BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 6

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE VK’s. (Hy “Microphone.”) Seasonally reception is excellent from the Australian short-wave stations, thus providing an excellent supplementary service when the broadcast band suffers from atmospherics. Listeners have come to appreciate the transmissions of 3LR, the National relay station at Lyndhurst, near Melbourne, on 31.3-1 metres, 9580 kilocycles, the programmes of which arc published nightly in the “Standard.” There are, however, three additional transmitters nominally of an experimental character which are giving splendid service to Now Zealand listeners at the moment. VK3ME Melbourne operates nightly from 8.30 to 11.30 o’clock with a recorded programme well graduated. The channel used is on 31.5 metres, 9510 kilocycles, and the signals are usually completely steady with the volume all that could be desired. It does not operate on Sundays. Another Monday-to-Saturday station is VK.OME Perth, which comes on the air at 10.30 p.m., corresponding to 7 p.m. in Perth, continuing to operate till 12.30 a.m. Volume will be found to be cpiite good on 31.28 metres, 9590 kilocycles. Most famous, however, is the 20,000 watt VK2ME station at I Sydney, “The Voice of Australia.” The schedule is varied somewhat according| to the season, and the present hours' are very suitable for New Zealand. I The station transmits for a world-wide audience on Sundays only, and occupies the same dial position as the Perth transmitter. On Sunday afternoons from 4.00 it is splendid with recordings till G. 30 p.m., when Transmission 1 ceases It comes on the air again at 9.30 p.m. and continues till 1.30 a.m., when it again signs clear. The final transmission —destined for English and European reception—is early on Monday morning from 4 to 6 a.m.

“LONDON CALLING.” Wo ate inCi'eusldgly appreciating the added power of the Empire transmitters and enjoying reception from London at almost any hour of the day or night, Usually at excellent speaker strength on at least one—and often several—of the waves offered. The big 50-kilowatt transmitters are sending out a line signal, pleasingly free from distortion and fading, at midday, late afternoon, and later at night. The following is the latest schedulejfurnished by the 8.8. C., the waves on which the stations operate being :

Transmission 1 (New Zealand). — GSG, GSO, GSD, GSB, 4 p.m. to (3.15 p.m, Transmission II (India and' Africa), i —GS.J,. GSM, GSG, GSO, 10.15 p.m. to L 25 a.m. Transmission 111 (India and West Indies).—GSJ, GSH, GSG, GSF, 1.45 a.m. to 4..‘10 a.m. Transmission IV (Africa and Near East).—A: GSG, GSI, GSD, GSB, 4.45 a.m. to 8.30 a.in. B: GSG, GSO, GSI' 1 , GSB, 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Transmission V (Canada, New Zealand).—GSß, GSO, GSD, GSB, 10.50 a.m. to 1 p,m. Transmission VI (Canada, Now Zealand).—GST, GSI' 1 , GSD, GSC, 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. All times are in New Zealand rating and the areas named are those with best reception of the particular transmission, though New Zealand gains entertainment from nearly all. It will be found that the 13 and 10 metre transmissions are very strong. KANIMBLA ON THE AIR. In this 'column last year, full details were jniblished of the world’s first and only ocean transmitter, located on the Australian coastal vessel Kanimbla and operating under the call sign VKOiVII, the announcer being Miss Eileen Holey. The vessel plies between Brisbane, Maekay and Sydney and each evening the 50-watt transmitter radiates a programme either on 25.(3 metres, 11,710 kilocycles, or 49.917 metres, GOIO kilocycles, the latter being chiefly used. When last heard volume was surprisingly good tor such a low power. An up-to-date studio is available and some very fine programmes are broadcast. An opportunity is being afforded broadcast band listeners to hear this novel station, which is to be relayed during the remaining winter months bv various Inter-State B stations. The schedule is stated to be as follows from 11.30 p in. to 11.45 p.m. New Zealand time :

July B.—2GN Goulburn 1390 kilocycles’. July 11.—4 CA Cairns 1390 kilo July 14. —4TO Townsville 1100 kilocycles. "July 18—4 WK Warwick 1340 kilocycles. July 21.—2AY Albury 1480 kilocycles. July 25. —380 Bendigo 970 kiloccycles. August 5. 2GF Grafton 1210 kilocycles. August 8. —4CA Cairns 1390 kilocycles. August 11. —4TO Townsville, 31G0 kilocycles. August 15. —4WK Warwick 1340 kilocycles. August IS.—2AY Albury 1480 kilocycles. August 22. —380 Bendigo 970 kilocycles. September 2. —2GN Goulburn 1390 kilocycles. THROUGH THE MICROPHONE.

According to a microphone announcement from JZLv lokio (19.71 metres, 15.100 kilocycles) an alteration will be made in the transmission schedule from July 1. The time will be advanced by half an hour so that it will be heard here from 5 to G p.m. instead of 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Very serious interference with broadcast and short-wave reception is being reported from many parts of the city; so severe is it that the most modern receivers are often rendered almost useless by the strong electrical beat throughout the 40-80 meti-e band, most of the 13-31 metre band, and the lower scale of the broadcast band. Troublesome day and night with only short intervals, the interference appears to be the most noisy and persistent experienced for some years and is mining reception. National relays are increasing in Australia, and on Friday nights all States exrcpt 'Western Australia will contribute to the National relay; tin’s is an historic achievement which can

be appreciated by listening to 3LR Lyndhurst as tvell as the other stations. ‘it is reported that the Spanish stations are being heard from G. 30 a.m. dally; General Franco’s Army operates EA9AH, Spanish Morocco, on 14,101 kilocycles, and on 7000 kilocycles from 3 p.m.; opening announcements are “The Voice of the Trenches” and “Radio Nauionnl.” Also from 8.50 a.m., EABAT, located on the Canary Islands, on 14,120 kilocycles, gives war news. Stations with increased power are:— XET, Monterey, Mexico, 690 kilocycles, 5000 watts; KG GDI, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1230 kilocycles, 1000 watts; KB NT Dos Moines, lowa, 1320 kilocycles, 1000 watts; KMO/ Tacoma Washington, 1330 kilocycles, 1000 watts; KFRO, Longview. I’exas, 13/0 kiloevcles, 25(3 watts; KOY. Phoenix, Arizona, 1390 kilocycles, 1000 watts.

Me/s. Metres GSA 6.05 49.59 GSI? 9.51 31.55 GSG 9.58 31.32 GSI) 11.75 25.53 USI5 11.86 25.29 GSI-' 15.14 19.82 GSG 17.79 16.86 GS1-I 21.47 13.97 GST 15.26 19.66 GS.T 21.53 13.93 GSK 26.10 11.49 GSI, 6.11 49.10 GSN 11.82 25.38 GSO 15.18 19.76 GSI’ 15.31 19.60 GSI 21.55 13.92