Telegraphic Communication and Radio Programs Intermittently Interrupted by Northern Lights, Tuesday. Interference Was More Noticeable in East Than in Middle West. Local Radio Fans Report Having Had Trouble Getting Stations.

——–

If your radio wasn’t working perfectly, Tuesday evening, don’t blame the contraption, for the trouble, no doubt, was caused by the aurora borealis, popularly known as the northern lights, which played havoc with telegraphic communications and radio broadcasting that day and evening. The greatest difficulty experienced by “listeners in” was to tune in on distant stations, especially those located in the eastern portion of the country.

“The interference with telegraphic communication here was not nearly as bad as it was years ago,” said P.R. McHale, veteran manager of the local Western Union Telegraph office. “We were interrupted in transmitting messages for not to exceed a minute, at intervals during the day, but we succeeded in getting them through without much delay. The deterring influence of the aurora borealis was more noticeable on heavily used wires, where almost a constant stream of messages is transmitted.”

Local radio fans report that they experienced marked interference in receiving programs, Tuesday evening, especially between the hours of 6 and 8 o’clock, when the trouble was greatest. By 10 o’clock it had cleared up, however, and those who “stuck it out” enjoyed their usual range of broadcasting stations.

The effects of the northern lights was felt chiefly by telegraph wires. These disturbances do not seem to be governed by regular laws. They vary widely in intensity, and frequent changes in polarity are common, according to authorities on the subject.

While the aurora borealis made itself felt in the northwest, it was barely visible, and at some points could not be seen at all. It’s prank, Tuesday, occurred during a steady drop in temperature, the mercury slipping down constantly.

Brown County Journal,

January 29, 1926

————————