BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 6

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

THE BERLIN SCHEDULE.

(By “Microphone.”) Close attention continues to be paid to the Berlin transmitters despite the improved service from the Empire Station, and at the present time Germany is being heard excellently at most periods of the day. Six separate transmissions are made to various zones throughout the world, although, of course, reception is often available in New Zealand from certain of these when the aerial is directed elsewhere. This week’s mail brought an up-to-date schedule of transmissions, and this is given below in New Zealand standard time. The following is the list of German trans-

The schedules are as follow: youth -Asia (New Zealand and Australia). —4.30 p.m. to 9.4-5: DJA, DJB, DJE, DJN, DJQ. 10.25 p.m. to 3.30 a..m.: DJB, DJN, DJE. 12.45 a.m. to 3.30: DJQ. East Asia. —Same as above.

Africa. —4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. : DJL. 10.30 p.m. to 12.30 a.m. : DJL (Sunday only) 4.5 a.m. to 9: DJD, DJL, DJC. South America. —10.30 to 12.30 a.m.:

DJQ. 3.40 a.m. to 4.55: DJE, DJQ. 9.20 a.m. to 3.15 p.m.: DJN, DJQ. North America. —12.30 a.m. to 1.30: DJD 9.20 a.m. to 3.15 p.m.: DJB, DJD. 3.40 a.m. to 4.55: DJB (Sunday only). Central America.. —1.30 a.m. to 2.30: DJR. 9.20 a.m. to 3.15 p.m.: DJA, DJll.

It will be noted that there are usually four stations transmitting simultaneously with the programme radiated in two directions during the same period. The afternoon transmissions to the Americas are being received at splendid volume, especially on the 19-metre band, where London is also excellent. AN ARGENTINIAN VOICE.

Early in tiie afternoon South American amateurs are being heard at good volume on the 20-metre band, although the preponderance of the Spanish language makes the majority of the transmissions unintelligible to the average listener. In the various States, however, are numerous stations operated by Englishmen representing their firms* in South America, and from these a fine signal is frequently obtained, ill the front rank of these is LU9BV of Buenos Aires, operated by Mr Colin H. Grattan, it may be recalled that during the American CQ contest in March this Argentinian was very prominent about noon each day. An interesting communication from Mr Grattan states that he made no fewer than 731 contacts. From November to March he lias a Sunday schedule (6 pm. N.Z. time) with ZLIAK Auckland. From 1923 till 1930 this operator had the call LUIDG, and since 1927 has operated LU9BV, which has a power of 80 watts (input), utilising either of two line-ups. Crystal control is employed, and an 800 type tube with 1000 volts on the plate is used for the final amplifier. AVith this transmitter all continents have been worked on ’phone and code on 20. 40 and 80 metres. The card is a particularly fine one. FORTY-METRE BAND.

With the approach of the spring the 40-metre baud is improving rapidly and in the evening gives an abundance of Australian amateur calls; in the afternoon North and youth American transmitters are excellent, the former with dance music relays. Among the Aiistralia.n calls are a number operated by inland stations and others on lighthouses. 11l the latter category is VJL6, located on Pine Island, a lighthouse in the Percy Group, 60-odd miles off the North Queensland coast. The power for tiiis transmitter is obtained from a pedal-operated dynamo, but despite the apparent low power volume is very good. It is understood that about seven such stations have recently been installed, and these may be heard on 40 metres. Heard calling on a recent evenin” was VHW4 Naroo. apparently located on a backblocks Queensland station. Any information concerning tins type of ‘transmitter would be oi interest.

HIGH-FREQUENCY TRANSMITTER A Special Service message from Schenectady announces that the erection has been commenced of a 20ft pole on top of an Albany (New York) .building preparatory to the installation of a short-wave, high-frequency transmitter with which it is hoped to solve some of the problems, tantalising engineers at present. Costing a.bout £SOOO, the equipment will be installed in the tower of an office building only as an experiment. It will operate from 5 to 7 metre wave-lengths and will have a receiving radius of about 30 miles. Unlike the ordinary radio wave u6cd in broadcasting commercial programmes, these high-frequency waves are similar to light waves. They travel in a straight line to the horizon and bounce off buildings and other obstacles in the same manner as a mirror reflects a. beam of light. These peculiarities are some of the things the engineers hope to understand more fully. Engineers m automobiles will circle the office building on a. 30-mile radius. In each car there will be a portable receiving set. These engineers will observe receiving results; in localities where the best results are noted a more permanent receiving station will be temporarily erected for further observation. THROUGH THE MICROPHONE. European transmitters are being heard in the early evening on 20 metres; on Monday, shortly after 7 p. 111., a Portuguese 50-watt station reached amazing volume. An accurate report to XE2N Monterrey, Mexico, is well rewarded by a colourful card. A new call sign is 011 the air in Dunedin ; 4ZB has surrendered its call for the new Government station and is now heard as 4ZD. Tests for the selection of the site of the new Southland transmitter began this week, with Invercargill as the base. It is intended to make tests over a radius of about 50 miles from Invercargill lor a locality likely to give the best reception in the Southland area, and for that purpose the portable transmitter will be conveyed on a motor lorry to various likely 6ites and put into operation. A record has been reached for license figures in the Dominion, 258,324 having been issued at June 30, including 255,434 for receivers and 975 for research. and amateur transmitters. The growth during the year was 49,555, ancl Wellington province now leads with 91,932. It is estimated that 72 per cent, of the Dominion’s households are now equipped with radio. At the same date in Australia 940,066 licenses were in force, an increase of 12,587 on the month.

nutters : Call M. K.c. DJA. 31.38 9,560 DJB 19.74 15,200 D,JC 49.83 6,020 DJI) 25.49 11,770 DJK ... 16.89 17,760 DJI 4 19.85 15,110 DJN 31.45 9,510 DLQ 19.63 15.280 DJK 19.56 15.340