Evening star., 1924-08-31

TO tHc ABOVE pTODIeH1S dlSO SuS
gested. In order that the fan may
receive the benefits from the expert
mental work in his interest
In a recent article the editor of a
radio magazine gives special promi-
nence to a statement to the effect that,
first. if there is a lot of noise which
interferes with reception the owner
of the receiving set is justified in
suspecting that the power circuits
and equipment in his vicinity are
causing the trouble, and, second, 1t
is a relatively simple matter to locate
such sources of disturbance.
While believing neither of these
assertions true. the problem was
nevertheless presented to the power
companies in such a manner that they
could not ignore it. and a radio sub
committee, including w. r. G. Baker,
General Electric Company: c. A. Bod
die, Westinghouse Electric and Manu-
featuring Company: ]. G. Hemstreet,
Mich: E. P. Peck. Utica Gas and
Electric Company, Utica, N. Y: G. A.
Vahey. Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston,; A. F. Van Dyck,
Radio Corporation of America; H. L.
Wills, Georgia Railway and Light
Company. Atlanta, Ga. and A. M.
Wilson, University of Cincinnati, was
appointed.
The subcommittee soon discovered
that. while radio interference was
being widely discussed, no organized
effort had been made to secure def
mite data regarding the extent to
which power circuits and apparatus
have been a cause of radio interfer-
ence, and that no other organization
existed for the definite purpose of in
vestigating these problems and fur
nishing information concerning them
to the power companies and others
interested.
The Radio Corporation. the General
Electric Company and the Westing-
house Company had been obliged to
Of specific complaints presented to
them. A few of the larger operating
companies had, as a matter of public
policy, taken cognizance of COM
plants of radio interference and
done some very valuable pioneer
work in locating sources of such
trouble. By tying all these construc-
tive factors together the committee
hopes that results of value to the
radio and power interests as we'll as
to the fans" will be secured
Some power companies apparently
take the position that 1t is a serious
mistake to give any consideration to
complaints of radio interference;
others apparently consider radio in
reference complaints as one of many
opportunities of establishing cordial
relations with their customers. Some
companies seem to hesitate to admit
that defects in their circuits can be
indicated by radio interference COM
plants: others consider these COM
plants as valuable sources of infor-
nation Some n Mas all N
formation regarding radio complaints
over to one individual, who looks
after them; others seem to be so
organized that the complaints are
lost.
But the interest Of the power COM
panies in radio interference is grow
ing. partly because Of increasing
pressure from the radio fans" and
partly because of increasing kilowatt-
hour consumption from the same
source. In companies in which such
statistics are available records show
that radio is responsible for a 20 per
cent increase in lighting kilowatt-
hour sales.
Early in the spring the first meet
ing of the subcommittee was held in
Birmingham. Ala. There was not
much definite information available,
so very simple blank form was sent
to a number of widely separated COM
panies in order that some specific
would indicate the nature of the COM
plants. what the companies did
about them and the results secured
At the second meeting, held in
Philadelphia, Pa, these data were
available, and there was good
attendance.
From the discussion it appeared
that there is general agreement that
complaints Of radio interference may
be divided into three classes. The
first class is composed of complaints
from those who do not know enough
about radio or power problems to
complain intelligently. Generally
these troubles are due to wrong in
stallation or poor adjustment Of re-
ceiving sets The second class are
complaints due to interference from
some more or less local source for
which the power company cannot be
held responsible. Generally both the
first and second classes can be
quickly distinguished. because the
complaints are individual or in rather
small groups. The third class is
composed of actual cases of inter-
ference caused by trouble in the
power circuits. Generally this class
can be easily distinguished from the
others because Of the widespread
of the complaints.
A leaky insulator. or a cracked trans
former bushing, or grounded arc cir
cult, or distribution line may radiate
sufficient power from the arc to make
all the radio-receiving circuits over a
wide area imperative. Certainly, it is
well worth while for any power COM
pany to pay immediate and careful at
tention to third class of complaints
A leaky insulator or a cracked
transformer bushing or a grounded
arc circuit or distribution line may
radiate sufficient power from the arc
to make all the radio receiving cir
cults over a wide area imperative.
Certainly it is we'll worth while for
any power company to pay immedi-
ate and careful attention to this third
class of complaints.
Any arcing circuit to ground win
usually cause trouble. A deep
the high voltage rectifier Of electric
equipment may produce
the same effect. So, in many cases,
it Is necessary for the power COM
pany engineer to diagnose the case
carefully In order to save time.
Sometimes arcing at the commu-
tators of direct current machines will
cause radio interference. Even in
the case Of railway motors, where
the arc itself is thoroughly shielded,
1t is claimed that radiation from the
motor leads and trolley wires may
cause serious interference; but, so far
as the subcommittee is aware, there
are no positive data regarding spe-
cific cases to establish values for this
type of Interference. However, cases
of radio interference from trolley
circuits have been encountered.
One of the most active members Of
the subcommittee, in tracing causes
of Interference, reported that he had
found q number Of cases Of radia-
ton from house wiring which pro-
duced interfering noises in the set