San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-30
DOOMED
SAYS RADIO
ENGINEER
By H. F. WooLEY.

ii. +. Alexanderson is the consult
ing engineer of the General Electric
company. Mr.. Alexmderson, as a re-
suit of thousands Of experiments in
radio broadcasting, believes that the
evils of fading and static can be end
cd. During the past week. while on
a trip TO the radio experimental labor
atories of this company at Science
tady, \. Y, spoke with this man on
this very subject.
Mr.. Alexanderson explained how one
day when a test message was being
sent to the big radio receiving station
at Riverside, L. l., from Schenectady
the instruments under the antenna did
not register and the operators were un.
der the impression that nothing mao
gone out. Later tiiey were surprised
TO learn that Riverhead, l.. l., had
been receiving these signals palmer
than ever before.
Some of the staff told Mr.. Alexen-
derson Of this phenomenon, and upon
investigation he found that the anten-
ma had been hooked up wrong and
the only radiation produced was from
the two upper horizontal sides OF the
loop.
Mr.. Alexanderson believes that
waves leaving the antcnna rotate IN
travelling in a cork-screw motion, the
poles making complete revolution
in each one hundred and fifty miles.
This is believed to be the cause OF
fading. because at some point in this
revolving process the waves cannot be
detected.
Mr.. AIexanderson believes that If a
combination Of the vertical and hOri-
.zOntal waves or polyphase. wave
can be produced there will be sutfl-
Gent portions Of these waves always
present for detection. He feels that 1t
may also be possible by means OF o
polyphase wave to minimize or possibly
prevent static interference. Static be-
ing polarized vertically, so that horI-
zontal waves would not be affected
by it.
SOURCE OF ANNOYANCE.
Code Interference is the source OF
great annoyance to every broadcast
listener-in operating a set anywhere
within the range of the ship stations.
1t comes from the so-called spark
type of code transmitters that are
utilized by the shipping interests OF
| all great nations to send wireless
messages in code.
X. Il. Thompson, president OF the
Thompson Radio Corporation, has an
nounced his Willingness to give TO the
! world, as a contribution TO radio dc.
velopment, a means for the practical
elimination Of code interference with
| broadcast reception.
He is not only willing to give the
/ ship operating companies the right Ia
/ use his method free of charge, but
will go still further in the interest OF
| eliminating code interference "a
broadcast receivers and will have his
cOmpany's engineering department sup
| ply drawings and essential engineering
| data free of charge in order that no
experimenting may be necessary TO at
tain the desired results.
1t was my privilege to personally
| thank Mr.. Thompson for his generous
/ offer in the interests Of radio listeners
| in general. As Mr.. Thompson con
/ tends, he is releasing his patent rights
| TO this practical means Of eliminating
/ code interference, and it is now up 10
| the ship owners TO be sports enough
| to apply TO the Navy Department for
/ the right to use il.
No doubt millions OF fans will be in.
| terested in what steps arc taken by
| steamship companies regarding Mr.
| Thompson's generous offer.
ADVICE TO AMATEURS.
What does the radio purchaser want
! in a radio receiver This question
was tackled through the medium Of q
survey made recently by Radio Re
failing, n radio publication.
According TO the findings Of theil
survey. the demands Of the average
purchaser in the order Of their i'm
| portance is as follows First. tona
4 quality; second, selectivity third, ap
| pearance fourth, price; fifth. dis
lance; sixth, loop reception seventh
volume.
Looking over this list Of require
| ments. rs compiled from the prefer
ences Of thousands Of purchasers, ] an
inclined Ia agree that il comes pretty
4 close 10 what would ask for IN a SCI
! myself.
/ might further suggest that thu
would be a good method Of determine
ton for the average non-owner Of ;
4 set embarking on his first purchase.