The Miracle of Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 34, 9 March 1928, Page 5

The Miracle of Short Wave

TWO OUTSTANDING EVENTS IN THE WEEK Last week was notable for two outstanding events in the shortwave field. The first was of intense local interest in recording the arrival at his home town, Bundaberg, of the intrepid Australian flier Hinkler after the greatest flight in history. This was broadcast both on the ordinary wavelengths and on the short-wave medium, and some local enthusiasts secured satisfactory reception. The number of those interested in short-wave contact with the outside world is steadily increasing and events of this nature will tend to entice others into the field. In this connection the interesting notes contributed week by week by Mr. Sellens are undoubtedly playing their part in creating general interest. The second event of moment was #ie contact made by the well-known Gisborne amateur, Mr. Ivan O’Meara, with America in order to secure the outcome of the Heeney-Delaney fi,ght. This would seem not to have been broadcast as other more notable recent fights have been and it was necessary for Mr. O’Meara to make contact with another amateur for him to be put in touch with the "Boston Globe" from whose reporters he was able to secure a concise summary of the fight and its outcome. The incident, however, sesves to illustrate just how tremendously the barriers of distance have been broken down, and give point to the views of Senatore Marconi, expressed elsewhere in this issue, regarding the tremendous possibilities ‘of the next five years.

Mr. I’. W. Sellens (Northland) writes: On account of 2YA announcing the Proposed broadcast of the arrival of Hinkler at Bundaberg, I was "on the air" ready for him and did well. Reception from.5SW from 7.30 a.m, continues to improve. ‘The station calling "‘Su Japanese" has again been heard on about 81 metres. The 40-metre Station is still doubtful as.to its identity. Short wave listeners will have to arise one hour earlier now for the early morning transmissions. On Saturday afternoon, Vebruary 25, both KDKA and 2XAD came in fairly well late in the afternoon, but the modulation of the former station has gone off a lot lately. During the evening, on 385 metres, the call JOAK was heard. It appeared to be the children’s session, as children were singing very nicely, then am "Auntie" told them stories, and more singing. After 10 p.m. a lesson in English (so it seemed) was given. ‘They started off with ‘On a summer’s day," then repeated in Jap., a few more words in English, and so on. Then the whole was read in English, ‘The longer and more difficult words were spelt. I did not hear the call of the short-wave station, but they were apparently relaying JOAK, as that call was heard several times

RIM was transmitting on 70 metres. I got up for a few minutes early on Sunday morning to see how PCJJ were coming through, and was well repaid for the trouble. "Always"? was coming through in great stvle at 5.30 a.m. This was followed by two banjo items which concluded the programme, with the announcement that they were closing down till Tuesday 28 from 15 till 19, G.M.T. It is a pity that reception is best from "over there" when all good people: should be in bed. KDKA closed down in the afternoon before 4 p.m. 2XAF were heard verv well relaying music from a hotel interspersed with items from the WGY studio. They closed down at midnight Taster standard time. 2XAF announced their wavelength as 31.4 metres; it has been 82.77 til] now.

A station on about 33 metres was heard transmitting music and talk early in the evening. It was probably 2NM (Marcuse). Reception was very weak and spoilt by morse interference. QHM Bondi, N.S.W., and REM were heard later o11 in the evening. 3LO, Melbourne, on 32 metres, started at 7 a.m. Mondav morning, and, as usual, were very good. Hinkler’s Arrival, Late in the afternoon I was advised that ‘‘Farmer’s"’ were going to broadcast the arrival of Hinkler at his home town of Bundaberg, so I tuned in 2ME on 28.5 metres, and found they were ‘‘on the air’? with musical items from 2FC Studio, filling in the time till the airian was expected. They switched over quite a number of times before any news was heard. 40G, from where the broadcast originated, announced that they were connected up with Bundaberg by land line, and were being rebroadcast by all the southern stations. The announcements and music from 2FC studio were loud and clear, but the talk from Brisbane was not at all clear; the land lines and rebroadcast would account for this. At 6.40 p.m. (our time) the spectators started, ‘‘Look, there he is-right up there over the clouds."’ with loud shouting and cheering. ‘The announcer described how he (the airman) was getting closer and circling the town and Ianded at 6.48 p.m. "Tlie crowds are rushing over," "Just jumped ont of the ’plane,’" ‘Carrying him shoulder high,’? were some of the particulars announced. During this the bands were plaving "See the Conquering Hero." ‘Home At Last’? was heard from the people. At 6.57 the official party mounted the platform when Hinkler was welcomed by the Mayor of Bundaberg, Colonel Brinsnmieade, Hon. W. McCormack, Premier of Queensland, who in conclusion presented Hinkler with a cheque for £500 on behalf of the Queensland Government. Mr. Barber, M.L.A., and the secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, also said a few words. Hinkler, in replying,. said: ‘--- "Your reception is overwhelming--too overcome for words-glad to be home again among you all," In returning to the studio, 2FC announced that, as overseas listeners probably did not hear all that was said on account of land line noises, etc., lie would repeat the various items of interest, He then repeated all the particulars in full that I have outlined,

giving the time of each announcement. A. ‘nutsical item from the studio and reference to closing down ended a very interesting transmission, Other Stations. On Tuesday morning, the 40-metre "mystery station was the only one heard, while 2AB, Wanganui, and 4NW, Queensland, were on the air in the evening. PCJJ was in splendid form on Wedanesday. I tuned them in at 5.25 a.m. and held them most of the time till 7.45 a.m. A good gramophone programme was enjoyed, volume was quite good ’speaker strength till about 7. 30, when it began to decrease. ‘Hello, Su Japanese’? was heard calling and ‘talking during the above period, almost as loud as PCJJ. Foreign tall was all that was heard, with the "Su Japanese’ as frequent intervals. Domestic Gossip From London. On Wednesday morning 5S5W was telling 9XAD all about his transmission, etc. Later on an American visitor came to the ‘Mike’ and asked

for "Ted or Fred,’’ and asked him to tell Mrs. (giving her telephone number) that "I will be home a week come Thursday." ‘Tell her I have lad all I want of English weather." "Tell her I am extremely lonesome, alone in a London hotel," etc.

At 7.30 Big Ben and "London Calling’? was heard on the speaker quite well, followed by a talk about motor ambulances and motor accidents and deaths, giving figures, etc. I gathered that he was appealing for funds for the ambulance. At 7.45 ‘London Calling" and Miss -- will sing and play ---, I heard the first item by this lady, but had to close down at that time. This was all heard from the speaker-not loud, but audible three or four feet away. It should be possible soon to hear quite a lot of this morning test on the loudspeaker. The 40-metre station and a stranger on about 86 metres were heard on Thursday morning, but neither were intelligible. 4NW, Queensland, was testing in the evening, and RIM put on some good musical items, which were very enjoyable. On Friday morning PCJJ again were heard at good volume, steadiness and modulation, At 7.25 a.m., when I closed, they were still coming in very strong. SAW, South Australia, was calling an American station. I heard someone giving musical items on about 80 metres, but static was too bad. It was probably a harmonic of an Australian station. 5SW was quite good on Saturday morning just after 6 a.m., with their talk to 2XAD, at 20ft. from the speaker; every word of the Knglishman could be understood, the other voice could be heard, but only an odd word or two readable. (They are, so it was said, each listening to the other through a loudspeaker. Big Ben came in loud and clear at 7.80 a.m,

German Stations Heard. A, P. Morrison (Brooklyn): Since last writing you, I have been suecessful in logging three more foreign stations, the. first being on February 17 at about 8,30 pam: On first: listening to him, he was ‘calling different countries, Hullo, Hullo, Japanese, Hullo Germany, Hullo Austria. After that there were long speeches by three different men, ‘The station continued on till a little after nine, when it eloscd. He was operating on 81 metres, and his strength and modulation was perfect. No call was given in Iinglish. ‘The following morning a German station was logged at abont 6.45 a.m., giving his call as R,S.R. Harlsoue, Germany. No music was given; all speech. A little was under-

stood, such as ‘Dear friend . . . Summer very hot... 85 years since that happened." This station continued on till 8 a.m., and was still going when I closed down at that time. On Thurs. day, February 28, I received another German station operating on about 32 metres, giving his identity as AFAK or AFA. He began at about 10.45, and then there was speech and music, I heard two items, they being ‘The Stars and Stripes,’"? American National Anthem, and also the "French National Anthem’; also other well-known musical items. This station was again heard on Friday and Saturday, his transmission rutining well on till after midnight. Friday, February 25, was a good day for SW. 2ME, Sydney, 4NW, Bondi, N.S.W., AFAK, Germany, REM, Russia, ANE, Java, PCJJ, Holland all being heard. To-day (Sunday), when 2XAF signed off at 5.39. p.m., our time, he gave his wave-length as 81.4 metres, not his usual 382.77 metres. I will conclude here, hoping to give yon more foreigners as time goes on, because it seems to me each country in the world is waking »n te the fact about SW transmission. P.S.-To-night (February 26) JHBB is on the air again with some more of the high call music and singing. 1. Weir (Waiketu Island): I notice in the ‘*Radio Record" of February 21 vou welcome reports re 2YA reception I am located about 20 miles from Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf. I have a five-valve set with a 90ft. aerial, and I may state 2YA is my worst station. In fact, I never tune in when I can get 1YA or 8YA, as one cannot leave the set when listening to 2YA, as one has got to be continually altering the volume and amplification, The programmes from the New Zealand’ stations have been very good of late, but could do with a few more of the- oldlime songs; Scotch or Irish. Have you given up all idea of publishing the Sydney or Melbourne programmes? Is it not’ possible to have them broadcast from Australia in time for publication in that week’s ‘Radio Record," which would be greatly appreciated by a great number of vour readers. In fact, I think it would pay to publish an Australian by itself. Carry on the good work.-[We have heen able to publish 2BI/S programme for part of the week recently. The trouble is they don’t reach us in time.--Fd.] The Hinkier Broadcast. R. L. Joncs (Wellington) : Obviously aviation and wireless ere, of necessity, closely related, both during manoeuvres

and special flights. ‘Therefore, listeners who have been fortunate enough to tune-in broadcast or short-wave stations and received accounts of airmen, lave been well repaid for the little trouble in so doing. Take a case in point-Monday night, Iebruary 27, between 10.15 and 11.45 (N.Z. time), 4QG (Brisbane) broadcast the civic welcome to Herman (Bert) Hinkler at Bundwberg, Queensland. Although a line was hurriedly installed by the P. and T. Department in Oueensland, the broadcast was worth while. Listeners who "fluked’’ on the special transmission from Bundaberg naturally had to put up with slight "mush" and "blurring" from 40G, but by careful handling of a receiving set, it was possible to hear almost every word fairly clearly. Another notable case was when Captain Cobham arrived in Australia. In most cases these special transmissions are unexpected; at least, not publicly notified beforehand; therefore, listeners have to be on the alert in case anything special is likely to ‘come over." With short-wave the same applies; ‘and listeners who desire good, interest ing pastime, should provide themselves with a short-wave set. Only those who heard the ceremony broadcast from Bundaberg have any idea what a splendid reception Hinkler received; and the noise was deafening, when he rose to acknowledge the many tributes passed to him by the prominent persons who spoke at the civic welcome, I sincerely hope the dey is not far distant when the Broadcasting Com pany here in New Zealand will be able to "serve un" to advantage, some of the breadcasts from overseas.--I We agree en the technical difficulties permit! -tTtd,