# History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Wireless Weekly/Issues/1922 08 25
## Links to Issue PDFs

scan of Australasian Radio World - Vol. 01 No. 04 - August 1936 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 1936 08
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.

## P.01 - Front Page

The Hundred per cent. Australian Radio Journal.
THE WIRELESS WEEKLY
A Journal Devoted to the Interests of Wireless Enthusiasts both Amateur and Professional
Vol. 1 — No. 4; SYDNEY, AUGUST 25th, 1922. Price — Threepence.
Cover Photo: Sketch of Antenna for New Station at Belgium (see page 4)
Advertisement: Wireless Electric Company, Beach Street, Coogee, N.S.W. We Specialise in Complete Radio Receiving Sets and all Parts. Write or Phone for Particulars. PHONE 368 & 369 RANDWICK.

## P.02 - Editorial
### Electricity House Ad

ELECTRICITY HOUSE. 387 GEORGE STREET (OP. STRAND). TEL. 2961 CITY FOR ALL RADIO SUPPLIES. We cater specially for the amateur. Expert advice given free. All and any Gear made to order. Large Stocks always on hand. Complete Outfits from £5. HONEYCOMB COILS, from 6s. 6d. CONDENSOR PLATES, from Is. 6d. doz. Knobs, Dials, Eheostats, Switch Arms, Ebonite and Bakelite Panels, Cabinets, etc. Switch Points, 2£d each. Polished English Ebonite Dials, 3s 9d each. All Crystals, 6d and Is. Crystal Cups, Is 3d each. Our Rotary Switch Arms are a decent job at 4s 6d. Sliders (for Tuning Coils), Is 9d. Terminals, 6d each. Get your name down for a Catalogue. Price 6d. Absolute Satisfaction Guaranteed.
A TALK WITH "WIRELESS WEEKLY." A couple of weeks ago we made a suggestion to the authorities, that the nightly weather reports, now sent out from Australian coast stations by Wireless telegraphy, should also be broadcasted by radiophone for the convenience of people in the country districts. Of course, it is hopeless to even think that the scheme has been considered as yet; it takes time for the average Australian politician to grasp anything in the nature of progress. But it must be done. For months past now France has been giving out weather forecasts and reports by Radiophone, realising that every Citizen, if he cares to use a simple receiving set, is entitled to the benefits of a national utility. America, too, though her wireless affairs are not all that could be desired, is in the van of progress. Even from conservative England comes a report that wireless weather reports sent out in Morse code have been slowed down so that the amateur, who is not an expert telegraphist, can intercept them. Here in Australia, the continent of wide spaces, the agriculturalist and the pastoralist are deprived of the thrice blessed gifts of science. Why? Because the authorities are not abreast of the times in these matters. It is all very well to say that the man on the land has no apparatus to receive the reports. If he knows that the reports are to be broadcasted, he will soon get the comparatively inexpensive set to receive them. It is likewise futile to say that the radiophone is not efficient, for an amateur only a few weeks back, succeeded in getting speech from his Sydney station to New Zealand, using under nine watts power. There is no reason for the authorities to delay another week. Garden Island Radio, Sydney and the Melbourne Radio are equipped with the necessary apparatus. It is the intention of “Wireless Weekly” to have questions on this subject asked, in the House of Representatives . The replies will be interesting. The Federal elections are fast approaching; the Government cannot afford to ignore or shelve such an important matter as this. SOMETHING TO DO Here is the method of roughly calculating the wave length of an aerial : W.E. in metres equals L multiplied by 4 point 6, over If point 25. “L” is the total length of the aerial in feet. The approximate wave length of an aerial is 4 h time** its length, inclusive of the lead in and ground lead. This applies To~the inverted “E” type. For the wave length of a tone “T” type, the length of the aerial is divided by two, after which the lead in and ground lead lengths arc added.
COMPETITION COUPON. To the Editor, Sir, —Herewith photograph and description of tny set as an entry for your competition. I agree to be bound by your decision, and Observe the rules of the competition.' (Name) .., (Address) (If under 18 years of age) AMATEURS! Let us show you hq&v to make your own set, and economise. We stock all Parts and will give you every assistance. Wo Specialise in all Loose Coupler Parts Country and Interstate amateurs, take advantage of our Same Day Service. Miss F. V. WALLACE, Electrical Engineer, S Royal Arcade (opp. Q.V. Buildings), George Street, Sydney. A PECULIARITY. BODY INDUCTANCL. Do you know the meaning of “body inductance?” In radio reception the body has a jueciii.m cnaracteristic of acting as an inductance of very great resistance or as a capacity of low value (says “Popular Science Siftings”). As an inductance you can obtain results by disconnecting the aerial from the apparatus and holding the aerial in one hand and touching the antenna terminal of your apparatus with the other hand. In the case of nearby broadcasting stations, where you are using the vacuum tube detector with two stages of amplification, fairly good loud reception can be obtained by placing the body in series with the antenna and the apparatus. To do so, however, is merely an experiment, and it has no value, as it materially reduces the strength of the signals. The body will exert a capacity effect if the hands are placed across certain of the terminals in your set. For instance, if you place your finger on the grid and plate terminals of your vacuum tube the body will act as a condenser, giving a slight feed-back from the plate circuit to the oscillatory circuit, and a slight increase in strength will be observed on vacuum tube sets that are not regenerative in themselves. This body capacity effect is sometimes the cause of a great deal of inconvenience, particularly in sets using vacuum tubes, where the set itself is not ground-shielded. The annoyance consists of the fact that after the operator of the set has completed the tuning arrangements and withdraws his hand, the whole* set is thrown out of adjustment. This is caused by the removal of the small amount of capacity represented by the body out of the circuit when the operator withdraws his hand. Don't try to solder your earth wire to a water pipe, its most difficult. The best plan is to hold the wire to the pipe by means of a clip. BEST SET. WHOSE IS IT? A COMPETITION. “Wireless Weekly” is conducting a competition. We are looking for the best amateur crystal set, and the best amateur valve set. Of course, it would be impracticable for us to examine the actual sets, so the judging will be on a,photograph and written description. There is no entrance fee.. All you have to do to enter a set is to get a good clear photograph of it, and send it, together with a description and details, not exceeding 200 words, and the filled out coupon on this page to the Editor, “Wireless Weekly,” Fox 378, G.P.O., Sydney. Envelopes should be endorsed “Competition.” It 'makes no difference if you made the set yourself or not. Judging will be on design, neatness and originality, and in order that the judges may have full information to work on, competitors are asked to send good photographs, and clear manuscript, written on one side of the paper only.. The prizes will be an open order to the value of one guinea, on any establishment selling wireless apparatus, for the best crystal set and best valve set. The competition will close on September 22, when all entries must be in the hands of the editor. All photographs and entries sent in become the property of the “ Wireless Weekly.” Competitors must give their full names and addresses, but if it is expressly stated these will be held confidential. In all case's, and on each and every point, the decision of the Editor shall be final. POLDHU. FAMOUS STATION CLOSES. Poldhu, probably the most famous wireless station in the world, has sent its last messages, says the London Daily Mail. M.8.D., its famous call sign for which ships’ operators have listened eagerly for the last 19 years, is now replaced by M.F.T., the sign of Clifden, the Irish station of the Marconi Company. Perched on the rock-bound coast of Cornwall, Poldhu, which has made history, was the first high-power wireless station to be built, and from here the first wireless message was sent across the Atlantic on a 2,000-metre wave- length on December 12th, 1901, to St. John’s, Newfoundland. The future of the station is not yet certain. It is probable it will be used for research work, but never again will messages from the far ends of the earth be received marked, ‘via Poldhu.”
HOW TO START AVOIDING PITFALLS BY ONE WHO HAS SUFFERED. The average man • hears a lot about “experimenters'” and “amateurs,” these days. He reads of their doings, puzzles over their technical jargon, and, perhaps wishes he too would take up this fascinating hobby. Then the problem confronts him: “How do I start?” If the prospective enthusiast has a friend already “in the game” his path will.be easy, but if not it is the . reverse. The writer caught the -radio disease from a stray technical publication and went entirely the wrong way about getting a set. Fortunately I saw a newspaper paragraph telling how and where to apply for a license, and having got a covering letter, and with permission to experiment I set about looking for apparatus. From the teennieal' book I had gleaned a very misty' idea of the parts required, and not wishing to show my Ignorance, I copied out the bit and read it to the shopkeeper. i’liO ITJ ih K ■ STARTS. . That, was all. right, but when I got the parts home my troubles commenced. I connected up, but could get no-results, and after wasting a deal of time and exhausting all my patience, I reluctantly gave up. At that moment, radio was very near to losing me. However, I pocketed my pride, went back to the shop. There was a gleam in the shopkeeper’s eyes when he saw me; I think he understood. Frankly I told him all and he kindly gave me a lot of hints and changed the parts for a nice little crystal set. He also introduced- me to some experimenters, wh© i got me into their club. At the club meetings I learned more than, anyone could from text books. WHAT TO DO, I have now reached the valve stage, and derive the maximum of pleasure from my experimenting, but I shall never forget my inglorious entry into the game. Now this is my advice to any person who washes to start experimenting. Write to the Secretary of a club and ask him to get you elected. Don’t be afraid to ask the members for advice; they were all beginners once. Write straight away for a license, and when you get it, choose your apparatus. Ask one of your club- mates what to get and let them help you instal it. Thereafter your progress should be rapid and straight forward. WE PROMISED. (By LOO NATIK). A man with a wild look in his eyes and straw in his hair bustled into the office of the “Wireless Weekly,” the other day. While waiting for the attendant to arrive he scribbled the following lines and asked the Editor to publish them. The Editor (belonging to the clan that boasts of being too proud to fight, and, incidentally being too fat to run) promised, so here you are: — T’was Christmas Day in the “Nut House” The loonies were all there, Watching a fellow patient, Tearing his flowing hair. I’ll tell you who he was, sir, And why he worried so; His name was Grid Condenser, The cause was Radio. I’ll tell you the harrowing story. And how he got put in, He tried to make a sending set, With a matchbox and a pin. There are thirty five more verses, but the Editor, now that his friend is in good hands once more, does not feel disposed to inflict them on our readers. “ * Keep your accumulators upright. Sulphuric acid has an in-desirable effect on one’s best carpet. FOR BELGIUM. Monster Station. (See Front Page). Our front page •- illustration shows the giant station the Belgian State has just started at ' Ruysselede, near Bruges. This plant, is intended to communicate with the Belgian colony in! Central Africa, as well as with North and South America. It will perhaps be the most powerful in the world. The aerial is to be supported by eight towers 0f 2 75 metres height. The power plant will consist of one 1000-kilowatt generator, with two high-frequency generators of corresponding power. One of these will be an arc generator, weighing 8 000 kilograms; the second will be a high frequency alternator of the Bethenod-Eatour system. The second of these will work at 2500 turns per minute, giving a peripheral speed of 170 metres per second for the rotor. It works in a partial vacuum to reduce the resistance. Rotor and stator are to be cooled by oil circulating under pressure. The length of waves in both instances will be from 20,000 to 25,000 metres; current on the aerial, 850 amperes. Automatic transmission at a speed of 100-120 words per minute will be employed. The building of the plant has been entrusted to the same Belgian concern that is now engaged on the Belgian stations in Central Africa. The drawing gives a view of the plant with its huge aerial as originally designed, although some modifications of this design are under way. <s— Hang the phones on a wall when you have done with them. This allows the moisture on the diaphragms to dry. Never tap the diaphragms with a pencil. Once they get bent they are useless. See that your valve circuits are not causing radiation. By this is meant, don’t experiment with e circuits until you know . : you are doing.