Coll 35/31 'Bahrain: application for W/T amateur transmitting licence for employee of Bahrain Petroleum Company' [‎118v] (236/250)

154
A GUIDE TO AMATEUR RADIO
and, therefore, lengthy comment on the quality and
excellence of the reading matter provided is unneces
sary. It should, however, be more generally known
that this is an all-amateur magazine, written by
and for amateurs. The aim of the paper is to
disseminate information in a simple and practical
form which can be understood by all readers. It is
in being essentially as a means of linking members
together, and for the purpose of keeping them
abreast on all matters of amateur interest. It is
neither highbrow nor lowbrow, but attempts to
please all by pursuing a sound general policy aimed
at meeting the wishes of the majority of members.
Constructional articles written by well-known
amateurs on subjects of current interest permit
members to follow at their own stations the latest
trend of progress. Descriptions of amateur stations,
both at home and abroad, are a popular feature, as
are the semi-humorous articles which appear under
the signature of " Uncle Tom.” District and Empire
notes cover the local activities of groups of members,
whilst the “ Research and Experimental Sections ”
notes contain informative comments and short
articles dealing with subjects of current or general
interest.
"The Month on the Air” provides a running
commentary on all matters of interest to those
working on the DX bands. Details are given of
unusual stations heard and worked, together with
frequencies used.
The Helping Hand,” introduced in April, 1937, is
the title given to a series of articles especially designed
for the newcomer to amateur radio. Helpful advice
is given on every aspect of the subject and readers of
this handbook who are desirous of studying the
earlier contributions may purchase back issues at a
nominal price of Is. per copy or 2s. 6d. for the four
issues (April-July, 1937, inclusive).
Valve Reviews and Trade Reviews prepared by
qualified members enable readers to select material
for their work with first-hand knowledge of its
expectations.
All important radio books are reviewed by a
prominent member who is specially qualified for this
work.
The T. <5- R. Bulletin is printed on good quality
paper, and is sent post free to members in a patented
wrapper on or about the 15th of each month. Each
issue, which contains upward of 56 pages, is well
illustrated by diagrams and photographs.
Small advertisements which are published at very
low rates enable members to sell and exchange
apparatus to advantage, whilst the main advertising
pages contain announcements by most of the leading
manufacturers. The necessity for supporting such
advertisers is of paramount importance, and all
members are urged to patronise them and to
mention the name of the Society when purchasing
material.
Those desirous of examining a specimen copy of the
current issue are invited to forward Is. to Society
Headquarters.
QSL Service
Next to the T. & R. Bulletin the Society’s QSL
Service is regarded as the most important privilege
of membership
Many years ago the Council of the R.S.G.B. realised
that a useful service would be rendered to its members
if their report (QSL) cards addressed to other
amateurs at home and abroad could be collected
at one central spot and dispatched in batches at
regular intervals. Without such an arrangement the
active amateur would be compelled to send each
card separately at a considerable annual cost.
Fortunately amateur organisations in other parts of
of the world realised the value of establishing similar
International QSL Bureaux, with the result that
to-day practically every country is in a position to
accept and dispatch cards in bulk. In most countries
a charge is made for this service, but the R.S.G.B.
have adhered to a policy of giving this service free, as
a privilege of membership.
Members requiring to send cards for distribution
post them to the Headquarters of the Society at
regular intervals, usually monthly or when the
nmnber of cards reaches two or three dozen. On
receipt, the cards are filed into pigeon-holes from
whence they are collected once a week, tied into
bundles and dispatched to official QSL Bureaux all
over the world. Cards intended for British amateurs
are handled in a similar way and are cleared at
regular intervals.
Members wishing to collect cards from the
Society’s QSL Section are required to send stamped
addressed envelopes to Headquarters.
The Society can also arrange to supply stamped
and addressed envelopes at a price of 2d. each.
Members are recommended to keep a small
stock of envelopes at Headquarters, as this prevents
delays when dealing with cards.
Periodically the files are examined and in cases
where an accumulation has occurred, due to the
person concerned having no envelopes on hand, a
postcard is forwarded requesting collection.
Amateurs who fail to collect their cards cause
unnecessary work at the Bureau, and if, after advice
has been given, the cards are unclaimed, they are
disposed of. The Society is opposed to the principle
of destroying cards but for obvious reasons accumula
tions must be cleared at intervals.
The R.S.G.B. QSL Bureau is probably the largest
self-contained national bureau in the world, and as
an indication of its effectiveness, well over a quarter
of a million cards are dealt with annually.
During recent years, owing to the enormous
increase in the numbers of alleged useless reports, the
R.S.G.B. has been compelled to refuse cards from
non-transmitting members which refer to European
transmissions heard on 3 -5, 7 and 14 Me. Cards for
British Isles stations are of course accepted.
Report cards addressed to amateurs in the U.S.A.,
Canada and Newfoundland are also refused for the
reason previously stated, it having been contended by
the National QSL Bureaux of these countries that
listeners’ reports are of no general interest when sent
in batches. Members wishing to report on North
American amateur signals should forward them
direct by consulting the latest edition of the Radio
Amateur’s Call Book on sale at Headquarters of
the R.S.G.B.
The following rules govern the operation of the
Bureau insofar as it affects cards addressed to
members :—
(1) Overseas members may not collect their cards
direct from R.S.G.B., except when no QSL Bureau
exists in their country.
(2) Envelopes must be stamped by the sender and
clearly addressed.
(3) The sender’s call sign must be printed in block
letters in the top left-hand corner of the envelope.
(4) Envelopes must be of a standard size (7 J inches
by 4£ inches) or as near to these dimensions as
possible.