Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 11, 9 November 1928, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Neatee nf enecial value to short-wave enthusiasts are contributed

eee we wo — — er to "Radio Record" by Mr.

F. W.

Sellens

Northland;

Wellington. _ Observations from others are weicomed.

Me. FR. W. SELLENS (Northland) writes :-- The following is from "The Wireless World’: "Is 58W still experimental? Letters which appear from time to time in the columns of ‘The Wireless World’ give eloquent testimony to the delight with which 5SW, the Chelmsford short-wave station, is heard in distant corners of the world. But the station is still experimental, and it is rather surprising that the B.B.C, is at present making no systematic attempt to collect reports. When 5SW first opened we were told that expert observers in different parts of the world were to render carefully considered reports on 5SW’s signal strength at different times of the day. On inquiring at Savoy Hill, I found that this part of the scheme appears to have fallen in abeyance. : Are we to take it, then, that 58W has now passed the experimental stage and is now the fully-fledged Himpire broadcasting station of Great Britain ?"’ In reference to the above, when announcing from Chelmsford, 58SW is still referred to as the short-wave experimental station, ete. If conditions are favourable on Armistice Day, reception of the service broadeast from London through 5SW should be received here fairly well. If, as is suggested, this service is commenced at 10.45 a.m., which is equal to 10.45 p.m. here, signals should be readable at first, improving as time goes on. 5Sw is much better now during its midday (midnight here) session than ‘it was two or three months back.

rTHE duplex telephony tests between 2MBE, Sydney, and 2XAI, America, have been heard several times since last writing. Their pre-arranged schedule has not been strictly adhered ‘to, except as to the days-Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 9 p.m. till 11 p.m. was to be the time, but it is sometimes earlier and often later. Reception from 2XAF, which is very good when they close down at 5 p.m. (midnight there) in the ordinary course. of events, continues for some time. After a while, signal strength. weakens, again reaching good , volume about 10 p.m. and increasing as time ‘advances. This condition appears to prevail in Sydney, as the Australian station is able to carry on the conversation easier, with a better percentage of readability later in the evening, _ 2XAD and 5SW still carry on their early morning duplex telephony tests. The Chelmsford station is always the best at this time. The short-wave stations of WGY, 2X AF and 2XAD are now having regular television tests for half an hour after their ordinary programme for the. evening has concluded.

Static has been very bad during the past week, spoiling reception. Saturday, October 27. KDKA and 2XAD were putting over the same programme from 2 p.m. when first tuned in. After a political talk, the National Broadcast and Concert Bureau supplied the musical items. At 4.10 p.m. KDKA -continued from the Italian room of the William Penn Hotel. Signed off at 4.387 p.m. Strength 2 at 2 p.m., increasing to RS at 4 p.m. 8CM, Christchurch, working another amateur, came in at RV very clear and steady on 32 metres at 2.15 p.m. PCJJ commenced their weekly New Zealand and Australian transmission at 4.3 p.m. with the National Anthem at R4 with static about Ro, spoiling reception. Strength of sigpals increased to about R8 at 6.58 p.m., when they closed down after wishing everybody a pleasant week-end. REM was heard at good strength. during the evening, but static was stronger. Sunday, October 28.

It was after 3 p.m. before KDKA was readable. They were broadcasting dance music from the William Penn Hotel. At 4 p.m. messages from friends were read for members of the Byrd Expedition. , 2XAF was also late in reaching readable volume. Dance music was heard from the Crystal Room, De Witzler Hotel Orchestra. The programme was broadeast by stations WGY, Schenectady, and WHAM. In closing they announced that special television tests would be carried out each evening for a few weeks. RFM was tuned-in at 9.55 p.m., when a violin solo came in very well, but spoilt by static. The usual talk session followed. Amateurs heard during the day were 2BO, 2BT, 2BI, 2TJ, 3CM, New Zealand, and TOW, Hobart, Tasmania.

Monday, October 29. 7LO, Nairobi, at 6 a.m. was R4-5, increasing to RS at 7 a.m., when their clock was heard striking 10 p.m. Static as usual was bac. bourne, Signals were R8, clear and steady. ° 3M, Braybrook, Victoria, starting at 7 a.m., and went over to 3LO, Mel2ME were "putting over" 2FC’s programme early in the evening, and later earried on duplex telephony tests with

2XAF. Static and morse interference was bad early in the test. 3AR, Christchurch, was also heard. ~ Tuesday, October 30. At 5.45 a.m. SSW were R7-8, with gramophone records, testing with 2XAD. Reception was bad between the stations, apparently too weak for the loudspeaker, as 2XAD could not be heard through 5SW as usual, 2XAD was R4 direct, TLO, Nairobi, was R6-7 from 6 a.m. till 7 a.m., RSR at R8 was very clear on’ about 37.5 metres. Short talks were given in German, commencing with "Achtung RSR," ete. In between talks the metronone being heard with its tick tock. 5SSW at 7.30 a.m. were giving what appeared to be a lesson in French. Volume R7, rapid fading. 2XAD at 7.30 a.m., with musical items were R3-4. A Victorian amateur was heard early in the evening at R4, fading badly.

Wednesday, October 31. PCJJ was best when first tuned-in at 5.30 a.m., at R9. Signals slowly became weaker till 8 a.m., when they were R5. TLO, Nairobi, came in at R4 at 5.30. Static and morse at R7 spoilt reception. RSR was very loud and steady. Only German talk heard. Big Ben was RS at 7 a.m. Static and rapid fading spoilt a talk by Lord Langenburg (?). Volume had decreased quite a lot by 8 a.m. RSR was again heard at 7.10 p.m. at RD. 2ME at 10 p.m. were relaying 2FC, later calling 2XAF. As Australia were not receiving America very well, some records were put on for fifteen minutes, _2ME was R9 and steady, while 2X AF were R6 and fading badly. Conditions must have improved later, as, according to Press reports a successful test was carried out.

Thursday, November 1. A very rough morning. All morse stations coming in with plenty of punch and plenty of static on nearly all wavelengths. TLO, Nairobi, R5, with morse station on top at R8&. RSR, plenty of talk with long intervals. PCLL, on about 38.5, was RS and very steady. Gramophone records were heard, with some Dutch talk between items. ANB, 15.98, was the only station free of static, but fading was bad. Ro fading to R2. 5SW was R5 with Ben Ben. Rapid fading and static spoilt reception. At 10.10 p.m., 3GR, Bendigo, Victoria, was quite good and steady at R5, 90° per cent. readable. : RFM was smothered by static. Friday, November 2. From 5.30 till 6 a.m., 5SW (R8) and 2XAD (R38-4) were testing. Records were played with talks between. The Englishman was 100 per cent. readable, the Amercian about 50 per cent. PCJT at 5.80 was received at R9. and was very steady. They went off the air, or faded right out, several times

between 5.30 and 6.30 am. Am ine clined to think they went off the iT ya as they are not subject to severe fad- " ing, but the rapid variety. ANE at R4 were steady and clear on duplex telephony. "LO was quite audible through de static. 5SW was good strength, with Big Ben( but very unsteady. 2XAF were still on their television test at 5.45 p.m., when reaching home, and continued till 6 p.m. 2ME and 2XAF had an interesting talk later in the evening. During a talk about animals peculiar to Australia, Mr. Farmer, of 2ME, said that they were sending over some kangaroos to 2XAF, not live ones. Later, Mr. Hitt, of OXAF, asked Mr. Farmer to listen; he then said he had just struck a match to light a cigarette. The sound was distinctly audible. At 12 pm., 2XAF was R9 and 2MH stronger, both very clear and steady. Closed down at 12.40 a.m. At 12.30 a.m. Big Ben came through at RT, followed by organ music without any announcement. Static bad and rapid fading.