Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-11
Regenerative Sets
Cause of Much
Radio interference
f. N. Parker, Wall Known Augusta
Radio Enthusiast, Tells How to
Enjoy Your Set Without Interior.
ing With Your Nclahbor.

ENJOY Your Set Without Interior.
ing With Your Nclshbor.
Are you enjoying your radio? Ii
not did 1t ever occur to you that
u might be partly your own fault?
Radio broadcasting has made won
derful advances in the past four
,, years, and today the broadcasting
itself is of Il very clear and well
modulated sort. but it can he spoiled
for the. purity using the receiving set
and his peighbors.
A 'regcrerative set Is the biggest
offender but 1t apparently comes
from misunderstanding of the ac-
ton of the set, rathc~ than from any
intention to cause a disturbance. ANY
| set using ticker coil or plate vario-
| meter is Of this character, and while
these sets are, probably, today the
, most efficient sets, they can be
source Of much trouble to both the
operator and especially to his neigh
bors, ia they are improperly used, and
judging by what we hear there are
more used in this manner than other
wise.
Any regenerative receiver is cap
able Of oscillation and when in this,
condition is a miniature transmitter,
~ 'uhSC utpcIuiHS Oh JOCdI COHul-
tons. 1T can readily be seen that in
ne1ghborhood where there are sew
cral sets and all are kept in this
cillating-condition there is but
small chance Of reception from any
! but very loud stations. and that of d
a very objectionable character.
There are two methods of reception
to be applied to these sets, one
| known as the zero beat method to be
avoided, as causing very great inter-
ference to others listening, and re-
ception is to be had with regenera-
| ton without oscillation. 1t is only
when a set is at or near the oscillat-
ing point that interference is caused
Taking the single circuit set, as
! this is the one generally chosen by a
| beginner, for 1T is easier to tune and
usually costs less, tuning would be
accomplished as follows:
| Knowing approximately the switch
point that the brOadcasting station
can be heard on, the switch lever
is set at this point and the detector
! tube rheostat is turned up till hiss
ing sound is heard in the phones and
then turned back till this hiss is just
eliminated. This adjustment is usu-
ally critical. and should be made with
|
troll, or ticker. UP till a slight click
is heard in the phones, you have
started the set Oscillating. and as
you turn the tuning element. usually
an antenna series condenser, a point is
| struck where a shrill whistle is heard.
| This is the carrier wave of the broad
casting station, and leaving the tuner
set here, the plate control is turned
| back slowly, till the voice or music
is free from distortion. Now by slight
read justments. the maximum point
for strength is found.
These single circuit sets, being
close coupled. cause a greater amount
of interference than two or three
circuit sets, but If you bear in mind
! that if YOUR music is clear you are
not interfering with your neighbor,
then it will be more enjoyable all
! around.
The procedure of tuning a three
circuit set is similar TO that just
| given, except that there are more
controls--necessary for selectivity.
Setting the coupling at about the
middle of the scale. the priary
! switch, or condenser, or both, are set
/ at approximately the wave wanted
and the grid, or secondary, circuit is
adjusted till the whistle is produced.
| (This is taking for granted that the
/ tilament ana plate tuning elements
| have been set as forementionedD
Now the plate control is turned back
till clear voice is obtained. after
which read iustments are made to OBJ
| tain volume.
| II YOU bear in mind that the plat
control must be kept as low on the
/ scale as is possible TO get your sta :
+. ton. radio, as | said. can be enjoyed
by all. but when the plate control OF
+ a regenerative set is kept as high as
! it can be kept. no one can ENJOY
! it, either the operator or his neigh
. bOrS.
Some interference is caused de-
! libcratoly. and it should be remcm-
| bered here. that ALL transmltters
4 require a license and are given a
Specific working wave. When a re-
ceiving set is in an oscillatlnS con-
dition il is /, tranSmitter, and whlle
\ rcgenerative sets are the best, trans
mtter sets employing radio fire.
I quency are as great Offenders at
times
3 r. H. PARKER