[Letters to Editor]

Abstract

SOME months ago, in endeavouring to reduce the antenna to the smallest possible dimensions, such as by placing a series of wires just over the instruments, I found that by using a bedstead (without wire mattress) signals of “strength 8”—i.e. moderately loud—could easily be obtained from Paris without the aid of a Brown relay—a costly instrument, reputed to increase the strength of signals five times. The apparatus used was simply the orthodox loose coupling with crystal detector. The bed used is on the second floor of my house, about 20 ft. from the ground, and the gas-pipe below the same floor served as an earth connection.