Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 13, 12 October 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.

. Mr. F. W. Sellens writes :-~ Progress of 5SW. "[t is good news that the recent move of the ‘Continentalists’ at Savoy Hill to suppress 5SW has not succeeded, says a writer in "The Wireless Constructor," The short-wave station continues its transmissions, which although still formally ‘experimental’ are in practice providing a much appreciated service for Britons the world over. Then there is the further point that some quite useful results have been achieved from the co-operative experiments arranged between Captain Hekersley and his opposite number in the United States, Dr. Goldsmith. But the chief objection at the listening end is the absence of news. As soon as the time arrives for the news bulletins, 55W shuts up. This maddens listeners at the other side of the world. ‘The reason appears to be that the news agéncies will not allow their copyright matter to be dissemi-nated-in this widespread fashion without special compensation. Moreover, the Press of the Dominions and Colonies is by no means keen on news bulletins being included in the 5SW transmissions. "But, of course, the news must be included before very long. The money for it will have to be found from sources actually interested, such as, for instance, the Governments of the Colonies. The B.B.C. would not be justified in spending British license money on oversea news services." "THE regular stations have come in during the past week with plenty of punch. Static has been troublesome, especially above about 40 metres. Saturday, September 29. ©®XAD was in good form. The hotel orchestra from the roof of St. Regis Hotel, New York. City, was broadcast. Reception was excellent at R8, the screen grid not being hooked up at the time.

PCJJ was first heard at 3.85 p.m. calling America. The special programme for New Zealand and Australia commenced at 5 p.m. with the National Anthem. Strength R9. As usual, amateurs were called and thanked for reports. The programme was well received till signing off at 6.33 p.m., except for morse QRM. During the evening REM was poor, a strong ripple and static spoiling reception. | ,

Sunday, September 30. At 11 a.m. both KDKA and 2NAF were audible-only just. By 1 p.m. KDKA was readable, till 2.30 musical items were heard. They then switched over to where Governor Smith was talking about Prohibition.. Although, according to his statements he, if elected President, would see that the law was obeyed, in reference to the 18th Amendment, he quoted what various prominent men in America had to say against Prohibition. His speech was about 50 per cent. readable at first, but improved to nearly 100 per cent. toward the finish at about 3.30 p.m. That what he had to say was approved by his seen audience was proved by the loud applause. at frequent. intervals. At 3.30 p.m., just before closing down, baseball and football results were read and the weather forecast given. Listeners were reminded to put their clocks back one hour. Signed off as SXEK, 2XAF put on a dance programme, which a chain of stations were. broadcasting from the Crystal Room, Ten Eyck Hotel, Albany, New York. Strength was R8 when closing at 3.30 p.m. The concluding reminder was "Don't forget to put your clock back

one hour, Standard time begins at 2 | o'clock to-morrow morning." Amateurs heard were 2AJ working 4AB, and 3UT, Victoria. Monday, October 1. As 38LO were later than’ usual in starting, I did not hear them. 3CP, Malvern, Victoria, was testing and was received yery well at about Rd.

GAG, Perth. was even better at Kho. Several records were heard and the statement that he is testing almost every evening at 6.30 and 11 p.m. He closed down at 10.55 our time, saying it is now 7.25 p.m. West Australian time. SSW at 11 p.m. was R3-4. Static bad. . Tuesday, October 2. At 6 a.m. a French talk was given from 5SW at R6. Static spoiling reception. YXAD were R4-5 about 6 am. Jazz items were heard, while later a lady was talking. Two sorts of fading were noticed.: One, very rapid, while the other was slow, the station fading out at times. Wednesday, October 3. PCJJ, from 5 a.m. till 7.55, was received at R9 all through, except for slow fades, but very slight. Modulation was excellent, and talk 100 per cent. readable. 3i¢ Ben from 5SW came through at R7 at 5.30 a.m. (7 p.m. summer time). The first talk was, "A Week-end in Paris." How to get there; hotels to stay at; what to see. This was 100 per cent. readable and very interesting. Pianoforte items followed. When the next talk commenced, rapid fading became bad. spoiling readability. A band

was heard later at R8. A Dutchman was tuned in on about 38.5 metres at R9. Reception was perfect except for some static. Some. talk was heard at first, finishing .with "Hello! Hello!" (not any call given). Musical items followed, concluding at 7.27 am. with what I believe is the Dutch National Anthem, as PCJJ often play it at the end of their ordinary transmission. This station was probably ANDIR, Bandoeng, Java. ANE, on 15.93, were going strong on duplextelephony up till 7.40 am., when I closed down. Strength Rod. 3AR, Ashburton, was heard at R7 during the evening. 6AG, Perth, was very good at R8. "Annie Laurie" at 10.30. was splendid. Some old-time comic songs followed, such as "Waiting at the Church," ete. Thursday, October 4. 5SW started their session after Big Ben had struck, with a lecture about _ "pidemic Germs"; strength RS; rapid fading; about 60 per cent. readable. Gramophone records filled the next 15 minutes, and then another lecturette. ANE were again earrying on tele- _ phone conversations. R6. A foreign station on about 41.5 metres was heard for a few monients. A talk finished just as T tuned it in at 1615 am. Rd-6. Static bad.

Friday, October 5. PCJJ was tuned in just after 5 a.m. .- at R8, fading slight with a little static. At one time they called "Hullo Sumara; Hullo Sourabaya; Hullo," ete., etc., then a long talk in Dutch followed. Volume continued fairly even at PA d -9 till after 6.30 a.m., when it redu slightly. 5SW: A lady gave a review of the latest novels. Intelligibility about 90 per cent. Piano and orchestral selections were heard later. Volume was only slightly less than PCJJ till 7 a.m., and then was stronger than the Dutch station. A "Fritz? was heard on 41.5. metres calling Achtung, with a talk following. The call, if any, was not heard. Before the talk and after a metronome was heard ticking quite distinctly; this T understand is used by a number of continental stations, partly for tuning purposes and partly for identification, number of ticks per minute. This particular tick, although I did not attempt to count the number per minute, had a peculiar sound, the ticks being not quite equal spacing, but in twos, just enough to be noticeable. Maybe somebody can identify this station by this description. PCJJ also has a metronome. as, of course, many readers know. The ticks from this are slow and equal spacing. At 11 pm. 5SW was about R3, but reception poor on account of rapid fading. RFM was heard with a good orchestra at R8, but static was about R10.