Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 5, 17 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 are welcomed.

MME. I. W. SELLENS (Northland) ™ writes : The German short-wave station that ras often heard here in the early morning using the call sign AFK (pronounced "Ah-eff-kak) on about 52 metres, is now reported to be on 37.65 and 67.65 metres. This station is lo‘ated at Doberitz. The transmission hours for the latter wave-length are as follow :-Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9.80-10.80 p.m., and on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 5.30-6.30 aim. New Zealand time. A new Spanish short-wave station is "on the air." The call is EAM, wavelength 30.7 metres. Although there is a number of Contixentai telephony short-wave stations operating, nc. many have been heard in New Zealand. Correspondents have often asked me what sort of an acrinl I use. It consists of a single wire, 30ft. high, 40ft. between poles, with lead-in about 37ft.;, well insulated and kept taut by a weight at one end adjusted on a pulley to allow for shrinkage and expansion of the ropes caused by "re weather. It is necessary to keep the aerial as taut as possible with safety for short-wave reception or signals will be unsteady during windy weather. VE following extracts from an article by an English amateur re : ort-wayve aerials and earth may be of interest :-‘Ligh-frequeney radio energy, even from long distances, can be sathered in by most inadequate collectors. It is, for instance, possible to he: v the short-wave transmissions from KDKA, with nothing more than a few feet of wire stretched across the room for an aerial. Also it is common knowledge amongst those who work in the high-frequency bands that really strong signals, from quite a considerable distanee, can often be received with no acvial or earth connection to the set at all. "Reception without an earth. There is, however, a good deal of misconception about these ‘no aerial and earth’ receptions. Reception without an earth is common. In fact, it is the rule,

rather than the exception, when working below 50 metres. But we must not lose sight of the fact that the mere disconnection of the set from the a.vial change-over switch is not the same as receiving without an acrial. High frequency radio energy has some extraordinary properties when it comes to magnetic or capacitative coupling, and the tuned grid coil of the set will pick up energy from the aerial itself, vi rather the lead-in, or from the switch metal, even when it is removed to a distan.2? of several feet. "There is no doubt that the best aerial is a single wire of 12 SWG or 14 SWG. enamelled copper. Height and length do not seem to be of great importance when reception only is concerned. The ordinary aerial for broadcast reception will serve quite well, down to about 15 metres, provided that it is well put up and does not sway in the wind." JRECE PTION during the week has wv been about the average. New stations have not been heard of late. 5SW, Chelmsford, now comes in at better strength earlier in the morning. Not s many amateurs have been heard recently on telephony. A. test between the 2nd (Wellington) and 8rd (Canterbury) radio districts, on telephony had been arranged, but at the time of writing. very few amateurs have been heard on this test. One, a Wellington operator, has been very persistent with "C.Q.. Christchurch," without being rushed with answering calls. _My-log is a "bit patchy for the week. Saturday, August 4. 3pm. 2XAD was Rb with dance music. © They suddenly went off the air in the middle of an announcement at about 3.18 p.m.

With one or two slight interruptions they carried on till 3.32 p.m. Strength about R6 when closing down PCJJ was tuned in as soon as 2NAD closed down. They commenced with the Wembley Military Tattoo after playing the National Anthem. Strength 3 3-4. They were strongest about 4 p.m. at R5 and decreased to R38 at 6.30 p.m. A strong hum and morse QRM spoilt reception. Sunday, August 5. 2BO and 2BE Wellington, and 3CM and 3AU Canterbur) were testing during the day, 2XAF were R 4-) with dance music relayed from New York. Monday, August 6. 3LO was very weak. Not much more than the carrier was audible. During the eyening a special transmbission was heard from 2XAF on 31.4 metres. They were tuned in first at S p.m., when tese. were being carried out. Gramophone records were heard at R 4-5, slightly unsteady. {t was announced that Judge Rutherford of the International Bible Students’ Association was going to speak at Detroit, Michigan.

The same talk that was given on the day previous was broadcast by a chain of 96 stations. In introducing Judge Rutherford, the speaker said that the lecture was special for New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania, He stated that the time was 4 am. Eastern standard time. The judge commenced by reading a declaration signed by members of the Convention of the International Bible Students’ Association then sitting at Detroit. About 95 per cent. of the lecture was heard at about R+ on the speaker. In closing the station, the announcer suid that "daylight is just breaking (6.53 a.m. Eastern daylight-saving time). We wish you good-night, but it is good morning to us here." The amateurs, 2BO, 2AH Wellington, and 3AGQ Christchurch, were heard testing. Tuesday, August 7. At 7 a.m. on about 40 metres a station was heard at about R2-3. Music and talk were on, Could not stay long enough to identify. Wednesday, August 8. PCIJ was held from 5.30 till 7.40 f.m., when they closed down. Strength was best from 6.30 a.m. till T am. at about R7. Modulation as usual was excellent. There was fading, slight, at about two second intervals. Thursday, August 9. DSW, RS (experimenting with 625 sereen grid). Friday, August 10, PCTS, 5.30 aan, till 740 am. Rt at first to RG at 6,30 a.m., reducing to RS at finish. Three transmissions were announced for Saturday, two being the usual, the extra one being from 00.00 till 03.00 G.M.T., or 11.30 a.m. till 8 p.m. Saturday here. SSW at 5.30 aam. was R38, increasing to R5 at 7.30 a.m., when the Greenwich time signal was heard. At 11 p.m,,

with a screen grid, their signals were R1i-2; orchestral music could just be heard, and some sign of talk, but too weak to read. The above strengths, except where stated, are with the usual detectior. and two stages of audio. ° ve.

Canadian Short-Wave Heard. I picked up 2XAD on Saturday last, the 14th inst., at 1 p.m., for the first time for some months. By 1.80 p.m. this station was coming in at good loud-speaker strength, relaying a "Palmolive" programme through WGY. The time signal was given by this station at 11 hours 1 minutes 15 seconds, B.D.S.T., after which a programme was given from 2XAD studio. (2.30 p.m. N.Z.S.T.) On Friday, June 22, at 6.15 p.m., I picked up what was, to me, a new station. I heard one gramophone record, "La Paloma," and then the announcement, "H.P., Manitoba, Canada, on 27 metres," then adyertising matter. The station closed down at 6.24 p.m. with the announcer telling "Bill" to "turn her off." I have listened for this station each Friday since, but have not heard him again. Have any of your readers? I have delayed reporting this station hoping to have heard more of him. My congratulations to 1BC on his Sunday tests. They haye been splendid. -H, A. Steadman —

Another Report. (THE Schenectady New York station, 2XAD, was on the air again on Saturday, 14th. J did not listen in till about 2 p.m., when the above station was logged. At that time he was good ‘phone strength, using detector and 1 audio, and from then onwards till they closed down at 3.30 p.m., New, : Zealand time, the power increased to good speaker strength in their last hoy" I should say. I hope this station wiil perform on July 27 as well as it did on Saturday. : WLW, Cincinnati, was heard after 2XAD signed.off with his usual jazz items, but not as loud as usual. Signing off 11,31 pm. E.S.T., 4 p.m. New Zealand time. On looking over the "Record’s" Mail Bag column in this week's, a small paragraph is headed "Sanity First." It seems to me some wag appreciated \{r. Stout’s letter published in the "Radio Record" a little time back. Evidently "Observer," as he signs himself, is wishing to stir up another argument in the S.W. Corner. It is a pity these wags will keep bobbing up and have a dig at S.W. fans. Why don’t they eo into politics or join some argu-

A Se mentative society. --

A. P.

Morrison