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Front Cover
The Australasian Radio World

March 1, 1937; Vol. 1 - No. 11; Price, 1/-

Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical

Cover Photo: Photo of Field Tests on First Air Cell Receivers (see story on page 4)

Highlighted Contents: "Companionette Three": Regenerative S.W. Pre-Selector Unit: Big W.I.A. Five-Metre Field Day on March 7: World Shortwave Stations - Latest Additions: Story of the Air-Cell

P.02 - Editorial Notes
'''Editorial Notes. . .'''

The terrible disaster that overtook the Sydney-Brisbane airliner last month affords a tragic instance of how far Australia lags behind other countries in developing her air services. That 'planes providing a daily mail and passenger service both ways between Sydney and Brisbane, flying about 400 miles each trip over country that is subject to sudden cyclonic disturbances, do not carry the latest in two-way radio telephony equipment is difficult to understand. Actually, the Stinson that crashed did not carry radio at all. Two others flying the same route carry radio telegraphy equipment, but it is evidently unsuitable for the job. While speaking to the "Radio World" recently about the value of radio in aviation, Pilot Rex Boyden, who was in charge of the liner that was lost, remarked that in the radio-equipped Stinsons, heavy static more often than not completely obliterated signals for the greater part of the trip. Apart from the fact of not being able to receive messages, the tremendous strain that pilots must be under in trying to decipher signals and pilot the 'plane at the same time is not hard to imagine. Evidently one fault with the equipment lies in the long wavelength used; surely the short waves would provide a far better service in every way. Secondly, no pilot should be asked to divide his attentions between piloting his ship and straining to decipher code signals with static crashing in the 'phones practically all the time. Suitable equipment to provide reliable two-way communication on telephony should not be hard to develop — especially as the Stinson and Douglas air-liners in America are carrying it. Along the air routes of other countries, and especially in the States, where commercial aviation is so far developed, radio has time and again proved its worth as a saver of human lives. It is quite possible that the latest tragic air disaster in this country could have been averted if the 'plane had carried radio, and from now on no effort or expense should be soared to so equip every air-liner, and to provide the necessary radio beacons and ground stations. The cost will be heavy, but it will ensure as far as humanly possible the safety of both passengers and pilots.

P.02 - Contents Banner
The Australasian Radio World

Incorporating the

All-Wave All-World DX News

Managing Editor - A. Earl Read, B.Sc.

Vol. 1. - MARCH, 1937 - No. 11.

P.02 - Contents
CONTENTS:

The Story Of The Ever Ready Air Cell. . . . 3

Field Tests On First Air Cell Receivers. . . . 4

The Companionette Three. . . . 5

Fidelity Broadcast Five — Adding Bass Boosting. . . . 7

The A.T.R.S. Bulletin. . . . 8

Radio Ramblings. . . . 10

Building A Regenerative S.W. Pre-Selector Unit. . . . 14

Amateur Transmits From Bed In Hospital. . . . 18

Breaking Into The Amateur Game (2). . . . 20

The Story Of Television (4). . . . 24

Background Hiss In Superhets. . . . 26

Radio Step By Step (7). . . . 29

A Portable Line Amplifier. . . . 32

What's New In Radio. . . . 33

Radio Book Reviews. . . . 35

All-Wave All-World DX News. . . . 37

Round The N.Z. "B" Stations (2). . . . 38

Shortwave Stations Of The World (7). . . . 39

DX Notes And News. . . . 41

Manly Radio Club Notes. . . . 42

Some DX Highlights. . . . 43

Ham Jargon. . . . 44

VK Amateur Stations — Additions And Amendments. . . . 45

Big Five-Metre Field Day Planned for March 7. . . . 46

Leaves From A Dxer's Logbook. . . . 47

New Members All-Wave All-World DX Club. . . . 48

P.02 - Publication Notes
The "Australasian Radio World" is published monthly by Trade Publications Proprietary, Ltd. Editorial offices, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W. Telephone BW6577. Cable address: "Repress," Sydney. Advertisers please note that copy should reach office of publication by 15th of month preceding that specified for insertion.

Subscription rates: 1/- per copy, 10/6 per year (12 issues) post free to Australia and New Zealand. Subscribers in New Zealand can remit by Postal Note or Money Order.

Printed by Bridge Printery, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W., for the proprietors of the "Australasian Radio World," 214 George St., Sydney (Footnote P.48)

P.37 - All- Wave All- World DX News
The All-Wave All-World DX News Official Organ of the All-Wave All-World DX Club.

North Suburban Radio Club Notes And News. By CB-GV. T HE first annual dinner of the I North Suburban Radio Club will be held on Tuesday, March 16, at the club rooms (corner of Brown St., and Pacific Highway, Chatswood). All radio fans are invited, and are assured of a good time by the committee, VK2NN, 2BJ, 2VG, Mr. G. Taylor, and if available, Mr. W. Montieth. No efort will be spared by the committee to make the dinner a great success. Club Contest In April. On the first two week-ends in April, the N.S.R.C. are holding their 1937 inter-club transmitting and receiving contest. The hams have to pass a 10-letter cypher to each other on contact, the total score being multiplied by the number of bands on which contacts are made. Those taking part are going to attempt to contact each other on every amateur band, from 5 to 160 metres. The listeners have to hear as many contacts .as possible, and log the cyphers passed. First prize in the transmitting contest is a Jones 1937 "Radio Handbook," suitably bound and embossed. First prize in the Receiving contest is the "A.R.R.L. Handbook," also bound and embossed. The contest should prove very popular and will be keenly contested. The prizes have been donated by VK's 2K.T, 2GV, 2CB, 2NN, 2VG, 2ADQ and 2HL. Club Jottings. The latest amateurs to join the club are VK2KJ, one of the oldest amateurs on the North Shore, and VK2ADQ, one of the latest. Owing to pressure of work, VK2VG had to resign his position as Secretary-Treasurer, his resignation being accepted with the deepest regret. The position has been filled by VK2BJ and VK2NN. The club now has two code classes in progress (fast and slow), and the members are making excellent progress. Anyone interested in radio is invited to join. The club meets every Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. Information can be obtained from the Secretary, VK2NN, 62 William Street, Roseville. Too Long Between Issues! Allow me to congratulate you on your fine magazine, which seems to improve with every issue. The articles on amateur radio are going to prove very educating, especially to we fellows who in the near future hope to become successful candidates in an A.O.P.C. examination. My one and only growl is about the long time in between issues. A month's a mighty long time to wait for such a fine magazine, but still, it is worth waiting for. The pictures on the front covers are very well got up, and I am seriously thinking of purchasing a binder of some sort to keep my back numbers in good condition. Best of luck to members of the DX Club. —Cedric W. Marley (AW150DX ), Sth. Brisbane, Q'land.

Application for Membership
ALL-WAVE ALL-WORLD DX CLUB

Application for Membership

The Secretary,

All-Wave All-World DX Club,

214 George Street,

Sydney, N.S.W.

Dear Sir,

I am very interested in dxing, and am keen to join your Club.

The details you require are given below:

Name..........................................................

Address.......................................................

[Please print both plainly.] .................................

..............................................................

My set is a...................................................

[Give make or type,

number of valves, and

state whether battery

or mains operated.]............................................

I enclose herewith the Life Membership fee of 3/6 [Postal Notes

or Money Order], for which I will receive, post free, a Club badge and

a Membership Certificate showing my Official Club Number.

(Signed) ...................................................

[Note: Readers who do not want to mutilate their copies of the "Radio World" by

cutting out this form can write out the details required.]

P.38 - Round The N.Z. "B" Stations (2)
'''Round the N.Z. "B" Stations. . . . 2'''

'''1ZB. . . AUCKLAND, The "Friendly Road" Station.'''

At present all eyes are turned on 1ZB Auckland, the first "B" station to commence advertising in New Zealand, under the Government's new commercial station scheme. This interesting article is the second from the pen of "The Southlander" ("The Southlander" was Merv Branks, then of Winton, later Invercargill - Ed.)

"LET me live in a house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man." The inauguration of the Friendly Road by the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, affectionately known to thousands as "Uncle Scrim," has been one of the outstanding events in the history of New Zealand radio. All New Zealand listens to the heart-to-heart talks by the Road-mender of the Friendly Road. History Of The "Friendly Road." The Fellowship of the Friendly Road originated, from the studio church services conducted by Uncle Scrim over station 1ZR, Auckland. He had been a Methodist mission worker in Auckland, and achieved prominence by his unorthodox methods of conveying God's message. He recognised the value of the air as a means to draw all classes of people together, to tread the "friendly road" in the footsteps of Uncle Scrim. 1ZR came on the air in 1930, but at the end of 1933 was bought out by the N.Z. Broadcasting Board, which under the call of 1YL used it as a subsidiary station to 1YA. The Friendly Road had gained a large hold in the hearts of thousands, and immediate agitation was made for its continuance. At this time the "B" stations were not in a very happy position. The copyright question, and the then Government's policy, which was moulded on the B.B.C. policy of no "B" stations, both presented serious difficulties to these private broadcasters. However, popular demand prevailed, 1ZM and 1ZB came to the rescue, and the latter station was acquired by the Fellowship of the Friendly Road. Supported By Public Subscription. From then on 1ZB was supported entirely by public subscription, but although the programmes were of a high standard and the station was most popular, the technical staff was considerably handicapped in its endeavours to increase power and keep the station up-to-date. However, with the advent of the Labour Government, the outlook has changed for 1ZB. In October last it was made the first commercial advertising station in New Zealand, with the Rev. C. R. Scrimgeour as Controller of National Commercial Broadcasting. Station Improved And Staff Increased. Immediately things began to happen at 1ZB. The studios above Queen Street were renovated and enlarged, the station's equipment modernised, the hours increased to 82 a week, several new features incorporated in the programmes, and the personnel of the staff increased. Included in the latter is Miss Dorothy Woods, formerly of 2GB, Sydney, as programme organizer, and Mr. B. T. Sheil, colleague of the late Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, as advertising manager. John Stannage, also of "Southern Cross" fame, has also been connected with 1ZB on the technical staff. Listeners have so far found the programmes delightfully attractive. People who formerly criticised commercial broadcasting have been pleasantly surprised. The entertainment has been bright and original, advertisers are anxious to give only the best to the radio audience, and the result is certainly a higher standard of entertainment that will make the "A" stations "keep up to scratch." Commercial Radio — Greatest Advance In N.Z. Yet. The new Controller says that "commercial radio spells the greatest advance in New Zealand radio since its inception." No doubt it is a sensational event in N.Z. radio history. A commercial station in each of the other three main centres is to follow. A Tribute To Uncle Scrim. In the passage way of 1ZB stands a beautiful piece of Maori art in the form of a carved Maori warrior. lnscribed thereon is the following:— "Presented to the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour (Uncle Scrim), Director of the Friendly Road, by the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister, on behalf of the people of New Zealand who have benefited by Friendly Road Services. This is a token of their high esteem for and gratitude to Uncle Scrim, for services given in fellowship on the Friendly Road. August 23, 1936." It is a fitting tribute to one of New Zealand's outstanding radio personalities.

Photo - Rev. C. R. Scrimgeour
(Start Photo Caption) The Rev. C. R. Scrimgeour — "Uncle Scrim" of the Friendly Road, and now controller of commercial broadcasting in New Zealand. (End Photo Caption)

Some Facts about 1ZB
Call and Location:— 1ZB — Studios, Queen Street, — Transmitter, Symonds St., Auckland. Owners:— Government Commercial Station. (The Fellowship of the Friendly Road.) Frequency:- 1090 k.c. Power:- 150 Watts in aerial. Transmission Times:— Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 5 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. (All times are A.E.S.T.) Type of Transmitter:— C.C. Osc. 2 Buffers. 250 Watt final Class "B" Modulator - 2/212 D.S. Antenna:— "L" type. Special Features:— Devotional Services, sponsored programmes. Most Notable Transmissions:— Uncle Scrim's Talks. Manager of Station:— Rev. C. R. Scrimgeour. Operator of station:— R. E. Grainger. Announcers of Station:— A. Collyns, Ed. Silver, Marcus Toger.

P.44 - Ham Jargon
HAM JARGON. . . As a heritage from the days when the code was universally used by the amateur, today he has a language of his own that to the uninitiated sounds meaningless. The commonest abbreviations are quoted in the article below. . . By D. E. EVANS AM lingo — the language of the radio amateur — is snappy, amusing, and highly descriptive. It is made up of idioms, abbreviations, technical terms and phonetic words. It's Greek to the public and a source of distress to the beginner. It is enough to set anyone on his ear! Some of the idioms used by the ha m have their roots in the field of co mmercial wire and radio telegraphy. The old-ti me Morse telegraphists originated the word "bug" as a happy and brief tag for the semi-auto matic code keys used then, and now, for high speed trans mission. The early type of hand keys were made of brass, and the operators of such keys were dubbed "brass pounders." If an operator worked his key well, it was said of hi m that he had a "good fist," just as one might say that a singer had a good voice. Hand key operators were often subject to a temporary or permanent loss of muscle reaction which affected their sending, in which case they were said to have developed "glass arms." Double acting keys were known as "side swipers." These and other idioms originating with the old-ti mers have been kept alive by the ham. Many of the abbreviations had their origin in the field of telegraphy. Such short-cuts as "abt" for about, "ck" foi check, "fm" for from, "hr" for here, "sig" for signature, and "tks" or "tnx" for thanks, are good examples of a few of the many abbreviations the early amateur radio telegrapher appropriated for his own use. The substitution of the letter "x" for parts of a word, such as "tax" for thanks, "dx" for distance, "px" for press, and "wx" for weather, had also been taken up by the ham, and he has added a few others of his own, with the "x" tacked on to the front end of the word, such as Judging by the caela on the. wall, amateur station LU4DO, in the Argentine, has been "getting out" to some efect. "xtal" for crystal, and "xmti" fOr trans mitter. A reversal in form is shown in the use of "rx" for receiver. The ha m also uses the International "Q" Code, together with a few co mbinations of his own making. He eihploys such universal signs as "R," meaning okay; "K" meaning to go ahead; "SK" indicating the termination of a transmission; "73" meaning kind regards; and "88" meaning love and kisses. Amateur Abbreviations But ham lingo is far from being .a borrowed language. When it comes to trick idioms and phonetic spelling, the ham has it all over the co mfnercial crew. It all started before vacuu m tubes were in use, when powerful spark transmitters were called "rock-crushers," synchronous rotary spark gaps were called "sinks," and headphones other straightforward short-cuts, he were called "cans." The first continu- sticks fairly close to phonetic spelling. ous wave (c.w.) tube trans mitters were À few examples are: "fone" for phone. cynically referred to as "peanut ;)egtei" for good, +4cum" for come, "sez" whistles" and their operators as ??? ! _ fax says, "cud" for .could, "ur" for A particular type of transformer *'eidl. ' ' ,y,qpr„and ';sed" for .said. Some words called a "cofin," and an aerial becarné" aré given the phonetic spelling and known as a "sky hook." When lic - additionally abbreviated, such as: ses came into being they were kn "s as "tickets," and transmitting tees were christened "bottles." The Distet Radio Inspector became the "R.i." "- There were no radio-phone statkprts,. in those days, and it was a task, for one ha m to carry on a lengthy "ragchew" with another ha m by means of telegraphy unless he resorted to various forms of abbreviation. It thus developed that laughter was registered by simply transmitting the letters "HI," and the natural enthusias m the, - ha m had for the ga me was aired everY"" few minutes by merely sending the, letters "FB"— which, to you, is "fine business." Then, surprisingly enough, all ha ms, no matter their age, became old men, or simply "O M," over the sir. Mother was referred to as "O W," which was .alright since she couldn't decipher the code, and the girl friend became the "YL." If the ham mar- .ried. she immediately beca me an "XYL," which has never see med quite
 * co mpli mentary but the girls lap it up.

And then there was the phonetic spelling interspersed with abbreviations. Typical copy would read something like "SA OM IS TT UR YL SA W U WID LAST NITE? SHES A: 'S'W`L NO ES H W! HI!" •Translatee. ;into English, this copy reads: "Say old man, is that your girl friend I saw you with 'last night? She's (a swedl nu mber and how! (Laughter)." The .c.w. ham of to-day continues -alp use of the abbreviated form in his transmissions, but he is not, as a rule, apt. do carry It to extre mes. Asirle fro m, "es" for and, "tt" for that, "hr" for .'it e, "hw" for how, and a few 'd" for schedule, "freak" for fre- .1que, and "si "n' for sign or signature. New Developments Brought New Terms Inrprovements in vacuu m tube transmitters brought on a new group of words. High voltage, radio frequency cnrrents were being used, and the word "hot," employed by electricians 4to denote a live wire circuit, came into use. Later on, "high power radio-frequexlcy current came to be known as "soup." This term is also used to • denote background noise in reception, and if a signal is lost in such ribrference it is said that the signal is cipwn in the soup" or "in the mud."

W hen the ha m co m menced using radiophone equip ment, such phonetic abbreviations as "mike" for microphone, and "fone" for radiophone, ca me into use. So me of the lingo of the c.w. ha m was carried over, and it is far fro m unco m mon to-day to hear a ha m on fone use the abbreviation "HI" when he could just as ett•-ily laugh. It's just a case of habit. It's the sa me with "K" and "S K"; most 'phone ha ms have resorted to such ter ms as "take it away," "toss it to you," "co me in so mebody," "over," or so me such phrase when they are turning it back to the other fellow, but so me of the fellows hang on to the "K" of their code days, and to when they are signing of. The "Q" signals used by the ha m are identical with those established by the International Radiotelegraph Convention. Each signal can be for med as a question or an answer. "QRA"? for exa mple, means: W hat is the na me of your station? The answer would be "QRA " with na me of the station. There are a large nu mber of these "Q" signals, many of which are of no use to the ha m. Those he does use are often given a slightly diferent Amateur radio station VK2VG. owned and operated by F. L. Cook, of the North Suburban Radio Club. The receiver is a t.r.f. four-valver, while the trans mitter uses a 53 as crystal oscillator and doubler, with a 45 in the final (with 20 watts input). 2GV generally operates on 40 and 20 metres and has W.A.C. on his present rig. or broader meaning so that they may better fit conditions. For instance, the original meaning of QSO? is: "Can you co m municate with direct (or through the mediu m of )?" But the ha m also uses QSO to mean a two-way contact or conversation. In talking to another ha m, he may pass the re mark that he had a line QSO with such-andsuch a station, and in this sense the signal has practically the sa me meaning as the word "talk." The following list of "Q" signals is not co mplete, but it contains the letter co mbinations most frequently used in amateur co m munications. The interpretations given are those adopted by the ha ms and are not necessarily identical with the originals. Each one can be used as a question or an answer. QRA - What is your address? QRG - What is my frequency? QR K -Are my signals good? QR M - Man- made interference. QRN -Static interference. QRP -Shall I decrease power? QRT -Shall I stop sending? QRX -Stand by. QSA - What is my signal strength? QSB -Do my signals fade? QSL -Please acknowledge our QSO. QSO -Two-way contact. QSY Shall I change frequency? QTR What is your time? Everybody knows the fa miliar CQ or general call, while the QSA and R signal sy mbols have appeared regularly in this magazine since the first issue in May of last year. (to be continued).

P.45 - VK Amateur Stations —Additions And Amendments
VK A MATEUR STATIONS. . . Additions and A mend ments Additions. CALL SIGN. NAME. ADDRESS. CA W-- Watkins, A. P., 131 Davis St., Boulder, W.A. 2AFC -McDonald. A. H., 6 Little Villiers St., Grafton, N.S. W. 2AFD -Kerr, A. A., Thurgoona, N.S. W. 2AFG -Patterson, J. H., 54 Birrell St., Waverley, N.S. W. 4WG -Grant. W. P., Ward St., Indooroopilly, S. W.2. Qld. 6WZ -Atkinson, R. H., 27 Rathay St., Victoria Park. W.A. ANL -Dangerfield, N. G., Pioneer Estate, Lower Burdekin, Nth. Qld. 3SZ -Errey R. 0., 48 McGregor St., East Malvern, SES, Vic. 4WM -McNichol, R. W. E., 37 Florence St., Tenerife. N.I, Qld. 6GB -Gabbertas. J., 254 Guildford Road, Maylands, W.A. 2BY -Olds, E. C. M., 225 Jamieson St.. South Broken Hill, N.S. W. ZAFE -Magennist. A. E. A.. 38 Pine Road, Auburn, N.S. W. ADY - Wright, E. J., Ekibin Road, Annerley, S.3, Qld. 2RT -Felton, W. R., C/o R. H. Jones, 319 Princes Highway, Kogarah, N.S. W. Alterations to Call Signs. 3SR--Marriott, R. J., 187 Kooypng Road, Toorak, S.E.2, Vic., Now VK3SI. 30P--Brown. L. A., 16 Park Terrace, Eastwood, S.A. Now VK3OB (See also Changes of Address). 2ACJ--Rutter, G. A., 28 Mu tama Road, Arta rmon, N.S. W. Now VK2CB. ADE -Ewing. J. 0., 5 Cairn St., North Sydney, N.S. W. Now VK2AF1 (See also Changes of Address). 2AEPPeppercorn, A. E., 33 Regent St., Bexley, N.S. W. Now VK2QJ. Changes of Address. 5DB -Berry, L. D., 24 Moulden St.. Norwood, S.A. 3Y W - Waring, C. C., 161 Burke Road, Kew, E.4, Vic. CALL SIGN. NAME. ADDRESS. 30P -Brown, L. A., 16 Park Terrace, Eastwood, S.A., (See also Alterations to Call Signs). 7CL -Conway, M. L. D., 33 Welman St., Launceston, Tas. 3FL -Johnson, A. L., 44 Carramar Avenue, Camberwell, E.6, Vic. 4FN -Nolan, F. M., 25 Park Road, Wooloowin, N.3, Qld. 2AP -Reynolds, A. P., 37 Orange Road, Parkes, N.S. W. ADE -Ewing, J. D., 5 Cairo St., North Sydney, N.S. W. (See also Alterations to Call Signs). SLD -Deane, L. A., 21 Davenport Terrace,. Hazelbrook Park, S.A. 7NC -Campbell, N. D.. 25 Joynton Avenue, Hobart, Tas. 6FL -Lambert, F. C., 9 Gregory St., Wembley, W.A. 2GQ -Barlow, E., Flat No. 2, 51 Spit Road, Mosman, N.S. W. 2XQ -Traill, R. J., 47 Regent St., West Maitland, N.S. W. 2BB -Eastwood Radio Club, 134 Rowe St., Eastwood, N.S. W. 2WR -Shipley, A., 34 Palmer St., Vaucluse, N.S. W. 2YU -Chessell, J., 2 Esplan Court, The Esplanade, Ash field, N.S. W. 2MQ -McGowan. W. E. C., 120 Queen's Road, Five Dock, N.S. W. 3NA -Gardner, Dr. J. K., Royal Melbourne Hospital, Lonedale St., Melbourne, Cl, Vic. 2ADZ - Wilson, V. H., 15 Karen i Flats, El zabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, N.S. W. 3FC -Clark, F. T.. 16 Mason Avenue, Elwood, S.3, Vic. 3CX -Brown, A. G., 8 Mangarra Road. Canterbury, E.7, Vic. 6KM -Saar, A., 193 Sixth Avenue, Maylands, W A. Amendments. 3DH -Morgan, I., C/o Station 3SR, Congupna Road, Shepparton, Vic. 2T1 -Ryan, W. G., 21 Tunstall Avenue, Kingsford, N.S. W. Cancellations. 2H1 -Hailstone, F. H., 93 Muston St., Mosman, N.S. W. SAL -Lum, A. D., 28 First Avenue, Joslin, SA. 2FT -Tregurtha, F. C., 72 Upper Pitt St., Kirribilli, N.S. W. 30Q -Pinkney, R. C.. 348 Rathdown St., North Carlton, N.4, Vic. 5DQ -Horan, K. J., Prince Albert Hotel, Murray St., Gawler, S.A. 3FH -Melbourne High School Amateur Radio Club, Forrest Hill, South Yarra, S.E.I, Vic. 4WM -McNicol, R. W. E., 17 Florence St., Tenerife, N.1, QI(1.

P.46 - Big Five-Metre Field Day Planned for March 7
BIG 5- MET RE FIELD D A Y PL A NNE D FO R M A RC H 7 Five MobileStationsTaking Part By VK2VN LL amateurs and others interested in the ultra-high frequencies are advised that on Sunday, March 7, the Ultra-High Frequency Section of the W.I.A. (N.S. W. Division), is staging the biggest 5-metre field day yet held in this state. When arrangements are finalised it is hoped that there will be at least five mobile stations on the air. The locations have not been definitely decided upon, but there will probably be a station at each of the the following places —Mount Victoria, the Gib at Bowral, Kurragong, Bulli and Mount Elliot. In addition to these, several Sydney stations, including 2LZ and 2NO, will be taking part, while 2BP will be on the air at Hazelbrook. The occasion will aford amateurs and experimenters a unique opportunity to check up on the performance of equipment over greater distances than are possible under normal circumstances. It is hoped that all stations will be able to contact each other, though a master station will be operated at the most favourable spot to handle trafic if necessary. Anyone interested should endeavour to attend the next meeting of the U.H.F. Section of the W.I.A., to be

held at the Y.M.C.A. Buildings, Pitt Street, on March 4, at 8 p.m. Those who are unable to attend can obtain final details by writing the Section, Box 1734 JJ, G.P.O. Sydney, or by ringing Y 1928 (2VN). Reports would be greatly appreciated, and should be forwarded to the above address. Activities Of The U.H.F. Section Of The W.I.A. The Ultra-High Frequency Section of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S. W. Division), formed in October last to cater for all members interested in 28 m.c. and higher, has been making excellent progress lately. Our first field day was held on January 24, when Mr. J. Moyle (2JU), accompanied by 2HZ and 2VN took a portable to Mount Elliot, which is about 800 feet high and 40 miles air-line north of Sydney. 2XP, 2TX and 2XL, of the Northern gang, had chosen the spot, and made the necessary arrangements with the owner. The first aerial tried was two horizontal half waves in phase, with a stub in the centre and twisted pair feeders. Though this arrangement had worked well in Sydney beforehand, it was definitely not a success. However, changing to a vertical doublet made all the diference. Immediately the receiver was switched on, 2LZ was heard at R8 with music, but unfortunately, although Con. was on all day for our benefit, contact was not established till late in the afternoon. 2NO was worked at various times throughout the day, his signals, coming from a Bruce array, being very strong. 2XK at Maroubra was also QS0'd, but signals were too weak at both ends. Other stations heard weakly were 2AZ and 20D. Monthly Meetings Held. The general meetings of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S. W. tivision), are held on the third Thursday in each month at the le- e.C.A. The U.H.F. Section holds an additional meeting on the first Thursday at the same location. Everyone interested is cordially invited to attend.

P.47 - Leaves From A Dxer's Logbook
Leaves Fro m A Dxeres Log - Book W orld- Wide DX On Short wave By ALAN H. GRAHAM January 22 Conditions just after 6.30 a.m. were quite good on 31 m., on which band I2R0 was putting in the best signal. W3XAU was easily the best for so me time past -being a good R7. At 7 a. m. GS0 ca me on the air with a very strong signal; while W2XAF and GSB opening at the sa me time were also at good speaker strength. Just before 7 a.m. a mediu m signal was logged on 30.4 m., and this proved to be Madrid (EAQ). Just after 7 o'clock a talk in English was heard - the speaker vividly describing the havoc wrought by the aerial bo mbardments which have devastated the city. Probably the best quality reception of the morning was fro m the 26m. Cuban station COCX, which gradually gained strength, peaking just after 8 a. m. On 25 m., W1XAL was easily the best station. Two other A mericans on 19 m. were also at good strength, na mely W8X K and W2XE. During the day conditions were very poor, not a single station being heard until 5.30 p. m., when the Ger man stations DJA, DJN and DJB were logged. The last-na med station's signals were R. max. After sundown local QR M (an everpresent source of vexation) prevented reception above 16 m. On that band, W E was a point louder than OSO, while on 13 m., OSII was R7 with very little fading. January 23 Up before 6 a. m. this morning, and OR K was heard on 29 m. at R6. Bad fading, however, marred reception. Before the other bands could be examined, bad local QR M began, and continued for about an hour. At this time (7 a. m.) W2XAF, GSC and GSB were again best on 31 m. Again the best signals of the morning were fro m COCX: R9 at 8 a. m. with practically no fading. W8X K and W2XE on 19 m, were again very good. January 24 Conditions on the whole were distinctly poorer than on the two previous days. Strangely enough the loudest signal of the morning was fro m a 19 m. station not often logged here, M ICA"), whose progra m me of dance music was a good R8. On 19 m. W2XE and W8XK: on 25 m. GSD and W1XAL: and on 31 m. GSB, GSC, W3XAU, W2XAF, M N and I2R0 were only very moderate speaker strength. Less regular stations logged were DZC on 29.16 m., and the A merican 'phone station W OF. Located in Lawrenceville, N.J., W OF trans mits on 30.77 m. January 25 Reception during the whole day was very patchy. After W3XAL was logged on 16.87 m., conditions took a very rapid turn for the worse. Only Special Features For Next Month's "Radio World' Next month's "Radio World" will contain a co mplete description of the 53 -6P6 two-band crystal-controlled trans mitter illustrated above, while for set-builders there will be so mething outstanding in a three-band superhet designed around the new Radiokes Tri-Wave Coil Assembly. Make sure of YOUR copy now by booking it at your newsagent, or fill in the Annual Subscription For m on page 40 and have the next twelve copies sent post-free direct to your ho me, W8X K (19.7 m.) and a couple of east coast A merican ha ms on 20 m, were above R2-3. W3XAL's signals at 6.45 a.m, were very good, and every word of the review of the flood situation in the Ohio valley could be copied. During the rest of the day the only station audible was ZMBJ, the s.s. "Awatea," in co m munication with Wellington during her trans-Tas man crossing. After 7 p. m. the noise-level -co mbination of static and local QR M -was unbearably high. January 26 The outstanding feature of the morning was the improved reception on 25 m. W1XAL was the loudest station there, but GSD, TPA3 and JZJ (25.4 m.) were also good. On 31 and 19 m, the usual stations were heard, GSC and W8XK being outstanding. Again conditions during the day were most disappointing - not a trace of any station was to be found. A less vicious noise-level per mitted an exa mination of the bands between 13 and 31 m. between 7 and 10.15 p. m. OSO, GSF, D.IB, DJQ and TPA2 on 19 m.: GSG, DJE on 16 m.: ZB W, DJA and GSB on 31 m.: and JVN were all audible. 19 m, reception was easily the best. January 27 W3XAL on 16 m, was outstanding. EAQ and COCX showed a falling-of in strength. At 9.30 a. m. the D.E.I. station YDC opening on 19.8 m. with the 7 o'clock chi mes (2?, hours behind E.S.T.) were R7. Apart fro m this the only notable feature of the day's reception was the chi mes (2 hours behind E.S.T.) was lif31V WX was heard at 11.30 a.m. January 28 25 m. was easily the best band this morning: GSD (R9), W1XAL (R7), TPA3 (R7) and JZJ (R5). 19 m, continued to deteriorate slowly - W8X K and W2XE being very poor. W2XAF, GSC (31 m.) and YDC (19 m.) held on much longer than usual, and were still audible after 10 a. m. After 10 p. m. COCQ nearly wrecked the speaker with a terrific signal!! Nearly as loud was JZI on 31.4 m. January 29 The only feature of this day's reception was the nice signal of CS W on 27.2 m. between 6.45 and 7.15 a. m. W hen first heard CS W was R7, and gradually improved to R9 just after 7 a. m. After 7.15 the signals rapidly faded out. JZI, JVN, YDC, PLP (27.2 m.), DJB, DJQ, OSO, OSII and DJE were all logged after 8.30 p. m. -and were all

at good strength except for GS H on 13m. February 1 W2XAD turned up quite unexpectedly on 19 m. at 6.40 a. m. Signals were only fair. February 3 Good conditions on 19 m. W2XE's review of the flood situation was of considerable interest. The broadcast was fro m Me mphis, Tenn., which is on the Mississippi, about 100 miles below Cairo, which was the centre of the flood at this time. After 9 a. m. the 10 m, amateur was found to be very fine. An East coast ham WI D EY was logged at fair strength - this being the first East coast ham heard on 10m. 'phone. Several other hams were logged, including W5EZ H at R9. At 8 p. m. the 20 m, amateur band was fairly good, with KAlE R and XU8I1 W outstanding. On 19 m. YDC was exceptionally good with an entertaining musical progra m me on opening at 8.30 p. m. February 4 ZB W on 31 m, was easily the best station on the air to-night. On approx. 25.2 m. a stranger was heard -was apparently a Japanese or Chinese. Signal strength was weak, and the station had to re main unidentified. February 5 At 6 p. m., Berlin (DFB) was heard calling Bangkok on 17 m. The amateur bands were good to-day: both 10 and 20 m. PKIRA on 20 m. was very loud at 9.45 p. m. February 7 The 10 m, amateur band was exceptionally good between 9 a. m. and 1 p. m. In the evening, ZMISJ was heard on 34 m. working Wellington: and a little later GBC (23A m.) working GFJY, a ship station. Finally just about 10 p. m. IBC was heard calling As mara. February 8 Outstanding in this day's log was the logging of CNR, Rabat, Morocco, on 23A m.: and the reception of a test progra m me fro m VK6 ME, Perth, on 31.2 m. A new amateur on 20 m, was the Chinese station XU8TT. February 9 • An early surprise was a tre mendous signal on 49.75 m., originating fro m Prague. They were R9 at 6 a.m. At 7 a.m. Moscow opened on 50 m. JZJ on 25.4 m. was also good at 7.15 a. m. Towards noon, VLZ was heard calling ZLT on a new w/1.-22.4m. CNR was again audible at 8 p.m.: and at 10 p.m. the "Kanimbla" (V119 MI) presented an entertaining progra m me on 49.9 m. February 10 Two A mericans were outstanding - W2 XE (19 m.) describing the Carnival

at New Orleans: and W1XAL, presenting a special news su m mary at 7.45 a.m. Another "mystery station" was heard on 25.6 m. -a foreigner, heard at good strength at 7.30 p. m. February 11 A nice batch of 20 m, amateurs logged included KALID, X U811 W, VS6AB, KAIB H and KAIAN. On 49.9m., HPS K was at good strength, opening at 10 p. m. February 12 W2XAF's special Red Cross progra m me was heard at R7 between 4.30 and 6.30 p. m. Nu mbers were contributed by a large nu mber of fa mous stage, screen and radio stars. Two 'phone stations on 18 m. were Shanghai (XOJ) and Bangkok. February 14 HJ1ABP was heard testing on 31 m., endeavouring without success to contact an A merican amateur, W2GEZ. PHI, GSG and DJE were a good 16 m. trio at 10 p. m. February 15 Another batch of 20 m. amateurs - HI7G, PK1 MX, KA1 MD, H KIZ, CO7CX, 0A4R, PKIGL, CEIA H and XU8I1 W. During the afternoon FZS, Saigon, was heard calling Tokio on 16m. February 16 A splendid progra m me fro m PCJ (19.7m.) was the high-light of the day's reception. YDC, PLP, and P MN were all on the air at 9.15 p. m.

P.48 - New Members All-Wave All-World DX Club
ALL-WAVE ALL-WORLD DX CLUB. . . NEW MEMBERS

AW109DX - Gilbert S. Hayman, "Monmouth," 166 Macpherson Street, Bronte, N.S.W.

AW110DX - Wynton Faulkhead, 28 Villeroy Street, Hampton, S.7, Melbourne, Victoria.

AW111DX - C. V. Stewart, 36 Main Street East, Ballarat East, Victoria.

AW112DX - W. M. Chapman, 3 Dowling Street, Moore Park, Sydney, N.S.W.

AW113DX - A. B. McDonagh, 4 Queen Street, Wellington, N.Z.

AW114DX - J. A. Roe, 17 Tyrone Street, South Yarra, S.E.1, Victoria.

AW115DX - T, Basso, Post Office, Silkwood, North Queensland.

AW116DX - Carl Broel, 10a High St., Marrickville, Sydney, N.S.W.

AW117DX - Jack Glenn Jones, 72 Eastern Ave., Sth. Kensington. N.S.W.

AW118DX - Patrick William Stanley, 34 Langlee Ave, Waverlev, N.S.W.

AW119DX - G. S. Rogers, 28 Poplar St., Sth. Caulfield, S.E.8,. Melbourne, Vic.

AW120DX - R. Connor, Peketurua, Putaruru, New Zealand.

AW121DX - William Henry George Dawson, c/o Railways, Tailem Bend S.A.

AW122DX - Ronald Cook, Norris Street, Bowen, Nth. Q'land.

AW123DX - V. E. Deadmond, Belmore St., Arnelife, N.S.W.

AW124DX - Arthur J. Richards, 33 Owen St., Lindfield, N.S.W.

AW125DX - E. J. Mannell, 9 Elizabeth Street, Masterton, N.Z.

AW126DX - Ray Bramwell, Herbert St., Bowen, Nth. Q'land.

AW127DX - Gordon Thomas Farmer, Conlan St., Roma, Q'land.

AW128DX - Peter E. Thornley, c/o Manifold House, Geelong Grammar School, Cono, Vic.

AW129DX - James Ferrier, Winninburn, Coleraine, Vic.

AW130DX - Edward H. Barker, 713 Ferry Rd., Christchurch, N.Z.

AW131DX - Charles O. Pepperell, Rahotu, Taranaki, New Zealand.

AW132DX - B. Johnstone, Palmerston St., Riverton, Southland, N.Z.

AW133DX - George B. Lance, 5 Darling St., Warrnambool, Vic.

AW134DX - Keith Francis Peters, 7 Halford St., Castlemaine, Vic.

AW135DX - Vincent H. Leonard, 80 Charles St., Abbotsford, N.9, Vic.

AW136DX - Reuben Henry Neils Jolley, 120 Hargreaves St. Castlemaine, Vic.

AW137DX - L. F. Thiemann, c/o Star Theatre, Cunningha St., Dalby, Q'land.

AW138DX - S. A. Ellwood c/o Chippindall's Pharmacy, Bundaberg, Q'land.

AW139DX - A, Greening, Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand.

AW140DX - Hector James McConnell, c/o 104 Grove St., Nelson, N.Z.

AW141DX - Ronald Bothwell, "Henwin," Lower Bowen Terrace, New Farm, N.I., Brisbane, Q'land.

AW142DX - G. P. Hawkins, Deven St., New Plymouth, N.Z.

AW143DX - Robert Charles Viner, 48 Terrace St., Paddington, W.2, Brisbane, Q'land.

AW144DX - A. B. Liedl, 187 Dawson St., Lismore, N.S.W.

AW145DX - John William Cameron, 10 Morrin St., Ellerslie, Auckland, S.E.6, New Zealand.

AWIA6DX - Joseph F. Bull, State School, Beria, W.A.

AW147DX - Robert King, c/o Mordialloc House, Centreway, Mordialloc, S12, Victoria.

(to be continued).

P.48 - Printer
Printed by the Bridge Printery, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S. W., for the proprietors of the "Australasian Radio World," 214 George Street, Sydney.

Inside Back Cover - Vealls Ad
EVERYTHING to build the "SYMPHONY" BATTERYLESS FOUR 14 Everything — Valves, Accu mulator, Speaker, etc., to build the wonderful 4-valve dry-batteryless receiver that operates from a 6-volt "A" battery. This set was tried and proved in the "Listener In" Laboratories and described in the "Listener In" dated Dece mber 12th. Remember, Veall's pay freight on all Victorian Retail orders except radio cabinets. ORDER YOUR KIT TODAY A Set Builder Says READ THESE RESULTS, as obtained by a set builder in the North- West District: — "Even during the daytime, with an inside aerial of only 10 feet, I easily tune in any Victorian or South Australian stations that I want. I can also get several New South Wales stations. Selectivity and tone are inco mparable, and there are no unwanted noises. "It is a real live set —there is no messing with the controls to gel stations. Turn the dial to the station wanted and it is there. The volu me control is very eficient. A local-distance switch is not needed. Thanking you for a jolly good set." MUMS GREATER DISTANCE- -LESS NOISE a It .4.t41S'ii 14ONSt tim..\ IXONt 9.,,ECtIrnus1-1 tey tmcmerEE Et. e.tt, - &e we,. *el BRING IN NE W STATIONS. Local static vanilhes and reception improves 20 per cent. to 73 per cent. KIT embodies everything necessary for a perfectly engineered transposed aerial, including the patented Antennex aerial energise]. unit. Price—the complete kit. 5 2 / 6 otwatiot y.w....0 % /ftimoss or • • • Vealls have the Fastest Mail Order Service in Australia An expert staf gives every order individual attention. Accurate, speedy execution of all orders and . . . Veall's pay freight on all Victorian retail orders, excepting radio cabinets, and interstate retail orders, excepting batteries and cabinets. Try Veall's with your next order . . . the most comprehensive stocks in Australia. 'I II, NE 1.%, .-/ - . Piezo Self. . Tracking Pickup \-, • Tracks perfectly on either 10-12 or 16-inch "AMPHENOL," MEHNE" ULTRA HITONE records. Cuts down T HE F'ER FECT VALVE SOCKET BUZZER in. in All metal case, 2 dia meter. A perfect high tone for Morse practice or THE NE W OR MOND SLO W M OTION DIAL For short-wave sets. Test equip ment, etc. An accuneedle scratch by 50%. Gives greater life to records. pin . 5d. each. 7 & 7a pin . 6d. each. testing . . . 5/9 each MEHNE, 3, 5 and 8 volt .5 amp. Bell Transformers, rate dial with hair line divisions, all geared, backlash. New stocks justno Price £5e5p- 8-pin Octal . 9d. each 6 each landed. 2 in. diameter. VALVES SA Equivalent to battery types shown below. A409 type UX 4v. General Purpose . . A415 type UX 4v. Detector . . A442 type UX 4v. Screen Grid .. B405 type UX 4v. Power . . . B605 type 6v. Power . . 506 type UX 4v. Rectifier . VALVES TESTED FREE 6/11 6/11 8/6 6/11 4/11 5/11 Bring your valves to Veall's and have them tested on the Calston Tube Checker free. Will accurately test 400 diferent types of valves. CRIFICED BOND VALVES —BRAND NE W AND TESTED 27 General Purpose AC. 201A General Purpose Battery. 235 Variable Mu A.C. .. 245 A.C. Power. . . 280 A.C. Rectifier DEALERS 3/11 3/11 4/11 6/11 7/11 Write for folder iully describing all Calston Analysers, Tube Checkers, Oscillators, Meters, etc., and stating our easy terms. VEAL'S 243-249 SWANSTON L E IO CA STORES 299-301 CHAPEL STREET, MELBOURNE 168 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE STREET, PRAHRAN 3-5 RIVERSDALE ROAD, CA MBER WELL CENTRAL 3058 (7 lines) • él • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Back Cover - Australian Radio College Ad
"YOU CAN EARN BIG MONEY IN RADIO TELEVISION" Do you Want to earn more juoiIe. to better your position, to write "SUCCESS"1kfter your name? You can do this. Get into Radio-Television; make your career in to-day's greatest industry. - WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES.. Would you like to be an engineer in one of Radio's many branches. To handle equipment costing thousands of pounds, to perhaps meet world celebrities? Maybe you would rather train to run a profitable business of your own. Once you are trained, the whole field of Radio Opens up for you —you can steer for any position, from Radio mechanic to an executive controlling a big firm's activities. TRAINED MEN WANTED. There's a shortage of trained men in Radio. Employers on all sides are looking for them. Trained men earn good money —executive engineers up to £1,500 a year, managers, laboratory engineers, etc., up to £800 a year. and sales-service engineers up to £10 a week. With specialised training, these jobs are within your reach. TELEVISION. This wonderful new branch of Radio is already established overseas —soon it will be here. Think of the thousands of openings it will bring for trained men. There's time for you to prepare for one of these. Get started training now —prepare you01'01f for a future as big as you Eke to make it. JOBS FOUND. Once you are prepared with the necessary training. the A.R.C. Free Employment Sersice will help you find a job. Do you know. so heavy has been the demand. we have frequently been forced to refuse good positions. COSTS LITTLE. Think of this--for a few pence each day—actually less than many fellows spend on tisbarro —you can prepare yourself for a good-pay position in Radio-Teles ision. Na, e you the ambition to bring yourself. into line with one of these openings? FREE BOOK. Send now for the free book, "Careers in Radie and Telmi.ion." Read what Radio's leading men advise you to do: read about Radio's splendid careers; how other A.R.C. students hase succeeded and how you can do likewise. This is a book 'every ambition. man and youth should read. Post the coupon for your copy it'- free to you. POST COUPON NO W! Tri. Mr. L. B. GRA HA M, Principal. Australian Radio College Ltd., Dear Sir. Please send me, without obligation qn my ¡Me, the free book. "Care rs i Radio and Television." . Na me Address Are you interested in Night Classes or Correspondence Training? Broadway (Opp. Grace Bros.), Sydney.


text:
History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1937 04

Link to Issue PDF
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In general, only content which is required for other articles in this Wikibook has been entered here and text corrected. The material has been extensively used, inter alia, for compilation of biographical articles,  radio club articles and  station articles.

Front Cover
The Australasian Radio World

APRIL 1, 1937; Vol. 1 - No. 12; Price, 1/-

Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical

Cover Photo: Photo of Portion of the huge aerial arrays used by PCJ and PHI (see story on page 4)

Highlighted Contents: 1937 International All-Wave Six: More About the "Companionette": Two-Band Crystal-Controlled Transmitter: B.B.C. Television Signals Heard in Africa: List of ZL Amateurs.

P.02 - Editorial Notes
'''Editorial Notes. . .'''

With the publication of this issue of the "Radio World," completing Volume 1, it is interesting to look back over the past twelve months and review the progress the paper has made in that time. The idea of a magazine designed specially to cater for set-builders, dxers, servicemen, dealers — in fact, for everyone interested in radio technically — was conceived early last year, and on May 1 the first issue saw light of of day. That such a magazine was badly needed in Australia was immediately proved beyond all doubt by the enthusiastic welcome it was given, not only by those who follow radio as a hobby, but by the trade generally as well. Letters of congratulation and appreciation soon began to pour in from all parts of the Commonwealth, and during the past eleven months the volume of mail has increased steadily until now letters are arriving at the rate of about four hundred a month. Requests for circuits and technical information, suggestions for new receivers, reports on the performance of "Radio World" sets, general amateur and DX news — almost every conceivable radio topic under the sun is covered by readers in all parts of Australia and New Zealand, in New Guinea, Fiji, and even as far afield as America. This keen widespread interest is not only very gratifying, but it also proves beyond doubt that the magazine is now thoroughly established. The "Radio World" has only one policy, and that is to give service to those it caters for. One important outcome of the enthusiastic support that has been forthcoming is that it makes possible various improvements to the magazine. Many of these have already been planned, and will gradually be put into effect as the paper progresses.

P.02 - Contents Banner
THE AUSTRALASIAN RADIO WORLD.

Incorporating the

ALL-WAVE ALL-WORLD DX NEWS.

Managing Editor: A. EARL READ, B.Sc.

Vol. 1. - APRIL, 1937. - No. 12.

P.02 - Contents
CONTENTS:

When PCJ Was PCJJ. . . . 3

The 1937 International All-Wave Six. . . . 6

Radio Ramblings. . . . 10

B B.C. Television Signals Heard In Africa. . . . 14

DX Notes And News. . . . 16

Assembling And Wiring The Companionette Three. . . . 18

ZL Amateur Transmitters. . . . 21

A Two-Band Crystal Controlled Transmitter. . . . 29

Verifying All Continents. . . . 36

Breaking Into The Amateur Game. . . . 38

The A.T.R.S. Bulletin. . . . 39

Intermittent Faults Are Hardest To Locate. . . . 39

All-Wave All-World DX News. . . . 43

What's New In Radio. . . . 44

Leaves From A Dxer's Log-Book. . . . 45

"Radio World" Vol. 1 — Index To Technical Features. . . . 48

P.02 - Publication Notes
The "Australasian Radio World" is published monthly by Trade Publications Proprietary, Ltd. Editorial offices, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W. Telephone BW6577. Cable address: "Repress," Sydney. Advertisers please note that copy should reach office of publication by 15th of month preceding that specified for insertion.

Subscription rates: 1/- per copy, 10/6 per year (12 issues) post free to Australia and New Zealand. Subscribers in New Zealand can remit by Postal Note or Money Order.

Printed by Bridge Printery, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W., for the proprietors of the "Australasian Radio World," 214 George St., Sydney (Footnote P.48)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1937 05

Link to Issue PDF
| WorldRadioHistory.com's scan of Australasian Radio World - Vol. 02 No. 01 - May 1937 has been utilised to create the partial content for this page and can be downloaded at this link to further extend the content and enable further text correction of this issue: | ARW 1937 05

In general, only content which is required for other articles in this Wikibook has been entered here and text corrected. The material has been extensively used, inter alia, for compilation of biographical articles,  radio club articles and  station articles.

Front Cover
The Australasian Radio World

MAY 1, 1937; Vol. 2 - No. 1; Price, 1/-

Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical

Cover Photo: Photo of Dr. G. Builder, manager AWA Laboratory, Ashfield (See Page 8)

Highlighted Contents: 1937 Amateur Radio Show Review: More About the "International": The "1937 Empire All-Wave Three": Inverse Feedback Conquers Pentode Tone: Latest Shortwave News.

P.02 - Editorial Notes
'''Editorial Notes. . .'''

In a news release recently to hand from the States, Mr. Alfred A. Ghirardi, noted radio writer, states that one important trend in radio today lies in the rapidly growing use by servicemen of the cathode ray oscillograph. Undoubtedly this new device is destined for a very important future in the radio service field. As a tool in the hand of a capable serviceman, its applications are almost endless, while just as important as its flexibility is its value as a time saver. In servicing as in any other profession, time means money, and any device that can locate faults in half an hour that otherwise might take half a day to find is a far more than worthwhile investment. According to Mr. Ghirardi, servicemen in the States are, as could be expected, using oscillographs chiefly for alignment work. However, other common uses include the measuring of capacity and inductance, testing overall receiver sensitivity and overall audio fidelity, localising audio distortion, and checking receivers for intermittent reception. Several progressive manufacturers of test equipment in this country have recently marketed oscillographs designed for service work. The price factor, often a problem with servicemen, has in one case at least been taken care of by the use of the latest type 913 1-inch cathode ray tube. This makes possible the marketing of a complete oscillograph for around £20 -a figure well within the means of most servicemen who regard the purchase of equipment of this type not as an expense, but an investment that will mean increased and more profitable business. Further trends in the radio industry that were noted by Mr. Ghirardi during a nation-wide trip include the new interest in progressive merchandising and business promotion methods by even small radio dealers, and the rapid growth of the use of public address and intercommunication systems, particularly for retail stores. Finally, Mr. Ghirardi also comments on the prevalence of parts departments in radio stores throughout the country, indicating renewed interest and activity on the part of experimenters.

P.02 - Contents Banner
The Australasian Radio World

Incorporating the

All-Wave All-World DX News

Managing Editor - A. Earl Read, B.Sc.

Vol. 2. - MAY, 1937 - No. 1.

P.02 - Contents
CONTENTS:

"Radio World" Guide To The Show. . . . 3

The 1937 Empire All-Wave Three. . . . 6

Assembling, Wiring And Aligning The 1937 International All-Wave Six. . . . 10

Radio Ramblings. . . . 14

The Story Of Television (5). . . . 18

Breaking Into The Amateur Game. . . . 20

Keeping In Touch With Darwin. . . . 23

25 Years In Amateur Radio (1). . . . 24

Seven-Valve Dual-Waver Gives Excellent Results. . . . 26

Inverse Feedback Conquers "Pentode Tone"! . . . . 28

Image Frequency Interference On The Short Waves. . . . 30

Round The N.Z. "B" Stations (3). . . . 32

Latest Radiokes Tri-Colour Dial A Striking Success. . . . 35

The A.T.R.S. Bulletin. . . . 36

Radio Step By Step (8). . . . 38

"Keep Up The Good Work". . . . 40

All-Wave All-World DX News. . . . 41

All-Continent Hook-Up In 15 Minutes. . . . 42

Leaves From A Dxer's Log Book. . . . 43

DX Notes And News. . . . 45

North Suburban Radio Club News. . . . 47

What's New In Radio. . . . 48

P.02 - Publication Notes
The "Australasian Radio World" is published monthly by Trade Publications Proprietary, Ltd. Editorial offices, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W. Telephone BW6577. Cable address: "Repress," Sydney. Advertisers please note that copy should reach office of publication by 15th of month preceding that specified for insertion.

Subscription rates: 1/- per copy, 10/6 per year (12 issues) post free to Australia and New Zealand. Subscribers in New Zealand can remit by Postal Note or Money Order.

Printed by Bridge Printery, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W., for the proprietors of the "Australasian Radio World," 214 George St., Sydney (Footnote P.48)

P.24 - 25 Years In Amateur Radio (1)
25 Years In Amateur Radio (1)

In this biographical review of the growth of radio, the author takes readers back over twenty-five years, to the time when to every radio enthusiast a slider-tuned crystal set represented the last word in receiving equipment. By '''DON. B. KNOCK (VK2NO)''' (Radio Editor "The Bulletin")

IN a recent "Radio World" issue "W.J.P." says that the old timers are reticent; ageing oysters in their barnacle-encrusted shells, or words to that effect. Probably the old timer who has lived with, by, and for radio for a literal lifetime is inclined to become blase, but that doesn't mean to say, if he is a genuine "matured in the bottle" ham, that he has lost interest - far from it.

Admittedly some old timers have given up the game, but careful enquiry will reveal that it is always by force of circumstances; for business and other reasons, and after all the shiny metal that makes the world go round and feeds the junior Op. really must come first.

I suppose I can class myself as one of the very fortunate old timers of radio in that I have been able to keep myself lined up alongside it, with a few unavoidable digressions, ever since I introduced myself to the art. Circumstances again? Maybe, to some extent, but if a man sets his heart on something, he can usually find ways and means of keeping next to the thing he likes best. Which is one way of saying to the newcomer to radio.- "If you like it well enough, stick to it by hook or by crook. If you try hard enough and work hard enough, you can do just as well as the next man."

Radio is only a baby yet, and the world is only on the fringe of discovery. Supposing for instance there occurs some enormous cosmic upheaval in the near future. How do we know that by some agency the whole scheme of radio communication may not be reversed? By some freak of the universe, long waves may become "quasioptical" and the ultra-shorts may show entirely different reflective properties. Fantastic? Maybe, but nothing is impossible. Therefore a profound interest in ultra-short-wave experimentation might prove very useful some day.

First Radio Crystal Set. My experiences in radio go back to the adolescent period, when at the tender age of eleven, as a schoolboy in my Lancashire home town, I was attracted by an article in a boy's paper showing how to construct "The Boy's Own Wireless." It seemed simple. A wooden rolling pin (coaxed from the household kitchen), a piece of iron pyrites (from the school lab.), some bell wire and an ear piece, plus a condenser made from glass plates and foil from chocolate boxes, etc., constituted the parts.

Where the headphone came from I cannot recollect, but l do know that I sat for hours, weeks, and months with that old Bell telephone receiver fastened to my head, and an imposing looking twin spreader aerial of some kind fastened to the chimney, without hearing a sound – not even a crackle when lightning was around! And no wonder. The ear piece was of the 60-ohm variety, the detector was about as useful as a piece of cheese and a penknife, and the single slide tuning coil was a hit or miss affair.

This, be it understood, was in 1910-1911, when crystal detectors of any kind were a new development, and the magnetic and electrolytic detectors held full sway for commercial work.

A year went by, and interest flagged a little. Then providence intervened. Away on holiday in the South of England with the family, this small boy met a much older one who was no less than a wireless expert and an electrical engineer apprentice. An invitation to see his "den" followed.

First sight to gladden the eyes was a massive white painted mast in a garden, with a veritable maze of guys and insulated wires. Explanation revealed that this was an "umbrella" aerial. Inside the "shack" the amount of wonderful apparatus was breath-taking. Huge drain-pipe tuning coils wound with shiny black wire reached nearly to the ceiling. Bright copper helixes glittered entrancingly; and knobs and big glass plate condensers were everywhere. To top it all off, an intriguing rotary arrangement in a corner sporting a number of projections on the big disc introduced itself as a synchronous gap.

First Signal Heard From Eiffel Tower. While I looked and marvelled my new-found mentor put a pair of dinky little headphones over my ears, and looking at a clock said, "Now three minutes to eight. At 8 p.m. you will hear FL start sending his press."

As the city town hall clock boomed away on the last stroke, I heard what was to me the most beautiful sound I ever recall, my first radio signal. It was the old Eiffel Tower in Paris with his peculiar bugle note, blaring out the evening press.

And how that signal came through! Knobs were shifted a little, handles moving tuning condensers of the inter-leaved glass plate variety were jiggled a bit, and tuning coil sliders were adjusted, until the signal sounded very strong – about R6 in present day rating.

I saw, looked, and listened, and the radio bug bit deeper and deeper. It culminated in a still bigger thrill in the form of a raucous bellowing signal which was described to me as being from another amateur across the town.

Then this god-like person pulled switches, the rotary gap sprang into life, and I jumped with apprehension as the blue flame bit around the disc point with a deafening crescendo of morse code as he "went after" that other fellow.

That settled it. Whatever passing interest I had had in that futile boyish effort of a year previous was enhanced a thousandfold. I determined to be a wireless amateur by fair means or foul. After describing my poor efforts, I was presented with a nice sparkly piece of carborundum, an old but good pair of high resistance Sullivan phones, and a few odds and ends. That boy I had visited became in later years one of the Marconi Company's most prominent engineers.

Returning north, I proceeded to make the house unbearable with the smell of melting paraffin wax and shellac varnish, and conceived a weird and wonderful array of gear with the pretensions of a "wireless." I had no idea of wavelengths; I couldn't read morse more than about three words per, but I had plenty of confidence. Months went by again, and nothing happened, but presto – when thunderstorms abounded, I could distinctly hear the lightning flashes, and that was something at least!

Success At Last. And then, on a Sunday morning at 11 a.m., the unexpected happened. After moving sliders up and down along the 6-inch diameter coil with its miles of enamelled wire, and juggling around with the pressure of a steel point on the carborundum, the gods suddenly smiled. It was the old Eiffel Tower at last – I could recognise that spluttering note so well engraved upon my memory. Dashing up from the table to run downstairs and call the family to hear the miracle, I forgot, alas, that I still wore the headphones. With a clatter the small table came over and everything with it, and the entire family came running upstairs to see if I had been electrocuted or something. The parental scorn was withering, and believe it or not I couldn't for the life of me find those adjustments again in a hurry.

Meanwhile FL had finished his morning time signals, for such they were, and silence reigned supreme. It was the next week-end before I put things where I thought they had been, and sure enough, there were those dashes and ticks again. This time, the phones were laid gingerly aside and my victory over former scorn was complete.

With bated breath the detector was covered with a glass jam-jar and attention confined to moving sliders. Gradually I became aware of other sounds, buzzing high pitched whines, deep throaty roars, harsh scratchy sputtering. Although I didn't know it then, these were ships along the coast on the 600 metre range.

The Next Step. Gradually things got better and I studied and thought about the morse code. It lived with me, and I began to master it. Soon I could identify the call-sign of one of those stations, the most outstanding. It was GLV, the Liverpool coastal station. Then followed the realisation of the call-letters of the station GLV would be calling. In a year or so I could even identify prominent ships by the characteristic sound of the spark.

Meanwhile the multi-wire spreader aerial over the house was the subject of much comment and an object of wonder. It increased in size; so did the loading coils in my room, and then I was blessed with the achievement of being able to copy that old station of stations, Poldhu (MPD) in Cornwall. It was later when the war came, that an amateur wrote in the old "Wireless World" a poem that began with "Alas Poldhu, gone is thy blaring bugle note," for then the Post Office people descended and dismantled all amateur stations. But that is a story I will include in the next instalment of this biography.

Photo - 2NO in 1912
The author in 1912 – a schoolboy fired by the romance of radio communication.

Photo - 2NO at 16yo
VK2NO at 16 – "the guv'nor thought wireless a new-fangled contraption, and so I had to carry on as an engineer's apprentice."

Photo - Car radio in 1916
The latest in car radio – in 1916. During the war radio engineers spent much time developing mobile wireless equipment for use behind the lines, and this photograph shows an experimental radio-equipped car.

P.32 - Round The N.Z. "B" Stations (3)
'''Round the N.Z. "B" Stations. . . . 3'''

2ZO Palmerston North. The third of a series of articles on New Zealand "B" stations, written for the "Radio World" by "THE SOUTHLANDER" ("The Southlander" was Merv Branks, then of Winton, later Invercargill - Ed.)

STATION 2ZO, Palmerston North, which was designed and built by its owner, Mr. J. V. Kyle, is unique among "B" class stations in New Zealand, inasmuch as it has always been operated by its owner entirely as a hobby. It has never transmitted sponsored programmes or advertising matter, while everyone connected with 2ZO gives his or her services in a purely voluntary capacity. Commenced Operations In 1930. 2ZO owes its existence to the many interested listeners who, after hearing Mr. Kyle operating his shortwave station ZL2AX, suggested that he should apply for a broadcast band license. Thus 2ZO came on the air in November 1930, transmitting on very low power until the arrival of higher-powered equipment and valves from overseas. These duly came to hand and the opening night was fixed for February 3, 1931. Strangely this happened to be the very day of the disastrous earthquake in the Hawkes Bay province, which adjoins the Palmerston North district. Immediately Mr. Kyle offered the use of his short-wave station to the authorities, and ZL2AX was kept in constant use for two days, sending and receiving messages to and from the afflicted area. The official opening had to be postponed in this emergency, but a most successful initial programme from the new transmitter took place on March 3. Listeners' Association Provides The Programmes. Associated with 2ZO today is a Listeners' Association of over 2,000 members, who provide the programmes for transmission and pay the running costs of the station. The power supply to the transmitter is from a 1,500-watt motor generator, direct coupled to a 3-phase 3 h.p. motor, with a separate exciter, also direct coupled. This apparatus, which is electrically shielded, is situated some distance from the transmitting room to eliminate any mechanical noise being picked up by the microphones. The power reaches the power control panel (the left hand panel shown in photo) and is smoothed out and filtered before being applied to the valves. Transmitter Is Crystal Controlled. The station was recently remodelled, incorporating crystal control and 100 per cent modulation. The oscillator panel is seen second from the left in the photograph, and the modulator panel, third from the left. Next is the speech amplifier cabinet with control panel in front. An electric turntable is used for records and there are two microphones, one a double-button type and the other a condenser mike. The power is 100 watts to the aerial. The antenna system is somewhat different to that of most stations, only one mast 51 feet high being used. The aerial is an umbrella type with a four-wire fan as centrepoise (sic, counterpoise). The station has two studios, one located beside the actual transmitting room and used for individual artists. The other, approximately a mile away, is situated in the Messrs. C. Ross Coy's. Buildings in The Square. Well furnished and fully equipped, this studio is large enough to accommodate a full orchestra as well as a large audience, and all concerts, etc. are broadcast from there. The whole station reflects credit on Mr. Kyle, who is one of the earliest amateurs in New Zealand, his radio experience dating back to 1911. 2ZO is also official publicity station for the New Zealand Amateur Transmitters' Association. The station is a dual one, in that by changing three coils and two radio frequency chokes, a changeover from b.c. to s.w., or vice versa, can be made in three minutes. Mr. Kyle has received reports of correct reception from Australia, over a distance of 1,450 miles, while the area effectively served is the lower half of the North Island and the upper portion of the South Island. (Note: Transmission times given in the accompanying panel are A.E.S.T.)

Photo of 2ZO
(Start Photo Caption) A general view of station 2ZO, Palmerston North, which is operated by its owner purely as a hobby. (End Photo Caption)

Main Features of 2ZO
CALL AND LOCATION: 2ZO, 50 Waldegrave Street, Pa1merston North, New Zealand. OWNER AND OPERATOR: J. V. Kyle. ANNOUNCERS: D. Spring, E. A. Shackleton, and owner. FREQUENCY: 1,400 k.c. POWER: 100 watts aerial rating. TRANSMISSION TIMES: Tuesday, 5-8.30 p.m.; Thursday, 6-8.30 p.m.; Sunday, 8.30-11 a.m. TYPE OF TRANSMITTER: 3-stage crystal M.O.P.A. ANTENNA: Umbrella type and counterpoise. RELIABLE RANGE OF DAY TRANSMISSION: 200 miles. AREA SERVED: Lower half North Island and upper half South Island. LONGEST DISTANCE VERIFIED REPORT: 1,450 miles. VALUE OF EQUIPMENT: £1,075.


text:
History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1937 06

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Front Cover
The Australasian Radio World

JUNE 1, 1937; Vol. 2 - No. 2; Price, 1/-

Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical

Cover Photo: Photo of Amalgamated Wireless Valve Co.'s display at WIA Exhibition (See Page 7)

Highlighted Contents: Amateur Communications Receiver: "1937 Eaglet All-Wave Two": Wiring the "Empire All-Wave Three": New Section for Shortwave DXers: World Shortwave Station List.

P.02 - Editorial Notes
'''Editorial Notes. . .'''

At the 1937 Amateur and Shortwave Radio Exhibition held in Sydney last month, the man on the street was given an opportunity of learning something of the hobby of amateur radio. Certainly the casual visitor must have been greatly impressed by the tremendous amount of time, money and ingenuity that had obviously been expended on the design and construction of most of the equipment displayed. In all, there must have been several thousands of pounds worth of home-built amateur gear on show, ranging from wavemeters and one-valve receivers to cathode ray oscillographs, elaborate transmitters and multi-valve amateur communication type superhets. Taken all round, this year's show was the most successful yet held, and the organisers are to be congratulated on their efforts. This annual radio exhibition run by and for amateurs is a comparatively new innovation. Prior to 1936, the amateur exhibition was not a separate affair at all, but comprised merely a small section of the exhibition arranged annually by the radio and electrical trades in Sydney. Last year the Council of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. Division) decided to stage its own show, and this proved so successful that this year a decision was made to take the Lower Town Hall for the occasion. This meant a fairly heavy outlay, and so the backing of that section of the radio trade that specialises in catering for amateur requirements was sought. It was so enthusiastically given that when the show opened, nearly 40 stands were occupied, and the financial success of the venture was assured. Last year's exhibition was in the nature of a feeler to determine public and trade reaction, and with its success confirmed by that of the latest show, it is now evident that an amateur exhibition will be a regular annual event in the Sydney radio world.

P.02 - Contents Banner
The Australasian Radio World

Incorporating the

All-Wave All-World DX News

Managing Editor: A. Earl Read, B.Sc.

Vol. 2. - June, 1937 - No. 2.

P.02 - Contents
CONTENTS:

The Eaglet All- Wave Two. . . . 3

Communications Type Superhet For Amateurs. . . . 6

Radio Ramblings. . . . 10

Assembling And Wiring The 1937 Empire All-Wave Three. . . . 14

25 Years In Amateur Radio (2). . . . 18

World Shortwave Stations. . . . 21

Breaking Into the Amateur Game (5). . . . 29

Across The Atlantic On Five Metres. . . . 32

Radio Step By Step. . . . 34

What's New In Radio. . . . 35

All-Wave All-World DX Club — New Members. . . . 37

The A.T.R.S. Bulletin. . . . 38

Eliminating Man-Made Static. . . . 38

Locating And Curing Hum. . . . 39

The All-Wave All-World DX News. . . . 41

Shortwave Review. . . . 42

DX News And Views. . . . 45

VK Amateur Stations — Additions And Amendments. . . . 47

P.02 - Publication Notes
The "Australasian Radio World" is published monthly by Trade Publications Proprietary, Ltd. Editorial offices, 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W. Telephone BW6577. Cable address: "Repress," Sydney. Advertisers please note that copy should reach office of publication by 15th of month preceding that specified for insertion.

Subscription rates: 1/- per copy, 10/6 per year (12 issues) post free to Australia and New Zealand. Subscribers in New Zealand can remit by Postal Note or Money Order.

Printed by Bridge Printery Pty. Ltd., 214 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W., for the proprietors of the "Australasian Radio World," 214 George St., Sydney (Footnote P.48)

P.18 - 25 Years In Amateur Radio (2)
'''25 Years In Amateur Radio. . . . (2)'''

The second instalment of a biography covering the early days of radio, and written for the "Radio World" by DON B. KNOCK (VK2NO) Radio Editor "The Bulletin."

BY this time, with signals audible, the urge came along to make them better and still better, and thus the writer started on the business of aerial experimentation. The idea of aerial improvement has been, and still is, his primary consideration through the years.

I had read all about Marconi and his reception across the Atlantic not many years previously by means of long wires supported by kites. Why not fly a kite and try the effect? No sooner thought of than it was in process of undertaking. By this time I had acquired two kindred spirits — fellow schoolmates — and had imbued them with some of my own enthusiasm.

A portable receiver of a kind was made up, and a massive kite built laboriously from bamboo and silk. From somewhere a few hundred feet of phosphor-bronze telephone wire was obtained, and things began to move.

Adjacent to the old home was a large-sized cricket-field in which we boys were wont to disport ourselves without arousing the undue ire of the committee. At least, we respected the pitch! This field was chosen for the trial, and on a very windy day, five or six boys could be seen struggling to hold the kite in restraint while bricks were attached as a tail.

Up she went with a rush, hands being cut and burnt as the wire whipped out. A concerted dive with handkerchief-wrapped fingers, and the wire was finally secured by winding it around a staunch wooden post, leaving the kite soaring placidly in the sky with several hundred feet of "aerial" reaching down to earth.

I busied myself with preliminary detector adjustments, and when all was considered ready, asked a friend to hand me the end of the wire hanging from the post, and dangling about two feet above earth. He reached for it, and what followed was a distinct surprise to us, and a very nasty one for the victim. A blue spark leapt out as his hand neared the wire, jumping about three inches in the process. Boylike, the assailed one retreated in fear, and no-one was game to go near that wire.

Static Electricity The Cause. What had happened was a natural sequence of events. A dry windy day, and the kite well up in the sky just under scudding clouds resulted in the accumulation of a hefty static charge on the aerial, which was insulated from earth by the wooden post. Ideas of connecting that aerial to the receiver were dismissed forthwith.

But how to get the kite down with out further shocks? Simple, really, if we had had the sense to throw a bare wire over the aerial and to let it touch earth, but nobody thought of it!

Picking up a chunk of stone, one of the party dashed it at the aerial wire near the post, and it parted with a twang. Away went our kite, propelled by a stiff wind, trailing about half a mile of twisting, snaking wire. It careered on over that field, reached the heart of the town, and caught up sacreligiously on the tower of the parish church.

En route the trailing wire crossed the overhead tramway cables, and sparks flew and wire melted. We didn't see that, but we heard about it afterwards through our respective parents in forceful terms. After that, kite aerials were OUT, and I have since thought how near we might have come to emulating Franklin, and meeting with tragedy, if a sufficiently strong static charge had lined up in that elevated aerial.

Getting On The Air. Experiments from then on were confined to home, and the idea of transmission began to arise. A license? — nobody ever thought about such things in those days. They were merely a formal matter. Application was made, and permission given gratis forthwith by the Post Office in encouragement of the new wireless art. A callsign with an "X" somewhere in it was issued. Prefixes were unknown, as the very idea of amateur international working was not even thought of at the time.

Anyway, with much labour and perspiration, an induction coil was constructed with a few miles of fine silk-covered wire, and behold, it gave a nice crackling spark when energised from a six-volt accumulator. With glass plate condensers the spark was fattened up nicely, a helix was constructed, a hand-key made, and the week-end afternoons and nights were rendered hideous for the household by the fitful crashing and singing across the gap as I and another boy a mile distant tried to work with each other. We did too, and thereby improved our morse knowledge considerably.

In time, we found that by using a simple buzzer connected to the aerials, we could work equally well over the distance. Heaven alone knows what the wavelengths were, for the signal from both ends was so broad as to have no noticeable peak, but it was wireless communication, and that was the main thing.

Time progressed, and in due course I became apprenticed as a mechanical engineer in a local steel-works. In between learning my trade, I must confess to having done several "nix" jobs for myself when the "gaffer" wasn't looking, and all those jobs were something or other for my wireless outfit.

Parental ruling said that I was going to be an engineer whether I liked it or not, and that there couldn't be any future for "this new fangled wireless." And so I tackled both jobs, with, unfortunately for my desires, wireless only as a hobby. Visions of walking the deck as a gold braided wireless operator at sea had been uppermost, but the "guvnor" was adamant. No wireless school for me.

Time went on, and in between learning to become a good fitter of steam engines and motor lorries, all kinds of wireless gadgets were constructed, with varying success. Then came the war, and things happened. A Post Office official arrived on the scene, sealed in boxes everything down to the last bit of tinfoil, took down my pride — the big white pole in the garden — and departed after handing me a receipt and instructions regarding the dire penalties of working wireless apparatus forthwith.

A year went by, and I must confess to having run the risk of being interned as a spy by getting together more gear; scrounged, it is true, from a marine friend. Indoor aerials were erected in all shapes and forms, but such was the insensitivity of my home-made detectors and gear that silence predominated.

Telephone Line As Aerial. However, it so happened that the next door house had a disused telephone circuit. A long wire led from a telephone pole across the road to an insulator on the side of that house, the wire terminating there. An idea was born. In the dead of night the fence was scaled and a thin insulated wire run around the walls into my den.

I wasn't game to risk transmission, but I had a great deal of enjoyment in copying the war bulletins from old "FL" and listening to the medley of activity among shipping. That aerial was miles long, and brought signals in galore!

1916 came along, and old school friends and older apprentices had gone into various services. Being big for my age I felt that I could do my bit also, and the climax came when a scornful flapper handed me a white feather as an intimation that I ought to be in uniform. Under the Munitions Act I was exempt from active service as a skilled worker, but that meant nothing to romantic ideas of adventure. So one day, an apprentice didn't clock in, and a naval recruiting petty officer had enrolled a mechanic for the Royal Naval Air Service, ostensibly 18 years old, but actually quite a bit younger.

The news was broken to the family, and before I realised I found myself in the old Crystal Palace in London, with a lot of other fellows, old and young, ready to take what was before us. Had I had time to think, I might have enrolled in the wireless section, but mechanical engineers were wanted for aero engines, and so I took the plunge in that direction. Anything before my late employers had time to find out where I was and bring me back, as under age!

It was a wet morning, and I had arrived at the Palace in sports coat and flannels. Inside, a roll was called, and a petty officer marched us up and down for two hours until the steam rose in clouds from us sorry, bedraggled recruits. Then we were handed eating utensils and were fed and re-heartened. Next, an important-looking fellow handed me a broom, with the order to "get busy and sweep this store out clean." Having heard all about naval discipline, I sprang to it and got the job over. This had a sequel three weeks afterwards, as I will relate later.

Photo of 2NO in 1918
The author at the door of the armament "workshop" (an aeroplane packing case) at Stavros, Macedonia, in 1918.


text:
Planet Earth/1f. The Nature of Time: Solar, Lunar and Stellar Calendars

What is Time?
Time is measured by the motion of the Earth in respect to other astrological objects. A day is measured as the time it takes Earth to fully rotate around its polar axis. A lunar month is measured as the time the moon takes to fully rotate around the Earth, while a year is measured as the time Earth rotates around the Sun. The measurement of time is of vital importance to measure, as time determines when to plant and harvest crops, signal migrations for hunting, forecast the weather and seasons, catch an airplane at the airport, attend class, and take your final exam. Time has become ever more divided into hours, minutes and seconds, and hence every moment of your life can be accounted for in this celestial motion of our planet.

Length of the Earth’s Year
For centuries, time has been a direct measure of Earth’s velocity or speed, and its motion relative to other astrological objects. The oldest Solar and Lunar calendars designed to track the passage of the Sun and Moon in the sky dates back 7,000 years ago, well before the Bronze Age, when humans were still using stone tools, but were utilizing agriculture and had domesticated animals. It became important to keep track of the passage of time to signal the time to start the planting of seeds and harvesting of crops. And for nomadic groups it also signaled the time to move a camp, as winter and foul weather could entrap nomadic groups during an unexpected winter storm, as well as signal times of the year to meet in large groups with various other tribes.

Solar Calendars
One of the key issues for people to solve was how many days were in a year, remarkably each culture and civilization around the world came to a close agreement that there are 365 days in a year, with some recognizing an extra quarter day. To make this calculation each group of people had to determine the motion of the sun either from the horizon, or at the highest point the sun reached at noon in the sky.

Ancient stone monuments and solar calendars are found around the world, which measure the motion of the sun for each day. The length of days between the Summer Solstice when the Sun is highest in the sky at noon, marked the turning point, as did the Winter Solstice when the Sun is lowest in the sky at noon. People living in equatorial regions, in which the seasons are not as pronounced, were less concerned with the passage of the Sun, and the measurement of the solar year, rather they often kept track of the passage of the Moon and its phases in the night sky. Solar record keeping of time is found across the cultures of Europe, Asia as well as Pre-Columbian America, while lunar record keeping of time is more standard in the Middle East and Africa, in regions closer to Earth’s equator. Ancient monuments erected to measure the passage of time include Stonehenge in England which appears to line up with the Summer Solstice, the ancient tombs or stone dwellings of Maeshowe in Scotland, and Newgrange in Ireland, built nearly 5,000 years ago, in which sun light projects into the darken stone shelter on key days of the year. Some of the most sophisticated early solar calendars are found in the Americas, including El Castillo, or the Kukulcán's Pyramid in Yucatan Mexico. Constructed about 1,200 years ago, the pyramid contains 365 steps in total, divided by four cardinal directions of 91 steps each. The four-sided pyramid faces a direction that during the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun casts a shadow that resembles a feathered serpent, which is also depicted in sculptures found around the pyramid. Near the ancient Pueblo City of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, there is an isolated butte where a 1,000-year-old solar calendar in the form of a swirling petroglyph can be found. A dagger of sunlight falls within its center on the Summer Solstice which moves to the edge of the swirling petroglyph on the Winter Solstice. In fact, the entire city of Chaco Canyon, and surrounding structures appears to be aligned to solar directions, as suggested by Anna Sofaer, and followed by Pueblo peoples today.

Combining Solar and Lunar Calendars
Solar and Lunar calendars became key to the synchronization of times in which people would gather, for religious events, festivals or sporting competitions, such as the 4-year cycle of the Olympic games in Greece or annual Powwow ceremonies in North America. However, each calendar differed, as a mix of days divided either in lunar months or laid over a solar year, or some mix of the two. The oldest calendar known that synchronizes the solar and lunar days is a 19 solar year cycle divided into 235 lunar months developed by Meton of Athens, an early Greek astronomer. After 235 lunar months, the moon and sun would restart their cycle in the sky, and the cycle would repeat, starting on the Summer Solstice. This early calendar was modified 200 years later by another Greek astronomer, named Callippus, who recognized an additional 76 year-long cycle determined by the variations in the length of the four seasons, which ranged from 94 to 89 days. This new calendar was set at the summer solstice in the year 330 BCE, and to keep track of this calendar geared mechanisms was invented to count the days and position of the moon, sun and stars. An example is found in the Antikythera mechanism, a maritime calendar dating to about 100 BCE.

Months of the Year
Our modern calendar, consisting of a solar year divided into 12 pseudo-lunar months was first implemented in Rome, around 700 BCE, which added the months of Ianuarius and Februarius to the already named 10 months used prior, which were number (1) Martius, (2) Aprilis, (3) Maius, (4) Iunius, (5) Quintilis, (6) Sextilis, (7) September, (8) October, (9) November, (10) December. Unlike the Greek calendar which combined solar and lunar cycles, the Roman calendar utilized just the solar cycle, which meant that the months had a set length of days. However, this presented a problem, since the solar year can’t be divided into an even 365 days. Every four years there would need to be an extra day to add to the calendar. Early Roman calendars would add an extra month (called Mercedonius), and kept the number of the days alternating between 355 days (a 12-month lunar year) and 377 days, with an average of 366.25 days. This meant that the summer solstice would vary by just a day on this calendar. However, this calendar was complicated because some years had an extra month, and if a city or region forgot or disregarded this extra month, the calendar would be off. After over 700 years of use, Julius Caesar issued a reform to the Roman calendar, by eliminating the extra month, and adding an extra day every four years, Leap Years. This calendar was called the Julian Calendar after Julius Caesar, who was killed on the Ides of March (March 15th) in 44 BCE. His adopted son Octavian rose to power in Rome, and in 27 BCE took the name Augustus, which became the new name of the month of Sextilis, since his rule occurred after Julius Caesar, so he named the month preceding August, which was Quintilis to July, in honor of Julius Caesar. The months were now named January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December, with a leap day added to the month of February. This calendar was adopted across the entire Roman empire, and used for over a fifteen hundred years, and still used in some regions of the world today.

However, in 1582 CE the dates of the spring equinox were off by 10 days, because under the Julian Calendar each year was 0.0075 days shorter than the Earth’s rotation around the sun, which is not much, but represents 11.865 days after using the system for 1,582 years. To correct this the astronomer Aloysius Lilius advocated for a jump forward of 10 days, which was proposed by Christopher Clavius to Pope Gregory XIII, who decreed that October 4th 1582 would advance to October 15th 1582. To help prevent future wandering, leap years were modified as occurring every four years, except years that are evenly divisible by 100, but are leap years if they are evenly divisible by 400. The idea was unpopular and not fully adopted everywhere, particularly by Protestant and Eastern Orthodox countries, but over the centuries the Gregorian Calendar, which is the best fit to the Earth’s rotation around the Sun has become the standard solar calendar.

Lunar Calendars
However, even today calendars utilizing the moon’s rotation are still used. The lunar Hijri calendar observed in the Middle East and North Africa (and by religious followers of the Muslim faith) follows 12 lunar months divided into 355 days a year. This lunar calendar determines the months of Ramadan and Dhū al-Ḥijjah, which are important holy lunar months in the Islamic calendar. Because this lunar calendar follows the moon, the months of Ramadan and Dhū al-Ḥijjah do not line up with the solar calendar, so the start of the month of Ramadan shifts in relation to the Gregorian Calendar. In 2020 CE Ramadan started on April 24th and in the year 2030 CE on December 26th. The Islamic calendar numbers the 12-month lunar years from the first year of Muhammad’s journey to Medina, abbreviated AH (for Anno Hegirae).

The Method of Counting Years
Using a solar calendar in Rome, the years were counted since the founding of the city of Rome or AUC (for Ab urbe condita) in 754 BCE. Early Christians numbered the annual years by Anno Diocletiani, or years since the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who persecuted early Christians in Nicomedia near present day Istanbul and destroyed earlier records. These years were later modified by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus, who adjusted the year from 247 Anno Diocletiani to 532 Anno Domini by calculating the birth year of Jesus Christ to the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus during his 28th year in power. Hence AD for (Anno Domini, which means the year of our Lord) became standardized across Christian nations of Europe by around 700 CE. With the wide spread use of the solar Gregorian Calendar, the AD system of numbering solar years remained in place, but referenced in non-religious scientific use by denoting the Common Era (CE) and Before Common Era (BCE). This system is used throughout this text. Note that using this system 1 BCE is preceded by 1 CE, with BCE decreasing over time, and CE increasing over time, with the birth of Jesus Christ as the 1st year in this system.

Stellar Calendars
Using the sun or moon are not the only ways in which to keep track of time, since the Earth rotates around its polar axis each year, stars will appear on the horizon at different times of the night, and appear in different locations depending on the time of year (just like the sun and moon). A stellar calendar was first used in Egypt and recorded in a series of texts collectively called the Book of Nut, which is also depicted in the Tomb of Ramses IV, who reigned in Egypt around 1150 BCE. The Book of Nut recognizes 36 stars or combination of stars in the night sky, which arise in the night sky in different places every 10 days. The ten-day periods are called decans, and represent 360 nights in a year which is close to the actual 365.242 nights in a modern calendar year.

Length of the Earth’s Day
Using stars to measure time is referred to as sidereal time. Sidereal time differs from solar time (which uses the position of the sun), the reason for this is that Earth makes one rotation around its axis in a sidereal day and during that time it moves a short distance (about 1°) along its orbit around the Sun. So after a sidereal day has passed, Earth still needs to rotate slightly more before the Sun reaches local noon according to solar time. A mean solar day is, therefore, nearly 4 minutes longer than a sidereal day. Hence the rotation of the Earth is 23 hours 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds, while the Solar day is 24 hours. Another way to think of this is that a star (other than the sun) represents a distant point of reference, while the closer Sun point of reference has moved slightly in relation to the orbiting Earth. The difference between the Sidereal Year, when a star returns to the exact same position in the night sky, and the Solar Year (also called a Tropical Year) when the sun returns to the exact same position in the daytime sky is only about 21 minutes shorter. Astronomers use Sidereal time to track stars in the night sky, while clocks tend to read Solar time.

Hours in an Earth Day
In the Book of Nut, the day is divided into 24 hours, representing 12 hours of the night, and 12 hours of the day. These were measured by the times stars appeared in the night sky, and Sun dials, which measured the 12 hours of the day. However, keeping track of the hours of the day were not necessarily standard units of time. For example, in China hours were recorded as the Shí-kè (時 - 刻) during day light hours by tracking the sun, and Gēng-diǎn (更 - 點) during the night with the sound of gongs. In medieval Europe hours were announced from bell towers, which divided the day into 8 non-standard hours called Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, Sunset and Compline, and while tracking the Sun and Stars positions could be used to determine these hours, they were not standardized. With the advent of mechanical clocks during the Renaissance, keeping track of the hours of the day became more uniform, with the introduction of 60 minutes to a standard hour in a 24-hour day, which was first measured by a clockmaker named Jost Bürgi in 1579 CE for use in astrological tracking of the stars and planets at night in the court of Emperor Rudolph II working alongside Johannes Kepler. But the terms for minutes and seconds in reference to time originate with the work of Johannes de Sacrobosco, who was the first to calculate the shift in the occurrence of the Spring Equinox according to the Julian Calendar in 1235 CE. As smaller standard units of measurement of time, minutes and seconds were vital to understanding very long-term oscillations in the orbit of the Earth and help calculate the occurrence of the Spring Equinox.


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User talk:Beingiroyal

Vishwa p gudda Founder of Being Royal since since 2003 alias world p hill Born in india

title: User talk:Beingiroyal