WIRELESS RECEPTION ON A COACH TRIP.
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An Extremely Successful Experiment, the Cardiff Programme Being Clearly Heard whilst Travelling from Wimborne to Bournemouth.
I • MMEDIATELY before the Whitsun holiday an experiment was conducted, on one of the Royal Blue motor coaches operating from Bournemouth, with a view to providing the passengers with the facilities for listening-in to broadcast programmes and thus adding materially to the pleasures of a motor-coach trip. Preliminary experiments had occupied the odd moments of the staff for about three weeks, and, naturally, many aittle difficulties had cropped op and had had to be cleared away. . On the Friday preceding Whitsun a party of guests, including town officials, members of the professional and business classes of Bournemouth, was invited to take part in the initial run of the vehicle equipped with a wireless receiving set, and every arrangement for its comfort had been made by Messrs. Elliott Bros., the proprietors of the motor coach, well known not only in the south-western district but in many of the other pleasure centres of the country for their passenger transport enterprise. The outfit consists of a two-valve Geeophone set, with three stages of low-frequency amplification, made by the General Electric Co., Ltd., and a fourwire aerial carried just above the heads of the passengers oa four poStsone on each end of the windscreen and one on each quarter of the vehicle. Each passenger was provided with a pair of headphones. •
The vehicle left Bournemouthin the direction of Wimborne, .and, whilst • in Wimborne Park, Was stopped and the Cardiff broadcasting station was tuned-in, the passengers being able to listen-in to a very clear reproduction Of the first portion of the ,eoricert. The result was extremely satisfactory, and ga.ve considerable pleasure to every person taking part.
The coach was driven to Wimborne, and not only was reception not interrupted, but it was as good as when the vehicle was stationary. On the return from Wimborne to Bournemouth. the remainder of the items of the concert was picked up. The success was notable, because it was thus proved that the mass of the vehicle constituted a sueient " earth " for the primary current. The set had been fitted and operated by Messrs. Brights, Ltd., • who were congratulated upon the result. We believe that the coach, so fitted, is available for hire in the usual way.
A motor coach, similarly equipped., was seen in London on Whit-Monday, having evidently, come in from the proVinces with a party. We heard that reception had been good. at all times. We are convinced that Motor-coach owners, by the exercise of a little ingenuity and a small expenditure, can materially increase the pleasures of a coach trip, and thereby add to the popularity of the coach and to its revenue-producing capabilities. So many people now possess or understand wireless reception outfits, and somany keep a close watch on the programme of the different broadcasting stations; that the knowledge and the desire to listen to some item of a broadcast programme might cause them to escheW a 'coach trip and to stay at home, whereas the opportunity to listeri-in to a favourite singer or speaker or a much-loved musical item whilst at the same time enjoying a. run in the fresh air would attract' therm to the motor. coach.
[The Commercial Motor is giving space regularly to the question of equipping motor coaches and goods vehicles for the reception of broadcast programmes and messages of instruction. We cordially invite owners of vehicles who effect such equipment to advise us of the, fact and to send use full details of the methods adopted.]