Listening-in on the Old World

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 28, 27 January 1928, Page 4

Listening-in on the Old World

| need --BNGLISH-AMERICAN CONVERSATION : OVERHEARD | | The remarkable experience of listeners- in on a two-way telephone / conversation between England and America was enjoyed by Mr. F. W. Sellens on Saturday evening last. The conversation could be reasonably followed by Mr. Sellens-as is described in the accompanying notes- | and the feat must be regarded as outstanding.

Mr. Sellens in his ‘weekly report } Says iIhave received advice from Messrs. Philips, lamps that PCJJ will be testing on their old wavelength of 30.2 metres o11 Wednesday and Friday morning from 6.30 till 9.30 a.m., New ZeaJand suimmer-time. ‘This will be too late for good reception this time of the year. New Zealand and Aussie amateurs on short-wave telephony are still conspicuous by their absence, except an odd one or two. On Saturday afternoon KDKA was heard, but was very faint. During the evening RIN put on some very fine music. KDKA and 2XAF were both weak on Sunday afternoon, the former being the best, but spoilt by morse interference. 84J, Rangiora, was testing, and RIFN was on the air in the evening, Monday morning at 7 o'clock found 3L0, Melbourne, giving their usuai weekly test programme. KDKA was also heard early transmitting musical items from their studio, This station has been heard on several Monday mornings recently, so they are evidently transmitting on 26 metres early every Sunday afternoon, Eastern standard time. 2G, Goulburn, Victoria, and RI'N, were heard during the evening. RFN was the only short-wave station heard on ‘Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning I was well repaid for getting up early, receiving music from the four corners of the globe. ANE, Java, on 31.86 metres, was the best yet, both in volume, modulation, atid steadiness. The programme consisted of gramophone records and talks in Dutch, also some announcement in very good Fnglish. As on a preyious occasion, he read a long list of persons who had sent reports. We also said that the next rtransmission would he to-morrow on 15.93 imetres, at 6.40 till 7.40, G.M.T. Another station (Dutch, I think), on about 42 metres, was tuned in at fair ’phone strength, but too mushy to understand much. Once he said in Fnglish, ‘Here is short-wave — station -," but I missed the naine or call letters. He finished about 6.15 a.m. A little Jater, on about 22 metres, a voice was heard saving, "I don’t really know the name of that myself," in a Yankee tongue, but was too weak just then to get any more. I then discovered 5SW was on the air, saying "CGood-night, AXAD,’ and then something about next Friday, apparently in reference to a talk I had not heard ~-but Iam after them on Saturday morning. After saving good-night, he says, ‘As we say in Iingland--Checrio," followed by a hearty langh, They then went off the air. I then went back to the station on 22 metres and found it to be 2AX¥AD at much better volume, and giving musical items, but not any reference to 5SW. , PCJT was forgotten till 7 a.m.,. when they were lieard, but very weak At 7.80 Big Ben was heard on the ‘Speaker with 8 of audio through 55W, followed by "Twondon calling’ and "We will continue our talks on ---," but could not understand any mor, ,

From 7.50 till 8.20 p.m, Wednesday evening I got the previously announced transmission from ANE on 15.98 metres, ninsic and a lecture being heard at good ’phone strength, but very unsteady and hard to hold on account of body capacity due to such high frequency, This is the shortest wave station I have heard on telephony. QAP Wairoa was heard later in the evening. On Thursday evening 4AK Gore; QAP Wairoa; RFN Russia, and 4NW Queensland, testing with 2BU, Wellington ,New Zealand. (Not in my call book.) ANIS was heard again on Friday morning from about 65.45 a.m., quite good, but not so loud as Wednesday. They closed down about 7 a.m., after their usual programme of music, talks and request for reports. An announcement was made that the Hext transmission wiuld be from ANH on 15.98 metres on Saturday, January 21 from 12.40 till 14.40 G.M.T. The foreign (thought to be Dutch) ‘station on about 42 metres was again heard, some music. this time, but too Wweatx and mushy to get their call. | PCIJ started at 6,30 a.m., but was ‘too weak to understand any announce‘ments. At 7.30 the carrier only was just available. | Big Ben was heard very faintly at 7.30 am. through 5SW, but nothing further, except very faint talk. On Saturday morning I found SSW ‘nd 2X¥AD carrying out a two-way telephony test from about 6 am, Only odd words could be heard at first, but by 6.15 a.m. most of the English side of the conversation could be heard and parts of the American by listening to ‘55W. Tuning to 2XAD, the reverse was the case, but signals were the stronger from TFingland i.e. quite fair phone. ‘he following is a sample of the talk from the Finglish side: ‘At Big Ben a microphone is inside a football and stays there all the time.’ "Wow are you getting ’on with PCJJ ‘these days?" (Answer not heard.) This cirenit is as good as the Rugby circuit has ever been." "I am going to put out a call some day-CQ., ABC, Wa! Ha!" Then came something about ‘Wednesdays and Fridays programmes from you to us.’ ‘Can you give me any idea of the power you are using at QXAD?? The reply was asked to be repeated, as 5SW could not get him at first, but I think he said, "7 Kilowatts." Another time he (the Englishman) was reading a report of reception from 2XAT) spread over a period-"Signals strong, fading, slow and regular, modulation good, Jady talking in studio, ete., ete." The queried foreign station on 42 metres was good phone strength again this morning, but still too mushy to ect call, P.S.-It appears this week that it is a case of "the early bird catching the worm,’ The most interesting reception being in the cary morning,