The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-02-05

The following reprint from the
Mye Technical Manual is a con.
tinuation of the discussion on radio
interference which was published
in last weeks Western News in this
column. We believe radio users
and others will find it of practical
interest. The reprint follows:
All noise interfering with radio
reception fails in two general
classes. First, atmospherics, and
second, so-called man made static
produced by electrical devices and
appliances.
Many kinds of appliances produce
radio frequency impulses which
travel out through the air exactly
the same as the signal from a
broadcasting station Also some
radiate back through the power line
unless stopped by an impedance or
capacity which may absorb them.
~Do not make the mistake that
most have made and place the
blame on a supposedly leaky trans
former. The odds are 100 to l that
the transformer is in satisfactory
condition, and the noise is being
carried by one or more lines lead
ing to it. True, transformers do
leak and cause noise, but only in less
than one per cent of the cases where
they are blamed.
In every city and town there are
numerous places where wires touch
tree limbs or other objects and
cause serious disturbances. Even a
single leaf has been known to al
most destroy radio reception over
an area of several blocks
When a noise-producing condition
is located on the property Of the
public utility, your job is only to
locate the cause of the trouble and
report it. Public utility companies
invariably are glad to correct any
actual defective conditions of lines,
poles and transformers because not
only does the elimination of radio
noise produce a greater sale of
electricity through the increased
use of radio receivers, but also they
are safeguarding their equipment
by preventing causes of breakdowns
When you find a piece of hay
baling wire hanging on power
wire, do not touch it or attempt
to remove it yourself as you will
be risking your life for nothing
and may accidently short the line,
blowing fuses or damaging expen-
sive machinery
Call the power company giving
the numbers of the poles between
which the wire is located and they
will send a man properly equipped
to remove it safely. They will also
properly trim tree limbs which
touch or come close to their lines
when attention is called to them.
However there is an old feud be-
tween tree owners and power COM
panies. and in cases where the OW-
ner objects to trimming and it is
impossible to move the wires with
out too much expense, it is a case
of explaining to the owner that he
can have either tree or radio, but
not both, and in most cases he will
be reasonable.
Fluorescent light interference is
comparatively easy to handle by
means of a filter which has been
DEVELOPED especially for applica-
ton.
This filter should be bolted
directly to the fixture at a point
near the auxiliary so that the total
length of wire in the by-passed cir
cult is kept as short as possible.
While the following case history
deals with an air compressor, rather
than a refrigerator, the principle
illustrated is the same An ex-
tremely noisy air pump motor at
a garage was silenced with the usual
filter and the owner brought his
radio down A few days later he
complained that he had a worse
noise than ever Investigation re-
vealed that the motor was mounted
on the air tank from which an iron
pipe led through brick wall and
up the ceiling on the other side,
then across the ceiling and down
the other wall where a rubber hose
was connected.
On its way the air pipe barely
touched a water pipe and vibration
from the motor did the rest. Clamp
ing together the water pipe and the
air pipe cured the trouble
One of the surest ways to avoid
radio interference is to have a good
water pipe ground on your building
wiring. This is a necessity for good
wiring protection. It is a require
ment to comply with the board of
fire underwriters. Many utilities
will not connect your wiring to their
system if the wiring is not grounded
even tho the city engineer ok's your
wiring.
It is their business and they I'M
derstand it. You can receive much
guidance from them, for they are
willing to help you get more safety.
a--za.--z-zu-a----------
JUNIOR HIGH WINS TWO