Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 26, 11 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. Obzervations from others are welcomed.

R. F. SELLENS (Northland) M writes :- The following items of interest to short-wave listeners are from recent issues of "Wireless World." For Germans Overseas. 66 A ‘WORLD PROGRAMME’ is to be broadcast in. February next from a new short-wave station now under construction by the German Post Office at Konigswurterhausen. The station will apparently be a seuond SSW, its object being to enuble Germans living abroad to keep in touch with the homeland by means of relatively simple receiving sets." Soviet’s Short-Wave Project. **RUSSIA is constructing new shortwave stations. According to a Moscow message, the People’s Commissariat for Posts and Telegraphs has decided .to build several new short-wave radio stations in Middle Asia, namely, in the Pamiro, Khorog, and Hassan-Kuli. It may be assumed that these are for administrative use and not for broadcasting." A WRITER in "Modern Wireless" says:-‘There are several very powerful German broadcasting stations testing on various wavelengths between 25 and 45 metres, and if they start up with full programmes we may expect some good things." WITH the new regulations under the Washington Conference, which came into effect on January 1, certain alterations will be made to eal] signs and wavelengths of broadcast stations. Philips short-wave station will now be known as PCJ instead of the wellknown PCJJ. WGY’s short-wuve experimental stations are still 2XAF and 2XAD, but with a W as a prefix. The wave of the latter station is also altered to 19.56 metres. The. ald "R" system of signal strength will be superseded by the figures 1 to 5, used without the letter "R," and signifying :- 1-Hardly perceptible; unreadable. 2-Weak; readable now and then. 8-Fairly good: readable. but with difficulty. 4-Good; readable. 5-Very good; perfectly readable, or Thursday, December 27. LO was R2 at 6 a.m. Static very bad. Big Ben ‘through oSW was Rd. The talk that followed was not readable on account of rapid faiing. 2ME was tuned in at 10 p.m. just as they were concluding a test with Suva. Strength was RS. The latter station had closed before I had a chance to change coils. Radio enthatumanmees -e

Paris (Ici Paris) was heard after at good volume, Friday, December 28, AY R. WILSON, of SSW, and Mr. Prescott, of W2XAD, were haying a yarn at 5.45 a.m. Afterwards two officials of the Y.M.C.A. spoke from Schenectady, followed by several boys and a girl, who appeared to appreciate the importance of being able to talk to a person in England "over the air’ and have several questions answered, chiefly about the weather. 7LO was very weak. PCJJ conmenced at 6 a.m. at R8-t and dropped

to R2 by 7.30 a.m. W2XAD started a television test at 6.80 a.m. which lasted till 7 a.m. Music and talks followed. OSW wus R-4. A talk ou "New Novels" followed the striking of Big Ben. Saturday, December 29. At 7.15 a.m. SSW was R+. Rapid fading spoilt reliability of talks. W2XAD could not be located. PCJJ was first heard at 3.80 pm. at R38 volume, slowly increased to ROS at 6 pm. when they concluded with "Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year; hope you are satisfied with what we are giving out," etc., etc. KDKA were transmitting dance music from the Italian room of the William Penn Hotel, closing down at 5.18 p.m, at RT. a

Sunday, December 30. KDKA sent messages to members of the Byrd Expedition after their musical programme, concluding at 4.30 pm. Strength R77. The latter part of WxX2AD'’s transmission was dance musie from fhe Band Box, Hotel, Albany. R5 when signing off at 5.1 pm. Both, stations were very weak till toward the end of their respective {ransmissions. Monday, December 31. At 6 a.m. 7L0, Nairobi, was R5-4, and the clearest heard for some time. There was not any sign of 3LO, Melbourne, this morning. REM were yery good during the evening at R®. heir orchestral items came through well. Tuesday, January 1. 5SW opened up at 12.25 am, with their call wavelength at R4, At 12.30 a.m. Big Ben chimed the halihour. Orchestral music followed. At 1 a.m. the latest bulletin of the King’s health was read, ANH and ANE were transmitting the same talk and inusic. "Hullo, Kootwijh, here is Bandoeng." was called till PCLU replied with. "Hullo, Bandoeng," followed by duplex telephony. The Jaya stations were R8&. The Dutchman R+4-5. Kach were perfectly clear and steady. At 5.45 a.m. SSW and W2NAD, both RT, were carrying out their bi-weekly test. On concluding it was mentioned that the yeneral Electric Company had two stations transmitting the test. W2XAD and 2X0. 5SW reported hearing only the carrier of the latter station. No mention was made of its wavelength while I was listening. 7TLO at R8 was free from static and Morse interference, for a wonder. IKDKA was too weak to bother about during the afternoon. W2XNAlK was also weaker than usual, but reached R4 by 4.80 p.m. A special] New Year’s Eve performance was given. At 5 p.m. (midnight, New York) the clock was heard striking twelve. This was followed by "God Save the King" and other tunes on the bells from Old Trinity Chureh, Broadway, New York. They signed off at 174 minutes past midnight with, "Good night and good mvurning." In reference to tune of our National Anthem being played in America: I presume that this is also an American national air. Does any reader know? Wednesday, January 2. 6.55 a.m. TLO were transmitting dance music. They closed down at 7.9 a.m. with the call, "7LO, Nairobi, Kenya Colony, closing till 7 o’clock to-morrow night." SSW was BR. Rapid fading spoilt intelligibility. KDEA could not be heard in the afternoon. W2XAIF were only just readable when signing off at 5 p.m. after half an hour’s television test, Both 2XAF and 2XAD were transmitting, but did not hear the latter staon. . Thursday, January 3. 7LO, Nairobi, at 6 a.m. was R85, best volume yet. Several fox-trots were heard. 2XAD were picked up at

6.30 a.m., just as they were concluding & musical session. This was fob... lowed by a television test. 5SW w Rb at 7am. Talk was about 50 per cent. readable, Friday, January 4. W2XAD and 5SW were testing duplex telephony till just after 6 a.m. Strength, R5 and R7 respectively. The American was on again later with a lady talking. PCLL on 388.5 meters at R7-8 were on duplex telephony, very clear and steady. The other station could not be located. TLO at R8 was spoilt by static and Morse. PCJJ started at 6 a.m., strength R8. It was announced that their call from now on will be PCJ. This call was used during the rest of that sion. This transmission was the heard for some time. Strength ‘reinained constant till just before ‘7.80 a.m., when it decreased slightly. SSW was R7 from 7 a.m., when Big Ben was heard, followed by an orchestra without any announcement. W2XAD was heard just before 7.30 a.m. at R4-5 on its old wavelength. RIM was R8 at 10 p.m. Static very bad. Saturday, January 5. At 6 a.m. a station on about 27 metres at R7 was heard calling, "Sumara, Bandoeng," ete., several times. Morse on top spoilt possibility of hearing the call. The call appeared to be Dutch. A German (?) on about 47.5 meters was heard at R38, All talk. TLO, Nairobi, R3. PCJ started at 6 a.m. at R+4 with the Dutch National Anthem. Strength was weak all through. 5SW was also very weak, being only just audible at 7.80 a.m. PCJ was first heard again at p.m., when they were RZ. They reached R5 at 5 p.m., and increased to R7-8 by 6 p.m. The concert concluded with the National Anthem. In signing off the announcer said: "Not ‘good-bye,’ but ‘So long’ till next Saturday. Good afternoon, it is afternoon with you and early morning with us." KDKA was faintly audible, while not a sign of W2XAD was heard.

EEEEZLEt3 Short W ave Notes

[T is regretied that Mr. Sellens will not be able to supply his valuable notes for a few weeks. However, there are a large number of shortwave enthusiasts among our readers who could no doubt supply the page with interesting notes on this side of listen-ing-in, Notes on the reception of the short-wavers and other matter pertaining to short wave will be welcomed,