Evening star., 1922-09-10
VACRANT WAVES OF ETHER
MAIN PROBLEM in RADIO
Fortune Awaiting Discoverer of Device
That Prevents Static From Paralyzing
'Broadcasting Stations.

months. and it is during this season
that carrying on communications by
radio is pleasure. rather than
hardship. to the radio operating per-
sonnel. During the winter months the
atmosphere or the ether is usually as
CLEAR bell" as the expression is
among radio operators. Not even the
faintest sound will be heard in the
head-phOnes except the signals pro-
duced by various radio stations, but
these come in.. during this season.
over distances and with a distinct
ness that is surprising.
Remarkable results will L. achieved
by radio fans all over iae United
states during the coming winter
months. especially after nightfali.
with a tube detector and ore or more
stages of amplification. for example.
will probably find that he can pick
up concerts broadcasted $500 miles
away during this season, whereas
ordinarily 500 miles would be the limit
Static has presented a problem for
investigation and study by govern
ment and civilian radio engineers all
over the world for the past twenty
years.
Investigation made by Navy radio
engineers within the United States
and in some oe our outlying posses
sions, utilizing the radio compass.
have established the fact that the
static which prevails in certain areas
invariably comes from certain well
defined directions.
Uncommon In Hawaii.
The heavy satic which is encoun-
tered in the operations of the Navy's
station in the West Indies appar-
emily originates somewhere in the
Gulf of Mexico. That which prevails
along the California coast appea s
to originate within the interior. In
! other areas. however. the static aD
pears to come from all directions
Certain restricted areas are found
where static may be said to be al
radio stations in the Hawaiian
Islands static disturbances are not
audible. as a rule. except during the
! months of September and october,
and communications are not inter
fered with from this cause even dur
ing these two months.
However. such are the vagaries Of
static that severe disturbances or
static storms" as they are called.
! occasionally visit these islands and
seriously interfere with communica-
tions.
These static storms. although Of
rare occurrence. have been so severe
as to practically paralyZe communi-
cations for several hours at. stretch
and within an area which ordinarily
may De TeSdTttu dS lice tliS
! form of disturbance.
The Navy has developed direc-
tional receiving equipment which is
being used to neutraliZe the effects
of static without impairing the in
coming signals at points where the
static comes from a definite direc
tion with respect to the incoming
: signals.
This directional equipment is per-
, forming most valuable service at
various stations. including the trans
pacific receiving station at San Fran
cisco. 1t enables the reception of
signals directly from the Cavite sta
tion in the PHILIPPINES. more than
5000 miles distant, even during the
heavy static season.
The effect Of static in radio must
be completely eliminated before any
| radio service can be pronounced en-
! tirely satisfactory and reliable for
rapid communications under all con-
| ditions. 1t remains the one obstacle
| to absolute reliability in radio and.
| until the problem is solved. it will
| always constitute a nightmare to the
radio operating personnel.