SEARCHERS OF THE ETHER

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 4

SEARCHERS OF THE ETHER

ITEMS FOR THE DX-ERS MAGNIFICENT VOLUME FROM AUSTRALIA, With heavy barrages of static prevailing, conditions for the reception or overseas stations have been far from pleasant, and the result is that the activities of the DX-crs have been greatly curtailed. The volume of the evening Americans has not changed from the high standard previously set, but as darkness sets in the volume of static increases. On a recent Friday the Canadian station CFCN, Calgary, Alberta (1,030 kc), was heard at good volume until closing at 7 p.m. (New Zealand summer time).' This station- broadcasts until • the above time every Friday evening, and should present little difficulty to the average DX-cr. There is only one word to describe the volume of the Australians, and that is “ magnificent,” but here again static intervenes, especially with the lower power ones. Two new ones have commenced operations. The first is located in New South Wales, and operates on 1,470 kc under the call sign of 2RG, Griffith, and uses a power of either 50 or 100 watts. A fairly good signal is provided, and, when the static subsides, a logging should not bo very difficult. One of the best Western Australian signals is provided by the new 6WB, Katanning, which operates on 1,070 kc. This station uses 2,000 watts, and will bo an easy logging when the noise level is lower. Two stations are now operating on 1,370 kc, one, of course, being 3HS, Horsham; but as no definite call has been heard from the other it would be only guesswork if a call were given here. Quito possibly it is just a frequency change and not a new station. Very little has been heard of the low-powered amateur Australian stations operating on the broadcast band, owing to tho high noise level and the need of reserve patience. With a little perseverance VK3SB, Oakleigh, 5.E.12, has been heard operating on 1,450k0, but it is nest to impossible to make a logging. Between bursts of static a few Eastern stations have been heard, but the onlv one worth mentioning is VPB, Colombo, Ceylon, which, operating on 705 kc, has been much better than usual, DUNEDIN MAN’S REPORT. The following is taken from a Win-ston-Salem (North Carolina) journal dated August 13, 1930. The station concerned uses a power of only 100 watts ou 1,310 kc; — NEW ZEALANDER PICKS UP WSJS. On the opposite side of the world from the point of broadcast a test programme given over station WSJS, Win-ston-Salem, was picked up by radio enthusiast in Dunedin, New Zealand, recently. i Tho enthusiast in New Zealand, Albert L. Stanton, who gave his address as 127 Opoho road, stated that the quality of the reception was clear and steady, with slight interference by Morse (wireless) and light static. Stanton is a member of an organisation in New Zealand known as the New Zealand DX Radio Association, which reports distance receptions on a regular form to the stations from which the programmes originate. Ho reported the time of reception and the selections given in the musical programme, with the time that each selection commenced. These times were checked with the records of the station broadcast, and wero found to_ tally exactly. Stanton included in his report the entire 15-minute programme, which began at 2.51 a.m. in WinstonSalem and continued through to 3.06 а. which in New Zealand time was 7.51 to 8.6 p.m. SHORT WAVE WANDERINGS. Germany now has five transmitters in use for the Pacific and Eastern zone session, which commences at 4.30 p.m. These are DJA (9,560), E (17,7601, N (9,540). L (15,110), and DJB (15,200 kc), all of which arc well _ received at present. Tho Berlin stations are certainly consistent, and it is possible, at almost any hour, to enjoy first-class reception from at least one of the German transmitters. During the afternoon DJD (11,770 kc) is as loud as a “ local,” and when “ beaming ” the programme towards Japan, China, etc., at 11 p.m., 119 signals are received on the 19-metre band. On this band at midnight are heard GSF, DJB, Radio Colonial, and DJQ (15,280). Radio Podebrady (Prague), which was mentioned last week, was heard again on. Thursday, closing at 3.30 p.m. According to announcements, the present schedule is:—Daily, 7.30-9.30 a.m. ou б, irregular tests, 2-4 p.m., ou 15,240 kc. However, American listeners report the station on 6,115 kc. Reports are requested to Podebrady, Praha, Czechoslovakia, verifications being promised in return. Some time ago mention was made of a stranger heard beside COCQ, Cuba (9,755 kc). This station is now thought to be YNLF, Managua, Nicaragua, on a frequency of 9,670 kc. The Post and Telegraph Department of Yugoslavia operates station Radio Beograd 11. daily on G.lOOkc between 7 p.m. and 1.30 a.m. and 4.30-9.30 a.m. Tho power will shortly ho increased from 400 to 2,500 watts. At 11 p.m. last Sunday a strong signal was heard on approximately 9,530 kc. A church service was being broadcast, and the indications are that it was LKJI. Oslo, Norway, which was heard so well last year. When first heard the signals were RB, but soon faded out.