Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1926-02-05
MOONLIGHT rs
RADIO WRECKER

Moonlight, a commodity generally
believed to worry nobody but thu
writer's of popular songs, today wat
revealed in a new role as a radio
wrecker.
Preliminary tests for the national
survey of fading and static to be con-
Quoted by the Stewart Warner Speed
ometer Corporation in cooperation
with Northwestern University, Dept
of Physics, on the nights of February
3, 10, and IL, from to IL, central
standard time, brought unexpected
reports on the insidious activities of
the moon
Published reports of private in
quiries into the causes of disturb
ances that prevent good radio recep-
ton so far have dealt with the man
ner in which atmospheric conditions
are changed by sun spots, comets and
eclipses. Even the aurora borealis
has been Investigated, but it has
never been suggested that the phases
of tn moon might have anything to
do with the adenoidal performance
of distant sopranos.
R. c. Therrien, an electrical en-
gineer, of Chicago, today forwarded
to ]. K. Smith, director of the ma
tional tests, report covering a per-
iod of eighteen months. He suggest
ed that it be Investigated during thu
February tests and possibly at other
times during the year.
Eighteen months ago / discover
ed quite accidentally that distance
reception was almost impossible on
a night when the moon was full and
high in the sky" said Mr.. Therrien
in his report. II thought, of course,
that this might be merely a coinci-
dence, but l remembered what / had
learned rgarding the magnetic eff
feet of the moon on the tides. and
II occurred to me that such a visible
effect of the moon on the tides, and
t occurred to me that such a visible
electrical display ought to have
iefnite influence on the ionized stra-
UNI of atmosphere or what ever it is
hat carries on, defects or blocks
ado waves. So I watched closely.
each Silent Night l made careful
tote OF reception conditions and lun-
r phases and gradually l built up
he evidence to show that my sup
was at least worthy of fur
her investigation.
Il discovered that during the sum
ler we frequently had nights free
rom static, despite warm, sultry :,
FEATHER. Invariably, such nights
'ere those when the moon was the
rst or last quarter. l discovered 4
lso that many nights which began
18th the atmosphere perfectly dead I
far as radio reception was con-
srned, showed marked Improvement
ter in the night when the moon II
nd gone closer to the hoizon.
The night of December 2Sth Of
st year was typical one. The air T
as crisp, cold and clear and there 4
as no appreciable moisture In spite
which 1t was impossible to pick
any but the most powerful dis T,
mt stations and very few of those. ~
ne moon was just approaching full U
IS. For two hours 1t was impos- &
Die to hear anything but New Or
an and Pittsburgh. After mid
ght conditions improved and con
lued to get better until just before
Wight when everything went dead
ain. l have noted similar condi-
ms virtually every Monday night
len the moon was full or high.
Il am not attempting to draw def
tie conclusions from my obserya-
ms, the record of which is en-
sed herewith. But l do believe
results are sufficiently interest
: and of suhicint Importance to
radio public to warrant an in
tigation Of lunar influences on q
nprehensive scale"
KS result of this letter, Mr..
18th sent out notices to the 1000
ervers who will take part in the
s February 9, 10, and II, asking
m to make notations during the
iod of the survey. -.-.