Our Short Wave Corner

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 45, 25 May 1928, Page 16

Our Short Wave Corner

The number of those interested in short wave reception 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 fime would seem not far distant when even better 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,

ME. Fr. W. Sellens writes: 5S W, Chelmsford, appear to have altered their starting time for the morning. test, as on the last two or three mornings ‘there has not been any sign of them till 6380 a.m. On the one evening I was up till 11 pm, SSW was not heard. Reception with me during the past week has been weaker than usual and not the usual variety of stations heard. * A card just received from OAGAG, Perth (Mr. Coxon) states that he has no fixed hours for working, but is usually on from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. and again from il p.m. (10 p.m. to 11 p.n. and from 2.30 p.m. New Zealand time). His wave-length is 33 metres. Saturday, May 12. * BSW was tuned in at 6.15 a.m., when an orchestral item was heard. This was followed by vocal music. PCIT was first heard at 1 p.m., and was very weak. Volume gradually increased till they closed down at 1.40 p.m, with the Dutch National Anthem. This is now almost as familiar as our own, IAN was heard directly after the Dutch station closed down for a short time. * QXAF on 81.4 metres were again transmitting instend of 2XAD. Reception was weak. They closed down at 2.30 pan, REM was heard late in the evenjng. Sunday, May 13. OXAF was tuned in at 2 p.m., when it wus very weak. The usual dance programme was broadcast. It was only toward the end of the transmission that it was possible to put them on the speaker. They closed down at 8.29 p.m. Spent the rest of the day B.C. L’ing. Monday, May 14. The carrier of 2NM was heard, but too weak to do any good with. 8LO were much later than usual in starting. The carrier was on before 6 a.m. and a yoice said something about 3ME very faintly. Nothing more was heard, except the weak carrier for some time, it was about 7 a.m. when I first heard him, but was not on his waye all the time. He was not up to his usual strength then. At 11 p.m. 2RB, Goulburn, on about 31 metres, was testing on telephony. There was not any sign of 5SW at 41.5 pm. If they were on the air their carrier should have been audible if nothing more. RIFM were transmitting some fine orchestral items at fair volume, not so strong as they used to be. Tuesday, May 15. BSW was better than of late, but on account of strong winds, the aerial Was swinging, causing unsteady reception. Big Ben was heard, followed by a talk, which, although clear enough, was not intelligible on account

of the jerkiness caused by aerial swing. Violin solos were heard from 5.45 a.m., followed by another talk. | At 6.15 a.m. the musical programme commenced, apparently from a theatre | or musie hall, the audience could be clearly heard clapping at the end of the items. Several whispering bari-. tone solos were heard with orchestral | accompaniment, ete. Volume and steadiness improved before 7.380 a.m., when I had to close down. , On about 30 metres a station was heard which appeared to be RIM, it was the same, or similar voice. It was not a harmonic as there was no sign of him on 60 metres. If it was RIM, it is the first time I have heard him so low in waye-length. Wednesday, May 16. 5SW did not commence till 6.30 a.m. this morning, and was then very weal, but improved a lot later on. PCIT was fair between 6.30 a.m. and Tam. They closed down at 7.42 a.m., as usual, with their National Anthem. 2BO Wellington was testing with 2BU, and afterwards entertained with mouth organ and gramophone records. Reception was quite good, except for a slight swing. Congratulations, 2B0. Thursday, May 1%. DSW again did not start till 6.30 a.m., but was too weak to bother with. | Did not hear anything the short time I was on the S.W. set during the evening. Friday, May 18. PCIF was quite good, but still wealk- | er than usual. } SSW, Big Ben was heard at 6.30 a.m. and an announcement stating it was. 5SSW, the B.G.C.. experimental shortwave station, on 24 metres, ete., and that, they were "going over" to London. | Musie was heard from London, but it was weak and unsteady. SSW is not. so steady as it might be; this makes talk yery hard to follow, even when the volume is fairly good. Late in thé evening 2ME was testing, giving call and counting. The carrier. although strong, yiried in intensity or quick fading. RFM, on 70 metres, besides talk, gaye some enjoyable orchestral items. What Set Used. A listener inquires which set Mr. Sellens uses. It is exactly the same design as that deseribed by "Megohm" in our columns some time back and published fully in the "N.Z. Radio Listeners’ Guide’’ now issued. This shortwave set is much more satisfactory than an adapter.-KEd. Southern Reception. Robert Parker (Invercargill) : Whilst listening-in to 3YA_ to-night (Wednesday, May 16), I am reading the "Short-Wavye Corner" in your "Record," and thought a short report of my low-wave experience during the week might add to the interest, espec-

ially so as most of your reports are from further north. Invercargill is supposed to be only fair reception regarding the broadcast band, but on low-waye, if this week is any criterion, the short-waves are coming over great. On Sunday, May 13, 2XAP, Schnectady, in the afternoon was hard to hold and only fair. Monday 3L0 quite clear in the morning. Tuesday, 14, SSW coming through beautiful. Items from Daly’s Theatre, Liecester Square, talks on artists of the last two decades, some specialist on colour, and studio items all equally good and loud. In the eyening RIM coming through fair to good, occasional surging. This morning Chelmsford, England, not so good. Poor reception probably due to a nearby receiver with a threshold howl. PPIJC items and close down about 7.30 a.m. was received quite good. I have been experimenting for some time with various coils and turn numbers; also with chokes with the idea of more stability when ‘reception is not good. After yarious trials of coils, the one that has given the best results is 8 aerial, 7 grid, 7 plate. The latter seems high when compared with some of the manufactured sets, but with a seven plate condenser and a larger capacity plate condenser I have had the best results. Various coils, some of which have no dead spots, yet have given poor results compared with the above turns. Another Southern Receiver. G. D. Gerken (Chatten): I may say I appreciate your paper yery much anid look forward for the next issue. I have been listening in since the Broadcasting Company started and find 3YA has best modulation, but fading very frequently. 1YA comes next; 2YA modulation seems very bad at times, especially on band items, hardly ever fades with me. I have had 2¥A on the speaker, using one radio and detector on loop aerial. 4YA has perfect modulation here but not very strong. ‘This station is received very well in daylight. I appreciate Mr. Sellen’s short-wave notes, as this locality seems adapted to short-wave receiving. PCIJ, SSW, 2XAF all come in here as loud as 4YA. I have no trouble picking them up with no aerial. My set is four valves, 1 radio detector, 2 audio, and tunes from 5 metres up to 600, a switch cutting out the raido stage under 100 metres. Although I get no interference here as there are no sets within. miles, my set is perfectly neutralised on broadcast band, as I think it should be compulsory for all sets to be. S.W. Reception in Christchurch, R. F. Stainton (Christchurch): As an example of what can be heard down here on your 3-valve S.W. receiver, I enclose my log of stations for a week. This is an "average" week as far as my reception goes, except that on Sunday, the 6th, I logged more stations in one day than I had done before. Dry cell valves are used, and with these I can get all I want. JI have had the set going two months now and have heard 34 stations on telephony. Previous to this I had a 2-valve for five months and heard only 29 stations. My agegregate now is 49 stations (telephony) in seyen months, and then I did not have the set going for a month during this period-as well as holidays away from home. Saturday, May 5.-SSW, Chelmsford: Piano solos. Loud and clear. Well played. Did not have much time to listen. 7.20 a.m. PCI, |Holland: 12.40 p.m. Clear but not |yery loud. "Over the Waves" waltz at 14995 pm. 2AB, Wanganui: Testing

1.10 pm. PCJJ came in at slightly better strength towards 1.30. 2XAfF, New York: 2.10 p.m. Concert programme of WGY. At 2.20 p.m. on 30 metres a foreign station (not PCJJ or ANE), with a man speaking for about 5 minutes, then he would switch off and come back after about 3 minutes. Loud but slightly "mushy." 8APL, Christchurch: 2.20 pm, working SAW. Foreign station again at 3.30 p.m. (as mentioned above). 2XG, New York: Usual "write down" programme of words. Foreign station again at 4 p.m. (as mentioned above). Sunday, May 6.-1AN, Auckland: Testing at 10.15 a.m. Loud and clear. Records at 1043 am. 2XATI, New York: At 10.40 a.m., not as loud as late in afternoon, but quite clear enough to be followed. SBA Wellington (or 2GA): Reports on 1AN’s transmission, 10.45 am. 3LO Melbourne: Not as good as usual; Monday morning’s transmission, 11.2011.45 a.m. 8AL Ashburton: Testing at 11.55 am. 2RT Goulburn, N.S.W.: Testing on gramophone records, 2.5 pm. 3L0 again in afternoon, slightly better than in morning. 2XAI at extra loud ‘phone strength from 3-3.30 p.m, with dance music. 8AU Rangicra: Testing on records; slight fading at times. 2AP Wairo-Wellington: Very strong and steady; reports on 2AR, modulation excellent, 3.55 p.m. 8CA (or 80I), Timaru: Testing, 45 pm. 8LO in evening loudest station heard yet on short-wave; much stronger now. 4PG Brisbane, Q.: Slightly "mushy"; records at 9.50 pm, RIM Russia: Not very loud at 10 p.m., but later on, at 11 p.m., strength was tremendous; playing "Light Cavalry" overture, very enjoyable. 8CM Christchurch: Testing at 10.15 p.m.; working 2B0 Wellington. 4PG again at 10.25 pm.; RI Mstill going 11.25. Monday, 7/5/28-2X AF New York: 12,80 p.m, not very strong, buf clear and steady; announcement "WGY Schnectady," 2LG Goulburn, N.S.W.: Testing on records at 9.45 pmy 2B0

Wellington: Working 1AI; clear anid | loud. Tuesday, 8/5/28.-( Visiting another S.W. enthusiast) ; got GAG, TWY (?), 2LG on his adapter). Wednesday, 9/5/28.-PCJJ Holland: Loud and clear, but slight fading 6.55 a.m.; "Cavalliera Rusticana," by orchestra. 5SW Chelmsford: 7 p.m., band playing: "Viennese Folk-song"; strong and clear, 2LG Goulburn, N.S.W.: 7.10 p.m., testing on records; modulation not too good, 2RT Goulburn, N.S.W.: 7.15 p.m., clear but not very loud; modulation very good; records. 4NW Brisbane: Working 2LG; steady, but not very strong. 6AG Perth: 109 p.m: Usual excellent selection of records put on; steady and clear. Thursday, 10/5/28.-5SW Chelmsford: Only listened for a couple of minutes, and heard piano solo very clear at 7.30 a.m., followed an interval of 10 minutes. 21.G Goulburn, N.S.W.: Records at 7.20 pm. 38CM Christchurch: Testing at 10.20 p.m. Yriday, 11/5/28-PCIJS Holland: 6.55 a.m., morse interference during song by lady; next item was an orches- | tral one, "Peer Gynt." 5SW Chelmsford: Dxtremely loud and clear; piano duets on two pianos; 7.5 a.m,-7,30 a.m.,_ "Andante," by Mendelssohn; "Introduction and Waltz," by Rachmaninoff; and another I did not note. RIFM Russia: 11.30 p.m., clarionet solo with piano accompaniment; more talk. Station on about 33 metres, with records, "Take a Pair of Sparkling Byes" and some others, but could not catch call sign as static was proving troublesome.