BYRD ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 463, 19 September 1928, Page 6

BYRD ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

GISBORNE AMATEURS TO KEEP CONTACT Messrs. R. J. Patty and P. R. Stevens, of the Atwater Kent Radio Service Station, Gisborne, who were so successful in making arrangements with the American short-wave broadcast station in the transmission of full details of the Heeney-Tunney fight, have also been asked by KDKA, the famous Pittsburg short-wave station, to prepare a special schedule with the Commander Byrd Antarctic flight project and endeavour to maintain communication -with the expedition. Details of the time the flight is to commence will be the subject of further communication from KDKA. It is a striking compliment to these Gisborne amateur operators that KDKA has made this special request to keep in close touch with the Commander Byrd’s Antarctic flight. It is thus quite possible that nil New Zealand will be with the expedition as the details of the hitter fight with the elements of Antarctica are given.

EFFICIENT RECEIVING SET

231 STATIONS VERIFIED Most people in New Zealand have the idea that with the multiplicity of broadcasting stations in America it must be very difficult for American listeners to listen-in comfortably to any particular station, and that there must he a lot of “blanketing” by local stations. In the course of an interesting letter, Mr. Philip G. Kenton, of Long Beach, California, makes it clear that this is not the case. He forwards a copy of his log containing 231 stations which he has heard, and of which he has had verification. The list is a remarkable one and includes stations in every State in America, Canada, Mexico, four English stations, Scotland, South America, Wales, Japan, Germany, France and IYA, 2YA and 4YA New Zealand. All stations were on the broadcast band as Mr. Kenton does not possess a short-wave receiver.

Mr. Kenton says: “I was greatly interested in Mr. D. W. Tapp’s letter to The Sun, also the reference to Mr. C. Mervyn Dobyns,)of KGER, Long Beach. I will show Mr. Dobyns your paper of that date, as I am a frequent visitor to his station.”

Mr. Kenton must have a remarkably good and selective set, and he also is a very efficient operator. I am writing to him asking- him to send me the fullest information regarding his set, earth, aerial, batteries, etc., and when it comes to hand will publish it in this column. In the meantime I am sure readers will join with me in congratulating Mr. Kenton on his very line record of reception.