History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1946 05

P.01 - Front Cover

The Australasian Radio World

Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical.

Price, 1/-

Vol. 10 - No. 12; May, 1946

P.03 - Contents Banner

THE AUSTRALASIAN RADIO WORLD

Devoted entirely to Technical Radio

and incorporating

ALL-WAVE ALL-WORLD DX NEWS

VOL. 10 - MAY, 1946 - No. 12

P.03 - Publication Notes

Editor, Publisher, Proprietor — A. G. HULL, 336 Waverley Rd., East Malvern, Vic.

Short-wave Editor — L. J. KEAST, 3 Fitzgerald Road, Ermington, N.S.W.

Ham Notes By — D. B. KNOCK (VK2NO), 43 Yanko Av., Waverley, N.S.W.

Advertising Representative — W. J. LEWIS, 20 Queen St., Melbourne, 'Phone MU5154

Subscription Rates: 6 issues - 5/3; 12 issues - 10/6; 24 issues - £1; Post free to any address in the world.

Address for all correspondence: Australasian Radio World, 336 Waverley Rd., East Malvern, SE5 Victoria

Printed by Bridge Printery Pty. Ltd., 117 Reservoir Street, Sydney, N.S.W., for the proprietor of the "Australasian Radio World," Elizabeth St., Sydney (Footnote P.52)

P.03 - Contents

CONSTRUCTIONAL —

Metropolis Four . . . . 23

The "Ferrotune" Superheterodyne . . . . 37

TECHNICAL —

What of the Future of "Ham Radio"? . . . . 5

Simple Impedance Measurements . . . . 9

The Channel Analyser . . . . 15

Loud Speaker Baffling Systems . . . . 31

A Decade of Good Battery Circuits . . . . 34

Reception Experiments . . . . 40

Ham Notes . . . . 41

PERSONAL —

Pages . . . . 5, 7, 11, 17, 20, 21, 33, 49

SHORTWAVE REVIEW —

Notes From My Diary . . . . 45

New Stations . . . . 46

Loggings . . . . 47

THE SERVICE PAGES —

Answers . . . . 50

P.03 - Editorial

EDITORIAL

Ten years ago "Australasian Radio World" was launched. Since then, despite the eventful times, it has made steady progress and gained the widest coverage of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Every reader is a keen and active radio enthusiast, varying in status from amateur to professional. All are associated in the turnover of a big amount of money in the radio trade. Our recent co-operative effort with Mr. Magrath and his "Little Companion" kitset brought in orders for many thousands of pounds' worth of kits. That we know, but just who are our readers, how they are connected with technical radio and why they read "Radio World," are a few of the things we would like to know more about. In a nutshell: we'd like a closer personal contact with our readers. To start the ball rolling, we have in this issue a number of personal paragraphs telling the background of some of the contributors who have done so much to provide fine technical articles. This is just a step in the general direction of a new trend in editorial policy: the introduction of the personality angle. In this issue we deal with ourselves, but in future issues we hope to deal with you — our readers. After you have read this month's issue, we expect that you will find it easy to sit down and write us a line, telling about yourself and your work. All letters will be gratefully received; paragraphs from them will be used in future issues and are sure to interest all our readers. A. G. HULL.

P.05 - Technical - What of the Future of "Ham" Radio?

What of the Future of "Ham" Radio? by Don B. Knock (VK2NO) I SUPPOSE that in a veritable life time of amateur radio, during which my association with this evergreen hobby has enabled me to put much of my thought into print, I must have written tomes on the subject of the genus Ham, his welfare, activities, likes and dislikes. So that when your Editor (who comes from a brilliant radio family, and is at heart really a "Ham" himself) asked me to say something about Amateur Radio in general for this tenth birthday issue, I had no qualms. You see, I never get tired of writing about Amateur Radio, because this remarkably interesting phase of the 20th Century is something of which in itself I never tire. In other words, since I first broke the ice in the game (and that was 35 years ago), I have always found something fresh to think about and consider, afresh to think about and consider, or something to plan about, technically. There is always something that can be done in Amateur Radio . . . something . . . or a thousand and one things that one wishes to try. First let me say that in connection with the last 10 years I consider that "A.R.W." has been well to the forefront in catering for the Australian amateur radio man. True, little could be said about the VK's during the recent grim years, but right through that difficult period your Editor has maintained a delightfully refreshing flavour in his material. During the war many an erstwhile transmitting amateur turned over the pages of "A.R.W." and found lots of interesting reading, whilst amateur switches were off, with plenty of first-rate technical information. How well I remember the birth of this publication in 1936, and how the Ham flavour persisted throughout. And when your Editor purchased the Mag. from the originator, it was a certainty that with A.G.H. at the helm, brother of one who was this planet's No. 1 all-round Ham, there was likely to be much more than casual interest in the purely amateur side of Radio.

When the Jap war boomed to an end and matters began to stir somewhat in VK circles, it came as no surprise to me that A.G.H. set aside a liberal amount of space for writings of, by, and for the Ham in "A.R.W." and suggested that in my spare (?) time, I might like to put pen to paper. Thus, perhaps, I may write caustically of those who would deprive the transmitting Ham of his rights . . . and he has rights . . . as his history shows clearly enough. Or the Notes may take the form of doings around the bands, or may go into the merits of Ham apparatus by technical articles. You may be assured that whatever form it takes in these pages it will be of primary interest to the Ham, and in his interests. In the future of Amateur Radio, I have the greatest confidence, and above all the hope that those who govern the welfare of mankind through leadership of the United Nations will have the good sense to realise that embodied in Amateur Radio, as practised by modern youth, there is the most powerful weapon for world peace. That isn't a fantastic thought, but cold logic. Do you think that if, Internationally, Hams of all countries were given unfettered facilities for intercommunication, by wide and appropriate frequency channels, they wouldn't get to know each other better? Of course they would, and there would be more progress toward world peace than national leaders realise.

Getting to know the other man and his viewpoint over the air is a much better thing than hauling out lethal weapons, and setting out to obliterate him. You say: "But he might strike first." Answer to that is that he wouldn't feel that way about it if he were fully familiar with our point of view. Wise governments and leaders worthy of the name will encourage their radio-communing youth to the utmost, which means simply: cut out fettering restrictions, permit reasonable power ratings, don't rate a man's intelligence solely by his Morse code speed, and above all, make wide frequency allocations. Not only should the pre-war amateur frequency channels be restored forthwith everywhere: they should be considerably augmented. I suggest that the future of Amateur Radio in U.S.A. will be worth observance. Does anybody suggest that in commercial radio circles, industrially or in communications, there is chaos because a really Democratic nation gives its Hams a power rating of a kilowatt, permits traffic with message handling for third parties, and gets the war ban on frequencies removed without much delay. There were 60,000 Hams in U.S.A. before 1941 . . . the estimate in a year or so is at least 250,000. That means lots of business for the radio manufacturers, whichever way you look at it. Here in Australia we had 2,000 pre-war licencees. My guess is that future devotees of the wholesome hobby of Amateur Radio in this country will, in a few years, also run in to the thousands. That being so, I take this opportunity of extending, well ahead, a welcome to the Hams, the VK's of the future years, and with "A.R.W." another decade of good writing and reading in the interest of radio experimenters, Hams, S.W.L.'s and constructors.— DON KNOCK (VK2NO)

P.05 - Personal - Don B. Knock

Personal - Don B. Knock

HAS been an active Ham for no less than 35 years, getting first insight into early day amateur radio in Colchester, England, in 1911. Can justly lay claim to be an "Old Timer" in radio. Born in Manchester, England, 1898. Started life as engineer apprentice and by 1916 was on active service World War I with R.N.A.S., serving in Middle East and Russia. Later served two years afloat as marine engineer with P. and O. Co. In radio trade in England with Sterling (now Marconiphone) Co., Burndept Co., and later engineer with BBC. Operated Ham station from London, G6XG, and was first G to QSO U.S.A. with low power (5 watts) on "95 metres" in 1924. In 1926 began to feel cramped in G. B. and came to Australia. Held position of C/Engr. with original Amplion Co., Sydney, in 1927, then Technical Editor of "Wireless Weekly" and "Radio in Australia and N.Z." Had established station A2NO shortly after settling in Sydney and this call sign quickly became known everywhere where there were Hams. Established radio stations at Wyndham, Nth. West Aust., for W.A. Government in 1930. Operated Ham station VK6NK from Wyndham and figured in radio rescue of stranded fliers Smith and Shiers. In 1931 designed and installed N.S.W. Country B/C station 2MO Gunnedah, but with radio journalism in blood returned to Sydney to become technical editor "Radio Monthly." During this period did considerable VHF work, some in conjunction with N.S.W. Police Dept. 1933 joined staff of Sydney "Bulletin" as editor "Australian Radio News" and in 1934 became Radio Editor of "The Bulletin." In between Ham activities held commission in Militia Sigs, and when September, ’39, struck went in to camp, as Lieutenant. Finished military service as Major, A.I.F. (Army Inspection) when obtained release from Army April, 1945, and placed on Reserve of Officers. Joined Philips organisation in June, 1945, and now engaged under Chief Engineer S. O. Jones on special developmental work.

P.07 - Personal - Allan Galbraith Hull

Personal - A. G. Hull

OF th e H u ll b ro th e rs it w as R oss A. H u ll w ho achieved w id est fa m e in ra d io b e fo re his u n tim e ly d e a th fro m a c c id e n ta l e le c tro c u tio n w h ilst c a r ry in g o u t telev isio n e x p e rim e n ts in A m e ric a in 1938. R oss e a rn e d fo r h im self w o rld -w id e re c o g n itio n as a g r e a t ra d io sc ie n tist a n d still, eig h t y e a rs a f te r his p a ssin g , his th e o rie s an d findings a re o ft^.i q u o te d in o v e rsea s a rtic le s on th e p ro p a g a tio n ' o f th e u ltra -h ig h -fre q u e n c y ban d s, th e c o -re la tio n b e tw ee n w e a th e r an d re c e p tio n c o n d itio n s a n d th e rem o te c o n tro l o f a ir c r a f t by rad io . ’W a y B a ck in 1915 B u t th e co n n ec tio n b e tw ee n ra d io a n d th e H u ll b ro th e rs d a te s b ack to th e W o rld W a r I, w hen in 1915 th e e ld e st b ro th e r, W illia p i H o w a rd H u ll, w as a n in s tr u c to r in w ireless te le g ra p h y a t th e M o o re P a r k cam p in S y d n ey , la te r se rv in g in M esop o ta m ia w ith th e A u s tra lia n L ig h t M o to r W ireless S q u a d ro n . W h en “ B ill” r e tu rn e d hom e to S t. K ild a in 1918 he fo u n d t h a t R oss, th e n a la d o f 16, h ad b een “ b itte n by th e ra d io b u g ,” a n d w as c o -o p e ra tin g w ith a te le g ra p h is t n am e d F re d W h ite r in th e c o n stru c tio n o f a re c e iv e r c o n sistin g o f a piece of le a d fro m a p en cil re stin g on th e ed g es o f tw o ra z o r b lad e s m o u n te d v e rtic a lly . W ith th is “d e te c to r” an d h e ad p h o n e s it w as p o ssib le to h e a r ' th e m o rse sig n als b e in g se n t o u t fro m V IM , th e b ig sta tio n o p e ra tin g fro m th e M e lb o u rn e D om ain. B y a b o u t 1922 R oss w as o p e ra tin g his ow n e x p e rim e n ta l tr a n s m itte r, w o rk in g A m e ric an H a m s across th e P acific a n d b ro a d c a stin g re c o rd e d m usic — som e y e a rs b e fo re a n y b ro a d c a stin g as we know it to day. K een ly in te re s te d , b u t “ to o y o u n g ” to be allo w ed to o p e ra te th e a m a te u r tr a n s m itte r w as R o ss’s y o u n g e r b ro th e r, A .G ., b a b y o f th e H u ll fam ily . B y 1929 R oss h a d b een to A m erica — h eld th e p o sitio n o f te c h n ic a l e d it o r o f “ Q S T ” a t th e h e a d q u a rte rs o f th e A .R .R .L ., a n d been se n t hom e to A u s tra lia a g a in by th e A m e ric an im m ig ra tio n a u th o ritie s as he w as only in th e U .S. on a v isito r s p a ssp o rt. On his r e tu r n to A u st r a lia R oss b ecam e te c h n ic a l ed ito r o f th e S y d n e y “ W ireless W ee k ly ,” w hich m ad e ra p id p ro g re ss u n d e r his g u id an ce. A f te r a b o u t a y e a r R oss m a n a g e d to g e t on to th e A m e ric an q u o ta a n d ru sh e d off back to th e US. to resu m e his p o sitio n w ith “ Q S T .” T h e d ire c to rs o f “W ire le ss W ee k ly ” g la d ly a c c e p te d a su g g e stio n fro m R oss th a t his y o u n g b ro th e r m ig h t ta k e his p lac e as th e ir T ec h n ica l E d ito r, a n d so A .G . cam e in to th e ra d io lim elig h t. H e w as ab le to c a rry on th e g ood w o rk s ta r te d by R oss, a n d b y 1934 th e c irc u la tio n of “ W ireless W e e k ly ” w as up to 84,000 copies p e r w eek. In 1936 A. G. H u ll m ad e a w o rld (Continued on next page)

ly ,” v isitin g th e U n ite d S ta te s, E n g lan d , H o llan d , F ra n c e a n d G e rm an y to in v e stig a te tele v isio n a n d ra d io d ev elo p m en ts. B y 1939 th e old “ W ireless W ee k ly ” h a d w an ed c o n sid era b ly a n d it w as d ecid ed by A sso c ia ted N ew sp a p e rs th a t it w o u ld be b e tte r to s t a r t a new m o n th ly p u b lic a tio n to c a rry th e te c h n ic a l a rtic le s w hich h ad been a p p e a rin g in th e “ W ee k ly .” T h e new p e rio d ic a l w as called “ R a d io a n d H o b b ie s,” a n d A. G. H u ll w as its ed ito r. S u ccessfu l V e n tu re “R a d io a n d H o b b ie s” w as a n in s ta n t success, a n d c o n tin u e d to be su ch a success t h a t a f te r w a tc h in g nin e issu es in to p ro d u c tio n , A. G. H u ll d ecid ed to v e n tu re fo rth in to th e p u b lic a tio n b u sin ess on his own a c c o u n t, a n d p u rc h a se d th e g o o d will o f “ A u s tra la s ia n R ad io W o rld ” fro m E a r l R e ad , w ho h a d com e acro ss fro m N ew Z ea la n d to s ta r t it a few y e a rs b e fo re . W ith R e ad c a rry in g on as A d v e rtis in g M a n a g e r th e “ R ad io W o rld ” m ad e g r e a t p ro g ress u n d e r its new o w n ersh ip , th en th e w a r clo u d s th ic k e n e d , p a p e r r a tio n in g w as in tro d u c e d a n d “ R ad io W o rld ” h a d to c a r r y on as b e st it co u ld th ro u g h th e w a r y e a rs, w h ilst A .G . w e n t to M e lb o u rn e to do a sp o t o f w a r effo rt, h av in g been re je c te d fro m m ilita ry serv ice on a c c o u n t o f m ed ical unfitness. T w o a n d a h a lf y e a rs o f m a n a g in g a fa c to ry ru n n in g 24 h o u rs a day , 7 day s p e r w eek, on m u n itio n s w o rk , w ith o v er a h u n d re d fem ale “ e n g in e e rs,” b ro u g h t a b o u t a th o r o ugh c ra c k -u p in h e alth , b u t a sp le n did re co v e ry w as m ad e la te r w hen p u ttin g in e ig h t m o n th s o f w ork u n d e r th e k in d ly eye o f C olonel Jo n e s o f th e D ire c to ra te o f R ad io a n d S ig n a l S u p p lies, M in istry of M unitions. T o d ay A n d so we com e to to d a y w hen difficulties ab o u n d , b u t slow ly an d su re ly th e “ A u s tra la s ia n R a d io W o rld ” is e m e rg in g fro m th e clouds of w a r a n d , as d o u b tle ss you w ill SIESTA 1 ag ree a f te r re a d in g th is issu e, is w ell on th e w ay to re g a in in g its p re w a r sty le. S tric tly P e rso n a l P erso n ally ,- A. G. H u ll lik es to be c o n sid ere d as ju s t a n o th e r m an - in -th e -stre e t, a n d a lth o u g h ra d io is his m ain hob b y , he h as o th e r h o b bies as w ell. P rid e of p lace goes to his fleet o f c o n te st m odel a e ro p lan e s, w ith th e ir tin y p e tro l m o tors. H e w ill go a n y d istan c e fo r a c o n te st a n d h as h ad m an y m a jo r successes, h o ld in g th e A u s tra la s ia n N a tio n a l C h am p io n sh ip a n d o th e r titles. N e x t com es p h o to g ra p h y , and a lth o u g h still in th e so u p -p la te s-o n - th e -k itc h e n -ta b le sty le, he does all th e p h o to s fo r “ R ad io AVorld,” as w ell as a te rrific n u m b e r o f p icto ria l shots. S p e a k in g o f sh o ts, A .G . is also a k een rifle sh o t, a w in n er o f ch am p io n sh ip s in th is sp o rt. H e jo in s all his h o b b ies to g e th e r b y p u ttin g in his h o lid ay s an d sp a re tim e c ru isin g in his c a ra van in to th e b a ck c o u n try in se a rc h of fo x es a n d p ic tu re s to sh o o t, sto p p in g o v er a t th e open sp aces to te s t th e a ir fo r th e rm a l c u rre n ts w ith his m o d el p lanes.

P.29 - Ten Years of Printing Service

Ten Years of Printing Service

THIS tenth birthday issue would hardly be complete without tribute being paid to the printers who have done the actual job of mechanical production of the issues. For the whole ten years the work has been done by the Bridge Printery Pty. Ltd., under the personal supervison of Mr. Fred Wales and his son Noel. As any publisher will readily agree with us, one of the biggest problems in the publishing game is to get a printer with a conscience who will get your magazine out on time, without too many errors and at a reasonable price. In our particular case the printing problem has been further aggravated by war-time circumstances which made it necessary for the editorial work to be done in Melbourne with the printer more than 500 miles away in Sydney. Even when you can sit on the printer's doorstep it is difficult enough, but to supervise a printer by mail — well, most experienced editors will tell you that it would be an impossibility. That it was managed, and highly successfully, too, is a splendid testimonial for the Bridge Printery. The wrapping of subscribers' issues and the bulk postage of them is also carried out by the Bridge Printery and the fact that complaints about non-delivery don't amount to one-twentieth part of a percent, indicate that this job is also done thoroughly.