SHORT-WAVE NOTES

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 18, 18 November 1927, Page 13

SHORT-WAVE NOTES

MR. SELLENS’ REPORT, Mr. I. W. Sellens, of Northland, Wellington, writes ;- My list of stations on short waves.for the past weck is not a large one, but includes the new B.B.C, station, 5SW, Chelmsford, both testing and on their first Empire broadcast. On Friday evening, November 4, 6AG, Perth, gave some good musical items and announced that he is testing almost every evening from 6.30 o’clock West Australian time (10.30 p.m. for New Zealand summer time). KDKA end 8AJ were both heard on Saturday afternoon, and in the evening RIN transmitted some enjoyable musical items, while 70W was heard testing. Later on, about 11.50 p.m., SSW, Chelmsford, England, was picked up on a wave-length of 24 metres. The transmission consisted of gramophone re-cords-the maker’s name and number of record being given and sometimes the title. The only announcement lieard was: Tullo! Hullo! Hullo! 5SW, Chelmsford, testing. Woping to hear some notice of further tests, I listened till 230 a.m., getting a complete log of all records, names and numbers at loudspeaker strength after the first half an hour. On Sunday-I tuned 5SW at about 3 3.m. and listened till 6 p.m.-most o the time on the speaker. During this time, besides the usual call and name of records, the announcer, who was a different one from the earlier part of the transmission, called several friends in different parts of the world, hoping to see them again soon, ete., and in several instances sending Christmas greetings. . Just before retiring at 10 p.m., I listened again for a few minutes, but 5SW was getting very weak. Again in the morning at 7.30 a.m. be was only just audible. KDKA and 2XAF were both heard on Sunday afternoon, the latter at good strength. A short wave friend said he heard 2XAF rebroadcasting 5SW, which was received louder than direct from Chelmsford. On Monday evening REN put on some good orchestral music. 255, New South Wales (another to the list) and vAJ were heard on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday evening 3AU was the only station heard. This amateur was again heard en Thursday working 2RC. 6AG and RFN were also heard, REN was at its best’on Friday evening. While waiting for 5SW on Friday, a station on about 100’ metres was heard. "Perth" was a part of the call, so it was probably 6WE, From 11.15 to 11.45 p.m. the service from Canterbury Cathedral was heard. the latter portion on the speaker, All that was said could not be ctearly heard, but the service could be followed quite well. The organ recital from St. Mary Le Bow came through quite good, as did { the ten minutes’ talk by the Director-. General of the B.B.C. nearly the whole of the speech being heard. Although these proceedings were fairly well received, the volume or claritv was not quite as good as during the previous week-end when 8SW was testing. This nrohably would be on

account of the items being relayed] ron places at a distance from Chelmsord, : Fhe Saturday morning remembrance festival was a failure as far as Wellington was concerned. At 8,30 the Carrier wave was heird, but not a suggestion of speech or musie. I heard more howling valves on the short waves on this occasion than ever before, spoiling both their own and other } listeners’ chances of reception. During the latter part of this (Saturday) afternoon, KDKA was good. They were relaying a programme from the Georgian Room of the Westinghouse Hotel. A song bv Carry O’Brien was announced to have uever been broadcast before, }