Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 9, 14 September 1928, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Cae se atten Natee of anecial value to short-wave enthusiasts are contributed

weekly to the "Radio Record" by Mr.

F. W.

Sellens

Northiana,

Wellington. Observations from others are welcomed.

Mr. F. W. Sellens writes :- Mr. Gerald Mareuse, the owner of 2NM (the first Empire shortwave broadcaster) has recently been granted an extension of his license by the Postmaster-General. The latest advice from Myr. Mercuse’ gives his regular times of transmission as follows: Sundays, from 5.30 p.m.; Mondays, from 4.30 p.m.; Thursdays and Saturdays, 9.30 a.m. till 11.80 a.m., New Zealand time. A few weeks ago a select party of distinguished radio men from New York were shown by Senatore Marconi, at the Bridgwater beam station, how he could receive ordinary broadcast transmission from Montreal, using the same apparatus and aerial, at the same time, as was being used for the igg%2l morse telegraph. No trace of morse interference was noticed whilst the dance musie rattled through. Future of Short-Wave Certain. Me. HUGO GEONSBACH, editor of "Radio News" (U.8.A.), says :-- "And as time goes on, the interest in short-waves is becoming greater and greater. It may well be said that we have as yet not scratched the surface. Technicians believe that in due time all broadeasting will be done on the short waves; everything seems to point that way. Already many stations are operating two transmitters simultaneously; one on the upper wave-band., and the other in the lower wave-band. These stations in doing so are simply staking out their claims for what is to come in the future; and the recent scramble for short waves for television purposes points unmistakably in the same direction.

"Tt will not surprise me at all rf, during the next five years, the broad easting of both sound and sight wil be done completely on short waves; and the upper wave-channels from 200 to 600 metres gradually abandoned. as fast as we learn more about the short waves, "At the present time, the only thing that stands in the way of universal adoption of short waves is the skipdistance effect. Take, for instance, 2XAL, broadcasting on 30.91 metres: within 200 miles of New York, the reception is poor. Beyond this distance it becomes better and better, the further you get away from the transmitter. This is one of the problems that has vet to be solved and. when it has been solved, there is little doubt that all stations will move down into the short-wave part of the spectrum." ‘HRISTCHURCH = correspondent says he stayed up for the relay of the signing of the Peace Pact by 5SW, and although strength was good only parts were clear enough to understand. This is better than Wellington recep

tion. A suggestion of speech was all that was audible here. Reception on the short waves appears to be better.as a rule.in the south compared with Wellington. A German station has ‘been heard several times during the week on just over 40 metres. When the station is on the air, between talks. a clock ticking can be distinctly heard. The call has not been heard; each talk commences with "Achtung! Achtung" (Attention). RFM (Russia) has been heard again after a silence of some weeks. OME, 28.5 metres, has been heard several times broadcasting the programmes of the Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. Reception has been strong and clear, with bad fading at times.

but always readable. Saturday, September 1. At 6.80 am. SSW was RS. Rapid fading spoilt reception. KDKA, 27 metres, Was tuned-in at 145 p.m. at R2-3-. YXAD at 1.45 was R45. The programme was supplied by the National 3roadcasting and Concert Bureau, Til Fifth Avenue, New York City. At 2.30 p.m. the transmission Was eontinued from Reilly’s Habe House, Saratoga Springs, New York. Amohg th. dance items were "Oh, Baby" and

"What Do You Say?’ Reception Was excellent, 100 per cent. readable and very steady at good loudspeaker strength. pcJJ was first heard at 1.30 p.n., but too weak to be readable. about R2. "Hullo" and "Philips" about all that was heard. Later announcements were heard in a foreign language, BMnglish not being spoken. At 3.55 p.m., after giving his last foreign ‘ull, Australia and New Zealand were called. Strength R7. Maximum volume was attained st about 5 p.m.. decreasing to about R44 at 6.30 p.m. when I left them to try Australia for news of the Tasman flight. 2ATJ. Wellington. was testing on ‘phone on about 31 metres. Sunday, September 2. "YMIE was broadcasting the service from St. Mary’s Cathedral. Although volume was very good, howlers spoilt reception. KDKA was R2 at 12 p.m. Could not find them after dinner. OXAF was spoilt by bowlers nearly -all through. A dance programme Was

being relayed from the Crystal Room, Hotel, Albany, New York. Strength was up to R8. When closing they gave their frequency as 9550 kilocycles (31.4 metres). The Crosley Radio Corporation's station WLW was then tuned-in at R2-3, increasing to about R5 at 4.30 p.m., when they signed off. There was slight static. Rapid fading spoilt intelligibility. 2ME relayed the ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Cardinal Cerretti and other speakers, including Archpishop Redwood, of Wellington, were clearly heard. 2FC. on 31.7 metres, were transmitting a studio programme. Morse QRM was bad. RIM was heard for the first time

for quite a while. When tuned-in at 9.50 p.m. an orchestral item was received at good strength. 2AJ, Wellington, and 38CM, Christchurch, were among the amateurs heard on telephony. Monday, September 3. 31,0, 82 metres, was up to R8-9, bui faded badly. An announcement Was made about 2MPE on 28.5 metres broadcasting the proceedings of the Hucharistic Congress for oversea stations to rebroadeast. RFM was heard transmitting talk

and music. Strength R9. 5SW, 11.p.m., Big Ben struck the half-hour. Rapid fading spoilt chance of hearing any announcement. Tuesday, September 4. SSW was RDS at 6 am. with rapid fading. A lady gave a lecture, but could not be under stood. After the time signal at 7.30 a 15-minute interval was Fritz on about 40 metres was heard calling "Achtung" at about R6. Wednesday, September 4. PGJJ at 6 a.m. was R8-9, with slight fading at about one second intervals. A good programme of gramophone items was beard. Strength remained fairly even till after 7 a.m., when it decreased. ; 5SW were transinitting a talk at 6.10 a.m. The title was not heard, but the talk was about money aS a means of exchange. FE:very word could he clearly heard at R8. The Wireless Military Band was heard later. 2ME was heard at 6 p.m., and again later in the evening. Strength very good, with some fading. Statice was very bad on the higher wave lengths.

Thursday, September 6. SSW was tuned-in just before 6 a.m.. when rapid fading was bad. Strength R6. A talk was given about the pot tery districts of Staffordshire. The musical programme following, it was announced, was being broadeast by all stations. Later a lecture on "Craftmanship" was heard, From 9.30 p.m. 2ME was again "on the air." All speakers at the congress were very clear. Reception full speaker volume. Big Ben was heard at 11 p.m., Re. Announcement not readable, but orchestral item fair. Fi

Friday, September ‘7. : At 5.28 a.m. 5SW opened with the call and said they were now going ove to London for the evening programme. 5.80, Big Ben followed by "London calling’ was quite clear at R7. Mées.. gave a talk, which rapid fadifiz spoilt. Strength was steady till 7.30 a.m. POJJ was very good, strength R7 at 5.30 a.m., increasing slightly. 100 per cent. readable. Fritz was R6. Clock ticking clearly audible between talks. 2ME broadcast a lecture from the Australian Hall, Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Reception very good, except for fading. 5SW was the best yet for the evening transmission. Big Ben followed by orchestral, vocal, and organ items were heard quite well several feet from the speaker. At 11.30 p.m. the Greenwich time signal was heard. This would be noon, Greenwich mean time. REM was talking, as is the usual custom. '