RADIO'S ALL-NIGHT VIGIL.

Shannon News, 6 June 1928, Page 2

RADIO'S ALL-NIGHT VIGIL.

LISTENERS SEARCH THE ETHER UNTIL DAWN.. HEAR BOMBAY AND SIBERIA, BUT SOUTH AFRICA—NO! The Christchurch Star graphically describes how four radio enthusiasts tried to get some first-hand news from South Africa on the occasion of the All Blacks match in Capetown. It says: — ' Out in a tiny radio shack at Harewood these wireless enthusiasts kept a night-long watch. From midnight till 6.30 a.m. they listened. Up and down the ether waves they searched, but no call from distant South Africa came. Neither short-waves nor broadcast band yielded as much as a squeal or chirp from that continent. The night was not altogether without result, however. Far-off France was heard' calling Australia by ’phone on the short waves, and, Spn Francisco sent echoing across space an insistent call to South Africa. Russia sent music to brighten the midnight watch, and Japanese geisha girls brought laughter to the listeners’ lips witli their weird wailings songs. Even Chine (Kwang•tun),made itself heard. The event of the evening was an hour of Gilbert and Sullivan from Bombay, India. The early portion of the evening passed quickly with the concert programmes from the Australian A class stations, and then, as one after another they closed down, the search was begun for DX, the radio symbol for distance. Numerous small Australian stations were tuned in, and then a find was made: 3ZY, Melbourne, came through with volume enought to make the loud-speaker rattle. Once satisfied as to the identity of the stranger, the operator bother, with him no more, but turned in search of new game.

Hunting down he air lanes brought hi any carrier waves of distant strangers, but little more, so the Japanese Avere given a turn. JOAK, JOCK and JOBK were all heard, and one by one closed doAvn. ‘ Then came a lull on the broadcast band, and the shortwave set was sAvitched on. RFM, Siberia, was the first station tuned, and then folloAved a series of Morse stations. A commercial station in San Francisco Avas dee-dah-dah-ing a call to South Africa. Ships were communicating with _ each other, and distant amateur transmitters Avere calling friends overseas. At 3 a.m., a faint voice Avas heard speaking in French and English. “’Alio! ’Alio! Sturgess. ’Alio, Meester Sturgess, Austraylia” and then some Avoids in French. In Australia some enthusiastic amateur at 1.30 a.m. was sitting up to hear a call from a Frenchman who probably shut doAvn in time for afternoon tea at 3 p.m.

Once more the broadcast set Avas svA r itehed on and —a sudden hush descended on the room. Faintly a Amice Avas heard on 387 metres, speaking in English. The Call Book Avas hastily scanned. It might be India was the observation of all, but it might not.

It Avas. The news session Avas heard and then followed what was apparently a lecture illustrated Avith selections on the piano. Liszt’s Sixth Rhapsody Avas heard from beginning to end, and then, at 3.30 a.m., came selections from “H.M.S. Pinafore,” played by a small orchestra. The station) was growing in strength meanwhile,, cand a Gilbert and Sullivan programme? Avas presented till the station closed down at 4.30 a.m. with the playing of “Auld Lang Syne.” The announcer stated that it Avas station PRC, which Avas later identified as Presidency Radio Club, Bombay, station 2FY. Again a search for South Africa proved unavailing, but music from another station, AAffiich remained unidentified, ushered in the hour of 5 a.m. No other station was heard, and the '* little group, Avith the prospect of a day’s Avork ahead, at 6.30 a.m., decided to call it a night.