On Short-wave

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 37, 30 March 1928, Page 5

On Short-wave

SOME NEW STATIONS : GOOD LONDON RECEPTION Mr. F. W. Sellens writes :- On Saturday afternoon, March 17, the "Palmolive" party were again respousible for the programme of music from 2@XAD, which was received at fair speaker strength, and very good modulation. KDKA was heard, but their modulation is still bad. A new American short-wave station was picked up at about 5.15 p.m. on $1.44 metres. ‘his proved to he the short-wave transmitter of WSM, Nashville, 'enn.,, owned by the National Life and Accident Insurance Co., inc. The call given was 4XI). At first they were very weak, but increased in volume as time went on. ‘They signed off at about 7.50 p.m. During this time, the announcer said, ‘‘--~ like to hear from New Zealand, Alaska, North Pole, and South Pole." On Sunday afternoon KDKA was very poor, 2XAT relayed a lecture in reference to St. Patrick’s Day, and later orchestral selections from Albany, New York, signing off at 12.10 p.m., E.S.T. Wave-length given as 81.4 metres. 2AB, Wanganui, was on the air during the afternoon. 4XD, Nashville, Tennessce, was again heard from 4.60 p.m. till about 6 p.m. Morse spoilt reception, but the announcer’s tall was nearly all readable. Q2YD, Sydney, was picked up at fair volume, and good modulation, At 9.45 p.m., "AV, Japanese,’’ was very faintly heard. I do not remember hearing this station during the evening prior to this. On Monday morning, 3ME, Queen Street, Melbourne, announced that they were now changing over to 8L0O, Melbourne, from which station a good programnie was heard. Volume and modulation was good, but slight fading was ‘ noticed.

Music was heard faintly on about 87 ( metres. REM was in the air in the evening. 5SW was heard on ‘Tuesday morning from 6.80 a.m, On Wednesday morning, PCJJ was tuned in early, and a good selection of gramophone items heard till they concluded with the Dutch iNational Anthem at 6.35 a.m. 5SW and 2XAD carried out their usual test. Volume was still better, and their modulation is wonderful. Big Ben was heard at 6.80 a.m. This was followed by a talk by Mr. Bernard Jones, editor of ‘‘Wireless Magazine," entitled, "A Few Notes on Broadcast Listeners."" In reference to the B.B.C. programmes he stated that some people were satisfied and some not. His own opinion was that they had much improved since the new scheme, etc. Pianoforte selections followed, and at 6.57 a.m. it was announced that ‘Mr. Campbell will now’ speak _ to you from Liverpool.’’ A lady announcer at Liverpool then introduced Mr. Campbell, spoke on literary matters. (This was something of a novelty, being a double relay, Liverpool to London, and London to Chelinsford-5SW.) On Thursday morning after Big Ben struck 7 p.m., a talk was given advocating the purchase of British goods as a means of reducing unemployment, RFM was not as strong as usual during the evening. On Friday morning PCJJ was very good, -but reception in mty case was spoilt by a swinging aerial caused by the strong wind at the tim:. The Dutch National Anthem concluded the programime at just turned 6.30 a.m, A voice was heard on about 44 me tres, but too weak and too much jw terference to understand. Irom 5SW after Big Ben, ‘Miss Jennie Hamilton will tell you about sonie of the new novels of the past fortnight.’ After breakfast I tuned them in again, when att orchestra was playing, and later a vocal chorus was heard, this must havt been a relay, as, at the end of the item, clapping could be heard. During the interval when I was ‘‘off

EE a et, el On the air," a friend tells me some Russian folk-songs were heard. As 5SW is increasing in strength received here from week to week, it should be possible at mid-winter here to hear the greater part of the evening programme, as this morning’s test is carried on till 240, London, closes down at about 12 p.m, G.M.’L. (11.80 a.m. N.Z. M.T.). On lT'riday evening REM was heard on 70 metres. 2HM, Bondi, N.S.W., was testing on about 32.5 1actres, On Saturday morning 5S5W_ and 2XAD were reading reports of previous reception from each other, ctc, Reception from 5SW, both on the twoway test and later on from 6.30 a.m. was not so strong as it has been recently. A morse station on the same waye caused some trouble. English-Anierican Tests. W. W. Gray, 4 Grant’s Road, Christchurch: Repeated references in your S.W. column to the conversation lieard on Wednesday aud Saturday mornings, between 5SW and 2XAD have gives many S.W. fans the impression that these stations are on the saine wavelength during these conversations, hetice the reception of both stations at once, On Saturday, March 10, gsw dis- | tinctly stated that both voices were heard owing to the loudspeaker he had \in his office being near the microphoue Both voices are really heard from 5SW, the reply being merely a relay, and as a result not so strong. I have tuned in 2XAD in the lover wavelength, and of course have heard only his side of the talk. , . On Wednesday, @ist I heard the whole evening programme from 55W, who signed on at 6.30 a.m. and off at 10.35 a.m., our time, using a special type of amplifier, New Low Wave Station. ‘A, P. Morrison (Brooklyn): I have to report reception of a new American

short-wave station received on March 17 and 18. This station was first heard on Saturday, March 17, at 6 p.m., After first listening to his music for a little ‘ while an announcement was. made to the effect that it was station 4XG, operated by the National Life and Accident Insurance Co,, Nashville, ‘Tennessee, U.S.A., and it was stated that they were operating on 31.41 metres, and they had been experimenting for the last week, this being their first real short-wave programme, which was being relayed from station WSM, Nashville, Tennessee, .338 metres. Most items heard were by dance orchestra and one or two vocal items, one dance item being ‘‘Charmaine." They closed down somewhere about 7.40 New Zealand time. He was also tuned in on Sunday, March 18. I had been listening to 2XAF till he closed done, and picked up 4XG about 4.40 p.m., broadcasting Irish melodies from WSM. Practically the same announcements were made as the previous day, and he was asking for reports from Alaska and other countries. On both occasions of hearing him his modulation was good and strength was equal to 2XAF, but reception was spoilt by ‘‘brass-founders’? and the old-time interference, the everlasting howler. 4XG closed down on Sunday, March 18, 6.4 p.m., New Zealand time, the announcer there stating it was 12.34, Central standard time. A New Enthusiast. M. Stafford: About a month back I was reading a report in your ‘‘Record" by Mr. Sellens re ‘‘Short-wave Reception," and I thought it would be 4 good pastime in wet weather to have a low-wave machine, so I went in for one. The first night I got REM and JOAK. I could not under-

stand what they said, but I suppose it was all right. The music was good on the loudspeaker. The next morning I got PCJJ, Holland, good on loudspeaker, at about 5 till 7.80 am. About 4 p.m. I got 2XAF, Geteral Blectric Co., relaying music from Wey. I also heard the reception given to Mr. Hinkler when he landed on the beach at Bundaberg. On Monday mornings at 6 a.m, we get ‘News Items" from the Melbourne morning papeis and premophone records, On Wednesday morning we heard London talking to Sydney and Bert Hinkler talking to London; also an English actress. This morning, March 16, after having a good programme from Holland, I turned the dial control round te turn off and heard a voice and a niats giving a lecture, etc. When he finished I heard very plain, ‘London Caliing."? Another lecture followed on education, etc., and the speaker apologised for pronouncing a wrong name last week. When he finished, ‘‘London Calling’ again. I could not hear the. name of the piece-the band played it, but it was the Wireless Military Band at a quarter past 7 am. At 28 minutes past 7 a woman sung a piece entitled "On the Water." .At 23 minutes to 8 a.m. the band played again, and at quarter to 8 a woman sang again. At eight minutes to 8 the" band played a lovely piece of music by Sullivan. At five past 8 a woman sang, and at twenty past it faded away. London On One Valve. S. Saunders, Ghuznee Street-I have just lately built myself a short wave (Continued on Page 16.)

ON SHORT WAVE (Continued from Page 5.) set, one valve, with No. 16 double cotton bunched wire coils, three in the acrial, five in secondary and primary fastened in telephone terminals. The aerial is made variable, being fastened on a # dowel stick and works backwards and forwards, I am using a 406 B yalye, the base of valve being insulated with rubber. My aerial is electrone wire, 85ft. long to set; earth No 18 ordinary electric light cable with three separate earths, one fastened to coil in ground, one on tin and the _ other runs into a bottle of water buried about 2ft. in ashes. I have only been experimenting with it a fortnight; in fact, only taking it up against seven months ago, so I am quite an amateur at the game. On Monday morning at 6.10 am. T got 80 Melbourne at good erystal strength. This morning, imagine my surprise, when at 6.30 o’clock I got a clock booming out 7 p.m., then an announceemnt and piano solo, After that a lady sang and also a gentleman. Then a man spoke for some time, mentioning Tondon several times. TI saw Mr. Sellins personally ahont 8.45 and tie told me I had got HSW, Chelmsford, working on 23 metres, he haying got the same station on his loud speaker,

‘ What I think makes it more remarkable is the situation I am in: surrounded by houses and not the best of aerials, and the set is just an amateur made one.