney especially to see it. Then again there are many people who do not go to theatres at all. This is not because they dislike them, but in many cases because they are merely disinterested. Would not a broadcast from a theatre awaken interest in the hearer? No, broadcasting will not hurt the theatres, for no matter how excellent the transmission, there is something lacking — the brilliance of the stage and the actions of the players.

TELEPHONY AT 7000 MILES. Some fine telephony reception was carried out recently by a radio officer on an overseas ship trading to Sydney. On the run from England to Australia he had with him a three-valve receiver with coils and was able to pick up the London Broadcasting Station (2LO). Right down the west coast of Africa the ship was able to pick up the music well, with occasional breaks when static, which is very bad there, interfered. While at Capetown the music and speech from 2LO was received splendidly. When the ship left the South African port the music became fainter and fainter, but it was still audible when there was 7000 miles of water between the receiver and broadcasting station. The carrier wave of 2LO could still be heard when the ship was 8000 miles out from Britain.

AMATEURS FOR SEA. On Thursday next will commence amateur wireless tests which will be watched with the greatest interest by Australian enthusiasts. Sydney's foremost experimenter, Mr. C. Maclurcan, will sail on the Tahiti on that date with his 10-watt transmitter aboard. All arrangements have now been finalised, and the amateur station, with its separate aerial, should be able to carry on good work. Mr. Maclurcan's assistant on the trip will be the youthful experimenter, Jack Davis. A definite scheme for the tests has been arranged. Under this certain amateur transmitters will work with the ship station night and day. Careful notes will be taken during the whole of the trip, and the log should provide instructive reading. The object of the trip is to prove exactly what can be done with low power under what are practically commercial conditions. The experimenters, of course, will be absolutely apart and independent of the ship's installations. Their station will be as near as possible, a duplicate of Mr. Maclurcan's installation at Strathfield.

REST FROM RADIO. Miss Wallace (Photo Caption) Miss F. V. Wallace, Sydney's woman wireless enthusiast, will leave next week for a holiday at Mudgee. Miss Wallace, who, during this week gave a radio telephony demonstration before about 750 Technical College boys, says that wireless is a great thing, but it is possible to have too much of it. Therefore she will not take a set away with her.

JAZZ IN THE ETHER. The scheme inaugurated by Farmer's Broadcasting Service of devoting one night a week to the transmission of dance music, seems to be universally popular. The orchestra supplying the music is one of the best, and with a receiver and loud speaker with the necessary punch it would be possible to fill the Town Hall with the alluring strains. All listeners-in want now is a lesson in the latest dance steps per radiophone.

CLUB NEWS METROPOLITAN. The Metropolitan Radio Club holds a launch picnic this afternoon. The launch Nebraska will leave Man-o'-war Steps at 2.30. KURINGAI DISTRICT. At the general meeting the Kuringai District Radio Society on Tuesday a syllabus containing a programme for the next six months was drawn up. Mr. H. A. Stowe delivered a lecture on the measuring of electric current. It was decided that the next meeting set down for Tuesday, March 4, be left open, as it is anticipated that something definite will be known regarding the new club room. LEICHHARDT AND DISTRICT. The general meeting held on Tuesday was well attended. A letter from the authorities regarding the issue of experimental licenses was received and discussed. On Sunday a party of members paid a visit to the station of the R.M.S. Mooltan. On Tuesday night the second lecture of the recently arranged syllabus will be delivered by Mr. F. Lett, who will deal with "Tuning Elements." Inquiries re the activities of the society should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 143 Booth-street, Annandale.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. "DURF" (Kogarah): (1) The calculation is one of the most difficult and is dependent on the size of wire, on the inductance, and type of inductance. There are recognised formulas and tables for the calculation, but they are far too long to be given here. (2) Conductor — Class and gauge, refers to the wire you are using for your aerial; what it is composed of and the size. "CRYSTAL" (Alexandria): About 40 turns on a former of four inches diameter.

1924 03 01

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 1 March 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS. Aerials and Insurance. By DOT DASH

Several letters have reached me lately on the subject of aerials and their effect on fire insurance policies. Though there is very little risk of an aerial being struck by lightning and thus causing damage to a building, the insurance companies require certain precautions before they will make the required note on the policy, As a guide to those installing wireless sets the Fire Underwriters' Association of N.S.W. has framed certain rules, and these in booklet form, may be purchased for a few pence. "In setting up radio equipment" the underwriters say, "all wiring pertaining thereto must conform to the association's "General Rules for Wiring for the Utilisation of Electrical Energy." It is required, for receiving stations only, that outside aerials shall not cross over or under electric power or light wires, nor shall the aerial be so arranged that any failure will result in a contact with lines carrying current. ???? ???? points in the aerial, unless made from approved clamps or splicing devices must be soldered. ???? lead-in wire must be of copper or approved copper-clad steel, or other approved metal, and must not be smaller than No. 16 S.W.G. Lead-in wires on the outside of buildings must not be closer than a foot to electric lights or power lines, unless separated by a firmly fixed and continuous non-conductor. Lead-in wires should enter the building through a non-combustible, non-absorptive, insulating bushing. Each lead-in wire must be provided with an approved protective device, properly connected, and located as near as practicable to the point where the wire enters the building. The protective device must be a lightning arrester, which will operate at a potential of 500 volts or less. The use of an aerial grounding switch is desirable, but does not obviate the necessity for the arrester. The ground wire must be run in as straight a line as possible to a good permanent ground. Preference will be given to water piping. Gas piping must not be used. Transmitting stations are regarded as involving more hazard than stations used only for receiving, and require additional safeguards. These are given at length in the booklet.

OPEN SETS. The Association for Developing Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji is pressing for an alteration of the present wireless regulations, with a view to doing away with the sealed sets. The Postmaster-General has been approached to summon a conference similar to that of May last, but Mr. Gibson does not seem inclined to move. Further efforts are being made to bring about the conference, and when it eventuates, the association will put forward the following proposals for altering the regulations:— That broadcast receiving sets be not limited as to wavelengths. That two classes of broadcasting stations be licensed, such stations to be classed as (a) subsidised broadcasting stations, who shall participate in the revenue received from receiving licenses (b) non-subsidised broadcasting stations. "A" class stations must conform to prescribed standards as regards (a) continuity of service, (b) quality of programme, (c) minimum power, (d) sufficient financial guarantee. "B" class stations shall be allowed to exist without complying to the above standard. That one inclusive license fee be charged sufficient to subsidise the broadcasting stations and pay the Government cost of administration. That a further source of revenue be obtained by a surcharge on all valves purchased.

ELIMINATING INTERFERENCE. In America, where there are so many transmitting stations that amateurs are frequently troubled by interference from those nearby when receiving, many interference eliminating devices have been tried out. From the point of view of the average receiver the most effective of these is the "wave trap." In simple form this device consists of a variable condenser and an inductance coil in series forming an oscillating circuit with arrangements for varying coil or condenser, so that the device may be adjusted to the frequency of the incoming signal. The rejector can be connected into any standard type or form of circuit. In order to reduce the interference from the disturbing transmitting station the rejector is tuned until the circuit signals from the unwanted stations are eliminated or greatly reduced. The receiving circuit is then tuned to the desired station. In actual operation the rejector circuit is made with a fixed condenser of proper size for the wave length to be eliminated and with only a few turns of heavy wire or copper strip wound in a helical form with a sliding contact. Best results are obtained when the capacity rather than the inductance predominates in the rejector circuit. Excellent results are obtained when a coil of fixed inductance shunted by a variable condenser of the common air type is used. Generally a DL25 honeycomb coil is used, with a .0005 Mfd variable condenser.

BROADCASTING TEST. Farmer's broadcasting station made another new departure during the week when a test was carried out in broadcasting an organ recital from the Sydney Town Hall. In view of the peculiar arrangement of the organ pipes the collection of the sound is no easy matter. On this occasion the microphone, which collects the sounds, was placed on the stage in front of the organ, and although the transmission was not perfect, the results were very good. When further tests at to the placing of the microphone are made it is confidently expected, that the music from the beautiful instrument will be sent out as near perfect as possible.

CLUB NOTES. On Tuesday the 69th general meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society was held at the club-room, 126 Johnston-street, Annandale, when Mr. F. Lett delivered the second lecture of the new syllabus. The meeting to be held on Tuesday night will be a business one. Inquiries concerning the society should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. "Aerial" (Forest Lodge): (1) The natural wavelength would be approximately 120 metres; (2) Yes; (3) on six-inch former wind about 60 turns for primary, and on rotor, to comfortably revolve in former, wind 5 for secondary. No. 22 S.C.C. wire will do; (4) No. This must be done by increasing turns on primary. A. H. S. (Kogarah): With the usual wire used in such coils, about 40, 25 and 15. "Condenser" (Brighton-le-Sands): The condenser will make no difference to the signal strength, but it will give finer tuning. A 'phone condenser is not essential.

1924 03 08

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News" of Saturday 8 March 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO JOTTINGS. A Simple Set. BY DOT DASH.

"I know nothing about wireless," said a man the other day, "otherwise I would take it up, for it appears to be a fascinating hobby." After I had convinced him that broadcasting receivers needed no skill to operate them, I set out to prove how simple wireless really was. During the conversation I mentioned that I could construct a set that would receive music and speech in five minutes. My friend laughed and I could see that he did not believe me. So I got him to hold the watch and set to work. The set was made in four minutes and a few seconds and a couple of minutes later he was hearing signals. This is how the freak set was made. From a medicine bottle cork, a piece was cut measuring about an inch by half-inch by three-eighths. Into this were stuck seven ordinary pins. The wiring was now carried out, the pins being used as binding posts. Two of the pins held secure a piece of crystal, and the connections to earth, aerial and telephones were made with wire ends twisted round them. A piece of very fine wire served as a cat whisker. Fortunately, a sensitive spot was found on the crystal without any trouble and signals came in at very nice strength. Of course, this was freak reception on a parallel with the ring and buttonhole sets that were the craze in America a little while ago, but it serves to illustrate the simplicity of wireless reception. The set described functioned two miles from the broadcasting station (2BL), using a 60ft single wire aerial and a pair of Brown's 6000ohms 'phones. The illustration shows the completed set mounted on a matchbox.

VISIONS. Do you wireless enthusiasts ever let your thoughts wonder in the maze of the unknown radio future? It is a fascinating way to spend an hour or so. What does the future hold for us, wirelessly speaking? During the period covered by the last 15 years the science has progressed at a marvellous rate and if it continues as it has been going during the next 15 years we shall have unthought of wonders. H. G. Wells, when he wrote "The Sleeper Awakes," put a machine in the streets of his fantastic city to shout the news abroad. What was this but a loud speaker? Shall we, a few years hence, have huge loud speakers on the city corners to shout the news to those who are too busy to read newspapers? And what a wonderful thing it would be if we got wireless television. It would then be possible to sit in your home with the necessary apparatus and see the sights and hear the sounds of things happening miles away. Then, too, there may be wireless telephones to replace the line system of today. It may be fairly assumed that when this comes to pass, and provided a suitable static eliminator is evolved, the speech will be much clearer on the whole than it is at present. It will then be possible to ring up, not only the next suburb, but a passenger on a ship hundreds of miles out to sea. Power may be transmitted without wires, thus doing away with the present system of cumbersome cables and substations. Wireless control will be utilised in guide ships, submarines and aircraft. There are thousands of things the ether wave may be made to do. From all indications at present it seems that it will not be long before the radio science becomes a bigger blessing to mankind than it is at present.

BIG STATION FOR CANADA. According to a New York exchange, it is reported that the British Marconi Company plans to erect a powerful wireless station at Vancouver. Beginning of the work on the station awaits only the success of present negotiations in London. The company plans to expend approximately £500,000 on a plant which will be in direct communication with London and Australia. As a channel of commercial intercourse for Western Canada it will be of great value, but probably its greatest importance will lie in the improved press service which it will furnish. The Vancouver station will be capable of receiving at high speed from 200 to 300 words a minute, and, judging from a comparison of existing wireless rates from Vancouver to London, there should be a considerable saving over the present direct press cable rates to London. It is understood that the Vancouver station will be the distribution point for all Western Canada west of Winnipeg, the proposed Montreal station handling Eastern Canadian business.

ON CRYSTALS. Many wireless enthusiasts with the latest valve sets are inclined to smile contemptuously at the mention of crystal outfits. But for short range work, especially telephony, the crystal has several advantages over the valve. In the first place it does not require delicate handling. It brings in music pure and free from distortion, and, generally, it does not require any batteries. An authority on crystals for wireless work says that an ideal crystal detector is one which will allow a free and complete adjustment of position, as well as pressure of contact over the whole crystal surface. Most crystals, especially those of the treated galena type, are delicate, and they should be kept free from dust and atmospheric impurities. The enclosed type of detector is recommended. The types of crystals are too numerous to mention here, but galena, either in its natural state or treated, is more in use than any other. There are many proprietary brands of treated galena crystals on the market, and, though they vary somewhat in permanency and sensitivity, they can generally be relied on to give satisfaction.

CLUB NOTES. The Metropolitan Radio Club will hold its next general meeting at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City, on Monday, when an interesting lecture will be given. The meeting will commence at 8 p.m., but members so desiring may have 10 minutes buzzer practice beforehand. On Tuesday last members of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society held their sixteenth monthly business meeting at the club-room, 176 Johnston-street, Annandale, when four new members were elected. On Tuesday the third lecture of the new syllabus will be delivered by Mr. W. J. Zech, who will have a few words to say on "Crystal Detectors and Their Action." Non-members in the district are invited. Inquiries regarding the society's activities should be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. J. B. (Forest Lodge): The value of the condenser should be .005. There is nothing to be gained by adding a 'phone condenser. Anxious (Surry Hills): Try reversing the leads of the secondary, and look for a loose connection in the set. F.F.H. (Mosman): You cannot expect results with a loop aerial and the set you are using. With an efficient outside aerial the set would be O.K. "Electron" (Petersham): The valve you mention is suitable for use as a detector or an amplifier. It is not necessary to have your license altered.

1924 03 15

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of 15 March 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Burned-out Valves. BY DOT DASH.

Back to the shop (Graphic) If you buy a new kettle and it leaks the first time you fill it, you would naturally take it back to the shop where it was purchased and endeavor, after explanation, to change it. If the shopkeeper was a good business man he would change the faulty article. So it is with many things, but not with wireless valves, though many people seem to think it should be. Many are the fierce arguments waged on the subject. Now a valve is an expensive little article and also a delicate one. When a shopkeeper sells one he usually puts a weak current through the filament to prove to the purchaser that it is intact. The purchaser then, if he is satisfied, pays for the valve, and when he takes delivery the shopkeeper's responsibility ends. It may be that when the purchaser gets home and puts the valve on his set he finds it will not light. If he is new to the game he will rush the valve back to the shop and demand a new one, and become annoyed when the shopkeeper refuses to do anything. The shopkeeper is right. All valves sold over the counter go without any guarantee whatsoever, which is only as it should be. It may be that the purchaser has given the valve a knock while taking it home, thus fracturing the filament. If so why should the shopkeeper be responsible? The manufacturer sells to the distributors on the same condition, and any valves broken in transit are the loss of the people to whom they are consigned. So next time you burn out your valve after very little use, cheerfully write it off as a dead loss.

DIRECTIONAL WIRELESS. The cables have recently made several references to the wireless "beam," with which Marconi hopes to get secrecy in radio communication. Marconi has been busy during the past few years developing a system for projecting radio waves in a desired direction. His recent reports tell of a screen which, placed around the transmitting system, stops Hertzian waves and reflects them in a definite direction, just as a reflector in a searchlight or lantern prevents the light rays from spreading in all directions. Success of directional radio will lower the cost of transmission, because less power will be required to send energy in a definite direction. Steinmetz predicted the transmission of electric power by radio, and some believe that directional radio will help to make it possible. Then an aeroplane in flight may be able to pick up energy from generators on the ground.

GOOD AMATEUR WORK. An unknown American radio operator situated in Tokio, Japan, recently sent a radio message to his mother at Cambridge, Ill., through amateur radio station 7HG, in that city, operated by Charles York, marking the first two-way short wave communication across the Pacific Ocean (says an American exchange). With only a fleeting contact, barely allowing time for the message to come through. York had considerable difficulty in distinguishing the foreign operator's call, JUPU. While the signals of amateur transmitters in the United States have been reported by ship operators in remote sections of the Pacific and as distant as the island of Ceylon in the Indian Ocean, this incident is the first in which an amateur has worked both directions across the 4760 mile stretch of ocean. The message was delivered via the American Radio Relay League traffic system. The contact hardly had been made and the message copied when communication was interrupted by heavy interference. It was about 1 a.m. when York heard a station on 200 metres and signing with the unfamiliar Japanese call. For a brief interval signals were good at both stations. The station operated by York is situated on one of the highest hills in the surrounding country. He has done a great deal of long distance work.

CLUB NEWS. The Kuringai District Radio Society will hold its next meeting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The evening will be taken up by a "question box" discussion. An important subject to be discussed is the arranging of another field day. There was a gratifying attendance of members and visitors at the last meeting of the Leichhardt and District Radio Society, when Mr. W. J. Zech gave a lecture. The next meeting will be on March 25, when Mr. F. Thompson will talk on telephones. Club delegates appointed to attend the meeting called by the Wireless Institute are reminded that the gathering has been set down for Wednesday. The conference will aim at the co-ordination of the work of all the wireless clubs and societies in the State. Delegates from the country are expected to be present.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. G.G.C. (Parramatta): (1) The spark system is still in use aboard some ships. (2) The system is simpler than the other. "Earth Wire" (Bulli): There is no need for you to go to all that trouble when just as good results can be obtained by attaching the wire to a water pipe. J. Johns (Summer Hill): The coil should reach the wave length you mention with a parallel condenser.

1924 03 22

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 22 March 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. A Great Voice. BY DOT DASH.

"Hullo! Hullo! Hullo! 2FC here, Farmer's broadcasting station; our next item will be. . . ." Have you heard that? Have you noticed the well-modulated voice and the natural conversational tones? Thousands of wireless enthusiasts now know the voice almost as well as they know the pleasing crackle of the notes that come from the cashier's office on pay day. It is the voice of Mr. Cochrane, the announcer at Farmer's Broadcasting Studios. How the kiddies love it. They know when they listen-in after dinner that they will hear a fine story from the Lamplighter. It is when he starts these stories that Mr. Cochrane's voice takes on a softer note. You can detect it when he says "Now are all the kiddies there? Mummy's little chickabuddies and Daddy's little men . . ." The smooth, even tones do not alter much after he bids the little ones goodnight and proceeds to tell Daddy how much his wool brought at that day's sales. Yes, Mr. Cochrane's is a great voice and if broadcasting keeps progressing at its present rate, it will be as familiar throughout New South Wales as the postoffice clock is to the Sydneysiders.

BATTERY CARE. The accumulator, or "A" battery for wireless work, can give a lot of trouble as every radio man knows. But there are many new devotees of the broadcasting pastime who do not give this part of their apparatus the care and attention they should. The choice of a suitable accumulator is an important step, and it is best to seek the advice of somebody who knows something about them. In the main the "A" battery is used for lighting the filament of the valve, and as different valves take different voltages the type of accumulator you need will, to a certain extent, depend on the valve you intend to use. This, of course, does not mean that a six-volt accumulator cannot be used with a valve rated to work on four volts, but an expert's advice is needed on the question of suitable resistance in the circuit. New batteries are not sold charged and ready for working, and the handling of a new one is of great importance. Take it to a reliable place for the first charge, and do not rush them over the job. The first charge must be made carefully and the battery should be discharged and charged again before being put into work. When in use, keep the terminals clean and wipe off any moisture that may accumulate of the top of the battery. It is injurious to an accumulator to keep it in use till it is run right down. Frequent chargings and care as to the necessary additions of distilled water mean everything to the life, of the battery. Do not think that because you do not use an accumulator that it will not need charging. More care is needed with one that is not used than one that is in constant operation.

TONE AND VOLUME. There are people in this world who are never satisfied. That is why many wireless men aim to produce very loud signals of horrible quality rather than be satisfied with sweet signals, of comfortable strength. There is nothing worse than badly-received radio music, and anybody hearing such in an introduction to the game is not likely to pine for a receiver. After all, the set cannot do more than its best, and no matter how much the controls are varied, improvement is impossible without a drastic alteration. If the set is worked beyond its capacity noises and howls are introduced, and the music suffers from the resulting distortion. Such signals do the set no good, and they are most unpleasing to the ear. If you have a single valve set which does not give satisfaction, so far as strength is concerned, it is advisable to add a stage of amplification, but before having this done, see that the weak signals are not caused by any defect in the set.

THE CRYSTAL AT WORK. I was asked the other day how the crystal rectified the currents in a receiving set. This is a question which experts cannot answer with certainty, but many theories have been advanced. When the wireless waves, travelling through the ether at over 180,000 miles a second, strike the receiving aerial, they set up high-frequency currents in it, and these flow down to the receiving set. These currents are oscillatory, which means that they do not flow steadily in one direction, but surge extremely rapidly one way and then back in the opposite direction. The speed of the surges may amount to many hundreds of thousands every second. It is impossible for the telephones to detect these currents, so come way has to be found to convert them into unidirectional currents, in order that they may flow through the windings of the 'phones, and, by actuating the diaphragms, produce the required sounds. The crystal does this work of rectification very well, but precisely how it effects the transformation is at present unknown.

CLUB NOTES. The conference of delegates from the various radio clubs with the council of the Wireless Institute was held on Wednesday night. The aim of the Institute was to enlist the aid of the various bodies in a movement to co-ordinate amateur activities. Discussion centred about this proposal, and it was decided that all the clubs represented should affiliate for the mutual protection of the amateurs. The Institute will get to work immediately on the affiliation proceedings. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society will meet at 176 Johnston-street, Annandale., on Tuesday night, when Mr. F. Thompson will lecture on telephones. Non-members are invited to attend. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club has been set down for Monday week, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, City. A suitable lecture is being arranged.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. "Learner" (Stanmore): I would advise you strongly not to attempt to make the attachment. You would be exposing yourself to danger, and be breaking the regulations. "Experimental" (Neutral Bay): (1). The stator should be about four inches in diameter, wound with 100 turns of No. 22 double cotton-covered wire. Toppings should be taken off at every ten turns. The rotor may be wound with 28 gauge. (2). It can be done on a crystal, but your aerial seems rather small for the job. A loose coupler set would be best. "Gogarah" (Kogarah): The list is too big to be given here, but it has been published, I think, in the radio magazines of this city.

1924 03 29

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 29 March 1924

Bad scan on Trove but superior copy provided by SLNSW - thanks Renee!

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Wireless Circuits. BY DOT DASH

When you meet a man who insists on talking of circuits or "hook-ups," you can bet your last shilling that he is a wireless experimenter. Among the experimenters, circuits are probably productive of more discussion than anything else connected with the science. For the benefit of the layman it may be mentioned that a circuit is a method of arranging and wiring together the necessary instruments in a wireless sending or receiving set. Broadly, circuits may be divided into three classes, those employing crystal detectors, others that require valves for reception, and transmitting arrangements. In all, there are thousands of circuits, and many experimenters have their favorites, of which they are never tired of talking. On paper a circuit is a weird arrangement of lines, spirals, curves, etc., but anybody can understand it after a little instruction. Each piece of apparatus in the set is represented in a circuit by a symbol. The aerial connection, for instance, is always represented by a three-pronged fork, while coils are indicated in diagrams by spring-shaped devices. The ear of the set is symbolised by an inverted pyramid of horizontal, parallel lines and the telephones by two small circles, joined by a curved line. A crystal detector symbol looks like a small black pyramid with the apex against a small block, and a valve has the three elements filament, plate and grid, enclosed in a circle. Batteries are represented by parallel lines, every other one being shorter and thicker than the one each side. On the ends of this symbol, a short line represents the negative side of the battery and the longer one the positive. Condensers are symbolised by two short, thick lines, close together and if they are of the variable type, an arrow is drawn through the centre of them. This arrow, by the way, will be seen through every piece of apparatus that is variable. Other apparatus, such as resistances, switches, transformers, plugs and jacks, telephones, loud speakers, etc., all have their signs, but the enthusiast should find no difficulty in recognising them.

AUTOMATIC WORKING. Australian experimenters who possess good sets have no difficulty if atmospheric conditions are favorable, in hearing the big commercial stations on the other side of the world at work. Most are manually operated, but there are several that work at very high speed with automatic senders. The dots and dashes from an automatic station are sent out so quickly that they seem almost like one continuous note, and it is impossible for the human brain to translate such messages. At the receiving station there are automatic receivers capable of taking down the high speed messages in an uncanny manner. The automatic method enables the stations to deal with an enormous amount of traffic. It is proposed to instal the automatic system in the big station which is to be built in Australia for communication with England and other parts of the Empire.

CONCERT FROM 'FRISCO. The transmission of wireless music and speech is a wonderful thing in itself, but the fact that music played in America can be heard in Australia by means of the ether wave, makes us gasp. This is a set that actually received the music from Oakland, California (Station KGO), while being operated by a South Coast resident, on March 19, at 6.7 p.m. There were selections for 45 minutes, and the reception was very clear and plain. Each item lasted from seven to eight minutes. The receiving set used is of three valves, one detector, and two stages of audio frequency amplification, two condensers, the primary, an .001 with Vernier and the secondary .0005 with Vernier. This set was designed and built by the radio engineer of David Jones.

THE FORDSDALE'S EQUIPMENT. The new steamer Fordsdale, of the Australian Commonwealth Line of steamers, has been fitted with a type of main wireless installation, and a special magnifying valve receiving set, by the Amalgamated Wireless Company. The equipment also includes a special emergency transmitter for use in case of necessity, when the main transmitting set cannot be used through a failure of the ship's electrical supply. A special wireless room was built on the boat deck to accommodate the apparatus, and adjoining it are rooms for the three wireless operators, who will keep a continuous wireless watch on board the Fordsdale all the time the vessel is at sea.

CLUB NOTES. Business of importance is to be dealt with at the next meeting of the Kuringai District Radio Society, to be held on Tuesday at "Almonds," Victoria-avenue and Anderson-street, Chatswood. The president, Mr. H. A. Stowe, has found it necessary to resign, and a successor will be elected. Arrangements for a "field day" are also to be made, and at the conclusion of the business Mr. Stowe will give a demonstration of high frequency work. The Leichhardt and District Radio Society will hold its 19th monthly business meeting on Tuesday next, and on Tuesday, April 8, the fourth of the lectures on the new syllabus will be given for members. Inquiries concerning the society should be made to the hon. secretary, Mr. W. J. Zech, 145 Booth-street, Annandale.

1924 04 05

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 5 April 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO JOTTINGS. Static Comes Back. BY DOT DASH

The Demon Static is with us again. During this week and the latter part of last reception was made very unpleasant by the continuous and hideous notes of atmospheric disturbances. Strangely enough, prior to this outburst, the ether was comparatively free from such a noise for many weeks and during hot and sultry days when one would expect static. But static is a peculiar thing, and always comes when least expected, and when you have your friends in to hear the music. Static is the result of natural electrical disturbances in the atmosphere, there are several types, all very objectional; it is worse in summer than winter. And there are some parts of the world where it is bad almost continuously. That is practically all that is known about this curse of wireless. From observations made in Sydney it seems that static usually comes in bands. Experts have been able to reduce the volume of static by means of various devices, but there is still a fortune for the man who can get rid of the bugbear altogether.

INDOOR AERIALS. If you live in a flat, or if you have insufficient ground to put up a good outside aerial, do not think you are thereby debarred from enjoying entertainment in wireless. It is possible to get excellent results by means of an indoor aerial, provided you are not too far away from the sending station. To compensate for the absence of an outdoor aerial it is necessary to use a set that employs two or more valves, and is therefore, more sensitive. With most indoor sets a "loop" or "frame" aerial is used. This is a frame of wood on which is wound the necessary wire, and sometimes the "loop" is tuned in order to provide for better adjustment. This type of aerial is very directional, and the loudest signals are heard when it is pointed end on to the sending station. In order that the variations in direction can be made, the loop is so constructed that it will revolve. Good results can also be obtained by the use of single or double wires strung across the room, fastened to the picture rail. Such an aerial can be constructed with wires of small gauge, which are hardly noticeable. In this case also it is best to have the aerial pointing to the broadcasting station. In several ways the indoor aerial is of advantage, the most important being that it reduces interference and static to a certain extent.

SERVICE FOR INDIA. The Government of India has issued the following communique inviting tenders connected with the establishment of high-power wireless services. "The Government is prepared to enter into an agreement and to grant licenses to private enterprises in India for the establishment and operation of the necessary radio service to provide for the Indian link in the Imperial wireless scheme, and also commercial radio communication with other parts of the world. "Applications will be accepted up to August 1 next and successful applicants will be required to register a company in India, at least 60 per cent. of the capital of which must be offered in India. "The service required entails the installation of a station capable of conducting high-speed duplex radio communications in two directions simultaneously, together with simultaneous reception from at least three other directions, at a rate of charge which shall not exceed the cable rates from time to time prevailing. Direct communication with the United Kingdom or South Africa, on the one hand, and Australia or Canada on the other, must be guaranteed."

JAPAN AND BROADCASTING. Advice has been received in Sydney that Japan has opened the air to private radio broadcasting without discrimination against foreign enterprise or materials. The new regulations provide that a continuous wave system may be used, an annual fee of 500 yen being required for broadcasting 100 miles on wave lengths of 360 and 385 meters, with one and a half kilowatts. For maximum distance of 20 miles, on wave lengths 215 and 235 meters, with 250 watts, the fee is 300 yen annually. Broadcast receivers for use on 200, 230, 350, and 400 meters require a fee equal to two yen or about 4/6 a year. Applicants for licenses are advised to file a prospectus, specifications, expenditure planned and estimated returns with the Minister of Communications. The tariff on radio imports is expected to be about 25 per cent.

1924 04 12

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 12 April 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Wireless in the Fleet. BY DOT DASH.

Like everything else aboard the ships of the visiting British Squadron, the wireless gear is exceptionally good. The ships, unlike those of the merchant service, do not have a single wireless room perched on the upper deck, but, for obvious reasons, house the instruments in cabins below decks. There are several wireless rooms, so the ship would not be stricken dumb should one be wrecked during an action. In order that the working of the instruments shall not be interrupted by the many noises of the ship, the wireless rooms are soundproof. The wireless instruments are among the secret items of the navy and no visitors are allowed to enter the cabins.

AUSTRALIA LEADS. It is pleasing to note that Australian wireless developments are in some respects ahead of other countries. Experiments were made recently by Amalgamated Wireless Limited, as to the most effective wave length for broadcasting use. These showed that a long wavelength was likely to be more effective, being less subject to fading, and giving a better daylight range than a short wave length. On the erection of the station for Farmer's broadcasting service at Northbridge, the Wireless Company provided for a wavelength of ??000 metres, and results have justified this decision. There is ???? for the erection near London, of a giant high-power broadcasting station operating on 25 k.w. and utilising a wave length of 1600 metres. This power unit will be about 17 times the power of the present stations of the British Broadcasting Company at Marconi House, London, and the wave length will be much longer, the present wave length being 363 metres.

100 MILE CRYSTAL WORK. From the experience gained by the British Broadcasting Company during the past 12 months and also from broadcasting ???? in America, it is considered by many eminent wireless authorities, ???? Alfred N. Goldsmith. ???? Research of the American Radio Corporation, that long wave lengths are more effective than short waves for broadcasting purposes. The proposed station will serve areas at the present time inadequately catered for by the British Broadcasting Company's existing stations, and little interference is anticipated from other stations. It is expected that crystal reception up to 100 miles, single valve reception up to 200 miles, and 2-valve reception anywhere in the United Kingdom will be possible with this station. The magnitude of its power unit can be imagined, when it is stated that the British Broadcasting stations at the present operate on 2½ k.w., while the big American Broadcasting stations utilise the same power, though in the recently-opened station at Oaklands, California, a 5 k.w. set will shortly be installed. The wave length in operation in most American stations is round about ??? metres.

AMERICAN TESTS. The final period of the tests between Australian and American amateurs will begin on Tuesday and end on April 30. During this period, both Americans and Australians will transmit, the former during the first 15 minutes of each hour, and the Australians during the next 15 minutes, and so on. On Tuesday the test time will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Wednesday, from 9 p.m. to 12 p.m., and thence on from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m. The test times are Melbourne time, and all transmissions are free for all. The Victorian Division of the Wireless Institute, under whose auspices the test arrangements were made, ask that reports be sent to the hon. secretary, care of "Radio Experiments", ???? Victoria-street, Melbourne.

RECORDS BY VIS. The Sydney Radio Station has lately established some record distances. Telegraphic traffic has been worked over a range of 4000 miles ???? tonic train transmitter, which was manufactured in Sydney. The station's signals were recently heard by the steamer ???? the Indian Ocean, 1200 miles ????. The daylight range is ???? effective, and the station ???? no trouble in establishing communication with Adelaide and with The ???? Zealand. Excellent results have also been attained in the field of ???? telephony. Telephonic communication was established with the R.M.S. ???? in the Pacific up to 2800 miles using a standard Marconi ½ k.w. transmitting set.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. T. J. T. (Bathurst): ???? all his commercial work on ???? metres, but changes to a longer wave at certain times for special work. "Condenser" (Marrickville): You must have a license before you can operate your station. The fact that you have applied for the license does not give you the right to work your set. "Disappointed" (Auburn): There is obviously something very wrong about the set. I should advise you to take it back to the dealer and explain the whole thing. S. C. Bairns (Leichhardt): You were quite right, it is possible to receive wireless broadcasting in a mine hundreds of feet below the surface of the ground. Some interesting and successful experiments in this direction were carried out recently in America.

1924 04 19

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 19 April 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. BROADCASTING PROBLEM. Conference Proposals. BY DOT DASH.

Wireless enthusiasts throughout Australia are now waiting with interest the decision of the Postmaster-General, Mr. Gibson on the recommendations of the Broadcasting conference, which were submitted to him during the week. The recommendations are, to say the least, ambitious, and they seem to be somewhat complicated. The signatories to the document assert that their scheme for the alteration of the regulations, if adopted, will confer on the public the following benefits: (1) Open sets. (2) Reasonable regeneration. (3) Competitive broadcasting, involving the best stimulus to variety and superiority of news, entertainment, and education. (4) An open market for the development of Australian talent. (5) Cheaper broadcasting fees. (6) Greater standardisation of the receiving sets, and consequent cheapening in cost. These benefits are, no doubt, badly needed by the public, and if the Government, after a thorough examination of the submitted scheme, finds it suitable, the sooner it is incorporated in the regulations the better.

THE REVENUE. Probably the most difficult problem that the conference had to solve was the allocation of revenue to the various broadcasting companies. The solution looks well on paper, but whether it will operate well in practice remains to be seen. The report mentions thousands of pounds and fixes a limit of £20,000 a year for each holder of an original broadcasting licence. This seems all very well, but it is problematical whether the total revenue will amount to the sum that the conference estimates. The greatest drawback to the production of revenue from wireless broadcasting is poaching. There are hundreds of wireless sets in Sydney alone for which no broadcasting fees or Government license fee is paid and it is fair to assume that if a flat rate on all receiving sets is charged, as the conference recommends, the poachers will increase in number. The only way to cope with this evil is to employ a small army of inspectors and even then it could not be wiped out entirely. It must not be forgotten that no aerials outside a house are needed with a multi-valve set within a reasonable range of a broadcasting station and, therefore, detection would be next to impossible. A number of firms presented a petition to the conference, calling attention to the advantages of a system of control by one big broadcasting company, but delegates were unanimous in the opinion that this would not be in the best interests of the public. Conference was, however, willing to discuss the proposal, but the ???? declined to send a representative for this purpose, saying that it was neither the time nor place to air their views.

COMPENSATION. Conference adopted the principle of compensation to the extent of making good the actual expense of converting constructed sealed sets into open sets and members, individually and collectively, waived their claims and recommended other traders of the Commonwealth to do the same. A suggested basis of compensation was that the claims made by any company which has more than fifty sets constructed shall be compensated for the labor of altering only those sets over the fifty mentioned. Such compensation to be limited to the actual labor cost of conversion to open sets of corresponding wave length range, namely, 100 to 600 or 600 to 1200 metres respectively, but not inclusively. It is also suggested that a compensation fund be provided by increasing dealers' license fees to £5 a year till the required sum has been raised. The suggested method for raising the compensation fund is a good one, but would it bring in sufficient revenue to cover the work necessary? It is possible that conference knows exactly the cost of the work, but it is more probable that it does not, and it is, therefore, bad policy to saddle dealers with a tax that may exist for some time. It is also suggested that all claims should be made within thirty days from the gazettal of any new regulations. This, to the layman, seems to be rather short notice. Hundreds of sealed sets have been sold since the broadcasting regulations came into force and a considerable amount of work would be necessary to trace such sales. Conference puts forward the opinion that if compensation is confined to legitimate and actual losses it will be simple and cheap to meet the claims, and that no claims would be submitted from more than five or six concerns in the Commonwealth. It is also stated that members of conference would use their best endeavors to discourage the submission of claims as they felt sure that any losses incurred would easily be made up from the much larger business that would result from open set conditions.

UNALLOTTED REVENUE. Conference was looking well ahead when it considered the question of unallotted revenue. This revenue would be that not apportioned after the companies had been given their shares. This problem would be simple if there was only one company operating in a State, for the concern would receive the whole of the amount left over. But the matter becomes complicated when there is more than one company, and conference proposes that percentages shall be given according to the popularity of the stations. For instance, if there were two stations to share in the unallotted revenue, the most popular would get 60 per cent. of the amount, while the other would receive 40 per cent. In order to decide the question of popularity listeners-in would be supplied with ballot papers on which they would record their preference. Such a system as this would be clumsy, and would certainly be open to abuse. It is probable that the prospect of the larger portion of the unallotted revenue would inspire stations to give a first-class service, but it is doubful whether any improvement brought about by this means would compensate for the trouble involved in taking a ballot. Certainly it seems that the best plan would be to apportion the unallotted revenue among the stations according to their class.

GOVERNMENT'S VIEW. It is apparent that the Government will not be stampeded into altering the present regulations, and that a full and searching investigation of the proposals will be made before the matter is placed before Cabinet. The principal objection from the official point of view is that with open sets it would be possible for any one to listen to commercial work. This, of course, is not at all desirable, though a very large proportion of listeners-in cannot read the code and will never trouble to learn. The collection and disbursement of revenue under the submitted scheme would mean much more work for the department concerned than is necessary at present. But the feeling against sealed sets is certainly very strong and it is quite on the cards that some action will be taken by Members when the Federal Parliament meets. The conference has done its best with a very difficult and complicated problem, and the suggestions presented may form the basis of a solution acceptable to all concerned, but there certainly does seem to be room for great improvement in the submitted scheme as it now stands.

1924 04 26

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 26 April 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS JOTTINGS. Show Displays. BY DOT DASH.

A feature of the commercial section of this year's Royal Show was the display of wireless apparatus by the various city firms. Each day the displays were the centres of inquiries from country visitors, and there is not the slightest doubt that many sets will go to the country as a result. Even the model farm which attracted so much attention was provided with a wireless aerial, a detail which called forth favorable comment. There is no doubt that the wireless receiving set should form part of the equipment of every modern farm and station. The reasons for this have been stressed so many times that it would be tiresome to repeat them here. But the trouble is that many of the outback settlers are not aware of the great advance of the radiophone, and therefore do not realise the benefits for them in it. The Department of Agriculture issues pamphlets on land subjects to the farmers, and it might not be amiss for an article or two on wireless as it affects the settler to be included.

BROADCAST FROM CHURCH. The radio engineers of Farmer's deserve great credit for the work of broadcasting the service from St Mark's Church, Darling Point, on Good Friday night. Despite the very bad atmospheric disturbances, the transmission was carried out successfully. The general public do not realise the difficulties in the way of carrying out such a task. One of the greatest difficulties is the placing of the microphone, the ???? instrument that collects the sound to be transmitted in order that everything ???? in its proper proportions ???? the microphone was well placed for the voices of the choir and soloists were splendidly modulated and in good proportion. The beautiful tones of the organ carried ???? successfully over the ether wave, and the whole atmosphere of the church was radiated. In America the broadcasting of church services is a regular thing, and we in Australia could well follow suit. There are ???? people who, for various reasons ???? attend Divine service. ???? listen-in at home and who ???? to do so.

AMATEURS' FEARS. The wireless experimenters of New South Wales are awaiting anxiously for the Federal Government's decision on the proposed amendments to the regulations, and they are wondering if their activities will be affected by any change. One of the recommendations of the recent conference was that the experimental licenses be abolished and a limited number of "expert licenses" be issued in each State. The Government would be well advised to proceed with all caution in this matter. While it cannot be denied that some experimental license holders do little else than listen to broadcasting, there are scores of genuine experimenters worthy of the name. They are constantly at work, some far into the night, endeavoring to improve their apparatus. It is by such work that a great stride may be made in the science. There is another and more important aspect of the matter. Some day there may come another international upheaval and a consequent demand for trained wireless men. In this event the Government could look with confidence to the experimenters, so it would be a wise thing to see that their activities are not curtailed.

THE KLOSTER COMPASS. The steamship Leviathan recently made a trip from New York to Southampton equipped with the newest device to combat fogs — the Kloster radio compass — and reported it to have been completely successful. The Kloster compass is an ordinary compass-card equipped with an attachment which operates a radio sending station working on a low wave length to prevent its signals being confused with the ordinary messages which are flying about in the ether. At the receiving end the ship is equipped with a special type of loop antenna. Any radio amateur knows that the loop is directional — that is that signals received are loudest when the loop is pointed directly at the sending station. By the use of the loop and a pair of telephone receivers it may be determined exactly where the ship sending the signals received is located. But the Kloster compass goes further. The receiver is attached to a compass-card in such a way that as the signal is received the card automatically swings till it is pointing at the sending ship, thus furnishing ocular as well as auricular indication of the hidden vessel's position and serving as a check. The signals sent include course and speed of the vessel. The radio compass is so arranged that if mounted on the ordinary type of magnetic compass it will give the magnetic bearing of the ship; if set on the gyroscopic compass, which points to the true north instead of to the magnetic pole, it is adjusted to give the bearing in degrees from the actual pole. With the automatic card showing the direction of the hidden ship and the telephone receivers giving audible warning of its presence, the danger of fogs is greatly reduced. The Kloster compass was used on some battleships at the close of the war, but its trial on the Leviathan was its first use on a passenger liner.

A MYSTERY Radio fans in Albany (U.S.A.) were baffled by a mystery of the air when the last mail left for Australia. For ten days owners of every type of receiver, from crystal sets to five step amplifiers, had been hearing a loud buzzing. Efforts to trace the cause failed and several persons tried to find "dead spots." Several amateurs were making tests in an effort to locate the source and cause of the disturbance. One took his set to the homes of friends in various parts of the city and encountered the same baffling buzzing. Several radio receiver owners ascribed the sound to high-powered machinery in some industrial plant, but radio experts said that this was unlikely. A similar condition existed last year, the cause of which was never ascertained. Another theory was that there had developed in the Capitol Hill area some static condition peculiar to that area and as yet undetermined. A group of radio enthusiasts composed of the members of several clubs were to ask engineers of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to solve the puzzle.

1924 05 03

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 3 May 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Broadcasting Successes. BY DOT DASH.

Miss Moncrieff. (Photo Caption) The success of Miss Gladys Moncrieff has not been accomplished entirely with the footlights as a boundary. She has now another victory to her credit, and has conquered another world. Since broadcasting commenced Gladys has become the heroine of the air. To establish in the hearts of the audiences that nightly fill the theatres, was the ambition of every true artist, but to have a glorious voice entering into the very homes of the people is something that before the advent of wireless was unthought of. Many who have not been to the theatre for years have by reason of hearing Miss Moncrieff "over the air," been stirred with a desire to go and see if the artist is as charming as the voice. This is borne out by the shoals of letters of appreciation sent both to Miss Moncrieff personally and to the Broadcaster. After singing at Her Majesty's on the evening of April 7 she received a cable from an enthusiast in New Zealand with congratulations, and the remark that Miss Moncrieff's songs are a revelation in telephony. From Mount Gambier, South Australia, from Longwood, North Tasmania, from Cairns in Queensland, from Melbourne, and even shipping in West Australia, and many other points of the Commonwealth, people send their measure of praise to the popular actress. Miss Moncrieff is now playing her farewell season previous to going on a holiday.

STATE ORCHESTRA BROADCASTED. The broadcasting of selections played by the State Conservatorium Orchestra on Wednesday night by Farmer's proved very successful and delighted the numerous listeners. The timing of the studio and Conservatorium items was perfect, and there was not one minute's delay in "switching across." The "balance" of the orchestra was splendid, and all the instruments were reproduced by wireless with excellent tone. Few of those who "listen-in" know just exactly what the broadcasting of a production from an outside source really means. Special lines connect the hall in which the entertainment is being provided, and across these the currents registered by the microphone, and amplified by the special equipment fitted in the building, are despatched to Farmer's Studios. From the studios they are switched to Willoughby by another land line and then radiated. A receiver at the studios operates headgear and loud speakers, which are used to check up the transmission, and in some cases the received speech and music are stepped down slightly by a small intervalve transformer and are monitored back by telephone line to the hall from which the entertained is being collected. In this manner the engineer on duty is enabled to control the transmission from the hall itself, and to listen by wireless to the entertainment which is being broadcasted.

AMATEURS TO RESCUE. How American amateurs came to the rescue when communications were broken down is told by the New York "Herald." When all Press and commercial telegraph wires connecting Chicago with the rest of the world, except those leading to the north through Canada, were put out of commission by the most terrific sleet storm of the winter, representatives of two Press associations depended on radio and the American Radio Relay League to get Press news through the world's largest news relay point. One of the several important stories handled was a bulletin on the mine disaster at Crosby, Minn., giving a list of the dead, which the newspaper correspondent addressed to an office in New York City. D. H. Hiebert, operator of amateur station 9BQQ at Minneapolis, who handled this message, stuck by his set with only three hours' sleep in as many nights, transmitting both news and private messages. While the regular commercial telegraph operators were trying frantically to get their eastern news through Canada to Winnipeg and St. Paul, and the western despatches by way of Seattle and St. Paul, Don C. Wallace, operator of amateur station 9ZT at Minneapolis and assistant division manager of the A.R.R.L. acted as a radio "Paul Revere," calling amateur minute men to fill the breach. By the time that the storm was in full swing scores of amateurs in the vicinity of Chicago and Minneapolis were accepting and relaying hundreds of messages of all descriptions. Although their territory was not immediately affected to the same extent by the driving sleet, radio men in other districts, hearing storm reports and "urgent" calls, swung their own stations into line for relaying traffic to distant points. Until telegraph wire connection was again resumed emergency messages were transmitted in an ever widening circle.

HONEYCOMB COILS. An amateur has written asking for an opinion as to the best type of inductance, and whether honeycomb coils are as efficient as any. The question of inductance is a big one, and much could be written on it. Some favor honeycomb coils and others different types. During recent months, however, honeycomb coils have become very popular among experimenters, and the advantages which are to be derived from them are many. They may be used either in one, two, or three coil circuits, and mounted on plugs which fit into the sockets fitted on the set itself, provide a means for rapid and efficient changing of wave lengths. If a receiver is constructed with fixed tuning coils its wave length is naturally restricted to the wave length of the tuning unit employed, but with honeycomb coils any range of wave lengths may be covered merely by the use of various sized coils.

NEW CLUB FORMED. At a meeting at the Rozelle Tramway Depot on Monday it was decided to form a branch of the Railway and Tramway Institute Radio Society. The office-holders elected were:— Chairman, Mr. F. Taylor; treasurer, Mr. D. Ford; instructor, Mr J. F. Morrison; hon. secretary, Mr. P. L. Nicholls; committee, Messrs. Taylor, Morrison, F. Hooper, S. Sheppard, and Nicholls. The names of over 40 foundation members have been placed on the roll. The club proposes to form classes and hold lectures and demonstrations. The hon. secretary's address is 233 Balmain-road, Leichhardt.

NEW HIGH POWER STATION. The new British Government transmitting station at Hillmorton (England), which is expected to be working before the end of the year, will be one of the largest in the world. The site of the station comprises one and a half square mile; eight or more 800ft steel masts will be provided, and 1000 kilowatts will be used in transmission. With this power it is expected that news of Imperial significance can be broadcast simultaneously to every British Dominion and Colony throughout the world.

TOO MANY SOS CALLS. The atmosphere over the Atlantic is all cluttered up with SOS calls, most of them unjustified, acording to Captain F. G. Brown, of the Cunard liner Ansonia. "There are too many SOS calls," he says. "The one-time seriousness of this signal has lost its real significance through excessive use. It no longer signifies that a vessel is in danger of sinking." There have been several reports lately of unskilful ships' operators sending out SOS calls to "clear the air" for themselves when the signalling of other operators interfered with their own transmission.

1924 05 10

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 10 May 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO JOTTINGS. "Wired Wireless". BY DOT DASH.

Shall we in Australia see "wired-wireless" threatening the popularity of the broadcasting station proper? Following on lengthy experiments in America, it is declared that this form of entertainment will, in a few years, be available to millions of those who use electric light. The American tests were carried out at Staten Island, just across the bay from New York, and they have demonstrated that wired radio is practical under actual service conditions. Nearly every problem has been solved by the engineering staff. The radio programmes come through a small black box attached to any electric light socket like an electric flatiron or a washing machine is connected. To "tune in" the subscriber simply turns on his electric light switch and turns the dial until the sounds are audible. Either through headphones or a loud speaker, he hears orchestra music, lectures, songs, news despatches, and all the other features that make up a complete radio programme. Musical or vocal sounds in a central studio are projected into a regulation radio microphone, from which they are transmitted along wire to the power station of the company, which supplies Staten Island with its electric current. Here the wire from the radio studio is tied into the network of electric wires going into thousands of homes, offices, stores, and factories. Over these wires the radio waves dance their wave into the light sockets, where they await only the midget receiving set to tickle the ears of subscribers. When the engineering staff solves all the difficulties of "multiplexing" (meaning the transmission of several messages simultaneously over one circuit), the wired wireless subscriber will have a choice of two or three programmes simply by turning a dial. Because the wired radio waves travel along wires, no interference is caused. Wired wireless can use any wave length that suits its purpose and can run 24 hours a day without bothering anybody.

MR. MACLURCAN'S WORK. During Mr. C. Maclurcan's trip on the Tahiti, signals from his station at Strathfield were received with his set aboard the ship while she was in San Francisco Harbour. This was announced at the annual dinner of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. Division), which was held at the Wentworth on Tuesday evening. The outstanding feature of the evening was an account of the president, Mr. C. D. Maclurcan, of his recent trip to America. Signals had been received from the Strathfield station right till the time they were in San Francisco Harbor. But while there, the special code employed could not be read on account of induction effects, but the call signal of the Strathfield station was easily distinguished. The longest distance that code signals were actually logged was 5385 miles with the 8 watt set, and 5900 miles with the 180 watt set.

APPLAUSE CARDS. Since broadcasting commenced in Britain, a wordy warfare has raged between listeners as to the choice of items. There are, apparently, three camps, one that would like all classical music, another who desire popular items and jazz, and the third, who are satisfied with the existing programmes. To end this trouble, a wireless correspondent of a London newspaper suggests that what he terms applause cards should be issued by the British Broadcasting Company. This is a specimen: B.B.C. APPLAUSE CARD To 2LO — I listened to your programme on . . . . . . . . . evening, and on the whole I thought it was Very Good (cross out the Fair lines you don't Rotten agree with) and in particular I enjoyed the item by . . . . . . . . I am . . . . . . miles from 2LO and use a . . . . . . . . set, Yours faithfully, . . . . . . . . . . . . "Listeners could fill in these cards," says the correspondent, and send them to their local station. This would help the B.B.C. to get a really good idea of the public feeling regarding the broadcasting programmes."

DIRECTION FINDERS WANTED. A deputation from the Merchant Service Guild, Wellington, N.Z., saw the Dominion Minister for Marine recently, and presented the resolutions of the merchant shipping conference. These included the following:— "That before the Government contemplates placing any more lights upon the coast, it should give serious consideration to the uses of the wireless direction finder and radio beacon, which are of assistance to mariners in all weathers." The Minister said that the department had been making experiments with the direction finder, and with so much success that it had been decided to give it a demonstration in Auckland. He intended to ask Parliament for a preliminary vote to provide the necessary shore apparatus for the direction finder.

RADIOGRAMS. The next meeting at the N.S.W. division of the Wireless Institute of Australia will be held at the Royal Society's Rooms, 6 Elizabeth-street, Sydney, on Thursday, May 15, at 7.45 p.m., when Dr. W. G. Woolnough will lecture on "Waves, electrical and otherwise." Messrs. Phil Renshaw and H. A. Stowe are leaving for Melbourne on May 14, to attend a meeting of the Federal Council of the Wireless Institute, which will be held in Melbourne on the 16th. A meeting of the delegates council of the affiliated societies will be held in room 24, second floor, 82 Pitt-street, Sydney, on Tuesday, May 27, at 7.30 p.m. All those societies who have completed their bond of affiliation will be entitled to representation at this council. The broadcasting station being erected at Braybrook, near Melbourne, for the Australian Broadcasting Company, is fast nearing completion. The two 200ft masts are now in place. They are the highest wireless masts in Victoria, being 16ft higher than the mast at the Coastal Radio Station, Melbourne. A demonstration of wireless telephony was given to about 90 members of the Parents and Citizens' Association at Gilgandra on Monday night. Farmer and Co., of Sydney, granted permission for their service to be used for the night, and the programme was received strong and clear. The air line between the sending station and the receiving set is about 300 miles.

1924 05 17

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 17 May 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. New Apparatus. BY DOT DASH.

Another week has passed and still no word from the Federal authorities as to their intention concerning any alteration of the Wireless Regulations. Will sealed sets remain with us, or will everybody be allowed to have open sets? Will there still be experimenters' licences? Will broadcasting be carried out as one undertaking, or will several stations do the work? How will the broadcasting stations get their revenue? These are the most vital questions, and the answers are being awaited eagerly in wireless circles, but in the meantime things are practically at a standstill, and dealers in apparatus and sets are feeling the pinch. People will not buy sets till they know just what the position is, and who can blame them. The Government mind moves slowly and it is too much to expect that the effect of the delay on business has been taken into consideration. So we just wait and hope.

IN QUEENSLAND. The splendid carrying powers of Sydney broadcasting stations is evidenced in a message from the "News" correspondent at Maryborough, Queensland. He writes that wireless listeners in that town are deriving much entertainment nightly from the programmes broadcasted from Sydney. The weather forecasts, market reports, instrumental and vocal items are all picked up with remarkable clearness. A club is being formed to broaden the scope of activities and further the wireless science in Queensland. In the South Burnett district one farmer contemplates the installation of a seven-valve receiving set, with which he hopes to pick up concerts broadcasted from San Francisco, in addition to telephony from all over Australia.

WIRELESS LIGHTHOUSE. Not the least interesting of the exhibits at the British Empire Exhibition are the wireless displays. In the section occupied by the Marconi companies may be seen some of the latest apparatus for various uses. There is a model of the wonderful wireless beam transmitter. The beam is intended to enable all classes of coastal shipping including vessels which do not carry operators, to obtain bearings during fog when in the neighborhood of dangerous points. As it revolves, it signals to every two points of the compass a different Morse letter. These signals are picked up by special receiving apparatus, which is independent of the ship's ordinary installation, and does not require operation by a telegraphist. The receiving instrument is kept permanently tuned, and all that is required to bring it into operation is to switch on the current to the valves. By observing the Morse letters which his instrument receives, the navigator is able to tell the direction of the transmitter, and by taking a succession of readings at intervals he can accurately chart his course.

EXACT BEARING. In practice, the arc covered by the beam is about 20 degrees at full strength, with a 10 degree fringe of about half strength each side. "Long" letters are transmitted at every two points of the compass, and "short" letters such as T or I at the intermediate points and half points. The navigator will then have to receive a range of letters, such as lquitilit. Since the letter Q stands for east-north-east, the first sound heard the first I — will be a half-point to that northward of east-north-east, and the last sound heard — the last T — will be a point to the south-ward of east. Halfway between these two will be the exact bearing which is thus obtained within a quarter of a point.

OTHER EXHIBITS. Another exhibit is the "valve pillar," the latest design of electric oscillation generator developed by the Marconi Company for use in high-power stations. These pillars constitute power units which can be used collectively for any required power. Each pillar incorporates sixteen large type Marconi transmitting valves, and is capable of dealing with 80 k.w.; but the power can be regulated in sectional steps of 20 k.w., according to prevailing conditions. The new installation for ship's lifeboats is shown for the first time. This set has been specially designed with a view to the fact that it will be used under the most adverse weather conditions, and in a very confined space. The transmitter is capable of attracting the attention of a ship using a crystal detector at a distance of 20 miles and the receiver has directional properties, so that the lifeboat crew can ascertain the bearing of any ships which may be coming to their rescue, and inform her which way to steer. The Marconi magnet drum recorder is an instrument operated on a new magneto-mechanical principle. It is primarily a recording and relaying instrument for high-speed commercial wireless reception, but it can also be used for recording the time intervals between electric impulses and can be made to rectify and oscillate, and so perform electro-mechanically the same operations that a thermionic valve does electrically. It is extremely robust, and many times more sensitive than any other form of electromagnetic recorder.

RADIOGRAMS. Mr. Edward Fahey, General Manager of the Radio Company, Limited, recently gave a lecture and demonstration of wireless telephony to members of the Manly Amateur Fisherman's Club at Manly, in aid of the funds of the Sunshine Club. Splendid results were obtained with music transmitted from stations 2FC and 2BL. According to a statement at the annual convention of the Canadian Land Surveyors' Association, radio is revolutionising exploration and survey work in the Far North. Where formerly the surveyors had to carry a chronometer with which to get the correct time to make accurate astronomical observations; they now carry a radio set, and get the correct time from Arlington, Annopolis, the Suez Canal, Bordeaux , (France), Santiago, Tokio, or Nauen. Wireless is going ahead very rapidly in the country districts. An amateur who recently returned from a country tour, states that aerials may be seen in every little town. This is also evidenced in the large number of inquiries concerning wireless apparatus now being received by Sydney dealers. Novice: I presume you mean an experimental license. Write to the chief manager, Telegraphs and Wireless, 146 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, and make an application for the licence to him.

1924 05 24

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 24 May 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO JOTTINGS. "Howling" Valves Again. BY DOT DASH.

The "howling" valve trouble is as bad as ever, and many listeners in the suburbs are having their nightly enjoyment of the broadcasting marred by people with badly controlled sets. Though circuits capable of energising the aerial are looked upon with disfavor by the authorities there are undoubtedly a large number in use. Such a circuit is a fine thing if handled by somebody who knows how to control it, but in the hands of the novice it can and does become a nuisance to a whole neighborhood. What pleasure anybody can get out of a set that is constantly "howling" is hard to imagine, for at the same time that it is sending forth hideous noises into the ether a far greater noise is in the 'phones or loud speaker of the offender. Up to the present it does not appear that commercial wireless has suffered from the "howlers," but there is always the possibility that interference may occur to important messages. As has been pointed out in this column before, there does not seem to be any way of putting an end to the trouble, and any appeal to the offenders for fair play seems useless.

NEW AMPLIFICATION. Progress in the science of wireless telegraphy continues to be made. One of the latest of the Continental inventions is a method of amplifying signals without using extra valves. A German, Herr Y. Neinhold, has patented the system which will possibly prove to be a vast improvement in the field of audio-frequency amplification. Thermionic valves are not used in this new arrangement, but the device employed is a somewhat similar piece of apparatus having three electrodes and is filled with a colloidal solution. A colloidal solution is a liquid mineral containing specially prepared molecules of matter, these molecules being electrified. These solutions, which are at present undergoing considerable investigation by many laboratories, are of great interest, especially to biology. The German inventor in his "liquid valves" used a solution of pyrogalic acid and hydrosol with very good results. The electrodes of the apparatus consist of two plates and a grid. The amplifying effect of this arrangement seems to be due to a negative resistance effect but the solution must be in a colloidal state and electrolysis should not be permitted to take place. The electrical phenomenon is still due to electrons, but these travel in a liquid instead of a vacuum.

TEST FOR 'PHONES. When signals are not coming in as well as they should the blame is nearly always laid on the set. In most cases the 'phones are not given a thought, despite the fact that a poor headset will ruin the work of the finest set. In these days quite good 'phones can be purchased fairly cheaply and they will last well, provided they are looked after and not subjected to harsh treatment. It is as well to test the 'phones before purchase to see that they are sensitive, or to see that the dealer tests them for you. A good test is to place the 'phones on the head and hold one of the terminals between the lips. Take the other terminal in one hand and gently rub it on a piece of metal held in the other. If the 'phones are sensitive a faint noise will be heard as the terminal scrapes over the metal. Do not expect to hear a loud crackling, the noise is fairly faint in the best of 'phones. I once heard of a beginner in wireless who tested his headset by touching the terminals of his "B" battery with the terminals of the 'phones. Needless to say, the 'phones did not last long.

RHEOSTATS. The average rheostat does not look to be a very complicated piece of apparatus, yet a lot depends on its faithful construction. If you are constructing one see that the turns of wire are evenly spaced, and make sure that the turns are all of the same height. This is absolutely necessary to ensure an even regulation of the current and to prevent the contact arm from catching on the turns. Care should also be taken to see that the turns of the resistance wire are securely wound on the "former" and that the resistance unit is fixed securely to the base, so that there is no shifting as the contact arm is moved to and fro. The rheostats sold by the wireless dealers are usually most accurately made, but it is as well to make sure that this is so before buying one. While on the subject of rheostats it will do no harm to give again an oft-repeated piece of advice. Always turn down the filament current before switching off the valve. If this is done the life of the valve will be lengthened.

NOVEL AERIAL. A wireless expert writing in a London newspaper gives details for the construction of a novel indoor aerial that may be used by flat-dwellers and those who have no room to put up the usual wires. The directions follow: Connect two small wooden hoops with six or eight laths ten feet in length. The result will be a crude cylindrical frame. Take 100 feet of insulated wire — ordinary lead-in is excellent — loop one end and join to a bared section two inches from the extremity. This prepares one end of the aerial which is then attached to the end of one of the laths. Now, neatly and tightly wind 90 feet of the wire around the wooden framework, so that, when the revolutions are finished, there will be about ten feet remaining to connect with the set. Secure the windings at the end, and wherever necessary in the middle. To the centre of the "sausage" attach a cord or chain by means of which it can be suspended from the ceiling. The job is then done. When testing, ascertain whether better results can be secured with the aerial pointing in different directions, as when used over ten miles from a broadcasting station it has a strong directional tendency — so much so that it is often easy to cut out a nearby station entirely. In any case, it is far more efficient than the best frame-aerial constructed to ordinary principles, enabling much stronger signals to be obtained. Within five miles of a station it will give fine results with a crystal set, and, under good conditions, at much longer distances.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. "AERIAL" (Haberfield): There is no restriction on the length of aerials in Australia, but you would be well advised not to use one more than 100 feet long. J.T.S. (Bathurst): There is no doubt that the authorities would allow you to use regeneration. You should mention this in your application. H.G. (Dulwich Hill): It is purely a matter of taste, but for your purpose honeycomb coils would appear to be the best. "ANXIOUS" (Leichhardt): You are certainly breaking the law and I should advise you to take down the aerial as soon as possible and apply for a license. Questions relating to wireless and broadcasting will be answered in this column each week. Letters containing queries should be addressed "Dot Dash," "Evening News," Market-street, Sydney.

1924 05 31

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 31 May 1924

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Valve Information. BY DOT DASH.

It is questionable whether any branch of his wireless studies cause an average amateur more anxiety than does the selection of valves for use in his receiver. So many makes of vacuum tubes are now on the market that the amateur who is building his first valve set finds it very difficult to decide just which he will employ, firstly for the detection of signals, and secondly for their amplification. In many cases the experimenter purchases an accumulator, then a valve and perhaps finds that one is not suitable to the other. Or he buys valve sockets, only to find that the particular make of valve he afterwards decides to use will not fit them. One or two important points should be borne in mind by the prospective user of vacuum tubes. First of all the function which it is desired that the valve perform should be taken into consideration and the type of valve to be employed should be decided on. The socket which this valve fits should then be purchased, and the accumulators and "B" batteries which will give the voltage needed for its efficient working should be secured. In the past, the obtaining of the information needed to make a decision regarding the valve has been difficult to obtain, and has necessitated the study of text books or leaflets, issued by makers of the various types of valves. The difficulty has, however, now been overcome by the publication of a leaflet, dealing exclusively with valves by Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. In the leaflet, which is entitled "The Aladdin's Lamp of Wireless," 19 types of valves for transmission, detection and amplification purposes are described and illustrated. The filament battery voltage, filament terminal voltage, filament amperage, plate voltage, and the type of socket into which the valve fits are mentioned. The publication may be obtained free from the company.

WORLD SHOW. Advice by the latest American mail states that final arrangements have been made for the world's first annual international radio show (the first radio world's fair), which is to open at Madison-square Garden (New York) on Monday, September 22, and continue until the following Sunday night. The exposition will be held under the auspices of the newly-organised Radio Manufacturers'Show Association, composed of 60 prominent American radio manufacturers. Several of the leading European manufacturers have applied to the manager, Mr. Kerr, for space, and he is now trying to rearrange his plans so as to enable them to have a section of their own. There will also be a series of public experiments and demonstrations held during the show, under the supervision of a jury of radio experts, for the purpose of bringing to light and testing new radio inventions and theories. An extensive search is now being carried on for unknown wireless inventions of all sorts, and, in all probability, many new devices will be uncovered. In addition to awarding suitable prizes to all successful inventors, the show management will endeavour to assist them to market their inventions to the best possible advantage, without charge. Another interesting feature will be an amateur builder's contest. There will be three classes. The first for High school boys, the second for graded school boys (public or private), and the third for girls of all ages. Enough space will be allotted to accommodate several hundred entries. Mr. Kerr has opened headquarters at the Prince George Hotel, 14 East 28th Street, New York, where he will remain with his personal staff until September 15.

CRYSTAL DETECTORS. Now that broadcasting has become so popular, the value of the crystal as a detector within comparatively short distances, is being daily more and more apparent. Many wireless enthusiasts have, in the past, been inclined to somewhat despise the crystal, and at a very early stage in their career, have cast it aside in order to use the valve. It is questionable, however, whether better results from the point of view of clarity may be obtained than those obtained with a crystal as a detector. Of course a loud speaker can not be worked with a crystal detector in its simple form, but there is no reason whatever why a valve or several valves may not be employed in connection with a crystal. Such a combination will give both clarity and volume. One or more stages of high frequency amplification may be used to boost up the incoming signals, and these may then be rectified by a crystal; or, if the receiver is situated within a comparatively short distance of the sending station, a crystal may be employed as the detector without radio frequency amplifiers, and then the note produced may be magnified by one or more stages of audio frequency amplification, and so made to work a loud speaker. The latter type of apparatus is gradually finding favor with many amateurs. The most modern of all types of receivers, the reflex circuits, invariably employ a crystal for rectification.

RADIOGRAMS. The receiving set presented to the King by the British Broadcasting Company as representing the British wireless industry, is of unusual technical design, requiring neither outdoor wires nor an indoor frame aerial. Reception is accomplished by what are known as a capacity earth and capacity aerial — two copper plates — one in the roof of the cabinet, the other near the floor. There are six valves — two "high frequency," a detector, and three "low-frequency." A report from Tasmania says that the following N.S.W. amateur stations have been heard there during the past month: — 2.AI., 2.C.M., 2.B.C., 2.Y.G., 2.G.R., 2.L.O., 2.Z.Z., 2.Z.M., 2.Z.N. Reports of the reception of Australian broadcast programmes over considerable distances continue to reach the management of 2.F.C. (Farmers Station). New Zealand appears to do particularly well, and a number of experimenters report their ability to work loud speakers on the theatre programmes from Sydney.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. "Aerial" (Campsie): 3-20 copper should serve your purpose. Puzzled (Chatswood): It seems to me that there must be a loose connection somewhere in your set. No matter how tight you screw the nuts, they are likely to work loose. Give it an overhaul. X. Z. (Burwood): The trouble evidently does not seem to be in the loud speaker. You would have to add a stage of amplification to work it.

1924 06 07

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 7 June 1924 (by Dot Dash)

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Wireless Beam. BY DOT DASH.

Mr. E. T. Fisk. (Photo Caption) The announcement by Mr. E. T. Fisk, managing director of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., that he has heard wireless telephony signals in Sydney from Britain marks one of the greatest steps ever made in the wireless science. With the advent of Marconi's new system, under which the feat was carried out, Australia will benefit probably more than any other country. For the handling of commercial traffic the new system will be of the greatest value, and should ensure two way traffic being possible for the whole of the 24 hours each day, despite atmospheric interference, when the necessary stations have been put up. The first gleam of successful international broadcasting is to be seen in the new system. It may be that before long listeners with an ordinary set in this State will be able to hear the world's greatest artists singing in London or on the Continent; or the King sending a message to his subjects in the antipodes. There is nothing to prevent the speech from England being received by our broadcasting stations, amplified and sent out to local receivers.

THE RADIO BEAM. Marconi and the British experimenters associated with him have long been experimenting with reflected waves of tremendously high frequency, directed as a radio beam towards a specified point. Experiments had determined the fact that reflection of electromagnetic waves was just as feasible as the reflection of light waves. With this in mind, Marconi set about to develop such reflectors, employing them at the transmitting and receiving ends of his apparatus. But the crude apparatus in use in the early days precluded the development of reflected waves. As a result, Marconi turned his energy to perfect and extend ship communication. Shortly before the war, however, Marconi again reverted to his first love, investigating its possibilities upon extremely short waves where the frequencies involved run above the 100,000,000 a second mark. At first he used spark transmitters, and achieved some slight success, but real results did not materialise until the oscillating vacuum-tube circuit was discovered. Tremendous strides in the reflected-wave system of communication in the past two years have been made possible by the regenerative circuit and the superheterodyne principle. The former is used in transmission and the latter in reception. The system of reflection, however, is Marconi's own, developed by him and his assistants. Naturally such a beam is governed by the laws that govern reflected light beams — the farther it travels from the producing source, the more the beam broadens. Only a receiver that is in the path of this reflected beam can intercept the message it carries. Even then, the receiver must be especially designed to respond to such terrific frequencies. Marconi's recent successes over vast distances with his system have been achieved by painstaking development of the antenna system used with the receiving apparatus. He found that if at the receiving end he used a radio mirror that was a replica of the one employed at the transmitting station, signal strength was increased materially and greater distances could be obtained.

INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING. News of one of the first successful attempts at international broadcast comes from America. Speeches at a dinner in New York were broadcast simultaneously from one end of America to the other end in England. Engineers who had been working many months to perfect a radio of repeating system between San Francisco and London, a distance of more than 7000 miles, had the satisfaction of knowing that their efforts had been rewarded by radio waves covering 1,500,000 square miles, and that 50,000,000 people had been estimated as the number of available listeners. The stations which broadcast the event were: WJZ (New York City), WGY (Schenectady, N.Y.), KDKA (East Pittsburgh, Pa), KFKX (Hastings, Neb), KGO (San Francisco), and the stations under the direction of the British Broadcasting Company, in Great Britain, with 2AC (Manchester) as the pickup station. Microphones placed in the main ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, were the starting point in the radio repeating and broadcasting system. It was there that the speakers addressed their audience. The microphones led directly to station WJZ, which transmitted the entertainment on its regular wavelength of 465 metres. Connected with WJZ's amplifying apparatus by land wire was WGY. WGY transmitted the same program simultaneously with WJZ on 385 metres; and KDKA then intercepted WGY's waves on special receiving apparatus. The received signals were transmitted from KDKA through two stations or transmitting units, one broadcasting a strongly amplified repeat of the original signal on a 94 metre relay wave and the other on the customary wavelength of 326 metres.

HOW ENGLAND HEARD. Listeners in the range of KDKA listened on the longer wavelength, while the shorter wave — serviced the Westinghouse repeating station at Hastings, and station 2AC, of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company at Manchester, England. The Metropolitan-Vickers Company was linked with its seven sister stations and immediately KDKA was picked up, these stations repeated the concert simultaneously all over Great Britain. Hastings, too, broadcast the same signal but also relayed it to KGO in San Francisco, which last station also picked up the broadcast waves and repeated them on a different wave length than the one on which they were picked up. Nine hours difference in time separated the people of San Francisco and those in the British Isles, but both heard the concert and addresses simultaneously. Though it was 10.30 central standard time, when the first speaker was introduced in New York, the receivers hearing the addresses in San Francisco listened in at 6.30 p.m., Pacific time; while the British listeners heard the addresses at 2.30 a.m., Greenwich mean time.

A DEMONSTRATION. The Illawarra Radio Club will hold a wireless demonstration and picture entertainment at the Subway Theatre, Kogarah, on Tuesday night. This club was the first to hold a wireless demonstration in the Illawarra suburbs, when, in December, 1922, under very adverse conditions, a successful concert was given. The present demonstration should be of a high order, permission having been received from Farmer and Company for the use of their broadcasting service. The Western Electric Co. have undertaken the receiving arrangements with their special system of amplifiers and loud speakers. The object of the entertainment is to raise funds to provide club apparatus.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. "Tuner" (Parramatta): One side of the primary coil is connected to the aerial and the other end goes to earth. One end of the secondary goes direct into the circuit and the tappings and the other end attach to the studs. The switch arm forms the other side of the circuit. J. J. T. (Burwood): You should find the aerial system quite satisfactory.

1924 06 14

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday, 14 June 1924 (by Dot Dash)

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS JOTTINGS. Tests at Bourke. BY DOT DASH.

Burst His Ear Drums (Graphic Caption) I read the other day a delightful little story with a moral. It came from America but as it applies equally to wireless amateurs the world over I venture to repeat it in substance. There was once a wireless amateur who had a set that he made himself. It waa quite a good receiver and he got splendid results. But he was not satisfied, and in striving for something better, he altered a connection here, and put in a condenser there. Gradually the set altered for the worse and his results were no longer good. The amateur persevered, however and with each change his signals came in fainter and fainter. In the end he burst his ear drums while straining to hear a nearby station! The moral is, of course, "when your set is giving satisfaction let it alone." Many of the best sets are those which are constructed simply and unless put there for a special and specific purpose, a lot of gear on the panel is likely to do more harm than good. The same thing applies to apparatus you do not understand.

RADIO AT BOURKE. The tests of the Education Department which were completed last week have again demonstrated the value of the radiophone to the country dweller. The receiving end of the tests was carried out at Bourke in the presence of Mr. James Nangle, Superintendent of Technical Education, who is also chairman of the Radio Sub-Committee appointed by the Minister for Education. One of the demonstrators at the Bourke end was Mr. O. F. Mingay, of the Burgin Electric Company, who obtained some fine results on the firm's standard receivers. One evening Mr. Mingay picked up at Bourke station KGO, Oakland, California, and such was the strength that everybody present was able to hear all the announcements made by the American station. On another occasion, using a loop aerial and a four-valve receiver, the demonstrator picked up the transmission from Farmers' station at good headphone strength. This is an excellent performance when it is remembered that the air line is about 400 miles. During the tests Mr. Smith, Director of Education, gave an address at Farmers' studios, and this was reproduced in the Bourke school on a loud speaker with such strength and clarity that every pupil was able to hear it. Mr. Nangle expressed the opinion that the tests were absolutely satisfactory, and said he had no doubt that reception in the daytime, taking into consideration the power of the sending station would be possible at good strength all over the State.

NEW ZEALANDER'S FEAT. A Gisborne experimenter succeeded in communicating with an amateur in Beunos Aires during the latter part of last month. The New Zealander used a wavelength of 125 metres and at the time his radiation meter registered 2½ amperes. The Dominion experimenter was Mr. I. O'Meara, and shortly before 7 p.m. one night he was "listening-in" when he heard "C.B.8." calling. This he knew for station C.B.8. in the Argentine. He answered, and then succeeded in carrying on communication with what proved to be a man in Beunos Aires. In answer to his station number, Mr. O'Meara received a reply, "Very pleased to hear you, this being a good record." He asked for the name of the person to whom he was talking, and got "Charles Braggio, Calle Alsina, D.F., 412, Buenos Aires." Mr. O'Meara then sent his own name and address, but static were evidently interfering somewhat, and the Buenos Aires man could not quite get the name. He sent, "Please repeat name and address." This was done, and he got the name successfully, and sent, "Mr. Ivan O'Meara, Gisborne. Very glad you have one friend more now. Time here 5.45 a.m." Mr. O'Meara then sent, "Is it daylight yet?" and received the reply, "It is just dawning." A feature of the communication commented upon by Mr. O'Meara was the fact that the messages were clearest just before the dawn. As soon as it was daylight they disappeared altogether. A confirmatory cablegram received by Mr. O'Meara from Buenos Aires states, "Hearty congratulations. Your radio received.— Charles Braggio."

A NEW AERIAL. From an American source I learned of the idea of using a tin dish in conjunction with a table-type telephone for an aerial. Giving it a test I found the idea worked well and it should prove very useful to those who are unable to put up the usual aerial. All that is necessary is a piece of tin a little larger in diameter than the base of the telephone. A tin pie-dish serves admirably. The telephone is simply placed inside the pie-dish and a connecting wire carried from the latter to the aerial terminal of the receiving set. Actually the telephone wires are utilised as an aerial through the condenser formed by the base of the telephone and the pie-dish. On the bottom of the telephone is a ring of rubber. This acts as the "dielectric" between the telephone base, which forms the upper plate of the condenser, and the pie-dish, which forms the lower plate. It is advisable, of course, to stand the pie-dish on a rubber mat, a piece of ebonite, or an insulating material. No interference is caused in any way with the ordinary use of the telephone, which can be in service at the same time as the wireless set.

RADIOGRAMS. Experimenters and those interested in wireless generally are still waiting for some announcement from the Federal authorities as to the new broadcasting regulations. In the meantime traders are suffering and people about to take up radio are hanging off till something is done. A lecture, to which all experimenters and others interested in wireless are invited, is to be given at the Assembly Hall of the Education Building, Bridge-street, City, by Mr. Alec Hector, on Friday, July 4. The lecture, which will commence at 8 p.m. will be on radio activity and its educational value. A big American broadcasting station has installed batteries for its transmitting power instead of the usual motor generator. The reason for this is that the station desires to send out the purest music possible by eliminating the commutator "ripples," which usually mark the generator. The Hotel Sydney is the first hotel in Australia to instal wireless tor the convenience of its guests. Loud speakers in various parts of the building give Farmers' service to those in the hotel throughout the day and evening. The speakers are actuated by a five-valve set, specislly made in Sydney by Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd.

1924 06 21

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 21 June 1924 (by Dot Dash)

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. At the Concert. BY DOT DASH.

The broadcasting of concerts may lead in time to a silent audience. When broadcasting a Sydney concert recently Farmer's station switched over to the hall a few minutes before the first item commenced. What a chattering there was from the audience! So well did the little microphone gather the sound that the conversation of certain groups in the audience could be made out quite plainly. A correspondent from North Sydney tells me that he could hear what was being said 200ft from his loud speaker. And some of the chatter among the women in the audience could have been well left for a more opportune time at a place more private. Little did they guess that what they were saying was being picked up by listeners all over Australia. On another occasion when a concert was being sent out I mentally devised a fitting punishment for the man, somewhere near the front of the hall, who talked throughout one half of the programme. His ears must have burned that night!

FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Radio enthusiasts should take a portable set with them when they go holidaying or camping in the country during the summer. In these days of super-sensitive receivers the portable set can be so arranged that its transport will present no difficulty. A single valve circuit should serve for the set, provided it is to be used within a reasonable distance from the City. An old suitcase, suitably reinforced, makes an ideal carrier for the set and accessories. The panel can be fixed in one corner of the case, and partitions put in to take the aerial wire, batteries, and 'phones. A small box should be fitted into a corner of the case to hold the valve, which should be carefully put in with some soft packing. A dry cell valve is preferable for the portable set, as this type does away with the necessity of carrying an accumulator. For the aerial about 100ft of wire should be carried, together with a few insulators. Most campers will be able to find a tree on which to sling the aerial, and the earth connection should present no difficulty. An iron rod, driven into the ground in some damp spot provides an efficient earth. A few hours' work on such a set during these long winter evenings should be fruitful of much entertainment in the summer.

WIRELESS AND THE STOCK OWNER. The great value of the broadcasting movement to the dwellers in the more remote parts of the State has been clearly demonstrated during the past few days, many telegrams and letters of appreciation having been received by Professor Douglas Stewart (Professor of Veterinary Science at Sydney University), who some little time ago delivered a lecture by wireless on "Veterinary Science." The lecture was broadcasted by Farmer's from Station 2F.C. and reports have indicated that it was received with clearness in all parts of New South Wales and also in the other States. A stock owner who "listened-in" at Grenfell has written to Professor Stewart pointing out that he found the remarks quite interesting, and adding that in his opinion, such lectures, if given frequently, should prove of immense value to the man on the land. Professor Stewart has also received a letter from Coff's Harbor in which appreciation of the lecture was expressed; similar letters have also come to hand from Cassilis, Turrawan (350 miles away from Sydney), and Mincha (Victoria).

DISTANCE WORK. A listener in Tokio, Japan, claims to have heard WOR, Newark. U.S.A., over a distance of 9000 miles. So far no radio broadcasting station has encircled the globe (says an American exchange). When a station sends music or speech half-way around the earth, it will have covered the entire circumference, because radio waves travel in both directions. During the past few months an increasing number of stations have reported long distance reception, and each in turn is establishing claims for the record. However, the long distance record established last year by WHAZ, Troy, N. Y., remains unbroken. In February, 1923, WMAZ sent special programmes in the early hours of the morning on four successive days to Invercargill, New Zealand, an air line distance of 9577 miles from Troy. WJAZ, Chicago, has been heard in the Samoan Islands, a distance of 7000 miles from Chicago. Reception of WLAG, Minneapolis, has been reported from Batum, Russia, 6683 miles. WGY has been heard in Capetown, South Africa, 7880 miles, about one-third the distance around the earth. WEAF, New York, longest record is also Capetown.

NEW CLUB. A radio club has been formed in connection with the N.S.W. Postal Institute. One or the objects of this new body is to bring together all members of the Commonwealth Public Service in this State who are interested in wireless. Though only six weeks old the club has a membership of 30, and this number will probably be increased each week. The first meeting was addressed by Mr. W. T. S. Crawford, State Radio Inspector, and Mr. Basil Cooke and Mr. Malcolm Perry have given technical talks to members. A class of instruction for beginners is to be held on each alternate Tuesday evening at the club-rooms, Haymarket Post Office. The hon. secretary is Mr. J. F. Nichol, Telephone Workshops, Pier-street, Sydney.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. D. X. (Campsie): I am inclined to the opinion that your batteries are run down. "Aerial" (Bathurst): Then is nothing to prevent you having any length of aerial. You would not be wise to have one more than about 100ft long. "Puzzled" (Arncliffe): It is probable that the delicate winding in the 'phone has been damaged. You can get it rewound locally.

1924 06 28

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 28 June 1924 (by Dot Dash)

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS JOTTINGS. A Radio "Hog". BY DOT DASH.

Sydney has a radio hog, one who, if not induced to desist from his objectionable practices, will besmirch the good name that experimenters of this State have won for themselves. This hog came to light one day recently when Mr. Maclurcan, the well-known Strathfield experimenter, was conducting a test. Mr. Maclurcan was testing over long distance with his transmission when he met trouble in the form of local interference. The experimenter thereupon morsed a polite request that the interference cease till he had concluded his tests. No sooner than this message had been concluded than there came through the language directed at Mr. Maclurcan. The sender was no novice, for the message was sent at good speed. How many listeners heard the disgusting language is not known, but it is sufficient to say that it might have been heard in other States. This incident has been reported to the authorities, and a determined effort is being made to locate the offender. It is up to every experimenter to assist in the location of this wrongdoer, as any repetition of the incident can only reflect ???? amateurs as a body.

WHAT NEXT? It has been announced that the new broadcasting regulations will provide for one big station to give programmes. But an official announcement is still awaited, and every thing will be at a standstill till the Government makes known its intentions. In the meantime, there are many applauding the reported decision, while others decry it as a monopoly. There are many arguments both for and against the single company scheme, but until the details are made known and the whole thing is explained, criticism or praise is futile. Why the authorities are so secretive concerning the regulations is hard to understand. An official announcement would be very welcome to those who are suffering financial loss during these months of indecision. The amateurs, too, are eagerly awaiting some announcement as to their position in the new scheme of things. It will be remembered that the recent Broadcasting conference recommended that the issuing of experimental licenses be discontinued, and that they be replaced with a limited number of what were termed "experts' licenses." This suggestion by no means found favor with the majority of amateurs, and it seems hardly fair that they should suffer deprivation of their licenses. Some of those who hold experimental licenses at present were conducting experiments years ago, when there was not a single "peep" of radio telephony in the ether over Australia. Will some of them now have their licenses cancelled? It is hardly likely that the authorities will go to this extreme; but you never know what a Government department will do.

GOOD AMATEUR WORK. Mr. C. J. Holton, an enthusiastic member of the N.S.W. Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia, has a splendid record of amateur work. During two recent months he regularly copied and logged amateur stations in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Following are the stations logged by him:— Victoria: 3BD, 3BQ, 3BU, 3BC, 3BM, 3 BH, 3JU, 3DD, 3AP, 3HH, 3RY, 3 FH, 3BH, 3JH, 3XF, 3VL, 3BL, 3EF, 3BP, 3UX, 3QW, 3SW, 3TM, 3JP. South Australia: 5BQ and 5AH. Queensland: 4CK, 4GE, 4EG, 4CM. Tasmania: 7AA, 7AB, 7BN. New South Wales: 2HM, 2GQ, 2CR, 2YA. New Zealand: 1AA, 2AQ, 3AA, 3AC, 4AA, 4AK, 4AP. The set used by Mr. Holton employs two valves, one as a detector and the other as an audio-frequency amplifier. The inductance is three coils, spiderweb coils being used.

"EARTH" FOR MOTORISTS. Motorists contemplating the installation of wireless on their cars for receiving broadcasting while on long journeys, are wondering how they will get an efficient earth. The problem of the earth is greater than that of the aerial. As regards the latter, ordinary lead-in passed twice around the inside or outside of the vehicle will answer the purpose quite well. But when we come to devising an earth we find that, when this is secured by a connection to the framework of the chassis, magneto interference generally occurs, no matter whether the dynamo be shielded or not. Probably the best system is to employ three earths. The first is the one already referred to — a connection to the steel framework, used in conjunction with a tone-filter, which will generally enable unwanted noises and magneto interference to be eliminated. The other two are arranged by taking two wires from the earth terminal of the set to a couple of hooks placed at the rear of the vehicle. From each of these a wire from nine to twelve feet in length leads to an iron bar, six inches long and trailing on the road. The object in having two of these trailers is that, should one bounce off the road, the other, presumably, would still be making contact. This system has recently been tried, and gave very satisfactory results — far better than when a frame-aerial was employed.

LOUD-SPEAKER RECORD. What was believed to be the first gramophone record to capture broadcast music was made by Mr. R. Sedgwick Wills, an English engineer, who, after several months attempts, made for experimental purposes a record which was not only comparatively clear, but almost as loud as the ordinary record. It was made by means of a loud speaker with a specially constructed diaphragm which he designed himself. Mr. Wills' record, which measures 18 inches across, captured the music of the Savoy Orpheans Band playing at the Savoy Hotel, London, about 170 miles distant from Exeter, where the record was made. Mr. Wills took his record to the Savoy Hotel for the Orpheans to hear, and for the first time that band heard themselves as they are heard by millions of listeners-in. The record had an untimely end, however, for Mr. Wills, on visiting London, found that he had committed a legal irregularity by making the record, and he destroyed it after the band had heard it.

1924 07 05

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 5 July 1924 (Dot Dash having a break, Catwhisker filling in)

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS JOTTINGS. "Aerialitis" — A Disease. BY "CATWHISKER."

THERE lives in a Sydney suburb a wireless experimenter who entertains his neighbors every Sunday — not by broadcasting music, but by his gymnastic displays. He is suffering from a severe attack of what I might term "aerialitis." Every Sunday morning, about 10 o'clock, unless a cyclone happens to be in the vicinity, our friend emerges from his house arrayed for battle. With a coil of wire dangling from his neck, he surveys his two masts and aerial, and then strips for the fray. During six successive weeks he has altered his aerial six times. His first was a single wire; then he slung two spreaders and another wire; the following week, it was transformed into a four-wire cage; then the cage was discarded for a three-wire T aerial; the T later became an L; and now the single wire has come into its own once more. Three times during these various transformations our friend has delighted the under-14 residents by climbing to the top of one of his 40ft masts — twice because his halyard broke when hoisting a new aerial, and the third time because he hung his cap on the top and forgot to bring it down again. One of these days he will tackle an indoor aerial — then, if he lives up to his traditions, the joke will be on the landlord.

NO REGULATOR. A valuable receiving outfit was purchased by a woman from one of the London radio stores. On the first night the set gave excellent results. Two or three days later the firm received a letter of complaint from the purchaser. She demanded that the firm's expert be sent to her house — because she had found it impossible to regulate the speed of the dance music!

RADIO SALES IN U.S.A. According to the latest figures available from U.S.A . the total radio sales for 1923 amounted to 250,000,000 dollars. This is a tremendous total, and the indications of the past half year were that 1924 would total over 400 million dollars. These figures only cover three million receiving outfits, whereas it is estimated that U.S.A. has a potential market for at least 25 million sets. No wonder some of the more ambitious radio magazines published in America can carry over 100 pages of advertisements an issue!

A COPYRIGHT DECISION. One of the most important problems in commercial broadcasting was recently solved (for the time being) by the decision of Judge Hickenlooper in the Cincinnati District Court. A suit was filed by a New York music publisher against the Crossley Radio Corporation, attempting to compel the latter to pay a special tax for permission to broadcast copyrighted music. The judge dismissed the suit. The judge held that the "broadcasting of a rendition of a copyrighted musical composition is not a "public performance for profit" within the meaning of the music copyright law, for the reason that to constitute a public performance in the sense Congress intended the words, it is essential that there be an assemblage of persons congregated at the place of amusement for the purpose of hearing that which transpires there." This decision, if sustained by the U.S. Supreme Court, will have a tremendous influence upon broadcasting, as it literally makes the air free for wireless. Therefore, any radio station may broadcast any music, whether copyrighted or not, without fear of legal action — in America. The trouble originated in the action of some members of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers about two years ago. They informed broadcasting companies that before playing certain music the broadcasters must acknowledge that it was by the Society's permission. For some time the society was satisfied with the companies' compliance. Later, however, the society issued an ultimatum to the effect that broadcasters must pay a special tax before they could play copyrighted music. The Crosley Radio Corporation, among others, contended that the imposition of this tax was unconstitutional — and refused to pay. The refusal resulted in the District Court action — and the Court action "freed the air for radio."

WOOLLY LOUD SPEAKERS. The latest type of loud speaker is first cousin to a singlet. In other words, the fabric used in making the horns is a form of fleece-lined underwear material, stiffened and yet flexible. The advantages of these "underwear horns" are said to be mellowness of tone and lack of vibration. The price of the material, on the ten-inch bell measurement, is estimated at about 7/6 a dozen, American price.

CATCH THEM YOUNG. Some second-hand genius once remarked that if you can interest the boy, you've got the man. This is, of course, very true. If the numbers of youngsters whose chests daily polish the counters of wireless shops is any criterion, then the future popularity of wireless in Australia is assured. Yesterday, during the lunch hour, I exchanged greetings with the proprietress of one such establishment — over a solid bank of schoolboy heads and shoulders. A cheering sight in all conscience — for a hobby that can intrigue the youth of Sydney will surely ensnare Australia.

A SQUEAL PREVENTER. The irresponsible dial twirler is both a nuisance to himself and a burden to others. The average wireless enthusiast is a considerate individual with a well-developed sense of social responsibility, but there are a few others who neither respect nor fear God, man, or radio inspector. These few seem to delight in making their valves perform gymnastic feats, apparently to discover what misuse the unfortunate valves will stand, without giving up the ghost. Now, to the relief of the non-squealers, has come the Radiation Preventer. Messrs. C. C. Lauritsen and B. F. McNamee, research engineers of the Colin B. Kennedy Corporation, have devised a simple radiation preventer which, it is claimed, can be attached to any set without changing the circuit, or even cutting a wire. This device is to be interconnected between the aerial and earth terminals. Fixed in this position, it acts as a trap, permitting the incoming electrical impulses to travel through without hindrance, but preventing oscillations from the valves flowing back into the aerial. A welcome invention, indeed. The next move is to trail every chronic squealer to his lair, and attach a radiation preventer to his set, whether he wants one or not.

ESPERANTO AND RADIO. The May issue of "International Language" is a special wireless number. In view of the fact that King George's speech at the opening of the Wembley Exhibition was later broadcast in Esperanto, the seed for an international radio language is thus demonstrated. The Esperanto version of this speech was heard through a loud speaker at the Geneva Radio Club. One difficulty encountered by European listeners is that the ether is filled every night with a polyglot broadcasting. The listener who knows four or five languages has no grievance — but the man who is not a linguist has a big grievance. Therefore, point out the Esperantists, the greater the development of broadcasting, the more vital is the necessity for the immediate adoption of a universal language. In addition, a number of the European broadcasting stations are making a practice of transmitting various items in Esperanto as a regular thing. For example:— January 31.— Kbely Station, near Prague, Czecho-Slovakia, 1150 metres. A. Pitlik, Chief Commissioner of the Ministry of Commerce, on "Czecho-Slovakian Attractions for Tourists." (Heard in Czecho-Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, and Poland). April 5.— Bambergers Station, Newark, N.J., 405 metres. J. D. Sayers, in Esperanto and English. (This talk was heard in Tokio, a distance of 9000 miles, and is a record in radiophone transmission. Every word was perfectly audible).

GOT THEM ALL. Mr. E. B. Crocker (2BB) succeeded in logging the following stations during last weekend:— 2GQ ('phone), 2HM ('phone), 3AP, 3BD, 3BH, 3BM, 3GB, 3LS, 3XO 4AA, 4AP, 4EG ('phone), 4TX, 5BD, 5DO. Mr. Crocker is well-known in experimental circles, and is a councillor of the Wireless Institute of Australia, New South Wales division.

1924 07 12

"Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News," of Saturday 12 July 1924 (Dot Dash having a break, Catwhisker filling in)

THE MAGIC SPARK. WIRELESS JOTTINGS. Scratchy Experiment. BY "CATWHISKER"

The fact that there are so many things still awaiting discovery, and so many problems awaiting correct solutions, constitutes three-quarters of the fascination of wireless experimentation. In no other branch of science are theories so short-lived as in wireless. For example, the vexed question of "static" has been simply theorised to death. The most suitable time for static electrical effects one would expect to be the winter time, when the air is dry. Yet we find that static is usually conspicuous by its absence. Again, in the summer, when the conditions for static effect should be anything but suitable, we get static by the yard. Then there is the irritating and elusive problem of "body capacity." Every listener-in of fair experience has at least a nodding acquaintance with this ailment. Some receiving sets are particularly sensitive to body capacity. One experimenter stated that when he was listening to a distant station, and was close to his receiving set, everything was as it should be. Yet if he moved a few feet away the signals died down to nothing, and his set continued to remain silent until he returned to his former position. Similar manifestations may be evoked by playing with a short aerial. I amused myself for two hours one night, and incidentally wasted an excellent broadcasted entertainment, in this fashion. I rigged up a two-wire aerial, about six feet from spreader to spreader, on the back verandah. After swinging the free end of the aerial in an arc for a few seconds I got it directional to the broadcasting station. The Old Man, who had the receivers on while I swung the aerial, told me when the music came in loudest. I attached the free end to a post and moved towards the set. "Hi!" called the Old Man suddenly. "The infernal thing's gone dead; what've you done?" I went back to examine the post, and was again hailed by the listener: "That's right," said he. I scratched my head, bewildered, and gaped at the post. "Hello!" announced the Old Man, in a startled tone. "What did you do then?" "I didn't do a thing; only scratched my head," I replied irritably. "Scratch it again," said he. "The music was twice as loud when you were scratching." "Now you put these things on," said the Old Man, after a few seconds, "while I go and scratch my head." And, sure enough, he was right. When he stood just underneath the further end of the six-foot aerial the reception was fairly good. But when he lifted one hand and scratched his head the strength of the music was promptly doubled. Then, like sudden crackle of static, the magic term "body capacity" flashed into my mind, saving both the Old Man and myself from imminent lunacy. Then we began to experiment in earnest. We found that the extreme end of one wire only responded to the approach of a hand or an upturned face. The proximity of a hair-covered head made no difference, but if the face were uplifted towards the wire the strength of the signals was instantly doubled. Also, if the experimenter, walking beneath the wires, approached the receiving set the signals faded away completely. The curious fact was that the end of only one of the wires was sensitive to the hand or face. In fact, the Old Man became desperate after scratching his head under the unresponsive wire for five minutes on end without affecting the strength of the reception. "This wireless business is mad," grunted he disgustedly. "To get decent music on a tin-pot aerial like this you'd want some idiot to scratch his head all the time under the far end. Huh!"

GETTING KGO. The popular pastime among amateurs who are equipped with efficient valve sets is trying to pick up KGO. At odd intervals appears a newspaper paragraph to the effect that some experimenter has succeeded in hearing portion of a KGO programme. As a matter of fact, the feat is by no means a rare achievement. Quite a respectable number of amateurs have heard KGO on two valves, and the number who claim to have heard it on one valve is steadily increasing. This KGO reception on one valve has probably been assisted to considerable extent by the American station's recent increase to full power in transmission. I am informed by one experimenter that the programme has been lately modified to include more vocal items, and that reception is now much more distinct than formerly. For the benefit of amateurs who may possibly not know — KGO's wavelength is 312 metres, and the most favorable times for listening-in are: Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays, 5 to 7 p.m. This, of course, is Sydney time. To encourage a few amateurs who may be under the impression that a 500 foot aerial is necessary to receive such a distance, I know of one amateur who recently logged KGO from a Sydney suburb, using two valves — one detector and one audio-frequency— on a 60 foot aerial, which was only 30 feet high. The circuit in use was the famous — or infamous — "PI." Now, try 312 metres tomorrow night between 5 and 7.

DON'T MISS IT. A very interesting model is being displayed by Miss Wallace in the Royal Arcade. The model is of Mr. Charles Maclurcan's well-known wireless station at Strathfield, built to a scale of one-eighth of an inch to 1 foot. The complete aerial, including the counterpoise, is shown in Lilliputian detail, and the dimensions of the original are given. Every wireless amateur who has not seen Mr. Maclurcan's station should, if possible, view this model. The constructor of the original, and of the model, is one of the fathers of amateur wireless in Australia.

METROP CLUB MEETING. The next meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club will be held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Monday evening, July 14. Mr. West will deliver the lecture.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "INTERESTED RADIO."— 2MC and 2ME are Amalgamated Wireless call signals. They usually transmit from their station at Willoughby.