The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
RADIO WEATHER
 TURNS THOUGHTS
 TO EQUIPME
Faithful Reproduction Is Fundamental Purpose
 To Be Sought
By DIR. 0. B. JOLLIFFE Physicist, Bureau of Standards Radio
 Laboratory

Physicist, Bureau of Standards Radio
 Laboratory
 With the return of good radio wealth er and the long evenings of winter, many persons are thinking of taking their first step into the realm of radio by buying radio receiving set, and others who already have a set may wish to, get something better than they now have. To many persons the question naturally arises, What kind of set shall buy?' Radio is tchnical sub- feet. and many statesmen in radio stores are fond of using technical terms with out realizing that they are not under stood. In selecting, set person IS nearly always confronted with long list of names and detailed descriptions of special circuits To the average per son these names and dwescript1ons mean nothing, and most persons do not care to undertake the study necessary to find out the meaning of them, nor IS 1t necessary to make this study.
 The fundamental purpose of receiv- ing set for broadcast reception Is to de- liver to the user a complete and faith fnI reproduction of the program that is being produced in the studio and being set out by a selected broadcasting sta tSon. Most persons are not concerned how this reproduction is accomplished. For this reason, the primary considera- lions in selecting a receiving set should he Gan the stations desired be received and are the programs delivered with rood quality and without extraneous noises?"
 The American public has been led to believe that it is possible to receive any broadcasting station at any time ana u, any place. With the present power ol broadcasting stations this IS far rom the fact. It is true that stations To- cated on the Pacific coast are some times heard in the east, and thls WeeR some of the European stations were heard in America. The reception is no' reliable and when received the signals are usually mixed up with noise ane an. the volume is so variable, that identifi cation of the station is usually mat ter of luck and guesswork. The pur chaser of a receiving set should tembel hi expectations for there are many e1 cellent programs being sent out iron nearby stations. With the best mod ern receiving sets, under good cond1 lions and at night, it is possible at th' nresent time to obtain loud speaker re cention from stations within a distance of approximately 1000 miles. Sucf reception is subject to large variations m volume (called fading) and noise Where constant intensity is desired thl range is very greatly reduced.
 The matter of quality of reproduc ton of the program is usually within the receiving set. Most first clas broadcasting stations send out sigma that contains a faithful electrical re production of the program, and it lc u to the receiving set to transform thl into a faithful sound reproduction. A with phonographs and other muslca instruments, the only reliable test available to the purchaser of recelvlni set, is to listen ot it and compare l with others, paying attention to quai iy, ease of adjustment, and the abil ity it has to sselect one station ant reject all those which have nearly tn same frequency or wave length Sucl A listening test should preferably b conducted with the complete appartu that is to Be used with he SC, ant under room conditions that simulate tn conditions in the home. The appear ance of the set may be factor wit many persons but this depends on tn individual. Many companies are manu featuring sets that are completely self contained and not out of place whel put with the best furnishings, but i should be noted in passing that tn exterior of the set has nothing to d. with it's operation,
 All of us cannot afford the bes sets available. The simple crystal SC which can be purchased for as low a $2.OO will give fine service if use near a broadcasting station. It cannot except under very unusual conditions be used7;;.to operate loud speaker but its quaity of reproduction in hea phones is extremey good. This set i strictly a set for local reception. II be sure the stronger distant station ar eoften heard on crystal sets bu like long distance reception on tn