On Shortwave

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 35, 16 March 1928, Page 12

On Shortwave

BETTER RECEPTION NOW Be THE HOWLING NUISANCE Mr. F. W. Sellens (Northland) writes :- The slogan of "Don’t do it’? applies to the short-wave listeners, now that there are more on the job. Several times during the past week or two there was some squealing, especially on Sunday afternoon, on 2XAPF, just before they elosed down, when their volume was fairly good. Tor best reception it is necessary to keep just below this stage, otherwise, beside spoiling other listeners’. enjoyment, the operator is not getting the best out of his set. Now that we are back to standard time, it is possible to hear more of 5SW’s morning test; uor is it neces sary to stay up so late for their evening transmission, which starts at 12 p.m., New Zealand time. The morning programme during the past week las been as follows:-6.30 a.m.: Big Ben; ‘‘London calling." Then a lecturette till about 6.45 a.m. This is followed by piano duets till 7 a.m., when another lecturette is given. At 7.15 a.m. (7.45 p.m. in London) the evening programme starts with orchestral music. The volume by this time is getting weak, and I have to leave home. With the shorter days it should be possible to hear the greater part of London’s evening programme. PCJJ comes in very well now each morning till just after 6 a.m., when they close down.

RFM on 70 metres is not nearly so ood as it was on 60, On Saturday afternoon, March 8, KDA were "off the air’? before I tun ed in, Y%XAD were in good form, being fair speaker strength, with two of audio. The ‘"VPalmolive-keep that schoolgirl complexion"? people were providing the musical items. Every arnouncement was the ‘Palmolive Orches tra,’ ‘Palmolive Quartet," ete. The last item was ‘Land of Hope and Glory," by the whole party and orchestra, which was received very good. ‘They signed off at 11.2 p.m., Eastern standard time. Later on 2XG, on abou 2% metres, was carrying out his usnal word test: ‘Write down diameter," "Write down picnic," ete. REM was on 70 metres in the evening. 2\B, Wanganui, and 1AR, Auckland, were heard on Sunday mormng.’ KDKA closed down about 2.30 p.m. before their volume was strong enough to enjoy. 2XAl, on 82.4 metres, were relaying music from the rainbow room of the Albany Hotel, New York, till 4.30 p.m., New Zealand time. 2AQ, ‘Taihane. was also heard during the afternoon, 2BH, working; 2BI and REM were on the air during the evening. About 6 a.m. on Monday morning orchestral music and talk was heard on about 83 metres. It was too weak to get a call, but was probably 2NM (Marcuse). 38L0 on 82 metres started at 6 a.m. with their weekly short-wave test. As usual, they were received at splendid volume and modulation. RFM during the evening was good, but not as strong as they used to be. At 5.40 a.m. on Tuesday imorning a foreign station on about 87 metres was heard. ‘Talk was too weak to get the eall. Big Ben was heard at 6.80 a.m. thrcugh 5SW. Mr. ---, dramatic eritic, spoke after the call-‘London calling’’-was given. Piano duets followed the talk.

REM was the only station heard during. the evening. : PCJJ was tened in at 5.10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, and was received at fair speaker volume till 6.35 am. The next «transmission was announced as on ‘Thursday, March 8, from 14-19, G.M.T. 5SW and 2XAD were heard haying their usual talk, reports ‘of reception Were read. Reception was not quite as good as usual, signals being weaker, but clear enough. From 6.30 a.m. Big Den, talks, piano duets, and orchestral sclections were heard till 7.20, when I closed down. 5SW was again heard at midnight for a few minutes, at better volume than in the morning, but not so strong as 1 expected. Karly on Thursday morning 2XG on 24.5 metres this time was heard on his usual "write down." ‘This is the first time 2 have heard him during the early morning-about 6.45 am. This station wotlzs on various wavelengths. One Svndav afternoon I heard hiin sign off on one wave and came across him later on omch higher up. A station on about 86 metres was heard, but too faint to get a call sign. At 6.80 am, SSW was again heard quite well, with the usual Big Ben, etc. R¥M and a station on about 84 metres pitting on musical items and talk, asking fer reports to be sent to --, Christchurch, were heard. ‘Ihe latter station was verv weak and not steady ; the wave was swinging all the time. On Friday morning PCJJ was held from 5,15 a.m. till 6.38 a.m., when they signed off. The last item was the Dutch National Anthem sung by a choir. ‘This was followed by the announcement that their next transmission would be on Saturday, March 10, M4-17.GMT. Big Ben was heard at 6.30 a.m., followed by a lecturette, piano duets, another letturette, and orchestral items, At midnight, 5SW was listened to for a few moments; after Big Ben chiming the half-hour some organ music was broadcast. On Saturdav morning the usual tall between. Hingland and America was heard. In reading a report from 5SW, he said it was "scrappy" because thev often altered the circuit and made adjustments while listening. ‘Of course we are not talking for the fun of the thing, but to make improvements," During their talk, 5SW mentioned that their loudspeaker was within three feet of the microphone. The Chelmsford station was again heard at 6.80 a.m, with their usual prosramme, Big Ben and S‘London calling" ‘being stronger than usual,