Evening star., 1923-06-17
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

The belief that the aurora burealis
serves no other purpose than tC
heautify the evening sky with its
Golorful streamers $ disappearing
In the light of a very strong Suspi-
cion on the part of scientists that ii
figures prominently in many electri-
cal disturbances.
To say that ii has crippled lines
furnishing current for telephone and
telegraph communication. developed
that indescribable condition known
as static and interfered appreciably
with radio reception is not at all
improbable if the opinions of some
present day investigators are to be
taken as correct.
The first serious attempt to de-
termine the effect Of the northern
lights upon radio reception and the
possible relation to static, fading and
other phenomena connected with
broadcasting will be made next win
ter by Donald Fl. Mix of Bristol,
Conn. who is to accompany Capt.
Donald B. Macmillan to the arctic in
the employ of the American Radio
Relay League.
The Macmillan party expect to
make their winter quarters either at
Flagler bay. near Cape Sabine. or at
Jones sound. The former is located
about $40 miles northeast of the
magnetic north pole. From this point
of vantage inside the circular aurora
Mix will listen for radio messages
from fellow amateurs at home. He
will keep a record of the intensity of
reception through this peculiar natu-
ial phenomenon.
This information is to be obtained
I the request of DR.. ]. II. Dellinger,
chief of the radio section of the bu-
reau of standards. Whether the dis
turbances believed to be caused by
the aurora can be controlled remains
to be seen. In any case, study of
this data may reveal the cause of
electrical effects heretofore unex-
planned.
Advice to Listeners.
Ten good rules for listeners-in have
heen prepared by DIR. Alfred y. Gold
smith. director of the Radio Corpora =
tion of America, which undoubtedly
will aid them in getting satisfaction
from radio broadcasting. They fol-
low:
!. Don't try to hear Australia in
midsummer. Be satisfied to enjoy
the nearer stations most of the time.
>. Don't be disappointed if an oc-
casional storm interferes with your
many fine concerts coming. You
can't expect to find a pearl in every
oyster nor to receive a record-break-
ing concert every night.
3. If you want louder signals. use
a longer aerial, more tubes, higher
plate voltage. more sensitive loud
speakers. and more careful tickler
and receiver adjustment
4. A pleasant signal filling a mod
crate size room should be enough to
give satisfaction. 1t is not worth
while producing signals which deafen
the neighbors. 1t is wasteful to ina
sIst on tremendous signals. which are
generally less pleasant than moderate e
signals.
D. If your local station comes in
too loudly and browns others out. a
smaller aerial will help in tuning him
nut. with a smaller condenser con-
nected between aerial and ground.
And if all measures to get rid of the
local station fail, why not enjoy his
concerts? He Is working hard for
you, and il Is nobody's fault that you
are so close to him that you are
bound to hear him. Broadcast sta
ttons have to be closer to some people
than to others
6. For the new longer waves above
$50 meters use condenser connected
between the aerial and ground ter
z. A little patience in learning to
handle your receiver yields rich re-
turns in satisfaction from fine sig
nails Remember that Rome wasn't
built in a day" and keep on getting,