ON SHORTWAVE

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 27, 20 January 1928, Page 5

ON SHORTWAVE

PCJJ RETURNS

Mr. F. W. Sellens reports.-Short-wave reception is still suffering from summer time conditions, especially from the American stations: On Saturday morning, January 7, Big Ben was heard, after which a man’s voice was heard wishing all his old colleagues a happy New Year. Could not hear enough to understand what his talk was about. KDEA was not heard till after 4 p.m., and then weak ’phone strength at its best. QXG, Rocky Point, N.Y., was heard testing on about 22.5 metres, and later on, about 82.5 metres. After testing on the latter wavelength, he said ‘This completes the test on wavelength No. 22." When testing, he said ‘‘Write down amateur,’ ‘‘write clown expansion,’ ‘write down equation,’ etc. et. All the words to ‘write. down," if not clearly spodken, would be hard, to understand. _ 4A Gore and REN were heard in the evening, static being bad on the latter station. On Sunday afternoon KDK9 was not strong enough for the speaker till just before they closed down at 4.36 p.m. It was mushy. Q2XALF was also very weak singing. off at 5.31 p.m. RIN was the only short-wave station heard during the evening. 8L0 was tesling on 382 metres on Monday morning from 7 a.m. Music from gramophone records was received at good speaker volume, Fading was worse than usual. As PCJJ was to transmit their first regular programme on Tuesday morn--ing after their two months’ silence, I was up bright and early. 38BY Melboutne, on about 81 metres, and a foreign station on about 18 metres trans--mitting high-class music were heard before the Dutch station started. PCJ started at 4.50 am. with the "Dutch National Anthem. This was followed by a programme of gramophone items. Reception was _ spoilt by a morse station. The volume was disappointing after the strength they were heard on the previous Friday up till 7.30 am. Signals got so faint, that to me, they were not audible after. about 6.30 a.m. ANE Java was transmitting a progtamme of musical items, received at good volume, but was also spoilt by motse. 7CW was heard during the evening. On Wednesday morning, Big Ben, through 5SW, was only just audible. RM was very good on Thursday evening. Band, accordion (or a similar instrument) and orchestral music was heard before 10.30 p.in. _ On Friday morning ANTE was tuned in at 5.20 a.m., when talk was heard till 5.30 a.m. After this, gramophone music was transmitted. Reception was good speaker strength and modnlation, except for a short period, good. They called ‘Hullo amateurs in --" here followed many countries. A long list of names and addresses was read "from all parts of the world, South Aftica, Australia, and New Zealand _predeminating, but included England, China, India, etc. Among’ the names were Mr. Rait, Brooklyn, and myself, All were thanked for valuable particulars, and advised that future reports were welcome, . PCJ] vas on the air, not strong enough to enjoy. ‘

5SW were heard commencing their regular morning transmission. I missed Big Ben, but could hear a man and woman talking. Too weak to understand. It was interesting to note that PCJJ and 5SW were about the same volume at 7.35 a.m.; both weak, but just strong enough to understand nature of transmissicn-speech or music. REN, the most consistent short-wave station of all, was up to its usual form during the evening. Other Good Performances, A. P. Morrison (Brooklyn): Having had a fairly long holiday at Christmas, I have had more time to search for DX short-wave stations. On Thursday, January 5, I received 2XAM on 23.8 metres, broadcasting programme from WJZ, New York City, New York, between 3.45 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. Some of the items heard were two pianoforte items by Ollie Yetton, also items by Edward Rice, violinist, The strength of this station was quite good working three valves on ’phones, because I believe it does not broadcast on extra high power. Saturday, January 7, I received station 2XAL on approximately 81 metres, relaying programme from WRNY, New York. The programme consisted of items by the Georgia Minstrel Boys in songs and patter, also selections from the Remington Band from the Remington "Studio, New York, the conductor being Kdwin Danials. Also last night, January 7, I heard Cartos Braggio, Buenos Ayres, station RCB8, on 45 metres, putting over gramophone items. Before closing he and his son gave a long talk in Spanish. I logged him at 11.15 p.m., and he closed down at 12.5 a.m. This morning, January 8, I heard what I believe to he PCJJ, Holland, carrving out a preliminary test. I read wliere this station was to reopen again, but not till Tuesday morning, and thought they might carry out a test before that, so rose at 6 a.m. and nicked this station up at 6.15 a.m. The volume was equal to 2XAF at its best, and I could distinctly hear people talking in the studio. © One or two musical items were heard, but no announcement. What makes me more sure it was PCJ] was that six or seven carrier-waye adjustments were made. I did not hear him after 7 a.m. I also heard 5CW, Chelmsford, England, on the morning of Monday, January 2, 1.30 a.in., but reception was difficult

on account of morse. On Friday, January 6, 2XAI’s programme came in at great strength. He gave his wavelength at 31.2 instead of the usual 82.77 metres. I might state that station KFON, 242 metres, runs late every Monday night until 10 p.m., sometimes till 10.80 p.m, I have also heard him other nights also running late.