Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 4, 10 August 1928, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Notes of special value to short-wave enthusiasts are contributed weekly to the "Radio Record" by Mr. F. W. Sellens, Northland, Wellington. Observations from others arc welcomed.

MR_

F. W.

SELLENS

writes :-

AS the carillon bells at. the Sydney University were heard here on Anzac Day, the following will be of interest: "Bells Across the Seuss little romance of trade, ably provided by radio. On Anzac Day, April 26, a set of carillon bells made by a Loughiboro’ firm, and supplied to the Sydney University, were first used in a deditatory service. In a house in London the committee for testing the bells. aud representatives of the manufacturers, heard the service perfectly on a shortware set hastily rigged up at short no‘tice. That the makers were enabled to hear the first performance of their products aeross the carth is one of the miner but not uninteresting romances of radio." DS qT is interesting to note, on a bad night, the difference between the atmospherics on the various short-wave bands. Often when static is too bad for listening to other broadcast stations than the local, the air is fairly or quite clear on the short waves. yt has been announced from SSW several times during the past few days that their statiov will not be transmittin, on August 6 or 7. The following has recently been received from radio station WRNY, New York, owned and operated by the "Radio News": Station 2XAL. 30.01 metres (9700 kilocycles), the short-wave broadcast Station of WRNY. which went on the air on June 29, 1027, is now on fulltime schedule, as below (New Zealand time). and broadcasts simultaneously at all hours when WRNY is on the air. Tuesday: 8.30 a.m.-6.80 am; Ge a.m.-11.50 a.m.; 11.50 p.in.-1.00 an. Wednesday: 3.80 0 a.m.-5.00 a.m. : 11.80 a.m.-£30 ‘p.m.3 11.30 p.m.-1.50 a.m. Thursday: 3.30 a.m.-5.30 a.m.: 6.30 2.70.-1.30 -p.m.: 11.30 p.n.-1.50 a.m. Friday: 8.30 a.m.-5.30 a.m.; 11.50 a,m.-1.30 a.m. —

Saturday: 3.80 a.m.-5.80 a.m.; 6.30 2.0.-3.30 p.m. 11.30 p.m.-1.80 a.m. ‘Sunday :. 3.30 /u.m.-5.30 a.m.; 11.30 a.m.-2.30 yum. ; 11.80 p.m.-1.30 a.m. Monday: 3.30 a.m.-5 a.m.; 6 a.n.-11 nam.:.11.30 p.m.-1.80 a.m. (The above times are based on eastern standard time. It will prebably- be found that. as New York is observing summer time, these times will Le one hour in advance, i.e., instead of 11.380 p.m.-1.80 a.m., read 10.30 p.m.-12.50, till castern standard time is again in operation): -Reeently 2XATL has changed its equipment, and its power is now almost twice what it .was formerly. The uerial power of the Chelmsford, DSW, short-wave experimental station is 15 k.w. pu i] most interesting reeeption dur- ™ ing the past week was the big tight on Friday tast. ° 1 tuned. in’ ZXAD, ©1.96 metres. af 1.10 p.m., and found them ubout R21, teo weak to underst..nd wore than zn odd word here and there. KDIKA, on 26 metres, was R1i--‘carrier with slight suggestion of talk, while 2XAF could not be heard. I did not tune in either of these stations again, but went: back to 2ZXNAD and heard all that was possible from them. Strength slowly improved; at i.45 pn. the description was about 50 per cent. intelligible. The 100 per cent. matk was not reached till Ileeney, with a Maori mat in hand. after suying "Win ora." and mentioned .what it meant. asked any listener to tell his mother aud futher that he was all right. He also said that he did his best. His last words were "Kia ora." After this. a newspaper man spoke. The music relayed from New York afterwards cume through quite good, I closed down at 2.30- pm. The latter

part of the fight and Heeney’s talk was heard at about R+ on the speaker, using three stages of audio, Reception,though weaker than usual, was fairly free from background noises. Only onehowler was heard, and that very weak. not enough to be troublesome. Vriday, July 27. rPOJJ was tuned in at 6-a.m., when they were about R38. This increased to RG-7 between 7 and 7.30 a.m., after which volume decreased. Some yery fine organ solos were heard. DSW was very weak at 6.50 a. n., just before they closed for a short interval at 7.30, the orchestra was KR4-5, The German, on about 41 metres, was talking as usual at RH. 2XAD as reported above. Saturday, July 28. Fritz-R3-t, all talk, : 5SW not audible at 6.580 a.m., and only R2 at 7.30 a.m. KDA on 26 metres were transmit{ing some organ music at 1.80 p.m. at R %--2}, 2XAD put on a. good programme hy the National Orehestra and Nayal Choristers. At 2.25 p.m. "All Through ‘the Night’ was very fine, sung by ihe Choristers. Later u dance 1 gramme was relayed from the roof garden, Hotel St. Regis, New York City. The items included "I can’t ve you anytbing but love." "Longing for You." "Get Out, Get Under the Moon," "Lov.’v Little Bluebird," ete. They ‘signed off .at midnight (3.30 ° p.m. New Zealand time), strength RS during last half an hour.

PCIS was tuned in as soon as 2XAD closed do.u when the National Anthem was being played. This was followed by their weekly special New Zealand and Australian transmission. They commenced by weporting that the two Olympic transmissions on Tuesday and Wednesday (Wednesday and Thursday here) last .were well reeeived in Australia. Reeeption was pot the best. Fading was 3} ‘ af times, while 2 stron; rushing noise ras noticeable all through. Streugth at first to R2-3 at 6.55 ‘p.m., when the progrdmme concluded with the National Anthem. Late in the evening. 2AW Wellington was heard calling CQ Christchurch, Sunday, duly 29, At 11.30 am. KDKA and 2XAF were about RI-2. This was not improved on till after 1 pm. by DKA. 2X AE was later in gaining strength, but was up to R5 toward the finish. Orehestral dance musie was relayed from the --- Restaurant, Albany, New York, till 12.4 a.m., daylightsaving time. _ Among the amaieurs heard were: SAW, 2BA, 2BH, and 2B0, of Wellington, and 2B, Hastings Monday, July 30. Wes not able to pick up 5LO be. fore 7.30 a.m,

Tuesday, July ol. At 6.30 a.m. shar p, Fritz started. on about 41. metres with "Achtung, Ach- . tung" (attention, attention). SSW is picking up now in the early morning, From 6.30 a.m. till 7.50 a4 several musical items were RS. x 4 Wednesday. August ‘1, PCJJ at 5.80 a.m. were RS, Rapid fading and uwnsteadiness spoilt reeeption. Strength increased to Ri-o and was R8 at 7.30 a.m. The German was going strong: at RA-5.. A station- German, on about this wave-length, 41 metres, has been heard to gire the call RSK. This station may be the same, but a call has not been heard from it. A friend, used to hearing German broadcast stations in the Old Country, says that the name of the town is given asa rule instead of 2 call. This applies to 2LO0O, Lon- | don. I have not yet. heard the call 2L0, but often "London calling." A talk was on at 6 a.m. from SSW, but was too unsteady tu be intelligible, R3 | J ust before 7.80 a.m. a. jazz orchestra was heard. On the half-hour the Greenwich time signa] came through (our clock is right once a day, after the signal is received). An interval. of 15 minutes’ follewed. A leeture commenced about 7.45 a.m., the speak--er and title were missed, but it was :ipparently about old Ruman roads in Britain. Strength R4 at 7.50 a.m. About 75 per cent. readabie, 2B0, Wellington and 8AT, Christchurch were heard during ‘the evening. Thursday, August 2. Fritz from 6.30 a.m. All talk. 4 5SW was not so strong again this morning. Just before 7.80 a.m. it was about R 3-4, but unsteady. Several 2nd and $Srd district amateurs were beard after 10 p.m.

. Friday, August 3. 6.30 am. Fritz commenced with "Achtung." .PCJJ was quite good. Strength from K4 at 5.80 to Ro at 6 a.m., when it was at its best, down to R4 at 7.30 am. They signed off just after 7.80 a.m., and said "Good-bye," but instead of closing down. a man. sang and some talk followed in a foreign tongue, probably a _- special trausmission. oS DSW was quite good. 5.40 a.m. Lill 6 pm. pianoforte items were heard at R4.: 6 a.m. London Calling" and the names of several artists were giyen. The orchestra then played "Peet and Peasant." This was followed by vocal and other orchestral selections. 7.50 time signal and. announced that SSW will not be transmitting on Aug-~ ust 6 or 7. Closed for. 15 minute interval. SSW was just audible after 11 p.m. This is the first time I have heard a sign of them on the evening test for some time.