Short-wave Jottings

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 29, 1 February 1929, Page 32

Short-wave Jottings

P KRNARERERARRA RRR R A. P. MORRISON writes: A San Francisco radio concern is now placing on the market plug-in S.W. eoils which are sealed in a vacuum, so that changes from one band .to the other may be made- without changing the calibration of the set. The coils are wound upon a bakelite form, supported by four uprights, and there is little chance of vibration due to the solid construction. The evacuation of the glass bulb in which the coils are placed protects them from dirt and moisture from handling, which sometimes changes the calibration. ‘The coils are made in several different sizes, which cover the amateur and broadcast short-wave bands. In size the novel inductances are about the same as an ordinary 201-A type valve, and may be plugged in a standard UX socket, thus ensuring firm contact at all times. Despite the distributed capacity, the leads and socket and losses due to the bakelite coil form, the short-wave coils: are very efficient and excellent results are obtained beeause of the concentrated field of. the coil, A receiver using the coils is easily hooked up, and is much neater in’ appearance than the usual shortwave set. The coils will retain their original features for an indefinite period. A receiver. using them has two controls, and any wave-length band can be covered by simply plugging in its correct short-wave coil. The accompanying circuit diagram shows how the coils are hooked up for short-wave reception. My log for the week is as follows :- Friday, January 18. . 6.30 .a.m.: Station on 23 metres transmitting music and a lady announcing in foreign language, but no.call sign; strength R7. . 7am.: 5SW, strength ahout R6; fading spoilt reception. 9'p.m.: RFM, Russia, with musical items, R8. . 10 pm.: PCLL, Holland, with records, R7. Saturday, January 19. 4.30 p.m,: PCJJ, Holland, with their usual Saturday afternoon programme, calling "Hullo, Australia! Hullo, New Zealand!" R6 when first heard, but increased to R7 to 8. The last part of their transmission was very weak. 5.10 p.m.: American station on 80 metres, with music, strength R6. The only part of their call I received was 7X-, Portland, Oregon. It was a four-letter call, but could not distinguish the other two letters. 6.30 p.m.: JHBB, operating on 30 metres, R5 to 6. 9 p.m.: RFM, Russia. This station this: last week has given us some very fine music and vocal items. R8. p.m.: Foreign station on 41 metres, R7,. 12.15 p.m.: The usual 52-metres station I hear every Sunday morning, but fail to get call, also the 41-metres station is a mystery to me,

NIN NEN . L LPL LLL EL LLL LE ALL IEEE EEL Sunday, January. 20. 3.30: W2XAF was the weakest I have heard for some time, and before closing down he only reached R6 to 7. 4 p.m.: KDA was also very weak, but the messages to Commander Byrd and companions could be followed. 5 p.m.: Station testing from 30 to 35 metres. He was on three or four wave-lengths at different times, but his modulation was bad and could not follow his call. He was also heard again later in the evening. 7.30: "REM, Russia. This is the earliest I have heard him come on the air; RT, but later in the evening he increased to R9.

8.15: W2XG, Rocky Point, on word test; R8. Monday January 21. 6.45 a.m: 3LO, Melbourne, 32 metres, Was, aS usual, with some good gramopbone records; R8. 9 p.m.: RFM, Russia, a lady was heard talking in good English regarding the freedom of the peasants in Russia at the present time. ‘This talk lasted about fifteen minutes. 9.30 p.m.: 2ME, Sydney, testing duplex telephony with VPO, Suva, R8. 9.35 p.m.: VPD, Suva, was found on 16,9 metres; his strength was very good, R7 to 8. 9.50 pm: A J apanese was heard on 37 metres; modulation was no good, R6 to 7. 2AX, Palmerston, was heard testing on 80m band, R8.

Tuesday, January 22. Did not listen in the morning. 6.80 p.m.: RSR, Germany. This station I cannot remember having heard in the evening before. When first heard it seemed he was reading from a newspaper, and at times could be understood, because he was talking in broken English, One musical item was heard and then he closed down; R7. 9 p.m.: RFM, Russia, was heard with good music and vocal items; R8. 10 pm.: A Jap was heard testing two metres above RFM, Russia; R6. 10.30 p.m.: A station was heard on 14 metres with music and speech, but was too, weak to make out what was said, :

Wednesday, January 23. 6.30 am,: TLO, South Africa, was heard at good Strength for once with records at R7.° I looked for 5SW but failed to find him. 7.45 p.m.: RSR, Germany, lady announcing, afterwards musical items; RY. He was heard again at 845. p.m. 10 p.m.: PK2RC testing with PK2RI, 41 metres; both stations R7. 11 p.m.: PLE, Java, old call ANE, duplex with PKME, Sydney; both stations were at R7 to 8. Thursday, January 24. 8.30 p.m.: RFM, Russia, plenty of talk to-night, very little music; R8. 5SW was listened for -after midnight and some good musical and vocal items heard. Strength R7 to & I advise SW listeners to have a late sitting one night and listen to 55W. Strength always seems good at these transmissions. ON looking over my notes for last week, I notice for this Paris station I reported, JCH, Paris, was printed, and also (2C1) Paris was heard on 21 metres. What I stated was ICE, Paris, not JCH, was heard on 26 metres and his call-sign was heard by me three times as FL Radio Electrique, Hausmann, Paris. No doubt this was a printer’s error.