Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 6, 24 August 1928, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Natee af necial value to short-wave enthusiasts are contributed

Det ed el a Va to "Radio Record"

by Mr.

F. W.

Sellens

Northland,

Wellington. Observations from others are weicomed.

a --- Me. ¥. W. SELLENS, Northland, writes :-- A report of reception of the "Palmolive Hour" each Saturday from 2XAD through WGY sent to the PalmolivePeet Company, Chicago, was replied to by the last U.S.A. ‘mail. They state that at the present time they are broadcasting through a chain of 32 stations throughout the United States, and WGY is a part of this hook-up. Until October 1 their programme is receiyable here each Thursday from 1 till 2 pm., and from that date from 2 till 3 p.m. (This is the change from daylight-saving time to standard time.) They also advise me that to date I.am their. most distant listener. This would probably be, nearer the mark if they added "who has sent in a report." The letter was accompanied with some advertising matter, and a photograph of Miss Olive Palmer, who they announce as "Radio's most popular soprano." OFTEN a short-wave detector will ~ work at a lower temperature than its rated value. | World Telephony. HE following from the "Listener In" (Australia), dealing with the importance of wireless beam development in Empire telephony, is of interest to short-wave listeners :- "It is understood that further important developments may be expected shortly in connection with beam wireless communication, and that Senatore Marconi is nearing the completion of experiments, about which a great deal of secrecy has so far been maintained, for the simultaneous trausmission of wireless telephony and wireless telegraphy over the beam system. . "As wireless telephony, to be a commercial success, must be available at a- reasonable cost to the user, Senatore Marconi directed his attention to developing a system at the lowest possible cost. His experiments were on the lines of combining wireless telephony with wireless telegraphy, and with producing a system in which the greater part of the apparatus useil for a wireless telegraph service could also be used simultaneously for a wireless telephone service. It is understood that his experiments have been crowned with complete success, and tests are now taking place across the Atlantic with apparatus which it is claimed will operate two high speed telegraph circuits simultaneously with one duplex telephone circuit, utilising the same transmitter and aerial ancl only one wavelength for all three circuits. a, "It is understood that the time is not yet ripe for a statement in regard to the possible date for the opening of

such a service, which will naturally be a matter for discussion with the Post Office, which is now operating the Dominion beam services, but that the tests indicated that such a statement may not be long delayed. "One of the Marconi engineers enraged in these tests seen by a Press representative, said :- ""-Some preliminary experiments took place about twelve months ago, and as a result of discoveries then made more complete apparatus has been designed and manufactured. " «A few days ago this apparatus was taken down to the wireless stations, and installed ready for test. We could hear our friends in Canada perfectly in spite of the fact that high speed telegraph services were being conducted by means of the same apparatus and the same aerial. " «hose who have taken part in these tests are very much impressed with the wonderful results obtained. There will be no difficulty in connecting the telephone to the whole of the landline telephone system on either side of the Atlantic or in any country between which a similar service is establishedi by means of the beam system and conversing with a clearness equal to that of the best telephone system in this country.’ Revolving Beams. "The possibilities opened up by these new developments are enormous. One can picture the world in the near future being so completely linked up by wireless that no one will be out of reach of the rapidly expanding tentacles of the telephone service. "I’yom the strategic point of view, a revolving beam is likely to be of great value. One of the few criticisms which has been made of the beam system is that, owing to the fact that the waves are radiated over a narrow angle, a large number of beam stations might be necessary to enable the British Admiralty, for instance, to establish communication with the fleet in any part of the world. "With a perfected revolving beam this difficulty would disappear entirely, and it would be possible to communicate by beam telegraphy or telephony with any ship at any time in any part of the world." Reception Improving. ‘yURING the past week reception from 5SW, Chelmsford, England, has improved at the time I am able to

listen, ie., up till about 7.30 a.m. They haye also been heard, very weak but partly intelligible, at 11 p.m. This has not been possible for some time. Probably the most interesting réception since last writing was a speech and bagpipes from Dundee through DSW. Very little of the talk was readable on account of quick fading, but there was no doubt about the bagpipes. Saturday, August 11. HSW, 6 a.m., signals were only R1-2 (with a screen -grid). This increased to R4 at 7 a.m... From about 7.20 till 7.30 a.m. the above Scotch relay (on rebroadcast)’ was ‘heard. ‘7.30 am. Greenwich .time, signal, followed by announcement that "you have been listening to the progr ame radiated from Dundee." 2ZXAD, 21.96 metres, at 1 p.m. was RS (on the speaker) and increased in volume to R6. The programme till 2.30 p.m. was supplied by the National Broadcasting Concert Bureau. From then till 3.80 p.m. dance music was relayed from Reilly’s Lake . Houseclosing + minutes past midnight, eastern daylight saving time. PCJJ, 31.4 metres, commenced at 3.30 p.m. at strength R4, increasing to about R5-6 at 5 p.m. Volume then decreased to R3-2 when ¢elosing: at 6.38 pum. °° Reception was spoilt. by. an. unsteady rushing noise all through the prograime, a SO Sunday, August 12: Jor some unknown reason neither of the Yanks could be heard during the afternoon. XAF, 31.4 metres, was heard at about R2 at ilam. Among the amateurs heard were 1BH, Auckland, 2Bl1, Wellington, and 2AB, Wanganui, The latter came in at Rs. OT — Monday, August 13.---3dLO, $2 metres, Was very weuk when first tuned in, increasing to IRS on speaker at 7:30°a.m: with intense fading usual. SSW at 11. p.m. was just audible, too weak to be intelligible. Tuesday, August. 14. . OSW. 6G a.m., R2-3, increasing | fo about R3 at 7.25. Bey eral organ items were heard. re Wednesday, August 15. 0 °° PCJJ was: tuned in’ at: 5.350 -a.m., strength Rd, reaching. the... maximum yolume at 6.30 a.m., R7, then decreasing to Rd-6 at 7.30 a.m. Unsteady, with one second. fading, BSW. was heard at intervals between 6G a.m. and 7.30 am. The orchestra was on each About R4 all through 2BO Wellington was transmitting gramophone items on the 30-metre band during the evening. His strength and modulation, though good, was not up to his S80-metre work. Thursday, August 16. SSW ut 6.80 a.m. were relaying what appeared to be a musical comedy. The name was' announced as being "Ginsy Love,’ the last word not certain, .but "Gipsy" clear enough. The cast was also given. Strength was R+ at first, increasing to R5..(speaker).. On .account of "surging," talk was not wholly intelligible, . but. the. music was .cajay-.

able. At 7.30 the relay was ‘cut outs for a moment for the Greenwich time signal, returning again to the theatre. 3 The play ‘finished at 7.45 a.m., when . the title and cast was given. Aft this a talk commenced, subject sng heard, but a lot was spoken abot snakes. At 11 p.m. an orchestra was heard at R2-3, from 5SW. Big Ben was heard striking the half-hour first (12.30 B.S.T.). Friday, August 13. At 5.80 a.m. PCJJ was RY, excellent reception, very steady and modulation perfect. When signing off at 7.37 a.m. strength had decreased to about LL, still clear and steady. 5SW at 5.80 a.m. were transmitting a lecture which finished at 5.45 a.m. From then till 6 a.m. pianoforte items were heard. At 6 am., after "London calling" it wus announced that the next quarter of an hour would be devoted to the works of "Coleridge Taylor," most of these being orchestral items. "King Charles" was sung at 7 am. At 7.5 "Norwegian Rhapsody ---"’ was announced, another orchestral item. At 7.30 the time signal was heard. During the evening 3AU Rangiora was relaying the programme of 1YA, and was heard at good strength. Static spoilt reception. At 11 pm. 5SW was just strong enough to hear an orchestra at times, the music coming in short rushes. This is peculiar to this sta--tion, more so than any short-wave transmitter I have heard.