On Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 41, 27 April 1928, Page 14

On Short Wave

A BIG NEW STATION 50,000 WATTS FROM AMERICA Mr. #. W. Seliens (Northland) writes. -I have not been able to devote as much time as usual during the past week to the short-waves. Saturday, April 14, The afternoon concert from Schenectady usually heard from 2AD was put on by 2XAF,. The programme was again supplied by the Palmolive Company. Reception was very good, especially toward the closing time. In the morning, I tried for 5SW, but apparently they were not on the air at the same time as usual. REM was heard for a short time late in the evening. At 11.35 p.m. 2XG gave us some of his usual ‘Write down Longfellow,’’ ete. . 2¥G, Sydney, was testing,. and was received at good volume and modulation; lie was relaying 2BL, for a time. 5LH, 5DX, TCW, and 3KR, Australian and Tasmanian amateurs, were heard on telephony. PCJJ was very weak when they commenced their early Sunday morning transutission, but iio doubt increased in volume later on. Sunday, April 15. Dauce music relayed from Albany, New York, was heard from 2XAF till 4.34 p.m. Monday, April 16. 7 QNM was just audible before 6 a.m. transmitting some organ music, After this, the carrier only could be heard. 4I,Q were very good from 6 a.m., but fading was bad. RFM had plenty to say in the evening, but not any music wile I was listening. Tuesday, April 17. S5W started at 6.30 a.m. with a talk alter Biy Ben had struck. Wednesday, April 18. POJJ was very good, both in volume and modulation, Just before 6 a.m., au few names were called, listeners who had sent reports from various parts of the world, my mame being in tht list. Big Ben .was heard at 6,30 a.m., followed by "SSW calling, on 24 metres" ; then ‘Daveutry calling." A talk was then given on ‘Pigeon Raising or Pigcon Racing.’? Musical items followed. 7CW was heard during the evening. ‘this ‘lasmanian amateur comes in very strong. Thursday, April 19. SSW started their transmission with a talk as usual after Big Ben struck. SDX, or, as he announces 5DonX, was the only one heard on the short time while i was listening during the evening, Friday, April 20. 5SW and YXAD were testing, giving reports of reception, discussing programmes, etc. PCJJ was again very good till they closed down at 6.85 a.m. with their National Anthem. 5SW. started again at 6.30 a.m. | REM was received very weak the evening. . In the March issue of ‘*Modern less," just rece:ved, are particulars of a new, powerful short-wave _ station of £0,000 watts. The call is 3XN This station, which is owned by the Bell Lelephone Laboratories, New York, only operates once a week; this will be from 4.30 p.m. till 8.30 p.m. New Zealand time, on Saturdays, The wavelength is not announced, . . When this short-waver geis going, should he easy enough to pick up here. P.S-I saw Mr. Hatris during the

week, and he thinks a line to my honte will he a good idea, $0 he is going to have it put in for a short period at first to try out, but, in my opinion, these short-wave rebroadcasts, which at present are experimental, will be a part of our regular programmes in the near future. | I can see in this new station-3XN, mentioned in my notes-a means of filling in a gap somewhere-between 4,30 and 8.30 p.m., which is usually the best time for reception from New York. Another Enthusiast, S. Saunders (Wellington).-lFurther results on short-wave band.-April 11, 1928: PCJJ, 32.2, came in at good strength; 5SW also at good ’phone Strength. Talk on ‘‘Girl Guides" and usual concert. 4PJ, Brisbane, put over some good records; also 2RV, Sydney, both very plain. At 9.80 p.m. got a station putting over a play, people laughing, band_pieces,-‘‘Valencia," and Sailor's Hornpipe. Could not get call sign. On April 18, 1928, PCJJ and 5SW both came in weil. April 14, 1928: WGY, 2XAI‘, usual programme, Wurlitzer Organ items and singing. Announcer spoke about North Atlantic flight; got amateurs of RB and 7NW, Hobarf. April 15, 1928: 8AR and 8AI,, Ashburton, Station 2M (2¥C), 2BL. WGY, QXAT, Nationai Broadcasting Company, Wurlitzer Organ and Dan Mannel’s Orchestra at De Wetzler’s Hotel, New: York, very clear. People in hotel heard talking and laughing, good programme; signed off 4.35, New Zealand S.E.T., 12.43. Got station at 7.10 p.m. on about 60 metres; man mentioned people of New Zealand. Also at 10.0 p-m., got station on 65 metres, orchestra with lot of flutes, and a man sang. Could not get call signs, too weak. On Monday morning, April 16, 1928, &L0, Melbourne, came in good strength. ‘The Jatter part of the programme was spoilt by persistent howling. April 17, 1923, 6.30 till $.80 a.m., got station on 17 metres (about), ‘Talk on ‘‘Negro Race,’’ orchestra jazz music, two ladies sang Charles Dickens’s sketch, ‘Lady Reciting," Xylophone solo, Wurlitzer organ going strong when I shut down; could not get call sign. On April 18, 1928, got WGY again, put over fine programme. P. A. Ralph’s Orchestra played items, also Wurlitzer Organ, organist Gordon Baldwin. After 12.0 p.m., New York time, switched’ over to buffalo Theatre, Symphony Orchestra, operatic items, and also dance. erchestra (Nat. Holimes’s); altogether a very enjoyable programme. Closed. down 1.1 a.in., S.T§71., 5.80 New Zealand time. , Ou April 19, 19298, 5SW_ was on the air. April 20, 1928, PCJJ, Holland, came through at good strength. 5SW was alsa ou the air that morning. The Chelmsford Station has not been coming ove; too good this last morning or two, bit on the weak side. Perhaps some. of your readers could identify those stations I got and could not get call signs for. , P.S--I might mention that I got 8LO, Melbourne, on a Crosley Pup one-valyer last night at 11.0 pm. I put that down to my good earth system. It came through fair ‘phone strength, about Rd. Successful Reception. J. A. Huxtable (Mount Eden, Auck-Jand).-Often when reading your paper in the short-wave columns I find much to interest me, as from time to time some cader registers another shortware station, and through tlie reports being published in the ‘‘Radio Record" with detail particulars, I have been successful in logging RI'M, ANE, and PCJJ. Now it is up to me to add my experiences. About six weeks ago, Sunday, at 4 p.m,, New Zealand time, I cleaned up a series of messages be- ing sent out from the Westinghouse Manufacturing Company’s station, Ontario, Canada, to the isolated people in QWabrador. The following Sunday I searched, but failed to: locate it again, but was successful in getting WGY, and on the last three Sundays this New York General Electric Company’s station; I have received just as clear as I get IYA on crystal reception. A fortnight ago I kept a pencil and paper and dotted down each item as Mr. Barnes announced; since, I kave posted the programme to WGY for confirming. } Last Sunday I heard the entire dance music programme relayed from the Rainbow Dance Room, Hotel Wan Kel, Albany, New York. "Where we dance by candle light" (so said the atinouncer). Anyone knowing the

whereabouts of -. Hill, a motor mechanic, whose mother has just died, notify WGY, New York. To-day it tock me quite an l:our to clean up the reception. The announcer gave the station call as 2XAI*, relaying dance music from the Crystal Dance Room, De ~-- Hotel, Albany, New York. Items: "One More Night," "Mary Ann.’ The dancers sang the chorus. My request: ‘"‘Ijeave My Baby Alone""There is always a way to remember, But I can’t find a way to forget The man that helped the band." By. request: "Whispering," "My Buddy." Signed off at 4.38 p.m., New Zealand time. This company, I think, controls four more stations. Their wave-length is 81.4 metres. Announcing is of no importance to this station, for while jazz music is being played often the announcer hurriedly makes the antiouticement, and I could not get the name of the hotel. The drummer always seemed to be prominent just at the critical moment. WMAKE, WGY, 2XAF, are three of their calls. If any reader knows anything of the method adopted by the General Electric Company of -New York’s stations I should be pleased to hear, as I ain inquisitive.