Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 13, 23 November 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.

R. F. W. SELLENS (Northland) writes : A SHORT-WAVBE station is to be erected at Leopoldville, in the Balgian Congo, for direct communication with Belgium. Telegraphy will be used first, but a telephony installation will follow. Multi-Wave Relays. BEFORE the end of the year it is likely we shall have had some interesting relays of the American broadcasting concerts (writes ‘Modern Wireless"). It is likely that the shortwave transmissions from America will be picked up in Britain on five different receivers. The transmissions will also be made on five different wave-lengths from five different stations. St. Kerston, the five receivers, each tuned to one of the five transmitting wave-lengths, will be able to make up for any losses in fading, etc., which might occur on one specific wave-length. The united production of the reception by the five receivers will be fed into amplifiers, passed on to Savoy Hill, and then rebroadcast to British listeners. Technically, this method is considered the best way to avoid the fading of signals, which have marred many long-distance relay broadcasts.

Waistcoat Pocket Sets. WIRELESS in a waistcoat pocket is the latest news from Berlin. This claim has been made by a professor of Jena University, as the results of experiments he has carried out during the last twelve months. According to the professor, he uses ultra-short waves, three metres and less, and he believes that also his disecoveries will be of invaluable service to medicine. He has succeeded, he says, with a fraction of a watt, using ordinary valves, without aerials, in covering distances of nearly sixteen miles, and with higher energy he has covered two hundred and fifty miles. The professor also says he has succeeded in telephoning by use of these short waves.

The transmitter is stated to be no larger than a cigar box, and he has constructed a receiver which solves with amazing simplicity the problem of detecting the ultra-short waves. The most interesting short-wave reception during the past week was the Armistice Day services from London, through 5SW, Chelmsford, and a special programme from 2MH, Sydney for reception in England, at which some of the visiting cricketers spoke.

Saturday, November 10. RSR was at its best with musical items, strength R8. TLO, Nairobi, was stronger than usual, being R6, morse QRM spoilt reception. The clock was heard striking 10 pm. (7 a.m. here). Morse spoilt any chance of reading the closing announcement.’ 5SW was late in opening, after an apology they switched over to London, where a talk was on. R7, rapid fading. . Both 2XAD and KDKA were late in reaching readable strength. PCJJ were only R2-3 at 45 p.m.,, when their weekly special New Zea-land-Australian transmission commenced. They improved later, but morse interference was too bad to listen for long. 2HC, New South Wales, and 4NW, Queensland, calling 3CM, Christchurch, were both well received during the evening at R8-9.°

Sunday, November 11. 2MBE, Sydney, was tuned-in at 7.10 a.m., when they were testing prior to their special transmission. 7.18 a.m. the National Anthem was sung by the party. "Hullo, British Isles; Hullo, British Broadeasting Corporation. This is an early morning transmission for

yeception in the British Isles,’ was heard. It was stated that the programme was being broadcast on 28.5 metres for distant reception and 442 wetres for Australian reception. It was to be picked up by the B.B.C. and put through all their stations, including 5SW, and rebroadcast. 2BL were to pick up 5SW and rebroadcast the speech and music after it had travelled to England and back.

7.22 a.m.: An organ recital from the Pitt Street Congregational Church by Miss Lilian Frost. This included national airs. This was followed by a talk by Mr. McDonald, manager of A.W.A. He read a cable, stating that 5Sw, for technical reasons, was not rebroadcasting 2ME.

Miss Frost then played Handel’s "Largo" on the organ. The latest news of the Spirit of Australia, en route to England froin Australia, was given. "March Militaire,’ by Miss Frost, was heard next. Mr. Redie Pope introduced Mr. Fred Toons, manager of the M.C.C., from Iingland, touring Australia. Mr. Toons, after calling "Hullo, hullo, dear old England," sent greetings and messages to the people "over there." He then introduced the following players, who each said a few words, greetings to personal friends in England mostly: Messrs. Tyldesley, Freeman, Mead, Geary, Larwood, Tate, Duekworth, Ames, and ‘Leyland. Mr. Summerton, of Reuters, the Press representative travelling with the team, also spoke. At 8.10 a.m. the Armistice Hymn was played on the War Memorial Carillon. Because 5SW was not rebroadcasting this programme, thus enabling -listeners to hear signals after they had encircled the world. 2ME picked up 2XAD, who were describing a football match between the American Army

and Notre Dame, being played in New York City, and rebroadcast it. This allowed listeners in Britain to hear these signals after having travelled nearly round the world. The proceedings concluded with cheers for the English team, the Australian team, and the team that wins the Tests. Reception was excellent all through at strength R9. 2XAD through 2ME was_ poor. Direct, strength was R5, and about 50 per cent. readable. 38AU Rangiora and 38CM _ Christchurch were heard. Both 2XAF and KDKA were about R4 at 8 pm. transmitting dance music. After 3.30 pm. KDKA_ gave the football results, including the match heard earlier in the day through 2X AD. Weather prediction and messages to the Arctic and Byrd’s expedition to the Antarctic were read. It was announced that KYW and KEFKX (both Westinghouse Company’s stations) would broadcast the first regular programme for the Far Nortb next Saturday. Signed off at 4.25 p.m. 2XAF put on dance music from the Rainbow Room of the New Kenmore ‘Hotel, Albany, for the last hour till

they closed down at 14 minutes after midnight (5.13 p.m. here). ; The latter part of the programme was well received at R8. 2BQ and 2HC, both of New South Wales, were testing. Cenotaph Service. ot: Tuning in to 5SW Chelmsford, before 10.30 p.m., the preliminary announcement was heard re the Cenotaph service. At 10.30 pm., Big Ben struck the half-hour. ; Handel’s "Celebrated Largo" was heard first; band and organ items followed.

11 p.m.: The order, "CompanyShun!" was distinctly heard. At 11.2 pm. the "Last Post" came through well. Another military order was heard; then the hymn, "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," sung by the whole gathering. The prayer that followed was 100 per cent. readable, as was the Lord’s Prayer. More military orders and another bugle call. 11.10 p.m.: National Anthem. 5SW closed down till 2.80 p.m, The reception, though not perfect, was very good; rapid fading was noticed. Strength was R8 all through, but more clear toward the end of the service. Was too lazy to get up for the next service, which, according to other reports, was better received here. At 11.15 pm. RFM was R9, with some excellent music, spoilt by static.

Monday, November 12. 7LO, Nairobi, tuned in at 7 am. The clock could be heard through static, but talk not readable. 3LO at RS was very good. Slight fading was the only fault. _ During the evening there was plenty of talk from RFM at R8. Slight static. Tuesday, November 13.

5SW was having a yarn to 2XAD till just ‘before 6 am, The English station was RS and fairly free from fading. Strength R8. ‘The American could not be heard direct. 5SW is apparently in the country, as during the talk it was stated that "we are three miles from anywhere here." . 7LO R4-5. -Morse QRM very bad. At about 6.30 a.m. the Morse ceased for a few moments, when a choir was heard very well. ANE, 15.98 metres, was Rd with duplex telephony. A talk was on at 5SW, R7-8, at Tam. At 7.30 am. what appeared to be a lesson in French was heard. At 10 p.m. a Japanese station on about 28.5 metres was received at good strength-Rs. An Aussie amateur giving the latest ericket scores was welcome. RIM was spoilt by static. Wednesday, November 14. 7TLO was there, but the Morse, if possible, was worse than ever. There was not any sign of PCJJ till 6 am., when they commenced with the Dutch National Anthem. , Te -8 (Concluded on page 31.)

On Short Wave

(Continued from page 32).

with a fair amount of static. Strength reduced to R5-6 by 7.30 a.m. . 2XAD at 680 am. was R4 with organ music. Just before 7 a.m. a Jong whistle was heard on 58W’s carrier, probably for tuning purposes. Big’ Ben and the singing that followed was R5 with rapid fading. 2YA, with the election results, was the only station tried for during the evening.

Thursday, November 15. (THE earrier only of 7LO was audible. PCLL on about 38 metres, was very good at R8-9. Gramophone items were heard, with "Hullo. Here PCLL, .Kootwijk." As the talk was in Dutch, it was not understood, except the call. 5BSwW at 7 am, was very poor. Strength R4 and very unsteady. Static spoilt RIM during the evening. 2HC, N.S.W., was also heard. Friday, November 16. ROM 5.15 am, till 6.10 am. 55W and 2XAD were heard swap-

ping news, ete. 5SW was RS and 100 per cent. readable, while 2XAD was R4, and readability very poor at first, but rapidly improved. Among the items of interest heard were: New York have just had their first snowstorm. The weather in England is wet, but very mild. 5SW, in talking of further tests with 2XAD, said that these tests are invaluable to them, . At 6.30 a.m. 2XAD came on the air again, giving days and hours of television tests. They then commenced one. : 7LO Nairobi was just audible at. 6.30 am. Again PCJJ did not start till 6 a.m. Strength R8-9, static very bad. English announcements were not heard, but several times "Hullo. Holland, India,’ was heard, probably ealling up the Duteh East Indies. Big Ben at 7 am., through 5SW, was heard at R5. A talk about’ the latest novels followed. At 12.25 a.m. Friday midnight, 55W was R8, very clear and fairly steady. An organ recital followed Big. Ben without announcement. Note from 5SW. IN reply to Mr. T. A. Dobson (Denniston), re a high-toned note beat about six times from 5SW_ before changing over to London. I do not remember hearing this. Often, just before "going over," a high-pitched whistle is heard for about 30 seconds: this, I suppose. is to enable the listen-

er to tune-in propely. Some time back, when Britain was observing summer time, and we New Zealand mean time, at 7.30 a.m., the Greenwich time signal was heard. which consisted of six dots, the last being the exact hour. Other Receptions. Mr. J. D. O’Loughlin (Masterton), writes :-On Friday, October 26, at 12 pm. I picked up a station on 19.3 metres. It came over well, playing Hawaiian records. After six records were put over it closed down. No aanouncement was made while I was listening to it. It may have been PO LL, but it was over a metre above his usual wave. A Jap. has been heard several times on 28.5 metres. I could not catch the call, however. On Morday, October 29, 8LO said they were transmitting for one hour only after this, viz., 5-6 a.m., Melbourne time. 2XAR and 2XAD have been rather weak lately. Amateurs heard include oa 2HC, oa 4NW, oa 6AG, 0a 23Q, 0a 2GQ, oz 30M, 2AB, 2GA, 38AR, and 2CK? Wellington, who came up at R&8. On Thursday at 1.30 am, 2ME was calling PCLL and playing records.