Xmas with the Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 25, 6 January 1928, Page 4

Xmas with the Short Wave

SEASONABLE PROGRAMMES HEARD Several highly interesting programmes were heard during the Christ-mas-New Year period by shortwave enthusiasts, and in his report, given below, Mr. F. W. Sellens refers to the satisfactory reception of the special Empire programme from 5SW (Chelmsford), on Christmas morning, Australia also broadcasted its fifth Empire programme during the week.

There has not been anything sew to report this week, except another Japanese station, but more interesting than usual, says Mr Sellens, in his report: On Thursday morning, Decem. ber 22, at 7.80 a.m., 5SW Chelmsford was heard on their regular test. A talk was being given at first, but this was too weak to understand what it was about. REN was the only short wave station heard during the evening. "OMI, Australia"? was transmitting eatly on Friday morning. ‘They were putting on gramophone records and were still ‘fon the air’ when I shut down at 7.30 a.m. At about 11 p.m. a Japanese station on about 86.5 metres was tuned in who called several times in fairly good English: "I-- short wave beam station, Tokyo, Japan." The call sign consisted of four letters, the first being J, two of us were listening but ‘the other three could not be heard clearly enongh to be sure. Later on a long talk was given in a foreign language -Japanese I suppose. Not any music was heard. Volume was good enough for speaker but modulation was mushy On Saturday at 730 am. Big Ben was heard striking 7 p.m. on Friday evening _ through’ 6SW Chelmsford This was followed by talk which was too weak to understand. The carrier was unsteady. I was home too late in the afternoon for the "Yanks," but heard 2AY Wellington and 4AM Palmerston South calling each other and testing. REN was on as usual during the evening. ; } morning at 3.45 a.m. was the advertised time for the special Empire programme from 5SW, Chelmsford. I tuned them in just before this and got a strong carrier, at 5.48 a long whistle was heard, probably: for tuning purposes At 5.45 Big Ren was heard striking the quarter. I did not hear the first few words as I was called away for a moment:or two, From the start till 4.15 a.m. the Wireless Military Band gave several items with "London Calling" in between. ‘This was followed by vocal items by Miss Jessie. Barker, contralto. At 4,80 a.m Big Ben chimed and struck the hour of four.. This was very good, The

volume was fairly good, modulation perfect, but reception was unsteady as is often the case with short waye reception. On Sunday afternoon KDKA_ was weak, 2XAF after completing their musical programme, broadcast seasonable greetings from WGY in verse, signing off at 11.59} EST. (How’s that for being exact with the time? they often give the time to half a minute). After 2AXI° closed down WLW was ‘heard on 52 metres, but they were very faint. RI‘N start at 9.80 p.m. with talks as usual, a woman talking was, heard later. } STRANGE STATION HEARD. , A strange station on about 31 metres was heard transmitting organ and vocal items, a very strong generation hum spoiling reception. ‘che carrier wave disappeared at 10 p.m, | _ On Monday morning 2FC, through 2M}, on 28.5 metres, were transmitting their fifth Empire programme At 7.10 a.m. the Hon. R. C. Orchard was delivering an address to British listeners, at the end of which a hymn was sung, which he asked listeners to join in. This was followed by some songs by Raymund Ellis, who at the conclusion of his numbers sent greetings to radio artists in England from those in Australia. The transmission concluded at 7.85 a.m. with the National Anthem 3LO were also putting on a programme on short wave on 29.8 metres. Gramophone records and greetings to the people of Britain from promient Australtans were given. At 8.15 KDKA was heard transmitting Christmas carols and organ music. "‘Adeste Fideles," by a choir, and ‘"The Lost Chord" on the organ were particularly good. The volume was better than it has been during the afternoon recently, REN started aboute9.20 p.m., and some very good musical items were heard. On Tuesday afternoon KDKA and QXAF were both heard, but were very weak, During the evening 3BY, Melbourne, on about 31 metres, was putting on gramophone records, Later on REN put on some more music,

In your last issue I read, referring to 5SW, Chelmsford: "Those. who havé heard it, however. say that its: signals are even louder and clearer than the signals from PCJj,."? That bas not been my experience. PCJJ has often been loud enough to hear-all over the house, whereas 5SW at its best was only audible across a fair size room PCJJ used to transmit at a more suitable hour for reception in New Zealand. The end of the period signals are audible here at about 7,80 a.m., and midday is perhaps worse. ;