SHORTWAVE NOTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 110, 1 August 1941, Page 55

SHORTWAVE NOTES

(By

Audio

DVICE has been received about the new General Electric transmitters, Both KGEI and WGEA are now operating on 50kw. with new transmitters, which incorporate the latest developments in radio. They use a special 12 element type of antenna which greatly increases the effective power radiated. These new transmitters came into use early in July. The most striking news, however, is that late in August WGEO will be on the air with a new transmitter with a power of 100 kw. Thus the three transmitters will rank among the most powerful stations in the world. Under normal conditions, reception of these stations should be really good here. re ~ a SHORTWAVE reception conditions have been very changeable recently. The electrical storm lately experienced

in Europe caused an effective blackout of radio signals for several days. Fortunately, this has passed away, and conditions are now improving rapidly. It is now possible to get fair reception all night, so the storm seems to have done some good in that it has cleared the air. In another few weeks, conditions should be ideal both day and night for long-distance reception on shortwave, * + % SEVERAL slight changes recently came into force in the BBC Overseas Service. The African transmission now ends at 9.45 a.m. The North American transmission now begins at 10.10 a.m, and closes at 4.45 p.m. The frequencies in use remain unchanged at present. There are various minor changes in programmes: the most important is that the Headline News and Commentary is now given at 1 p.m. instead of 12.45 p.m, Other changes are announced in the programme summaries at the beginning of each transmission,