Evening star., 1924-06-29
RADIO GOSSIP. AND NEWS

Arlington time signals transmitted
by radio every noon and 10 pm. may
soon be adopted to set your clocks
automatically. 1t Is somewhat OF a
bore to listen for five minutes pre-
ceding the receipt of the long dash
from NAA, which indicates standard
eastern time twice daily, and then
set your clocks or watches as accu-
rately as possible. 1t is necessary to
have the exact time at sea, where 1t
is used in navigation. and all the pre-
liminary dots from NAA are followed
and counted carefully by radio ep-
orators and navigators, so the ships
chronometer may be checked accu-
rately. But many shore radiophans
would prefer a standby signal. fol-
lowed by quick announcement,
Ten o'clock"
A recent experiment in radio clock
setting performed at the bureau OF
standards will be beneficial and
pleasing to all listeners-in, radio op-
orators, amateurs and experimenters.
With special apparatus your clock,
properly connected. may be set for
you twice daily by radio. Arlingto
| has been shifting time signals
received by wire from the Naval OBJ
servatory standard clocks since 1912,
| and has been regulating Western
Union and Postal Telegraph master
| clocks by wire since 1916. There is
| nothing new in transmitting time
| signals or in setting clocks, as thou
sands Of clocks throughout the coun-
| try are so set daily by wire.
But DR.. J. H Dellinger of the bu-
| reau of standards has just reported
| the setting of a lighthouse service
| electric program clock, installed in
the laboratory at the bureau, by ra-
dio signals from Arlington. This is
different and new. What is more,
properly installed clocks may soon be
set by radio for railroad stations,
| ships at sea. and in outlying sections
where no other communications exist.
This method may be applied to ring
desired and could be employed al
other hours of the day if Arlington
| sent more frequent signals
I The essential elements. DR.. Dellin-
ger says, are: A good radio receiving
4 set, with an eff1cient antenna; a radio
relay, a retardation relay and a suit
able clock The bureau was expert
menting with a clock of the light
| house service used for carrying out
| daily programs, and capable Of set
The bureau also had radio relay
which would operate the clock relay
| when a certain signal was received
by radio. These pieces of appara atus
were hooked up and special series
of radio relays interposed and so ad-
justed as not to operate during the
receipt Of the preliminary dot sig
nails from NAA. They functionee
when the dash came. however. ano
operated the main relay, setting the
clock at the hour-that is noon or II
pm. The radio relay was connected
up to the receiving set in place of the
usual phones DR.. Deuinger,. also
pointed out that further adjustme ents
could be effected so as to turn OF
the tubes of the receiving set by ra
dio impulses, and such as the serie!
of dot five minutes prior to the re
ceipt Of the hour dash, thus automati
cally operating the set when tn
owner was absent, provided 1T wa
properly tuned and insurlng the TIM
correction of the clock.
A device Is attached to the clocl
at te bureau, stops the hands at ex
actly IL noon and 10 at night In tn
event it is fast When this is the case
the operation of the train OF relays
er our, when the dash Is received. Tn
complete circuit is not perfected no
is the apparatus on the market yet 10
the ordinary radio fans. but 1t is un
derstood that it is easily. hooked uI
providing the proper clock apparatu
and relays are at hand. The sys
tenn may soon be put in use at labora
tories desiring exact time and py otne
industries requiring exact standar
time in several places.
LIGHTNING Kills Radio Fan
Much attention has been attracte
in Europe by the unusual accident t
the English amateur who was klAe
by lightning while working at nj
set 1t is believed to be the first re
corded instance of the kind. Theorie
of the actual cause of death var!
The old bugbear OF lightning DANCE
from radio has been revived, but mos
miliar with the case believe that tn
unfortunate victim was doing som
. test work during a thunderstorm-
perhaps trying to study atmospner
disturbances. The lightning seems
have struck near his antenna-a fa'
, indicated by the appearance of tt
neighboring ground and the house
and the terrific force of the bo
caused q high leakage OF currel
from the aNtenna to the ground. IT
| set was burned and the amateur ws
D knocked unconscious and died.
That lightning actually can stril
q radio antenna was proven last ye;
! at the Eiffel Tower. During vel
n mild thunderstorm one terrific cras
burst out The great antenna. of Il
tower was chopped in two as neat
4 as though it had been cut with
I, blow torch. No damage was done
= the radio apparatus, as it had bee
properly grounded beforehand. The
!: two instances should prove to Il
y average radio fan the danger of car
. Iessness or overconfidence. Antenn,
!. should be equipped with proper a
y resters. Even induced currents ms
do serious damage.