Radio Broadcast - 1924, January - 84 Pages, 8.2 ... - VacuumTubeEra

'What Our Readers Write Us 231complete set, and do not want to be botheredwith details of tubes, batteries, loops, antennasand whatnot. Dealers who are striving toimprove their service can perhaps get an insightinto conditions in some localities fromthe accompanying letter:Editor, RADIO BROADCASTDoubleday, Page & Co.,Garden City, L. I.DEAR SIR:Intending to buy a radio receiving set for the pastseveral weeks, I have written to several of youradvertisers. A few have replied, quoting "list"prices and requesting me to write another firm, theirdealer in the 'district, etc. Those that have quotedreal prices seem to quote only on the receiver withoutthe tubes, batteries, etc.Finally, went to Isee a man in an electrical retailstore (and I paid him for the time taken by theinterview). He said a good plan would be to buythe parts and have a man he knew assemble them.He wrote down a list of articles and said the costwould be about $50.I told him that I would see the man he recommendedto assemble the setbut he refused to tellme where I could reach him, saying that after Ibought the articles, he would tell me who he was.As Iwas leaving, he mentioned that the list of partshe made did not include a cabinet.Now I have gone into some detail in this matterand for a good reason. You can see how muchtrouble I have had in trying to buy a radio receiver.Respectfully yours,N. A. BrownWilliamsport, Pa.Tie Position of the Loop AntennaEditor, RADIO BROADCAST,Doubleday, Page & Co.,Garden City, L. I.DEAR SIR:For the past yearIhave been a silent partner inregard to my husband's radio experiments.I haveeven been supposedly disinterested, but little bylittle I have absorbed enough knowledge to knowan antenna from a ground, a variometer from avariocoupler, and an A battery from a B battery(for we've bought batteries galore).I know a tube from an electric light bulb, mostlybecause of the difference in price.I know thedifference between just a horn and a loud speakerfor the same reason. Audio-frequency and radiofrequencydon't phase me any more and as for hookupsand diagramsI know there are many more tocome.The other night my husband hooked up his favoritefive-tube set using a directional loop antenna onthe dining table. He set the loop in the generallyaccepted fashion as in Fig. I.The talk came in clearly but not with any amountof energy.I was rather sleepy but suggested thathe turn his loop around 90 as in Fig. 2. At oncea most astounding change took place. The voicecame in much louder, and as clear as before. Wethen changed the position of the loop from Fig.Ito Fig. 2 repeatedly, and always Fig. 2 brought inthe better results.We have now incorporated the square positionFIG. I 1FIG. J.VJ. 2^Which way does your loop work best? Mi Mrs.McArdell prefers the position shown in Fig. 2idea in a gate-loop on the wall. It swings throughan arc of 180 degrees, thus giving every directionneedful in a directional loop.However, it is often desirable to have a portableloop. This could be so mounted that it would benot only directional but would pivot in any positionin a vertical plane either as Fig. i or Fig. 2 or anydegree between the two positions.THEVery truly yours,ALICE R. MCARDELL,Brooklyn, N. Y.Attention Announcers!accompanying letter is one of a greatmany of similar nature. An effort to correctthe annoying omission of call letters bystation announcers would undoubtedly bewidely appreciated.Editor, RADIO BROADCASTDoubleday, Page & Co.,Garden City, L. I.DEAR SIR:I am making an appeal for many of my B.C.L.Wefriends who like to "fish" for distant stations.are greatly disappointed in the stations which fail toannounce their call signal after each part of theprogram. It is most annoying to wait throughseveral long pieces, and then hear "The next