Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 27, 18 January 1929, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Mr. A, P. Morrison (Brooklyn) writes :- Having had so many requests from listeners from all parts of New. Zenland (for my underground aerial) perhaps if space permits, you will publish a description and diagram for me in "Radio Record." What is required for the aerial is this:-Bight copper pipes four feet long and lin. in diameter. Hight copper balls as used for the cistern. Each pipe to be three feet apart, laid down to form a circle, each copper bail to be spaced 1ft. 6in. from each pipe, connecting wire from ball to pipe until all are connected together, using 7.22 gauge wire. The whole thing to be sunk into the ground four feet. the balls to be sunk into the ground a foot deeper than the pipes. It is .best to dig your hole first and lay your material out, and connect up. Take your connecting wire from the nearest possible joint to your receiver, a heavily insulated wire to be used for such. A counterpoise aerial must be used heavily insulated, preferably 20 feet from the ground. I have drawn a diagram of the whole thing, so as to give listeners a guide to work by. In Mr. Sellens absence, probably my notes for the week may be: of interest. I do not know if KFON California possesses a s.w. transmitting plant, but on Friday 4th, from 7.380 p.m. tiil 8.30 p.m. this station was heard ou approximately 60 metres, but througiout the programme of music, no mention was made about the possessing of s.w. plant, so think it was the fourth harmonic of KFON. Mr. Pascoe, of Auckland, was enquiring through "Radio Record" about a s.w. station working on v0 metres, and I stated in some of my notes that I thought it to be a harmonic of one of the Australian stations, he has written to me since and mentioned that he was sure it was not an Aussie harmonic. Well, I give the mystery up. Has any other s.w. listener heard this station-from 17.30 p.m. till 8.380 p.m., he is supposed to be working. Sunday, January 6. W2XAF was heard at 3.30 p.m. with their usual dance programme at Rb. but increased to R8 before closing down at 5 p.m. KDKA at 38 p.m. was very weak about R4, heard again later with their message to the Byrd _ expedition strength RS8. A station heard at 6 p.m. on 82 metres, sending out American Stock Exchange reports, music was also heard. This station was still on the air at 10 p.m.. I think it was W2XG Rocky Point, because the noise was familiar, strength about R5 to 6. RFM was heard in the evening with talk and music R& to 9, Monday, January 7. 6.30 am. 7 LO, Nairobi, was transmitting music at about R4 to 5. 38L0, Melbourne. could not be found, I do not know if the fire has any effect on that station. At 9.5 REM was heard with their usual long talk. PCLUL 18.4 metres was heard at 10 p.m. transmitting music, afterwards calling ANE Java, strength RS to 9. Afterwards ANE was heard also on music at R8, but was spoilt by their signals swinging back; stations afterwards carried out duplex telephony. Tuesday, January 8. 6.50 a.m., TLO, R4 to 5, but spoilt by morse. 6.45 a.m, SSW at R6; a

talk was in progress, but did not haye time to hear what it was all about. At 10.55 p.m. both ANE and PCLT, were heard again, with music and duplex telephouy, both R8. 11.20 p.m.: A carrier was heard on 2ME wavelength, but nothing was heard from it. RIM was on with some good music, R8. Wednesday, January 9, 6 a.m.: TLO was very weak at about R2 and did not increase in strength. SSW was at good strength at about R6 to 7; some good music being heard. PCJFJ was not heard by me. I do not know whether he was on the air,

Mr. Morisson’s Underground Antenna. A weak carrier was heard on 22 metres with a man talking in a foreign language, but was too weak to get its eall. No short-wave stations were heard in the evening. Thursday, January 10. Did not rise early enough to hear anything in the morning. RFM was heard in the evening at good strength, R9. 2HC, Bondi, testing, R6, at 10.30. Also PK2RC testing with PK2J2, which I presume are Australian amateurs. At 11 pm. a foreign station on 45 metres with a good selection of musical items and vocal, but the language was difficult to understand, although modulation and strength were good, R7 tos. PCJJ CHANGES CALL. ¢ROM January 1, 1929, the call sign of Philips short-wave broadcasting station will be changed from PCJJ to PCJ, in accordance with the regulations drawn up at the recent Washington conference. R. N. ©. FITZGERALD, Gisborne, has sent me, writes Mr. Sellens, the following particulars which he received from the respective stations :--

8AN transmits on 40 metres on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11.30 p.m. till 1.30 a.m., New Zealand summer time. Address for reports: Sourabaya Radio Society, ¢/o M. W. M. Brussee, Sourabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies. PKI, on 39.5 metres, is on the air every Monday morning from 2 a.m. till 4a.m., New Zealand summer time. He usually works duplex telephony with 6AG, Perth, from 3 a.m., during these transmissions. Address: A. ©. de Groot, Box F, Bandoeng, Java, Dutch East Indies. Reports of reception are asked for by both of these Java stations. NEW record in radio reception has been established by the Canadian National Railways in receiving Mnglish short-wave transmisisons on a moving train. The Continental Limited, moving eastward from Vancouver to Montreal, had installed on the observation ear "Fort Osborne" a special shortwaye receiver capable of being used for the short waves and the general broadcasting bands. While the Continental Limited was in the station at ¥Vaneouver at 8.30 p.m., Pacific time, the operator picked up 2XAD, Schenectady. On the journey towards the east*various short-wave stations: were heard, but that best received was 5SW, Chelmsford, England, which came in while the train was passing Favel, 1219 miles west of Montreal and situated between Sioux Lookout and Redditt, Ontario. The operator held the english station for 15 minutes, and then took up a popular programme, The time of reception was 4 p.m., Central time.