Golborne Vintage Radio

Recently I came upon this snippet in an old copy of the R.S.G.B 'Bulletin', dated August 1951.
I found it made fascinating food for thought . . . . so I thought I'd share it . . . .

In 1926, it was reported by an English Radio Amateur (a G2xx) that:
"Shortwave work has demonstrated that 'blind-spotting' can be reduced, especially where cities having heavy smoke atmospheres are concerned, owing to the (radio) wave penetrating the smoke at a steeper angle and therefore having a shorter path through it".

He then went on to describe some experiments he had made on this theme:
"Fading can be caused by tobacco smoke, especially where indoor aerials are concerned. This interesting experiment was discovered by accident, but it has been tested and re-tested with the same result. The percentage of 'hams' who smoke during operating hours must be large" [this was 1926] "and adequate provision should be made therefore for a proper atmosphere, free from hanging tobacco smoke."

So there you have it. Never mind just how much all that tarry smoke is gunging up the innards of your new glistening talk-box, it's also reducing your chances of hearing the DX! "If you can't hear 'em, you can't work 'em!" as the old saying goes.

Al.

Is there any scientific proof of this...

Cheers,

Steve P.

These days, most smoke seems to come from wood burning stoves which have come into vogue in recent years. Quite why, I can't imagine, unless you can get your wood free or cheap, which most buyers can't - many don't even know how to store it or what they're buying.

Of course back in 1951, smoking - indeed heavy smoking - was fairly endemic at all levels of society, but that is not so now – it’s become the exception rather than the rule, most often engaged in by the C2,D,E socio-economic groups. Furthermore, most cities back then didn't have smoke control orders, coal fires were the norm, as were smog-bound cities from industrial smoke.

Radio ‘shacks’ are usually confined spaces – a small room in the house or a shed, and the operator is in close proximity to the equipment, often hunched over it for hours on end. A lot of equipment – certainly HF transceivers – has a perforated case for ventilation purposes to keep the equipment cool. A smoker would be puffing smoke all over the equipment and into the microphone. Sure the outside could be scrubbed clean, but not the inside, and what prospective buyer would want to perform such an unpleasant task anyway? I wonder about the life expectancy of such amateurs – chain smoking in a confined environment for hours on end, engaging in what is basically a sedentary sitting down hobby (except ‘SOTA’ - http://www.sota.org.uk/ ). Must take years off their lives as well as that of their equipment!

Whether cigarette smoke ever adversely impacted on DX contacts, I wouldn't know, but there's certainly proof that cigarette smoke seriously damages the innards of amateur radio equipment, particularly by gunging up switch contacts, as well as making the equipment smell disgusting - a smell that can be got rid of, which non-smokers will find especially revolting. A ‘smoked’ radio renders it virtually un-saleable. That's why adverts for private sales and wants of amateur radio equipment often mention ‘must be non-smoker'. At radio rallies I’ve often seen punters pick up a piece of equipment and sniff it – it’s the first thing I’d do.

Here’s a clip of a typical advert (eighth one down) from this link:

http://pub29.bravenet.com/classified/sho...4602&cpv=2

Quote:

YAESU FT1000MP + ICOM 2820 DSTAR

'Hi I am wanting to swap the above radios for a ICOM PRO3 no cash either way it must be boxed in mint cond and from non smoker'...

See also this link:

http://www.foundvalue.com/what-sells/ele...s-radio-cb

Quote:

Storage and Shipping:

'Radios should be stored in a well-ventilated room, away from children, pets and smoke. Don’t place an item next to heating vents or air conditioners, either, since temperature/humidity changes can cause damage. Cigarette smoke can damage sensitive electronics, so ask the owner if the item came from a smoke-free environment'.