Short Wave Notes

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 30, 10 February 1928, Page 4

Short Wave Notes

Ee AN INTERESTING WEEK -- ATLANTIC TELEPHONY Mr. F, W. Sellens writes:-In reply to the query by Mr. G. C. McDiarmid re foreign station on about 40 metres. It may be the Japanese station JHBB on 37.5 metres, which is, I understand, carrying out tests on that wavelength. Further telephony tests hetween England aud America have been heard since writing last. Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from about 6 till 6.30, are the times to listen for these interesting tests. On Saturday afternoon, January 28, KDKA was fair speaker strength at 4 o’clock. Soon after this a lady (soprano) sang, with orchestral accompaniment. At 4.28 p.m. it was-an-nounced: ‘-- favourite -- ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ -- at the piano, Madame da Kutcha.’" (I am not sure of the lady’s name, but that is what it sounded like.) ‘This lady then sang "Home, Sweet Home," which was received very well at loudspeaker strength. After the song Madame da Kutcha said a few words (not understood). ‘The announcer said, "Thanks, Madame da Kutcha, on behalf of the radio audience." After this the weather reports were given, after which the sta. tion closed down at 11.63 Kastern standard time (4.363 New Zealand summertime). R.I.N. was the only short-wave station heard during the evening. , KDKA were again heard on Sunday afternoon, relaying a meeting, signing off at 4.80, our time. Reception was fair speaker strength, but mmshiy. 2XAF was very good after 5 p.m. Dance music was being relayed by the -- Jazz Orchestra from the Rainbow Room, New Central Hotel, St. Albany, N.Y. After announcing that the programme was broadcast through WGY, WHAM, WDL, and WMAK, they signed off at one minute to midnight, K.S.T. On Monday morning, from 7 o’clock,. 310 was heard, but I do not think they were quite as loud as usual. This transmission, according to cable news, was received in Britain better than any before. , ~ RIN was the only station heard this evening and on Tuesday, 2XAD and 5SW were having anothei little chat across the Atlantic on Wednesday morning, At 5.55 a.m. 5SW was reading a report on reception from 2XAD; this was being repeated by the latter station, the American’s voice being quite intelligible, hut weaker than the Englishman’s. During this report "sun spots’? and "magnetic storms’ were mentioned as being troublesome. As the American couglied several times, he was asked, "You could do with a drop of whisky, couldn’t you?" Re-J ply: "Yes!" At 6.25 a.m. 5SW said: "See you again on Friday. Well, cheerio. Hope your cold will be better by Friday. Bye-bye." I could not hear anything of 2XAD direct. The same morning from 6,10 o’clock a foreign station was heard at 40 metres at good ’phone strength, but jerky, modulation, speaking Inglish at times. The following was repeated several times: ‘‘Radio station--near--, will spell that’’; here followed as near as I could get them-BILL, (If or C) URIS. The wavelength was given as 40 metres, also 39.20 metres was mentioned. Something was said about every day except Sunday 17 (?) till 18 (?) GMI, Also, "We beg you to certify---longitude and latitude," This is a station to try for each morning, except Monday hetween about 6 and 7 12M ae j .

5SW was againtuned in about 7.35 a.m, when a lady was advising her listeners how to prepare sandwiches for railway journeys. One item was, to include beet in ham sandwiches. This is the first time talk has been readable after 7.30 a.m. from 5SW. 2AT Wellington was testing in the cyening. Thursday morning ANE on 18.99 metres was quite good, but body capacity was troublesome. He called amateurs in America, Australia, New Zealand, etc., and gave their times of transmissions on 15.938 metres. They were, Wednesday, hursday and Friday at 12.40 till 1440 GM.T. (1.10 a.m. till 3.10 am. the following days New Zealand summer time). Something was said about Sunday, February) 5, which I could not get. A friend told me that 2ME started transmitting a programme at 7.80 a.m. for American reception, which came through at good strength. I was "off the air" before this time. 2G Goulburn, New South Waks, was quite good for a short time during the evening. On Iriday morning } PCJJ was heard at its old-time volume and clarity from 6.15 a.m. till 7.30 a.m. When I closed down it was still good strength. Static, morse and a howling valve spoilt what would otherwise have been a good programme, The stranger on 40 metres heara Wednesday morning was heard again, but not clear enough to find out who it is. At 6.50 p.m. 3AU Rangiora was calling ‘C.O.’? Later on at just before 11 p.m., } tuned in a Japanese station on about 87.5 metres, which I think is JHBB. The call was not clear enough to be certain. At the end of each talk and musical item1 some morse was heard which I take to be the cail. Volume:

was very good with some fading. Modulation rough with an unsteady hum. At 11.25 a musical (?) item was heard played on a stringed instrument. Another item followed of the same description. After the usual morse, a string orchestra was heard, The Japs evidently like this sort of noise, but I did not think much of itno ear for good music evidently! On Saturday mornng 5SW was heard at 6 a.m., calling "Hullo 2XAD" repeatedly, then ‘‘yonur signals are very weak," but apparently did not get any reply. 2XAD’s signals were not audible here-just a faint carrier. The 40 metres foreigner was again too rough in modulation to understand his talk, but signals were quite strong.