Our Short Wave Corner

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 43, 11 May 1928, Page 14

Our Short Wave Corner

The number of those interested in short wave feception is steadily expanding, due, unquestionably, to the charm of thus being able to make contact with world centres. The service available from overseas stations is steadily growing, and in view of the experimental work being carried out, the time sould seem not far distant when even betier service will be available. This section is therefore being set aside for reports on interesting receptions from shortwave listeners, and discussion by enthusiasts of their special problems, Contributions should reach us not later than Friday to be sure of insertion in the following issue,

RVD. SELLENS, Northland, writes: | With the advent of "daylight paving" in the Eastern States of U.8.4&. we shall miss the best hour for ghort wave reception, but probably the days getting shorter on this side will help to even it up to some extent, DSW is very weak at 11 p.m, not Worth listening to. The advantage of gummer time is noticed in the morning, as it is possible to hear more of the programme before it gets too weak. There are not so many short waye ptiutions "coming over" just now, at ieast that is my experience. Saturday, April 28. OSW was listened to for a short dime before breakfast. From 2.30 p.m. | till 2.30 p.m., when they signed off. XA was received at good strength. The last item by the "Palmdive Party" was a melody, "Southern Gross," sung by the full party. Before closing down, WGY anouneed that they would be on the air at am. to-morrow to broadcast the Bremen flyers proceeding to Arlington Wationul Cemetery to plice a wreath on the grave of Floyd Bennett (the pilot with Byrd on his North Pole flight). It was also stated that this avould be broadcast through as many associated stations as possible. Thinking this event might be also put on the short wave, I tried each station, but did not hear a sign of either. 2XG was heard testing with his "Write down "REM was aveak.,

Sunday, April 29. Did not do any good-set out of order. Monday, April 30. Managed to get 3L0, but set not Ppoing right, so did not bother with lisning. 2¥O0 through 2M) were brondcastfing on 28.5 metres, as well as their wegular wavelength. : At 10.30 pan. the University War Memorial Carillon came through very well, as did the rest of the programme. The trouble in the set was discavered pnd put right earlier in the ey ening.) At 11 p.m. SSW was tuned in, but Syvas very weak. RIM was also heard. Tuesday, May 1. 5SW were just concluding a talk when picked up at 5.46 aan. This wus Lollow ed by some songs, At 7 am. what to be a fesson in French was given, a few prords first in FKnglish, and then repeated in French, The musical programme commenced ft 7.15 am. with a pianoforte item, £ollowed by a violin solo, Reception was quite good. 2BO (Wellington) was picked up ffust before 8 pan, and proved to be quite an artist on the mouth organ. REM put on some good orchesfral fumbers, which were well received, put uot up to its old-time volume. At 11 pm. SSW was tried. The first item was a woman singing. Regeption was very weak. The surging that is so often noticed from short-wave stations was more pronounced with the weak sigual strength, Wednesday, May 2. POJJ was very good, but not gnite RX loud as usual. SSW was also good; just before fexnving home at 7.25 a.m, an orchestral item was coming through splenGidly, During the evening 2RT, Goulburn, N.S.W., was testing; was relayAng the earillon, which was quite good. REM was talking as usual; it fs supposed to he his off-night, but he Avas on the job. ; Thursday, May 3. Big Ben was heard at 5.30 a.m. through 5SW. A talk and then music followed. 6 a.m., a lecture, entitled KAir and the Klements," was given.

6.15 a.m., "All stations will now con- | tinue with their programmes as aflvertised" was heard, so evidently "all stations" had been receiving the London programme, Orchestral items fol-lowed-a relay, as clapping could be heard after each item. ‘The announce-: ment prior to this wis not heard. Later a voice said, "Hullo, everybody." "A new song entitled ‘That's ‘That, a comic song following." 21S, Sydney, and RIM were heard during the evening. . HSW was very weak at 11 pan. A piano item was first heard and later a man singing. Friday. May 4. PCITJ was spoilt when first tuned- in by another listener using a little too much regenerator. It was not a howl, but enough to make the station mushy. After a short time, when the other early riser left PCUJJ, the volume jumped up at once and was also much more clear. SSW this morning was very good. Big Ben and the opening announcement was not clear, but a talk about recent novels and music that followed was very clear and strong. At 6.30 a.m. the orchestra could be heard ail over the house--not loud, but enough so to recognise the tune. This is the first time I have found 5SW stronger than PCJJ at about the siume time. } 5 Don X, South Australia, was heard chatting to 8AR, New Zeuland. This Aussie comes through quite well. | 2BL was strong on about 42 metres. If it was a harmonic it was very loud for one, but somewhat mushy. The carrier of DSW was fairly strong at 11 p.m., but could not clear up any talk or music.

LETTER FROM 2NM, Mr. Charles Gowland, Pehiri Station, Gisborne, who is keenly interested in short-wave work, sometime back wrote Mr. Gerald Marcuse (2NM), the prominent experimenter, and forwarded him copies of the "Radio Record" bearing on hig transinissions. Acknowledgement from Mr, Gerald Mareuse has now been received, stating he had read the "Record" with great interest, The letter went on to say that he (Mr. Marcuse) knew Mr. James Blair (inentioned by Mr. Gowland) very well, nud in faet travelled to the city in the same train each day. He bad been most interested to hear in this way from Mr. Gowland. Myr, Mareuse also proiised to eall on a brother-in-law in a nearby neighbourhood at first opportunity. The letter illustrates the rather wonderful bond of unity being established by wireless in various purts of the world. 2FC’S NEW 8.W. STATION Mr. S. Saunders’s report states -- Priday, April 27-WGY, 2X:ATk, picked up at 8 pan. Wutlitzer organ items from "Jtstainina" Theatre, Albany, N.Y.3 organisi, J. Nolan. Song by G. Walker, composed by Mr. Howey Peer; orchestral items; closed down 442 pm. SLT. 12.5 pm. Saturday, May 28.--5SW, Loudon, Was on the air ut 1.25 pv, Got PCJJ at end of programme; Closed down 1.35 p.m. This station puts over a three-hour programme on Saturdays fron: 10.80 aan, to 1.80 pan. 2SAD at 2.15 pan, on the weak side, but improved as afternoon advanced. Union Province: A lot of unnouncing and Wurlitzer organ items and orchestra, song with organ, vocal trio, lady (soprano) and gentleman (operatic piece); guitars, Huwaiian steel

guitars; Palm Olive Conipany’s{ programme closed down; WGY, WEAF, 3.30 pm, 51,7, 11.2} Got another American station, about: 40 metres... Band, dance orchestra, saxaphones, very prominent, and Wurlitzer organ items, Picked up at 5.30 p.m., still going strong at 5.50 p.m. Sunday, April 29.-2XAI, WGY, NY, at 2 o'clock (weak), but improved later. National Broadcasting Company, piano solo, male duet, lady soloist, violin and banjo solo, Rainbow Hotel, N.Y¥., speech and cheering | orchestra, "Rain or Shine." Announrement about standard eastern daylight saving time; transmissions, Hotel --. Orchestra, "My Heart Keeps on Speaking of Love,’; by request, "Among My Souvenirs"; songs, "A Litle Girl That Loves Me," "One Litttle Girl-That's You." Orchestra closed down about 4.30 p.m. Strong morse cut them out eventually. Got station at 5.87 p.m. at about 32 metres, Band march, Wurlitzer organ; items, piano solo; static was bad; also station at 9.50 pm. Talking and orehestral music; 10.15 p.m., still going strong, but never weak. ‘ | Monday, April 30.-2FC calling; WGY, Schenectady: "We are glad to get transmissions from your chain of stations. Best wishes to all from 21°C." The opening of the new studio by is Excellency the Governor of New South Wales wes deseribed. The architecture of the studio is "Old uglish,’ panelled in oak; the control board is 14 _ feet by 15 feet; there is a 20-kilowatt S,.W. transmitting plant, installed by. Australian Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., architecture of the studio is "Old English," panelled in oak; the control board is 14 feet by 15 feet; there is a 20-kilowatt 8.W. transmitting planf, installed by Australian Amalgamated altogether a most up-to-date studio. It. was mentioned that the speech broadcasts for 1924 were 62 hours,, and in 1928, 424 hours. There were 100,000 broadeast listeners all oyer the State. The machinery in the old studio had been scrapped and modern installed. In his speech His Excellency said: "I look upon this as one of my ‘most happiest and pleasant experiences of broadcasting at the present time. It will not be far distant when all stations will put over $.W. concerts." I next heard 3L0, Melbourne saying, "Hello, Ilello, WGY, glad to have your report on rebroadcast to-night’s proceeding; we hope you have received our programme. OK., please stand by for adjustments,

MYSTERY EXPLAINED MR, SHLIAINS’ REPORT, The Boston "Christian Science Monitor" of March 27, states: A Wellington (New Zealand) radio experimenter [this refers to Mr. R. W. Sellens.-Ed. "‘Record] heard a Gencral Electric Commpany engineer chatting with an Tueglish radio engineer via the short waves. The New Zealander, 7800 iniles from Schenectady and 12 000 miles from Cheimsford, Eng., heard {wo men separated by the Atlantic Occan, talk about the weather and transWission quality. MWe heard them laugh at witty sallies and he heard the "goodby" of the American and the "eheerio" of the Tnglisliman.

Yoices From Loudspeakers, The New Zealander, like other listeners in Canada and South Africa, vas greatly puzzled at what appeared to him a peculiar radio phenomenon. We reported that when tuned to 2XAD, the 21.9 meter station at Schenectady, from which the American spoke, he head the American clearly but the English voice was somewhat indistinct. On the other hand, when tuned to the Q4ineter transmitter of SSW at Chelmsford, Yasdind, he heard the Englishman perfectly and the American side of the conversation imperfectly. Yhe answer is simple. In these two-way conversations, the spokesman at 2XAD speaks into a microphone and hears the Tinglishiman’s reply throneh a toudspeaker, abont twa feet away. The Jondspeaker reproduction of the Tin lish voice as well as the voice of the 2XAD announcer is picked un by the microphone The same condition exists at the Chelmsford receiving and transmitting station.

| A SHORT-WAVE STUNT SCHIINECTADY AND CHELMSVORD. Recently as a stunt, for the amusement of the broadcast listener, station QXAD, Schenectady, U.S.A., transnitted a phonograph record which was reecived and velroadeast by 55W, Chelinsford, Mngland. A receivine station near Schenectady vicked up 5SW'’s rebroadcast and WGY then put ont received sienal on $79.5 metres. In other words, music which orizinate1 within a mile of WGY’S transmitter was put on the air after it lind twice crossed the Atlantic. Perhaps the yiost interesting feature of this donble rebroadcast was the short time which elapsed between pick-up from the record and the recention of WGW’s rebroadcast of the record music Tt is estimated that the difference in time was arproximately one-thirtieth of a sccond. ‘The phonovrant was located in the control room of WGY An electrie pick-up was used and the ontout was fed directly to the short-wave transinitter, Within two feet of the nhonoeraph a flondspesker reproduced — the music after its passage across the Atlantic and fwets,