DX NOTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 783, 23 July 1954, Page 21

DX NOTES

FTER midnight, the broadcast band gradually begins to clear..of Australian stations, and that is the time to start looking for Eastern broadcasters. Japan has many stations, most of which are pleased to receive and verify reports. The United States Armed Forces Radio Service operates several stations in Japan, which are known as the Far East Network. Most powerful is the Tokyo transmitter which, after a wandering existence, has settled on 810 kilocycles. One of its relay stations, Camp Sandai, is heard on 1450 kcs. from about 12.10 a.m., when the Tasmanian 7DY Derby closes for the night, and after 1.0 a.m. Nagoya on 1270 kcs. and Osaka on 1390 kes. are usually well received. There are many other relays, but most are too low in power to be received regularly. All of the stations broadcast the same programmes, but on the quarter and half-hour local announcements, such as weather forecasts, are heard. Reports should be sent to the network chief engineer at Tokyo. Nippon Hoso Kyokai, roughly the Japanese equivalent of the BBC, has many stations, which relay two main programmes. The two key stations are at Tokyo-JOAK on 590 kes. and JOAB on 690 kes. JOAK is well received

100 kilowatts, often breaks through 4KQ Brisbane on the same channel, even before the Australian closes. NHK relay stations which put in good signals include JOIL Sapporo (570 kcs:), JOBK Osaka (670 kcs.), JOBB Osaka (830 kes.), JOQK Niigata (850 kes.), JOLB Fukuoka (870 kcs.), JOHK Sendai (890 kes.), JOKP Kitami (990 kes.), and JOHB Sendai (1090 kes). Reports to all NHK stations should be sent to the Chief of the International Section, Broadcasting Corporation of Japan, Tokyo. Verifications are colourful cards. Since the war, Japan has taken to commercial broadcasting in a big way, The programmes, apart from the language, are much the same as anywhere else, and copying information for a report is not difficult. Best of the commercials is JOKR "Radio Tokyo," on 950 kes., which is the loudest signal from Japan most mornings. It has English broadcasts at 3.0 am. JOQR (1130 kes.), Tokyo, JONR (1010 kes.), Osaka, JOFR (1190 kes.), Fukuoka, JOOR (1210

kes.), Osaka, and JOHR (1230. kes.) Sapporo, are also well received. Around the World Reception on shortwave is at its peak during daylight and signals from all | parts of the world are being heard. BBC signals are very strong in the 25metre band to 11.15 a.m., and in the 31 and 41-metre bands until signing off at 3.0 p.m. Reception falls off after dark, but stations in the Pacific and Far East still provide good signals. Canada: The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will have a special Empire | Games transmission to New Zealand from 7.30 to 8.0 p.m. on July 31, August 1 and August 3 to 8, probably on 5970 ‘kes. (50-metre band) and 9630 kes. (31metre band). North Borneo; This is a new country to start broadcasting on short-wave. Radio Sarawak, a low-powered station at Jesselton, took the air on June 7. On 4870 kes, (60metre band) the station opens at 10.30 p.m. and broadcasts in English for one hour. Local language programmes follow. The station broadcasts again in Pravin for 15 minutes before closing at 1.45