Our Short Wave Corner

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 49, 29 June 1928, Page 16

Our Short Wave Corner

: ye. SHLLENS writes 1 I reteived a very interesting. letter fall of radio news from Mr. Marvin H. Thoreau, Vancouver, B.C. He sayy the "Radio Record" is : appreciated over there. ‘The engineers of CNRYV and then several other DX fans, 4 ve thé d6an of’ ty after: thi they are led. for future ence. he shért"wave stations fieatd there are in many cases received at better strength. than in New Zealand, The orchestra that is often heard from 2XAF reported by myself as "Ralph's," is "B. A. Rolfe’s" and the conductor "Rolfe" is the solo cornetist. This orchestra is on Broadway, New York City, and is broadcast by the eastern chain of National Broadcasting Company over probably twenty stations and using thousands of miles of ’phone wires. . Sometimes WGY hooks up with WMAK, Buffalo; WYFBL, Syracuse; WHAM, : Rochester; ill these cities befing in New York State. After dark KDKA on 63 metres is often stronger than any station (in Vancouver) in the broadcast band except locals. 9X AF is usually speaker strength from 5 pam, and has wonderful quality. . KGO, Oakland, has permission to use 10 kw, on 33: metres, but is not operating yet (May 27, 1928). There are not any short-wave stations on the Pacific coast except a few low-power enes. Mr. Thoreau has not heard 2XAD or KDKA on 27 metres for several weeks {the latter station has been missed of late in New Zealond on that wayvelength). ‘Saturday, dune 16, SSW was fair speaker strength jast before 8 a,m., when an announcement was heard stating that they ¥ would relay the speech by from -- University dinner. Lord Balfour was to have been the speaker, buf he was un‘fortunately indisposeéd. The person who spoke referred to the absence of Lord Balfour, efe. This talk was about 50 per cent. intelligible, surging being the. cause. + PCIT put on their regular Austraand. New ‘Zealand programme from 3.30 p.m, till 6.30 p.m. Reception, although not quite as strong as last Saturday, was readable till the finish. During the afternoon the announcer congratulated Australia on the Pacific flight by Kingsford Smith, and hoped that he ‘would continue to New Zealand and round the world in safety. ete, * At RIM late in the evening thoy Were having-a gay time. A talk was heard first which appeared to amuse his audience as there was a lot of hearty laughing at times. After this there were some enjoyable musical items which were well applauded by the people in the place of origin. . Sunday, June 13, , | "oe OXa¥ on 3L4 ‘metres were relaying the Isle of Blues Orehestra from Hotel. ‘This programme was broadcast by WGY, WI'BL and WMAK. This station was spoilt before 3 p.m. by . howler. Several amateurs were heard. . Monday, June 13. : 81.0 commenced their weekly transmission for reception in Britain on 32 metres at 6 am. "The volume was very good, but fading was intense. They were using a new type of aerial and asked for reports, comparing re¢eption with this and the old aerial. To me they appeared about the same. REM was heard giving their market reports during the evening. It would cause a big howl if as much talk was put on here-as the poor Rusgians have to put up with. Tuesday, June 19, . Big Ben was heard through 5SW at 6.3020m.; followed -by 2 violin solo. Reeeption was better than usual at this hour. A lady was talking from RYM during the evening. > Wednesday, June 20. PCJIJ gave their usual gramophone recital. Reception was good ‘phone at 5.380 a.m, and rapidly gained good speaker strength, An announcement should soon be heard from Philips in reference to the relay of the Olympic sports at Amsterdam, which they have promised to . relay," A lecture through SSW at 6 a.m. was readable (about 90 per cent.) from the loudspeaker. It was about motorcar engines, describing in detail the various parts. "Daventry Calling"

y was heard at 6.15 a.m,, followed by a comie song and "Levensky at the "Wedding." After this the programme: was continued from London, ; | ‘During the evenitig ‘2BO0, 2GA and 2AH, all of Wellington, were testing on telephony. ; me | Thursday, June 21. f A Japanese on about 61 metres was heard giving a typical Jap item, a "string instrument, with chanting. A call was not heard, but as JHBB hes. been experimenting on different wavelengths: it- was probably them. REM was the only other station heard, when a lady was again at the | nike"? Friday, June 22. ‘rom about’5.15 am, on 24.5 metres the station whieh caused a lot of interest last week was heard, A call was not’ heard, but often "Allo, Allo-. "" The voice appeared to be the same as used to call "An Japanese," ae this was not heard this time. Strength was fair ‘phone and very This station went off some | time befere 6 a.m. Seven o’clock was heard = striking from Big Ben at 5.30 a.m., but the talk that followed was not fudible. POIJJ was fair ’phone at 5.30 a.m., with slight fading, volume increasing: later, The following may be of interest in the broadcast section, being extracts from M. Thorean’s letter :- | ©T note several New Zealanders have received OXF, about 280 metres, General Plectrie, crystal controlled, 50,000 . watts output, at Downers Grove (near Chicago), Illinois. This station often comes into Vancouver (2000 miles away) as loud as a local (I had it almost as loud as 2YA, but statie and other noises were fearfulL-I W.s.) SXN, Whippany, 2 New Jersey (Western Electric Co., 50,000 watts, crystal control), is often heard with good strength on about 465 metres. "Stations in Canada and Thited States with cals beginning witb figures instead of the usual C, W, or IK, are experimental or new stations which are not operating regularly yet. "T note that many New Zealanders complain of distortion from their stations. I can honestly say I have never heard the slightest distortion or overmodulation from 1¥A, 2YA, or 3YA; they are very steady and any fading is slow and regular. | "Something that must be. confusing to foreign listeners when they hear one of our stations areund Vancouver or Cincinatti, and then when reference is made to station lists the call denotes Lulu Island or Harrison. The explanation is that nearly all the large stations are located about 15 to 30 miles from the city studios, and the lists give the suburban address of the transmitter."