Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 25, 4 January 1929, 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.

-LETIER received. from the West- "~™ inghouse. Hiectric and Manufacturing Company, Pittsburg, dated November 14,1928, contains the following particulars:"We are very anxious that the programmes to Commander Byrd are transmitted in such a manner as to be received in good volume aboard the ship, and by our friends in other countries. Station KDKA operates on 980 kilocycles, the standard. wave of the station being 305.9 metres, the short waves 62.5 and 25.4. The short waves of KDKA are used every evening from eight o’clock Eastern ‘standard time (1 p.m. New Zealand summer time), up uniil. the closing timé of our programme. This, of course, includes the special. programmes to the Arctic and Sub-Arctie, which will be broadcast on the following dates: December 1, 1928; December 25, 1928; January 12, 1929; February 2, 1929; and February 28, 1929, at 11.0 o’clock, Hastern standard time (4 p.m. the following day our time), The shortwaves transmissions often begin at six o’clock EST, also irregularly at periods earlier in thé day." New Wavelengths. WGY’s Shortwave Stations. [tz was announced from Schenectady, that to comply- with the new regulations of the Federal Radio Commission, the following new wavelengths would be used as from December 27, 1928; W2XAD, 19.56 metres; W2XAP, 31.48 metres. 2XAD has used this wavelength recently when carrying out duplex telephony tests with 5SW. _ Specimen report sheets are to hand for reporting reception of Philips shortxvave stations PCJJ and PBF5. These contain provision for reports on signal strength and fading, etc. Report sheets may be obtained on application to Messrs, Philips Lamps (N.Z.), Ltd., P.O. Box 1673, Wellington. A strange foreign station, on about 26 metres, has. been heard about 6.50 p.m. No call-was heard. Saturday, December 15. POJT. was RS at 6 am., decreasing to R84 by 7.80 a.m. 5SW, starting early; at 6 am. strength was R8, with a talk which was not intelligible. At 6.15 a fifteen minute interval was announced, after which‘ the London programme would be continued. — : , According to the usual schedule, news items are given during. this period, which’ are ‘barred on the shortwave transmissions. TLO Nairobi was R3. The Dutch station PCJJ was on again during the afternoon. They were weak until about 5 p.m. At this time greetings wete sent to the Byrd Expedition in the Antarctic. Both KDKA and W2XAD were very weak till after 4 pm, when they reached. Rd. F aad Lower Hutt was quite good at LO, ‘ Sunday, December 16. 2AX Palmerston: North, a new station to me, came in at good strength. W2XAF was very clear and steady at R8 at 3 p.m.,,. increasing to R8-9 at 5 pm., when signing off. Music ‘vas supplied by the Hotel Van -- Orchestra at Schenectady, New York. KDKA broadcast items from the "ort Wyne ‘Hotel till:4 pm. Mesages. to the Byrd Expedition were ‘nt til 425 pm. Strength RS at

RFM was in good form at R9 Talk only was heard. ‘ Monday; December 1%. 7LO Nairobi, although, quite weak -R2-3-was very clear at 6.30 a.m. 8LO from 7 a.m. was splendid strength and modulation. Tuesday, December 18. 7LO was ‘stronger than usual, so was static, Big Ben from 5SW was R84; rapid fading spoilt talk that followed. ¥ Wednesday, December 19. 7LO at6am. R35. 5SW at 7.30 a.m. was R5, but very poor reception. During the evening 2ME Sydney and ANE Java. were testing: both stations were excellent at RS. Thursday, December 20. A station: was picked up on about 46 metres. Static was too strong to be able to get the call. PCLL Kootwijk, 7LO Nairobi, and 5SW were all about R5, but spoilt by strong static. At 6.30 p.m. a station on about 26 metres was heard talking in broken English. Sydney, Australia, and later, Malabar, were called. Talk between could not be understood until 7.45 p.m., when he said "We are closing down now" in quite good, clear English. This was repeated and the carrier went off. Strength was.R9. This station has been heard since. but no luck as regards a call. PCLL on 18.4 metres was picked up at 8.15 p.m. at R7, transmitting records. Friday, December 21. Static was again very bad on all stations except on the very low wave lengths. PCJJ and 5SW in the morning and RF™M in the evening were spoilt by it. , POLL at 10.15 p.m. were transmitting records; some organ music was excellent. Later they called "Hullo, Bandoeng! Here is Kootwigh." ANE was tuned-in; they were playing records, but on being called they responded with talk and carried on with duplex telephony. Both stations were R9 and quite free of static. Saturday, December 22. POJJ commenced at 6.5 a.m. at R6 with the Dutch National Anthem. Static was again very bad. 5SW and 7L0 were both weak and spoilt by static. POJJ was again tuned-in at 3 p.m, when static had almost gone, At 5.5 p.m. our National Anthem was played, followed by "Hullo, Australia; Hullo, New Zealand." They then had a talk: to Commander Byrd at the South Pole. A howler came on-and spoilt reception. Strength increased to R8 at 5.30 p.m., decreasing slightly by 6 p.m., when they signed off, stating "This concludes our transmission for the Antipodes, wishing listeners the compliments of the season,’ No sign was heard of KDKA_ or W2xXAD. mie Radio Paris, the Biffel: Tower station, 7) 24.5 metres, was heard early in the evening calling "Hullo, Ici

Paris." Strength R9, very clear and. steady. Only talk was heard. At one time they were ‘calling Washington, © _ Sunday, December 23. ROE early with the idea of logging some of the Sunday morning specials, but luck was out, except that on about 22 metres a foreign. lady~ was talking in short sentences with long pauses between; sounded like one side of a The other station could not be. located. Strength Rb. Static bad. KDKA signed off at 4.15 a.m. at R6. Rapid fading spoilt readability. W2XAF was weak till 4 p.m., when they were R5. This increased to RS at5p,m. Hotel dance music was heard during the last hour. Monday, December 24. 6.30 a.m., TLO, R4-5, spoilt by static. 38LO 7 am, at R9, very clear and steady. RFM with music, at 10 p.m., was RS. PCLL, with records, was rather unsteady at R7. ANH, at R9, were also. playing records. Later these two stations carried out duplex telephony tests. PCLL could be heard through ANE, Tuesday, December 25. Tuned in 2XAD at 9 a.m., when a lady was singing. After this the announcer said something about programme by the British Broadcasting Corporation and then closed down. They probably had been re-broadcast-ing the London station. 5SW could not be heard direct. The programme heard from KDKA till 3.80 p.m. was supplied by the General Motors, Ltd. The next half an hour the "Old World Trio" entertained. W2XAD and W2XAF were both on the air with a Christmas Eve programme from the Pennsylyania Hotel by the National Broadcasting Co. and associated stations. At 5 p.m. Christmas carols were heard from the "famous old Trinity Church, New York." These were on the bells. Christmas music and talks were continued till 1.314 a.m. Hastern standard time (6.814 p.m. New Zealand time). KDKA also broadcast the same programme from midnight, New York time. Reception was from R8-9. with 2XAD, which was the best most of the time; at times 2XAF was the stronger. They made the announcement re change of wavelength mentioned earlier. Before signing off, the following was broadcast: "To our short-waye audience, wherever you may be, all over the world perhaps. May we wish you a Merry Christmas, Good-night." This concluded one of the most en-. joyable programmes heard from America. Directly after the above signed olf, a station on about 26 metres was heard at R8 transmitting a religious service, Static was rather bad. He signed off at 6.45 p.m.: with call not properly heard, but "---? short-wave station’ of C---? owned by James Richardson and Sons, Ltd.’ ‘Good morning." The © located.it as Canada, and my call-book shows. two sta-

tions owned by James Richardson and Sons, Ltd. They are CIRM. Mocse’ Jaw, Sask, and OJRW,.- Fleming, — Sask. . I fancy it was the former, but not certain. | . Wednesday, December 26. At 845 a.m. on about 22 metres a foreign lady was. talking, apparently duplex telephony. 5SW. was audible at times only. An unsteady rushing noise spoilt the weak signals, 2XAF was not tuned in till 430 pm., just as they were concluding a hotel relay, which: was R9. They followed on with ‘a television test till 5 p.m., again giving particulars of new warelengths to operate from December 27. KDKA were poor until 4.30 Signal strength was not~so: bad, ° they were mushy. They cleared up later and also gained in strength. A special programme for Commander Byrd and his party was given with personal messages. They were still going strong with messages at 8 p.m. (3.-a.m. .at Pittsburg) when I left them in‘favour of 2YA. Strength was R9 during the last two hours and perfectly, clear and steady, being 100 per cent. readable. 2XA¥F ‘were on late in the evening, ‘ Heard them first at 11.10 p.m. at: RO. sa playing records. Seles hs 8