THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 31, 15 February 1929, Page 24

THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

«"----, San Diego." , qT reference to the January 4, 1929, number of the "Radio Record," concerning American stations. Until a few months ago I was using a 3-valve 3-coil regenerative set. I have since added a stage of neutralised radio frequency, built like an adapter, so that I can use it or do away with it quickly, because when there is plenty of volume (usual in winter), I don’t think any set ean beat a 3-valve for clarity.. On Christmas night two years ago I received station KIFKX, Hastings, Nebraska. I notice in the "Radio Record" a KFKX, Chicago, Illinois. Have the call-signs been changed since, or is there another KFKX in Chicago? Another station I received was San Diego. I received music well, and often heard "San Diego calling," but I never caught his eall-sign. Could you give me any information concerning this Other American stations I received on three valves (dect. and 2 audio) were: KFON, KGO, WBBM, and KFI, making a total of six. On four valves I have since heard KHJ and WENR

on four valves.-

GRID LEAK

Has-

tings. )

[Call-signs and wavelengths are frequently changed.] DX Results Good. I HAVE had several splendid nights with the American stations lately. Saturday last (February 2) was particularly good, no fewer than eight Americans being logged on my 6-valve set. These were: KFOX, WENR, KWKH, session), KSL, KF RC, KNX and KGO, all on the loudspeaker, with KFOX and WENR the best. Tuesday, February 5 was another good night-no static and great volume from KFOX, WENR, KGR, KGO, KWKH, and KNX. Just for fun, I went down to the back fence, some 100 feet away, and could hear KFOX quite clearly. Last night (February 6) I heard KVOO, Oklahoma, for the first time. Very loud on the speaker. Heard the announcer say it was the first transmission with the new power of 5000 watts. This station

is on 263 metres.-

J. S.

REES

(Christ-

church. }

Concerning the Z’s. N Monday, January 28, I picked up a station operating on about 243 metres. The items came through clearly, but the closing announcement was marred by interference, the only words distinguishable were 4Z (Y)and something about South Dunedin. Is there a station 4ZY in South Dunedin? The previous night (Sunday), a station was heard distinctly, giving bagpipe items during the intervals n 2ZM’s programme. Could you identify this station? Three and sometimes four nights a week we hear a station on 2YA’s wavelength, giving a mixed programme.. Would this be the harmonie of our New Zealand stations or

the C. A. Larsen?-

HARMONIC

(Gore).

The private broadcasting stations in Dunedin are 4ZB, Otago Radio Society ; 47, Radio Service, Ltd.; 4ZM, McKewen’s; 4Z0, Barnett’s Radio Supplies. There is an American about 2YA’s wavelength, as far as we know wnidentified. A New American.

ON Friday morning, February 1, I tuned in an American station at 12.25 am. This proved to be KTNT, which I have not seen mentioned by any listener yet. KUINT, Muscataine, Iowa, U.S.A. (256 metres). The volume was good,.and .’phone strength about 80 to 90 per cent. readable. He gave a great deal of market news. One musical itew was "Blue Skies." He announced that it was their morning session. The station was still on the air at 2 am. Good luck to the DX

Club.-

L. M.

KINVIG

(Wellington. )

On 1YA’s Wavelength. THIS evening (Tuesday), whilst listening to the news session of 1YA (7.45), music came through fairly loud, and could only be separated with ; difficulty from 1YA. I was unfortu- . nate enough not to get the whole of | the call-sign, only catching a XY and

then Los "Angeles. Could you kindly let me know what station this is, and whether it was a re-broadcast or direct

reception ?-

J. H. M.

WILLIAMS

(Westport. )

[On Wednesday night a station on 833 metres was heard on the speaker, and clearly identified as KHT.-Tec. Ed.] KVOO Reported. JN your issue of January 4, there appears a list of American stations whose reception has not yet been reported. I have to advise that on Tuesday, 5th instant, I logged one of these stations, namely, KVOO,. Tulsa, Oklahoma, operating at 5000 watts on a wave-length of 263 metres. The call was distinctly heard several times before the station closed down, at 10.10 p.m., New Zealand summer time. Volume varied from good ’phone to medium speaker-as a matter of fact I was listening on the speaker most of the time. The announcer had _ the breezy Yankee style of introducing the artists to the listeners, to the accompaniment of a running fire of "wisecracks." The programme was fairly mixed, songs, dance music, organ, etc. I picked up this station again on Wednesday, 6th instant, at 1.15 p.m. local time, and was successful in just hearing the announcement "This is station KVOO, --, Oklahoma." Volume was not nearly as good as on the previous night. No attempt was made to get him later in the evening. I should be pleased to know, through the medium of your columns, whether any other "DX" has yet logged this station. By the way, has KFON definitely changed -his call to KFOX? On Tuesday night (5th instant), I had him at speaker strength until he closed down, and it seemed to me that he was still announcing "KFON," My set is of five valves, home constructed. The aerial is 60ft. long, with approximately 50ft. lead-in, the masts being 40ft. high-S.J.R. (Wellington). {It seems fairly definite that KFON is now KFOX, as several DX members have reported its reception.]

H4s anyone heard KVOO, of Tulsa, Oklahoma? ‘This station, on 2638 metres, heard at excellent strengthlouder than any other American using a new 5000 watt transmitter "just out of the box’ on February 6, between 8 and 9 pm.?. The programme was of more subdued type than is usual from the States. Organ, piano, and vocal items were heard. WENR, KNX, and KMOX have been fairly good Iate-ly-the first-named especially, KFOX Long-Beach has been picked up once or

twice also.-

R. J.

HARRIS

(Marton).

A Generz! Report. THE undermentioned American sta- ’ tions I have logged between January 1 and to-night, Sunday, February 8. These may be of interest to my brother DxX-ers. I am now working ‘"Mogohm’s" booster on my four-valve after experiencing much trouble with

finding the particular adjustments-~ (had to put four taps on filament end * booster aerial coil and same on second ary of my set R.F. transformer after pulling primary completely out) to suit my original set. The booster has made a fair improvement with volume for DX work, but I do not think I am getting the best it can do yet and in the meantime will carry on further experiments,

On phones, from dusk onwards. New. Zealand times are ‘all p.m. January 1: KFOX, 1250 k.c. Signed off 12.14 P.S.T., when KHJK came on. January 23: WENR (R4);3 CNRV (R38); KFOX (R6). . January 25: KNX (R9). Signed off 1.16 P.S.T. KFOX (R8). vio. January 26: KFOA, 80 «ke. (mushy); KFOX (R6); KNX (R7)> KGO (R4). ‘ January 27: KHJK, 1250 k.c. went off 11 P.S.T., when KFOX came on for one hour until 12 midnight P.S.T., when KHJK returned to play latest records. KMOX, 1090 kc. (R8), 7.30 N.Z.M.T., orchestral items from Hotel Coronado. January 29: WENR (R7); KNX (R7), being rebroadeast by KWYO, as announced? KMIC ‘signed off, 8.40 N.Z.M.T. January 30: CNRV (R4), 7.30 N.Z. M.T., dance numbers by "National " . February 2: OCNRV (R6), fading badly at times; KFOX (R6); KSL (R5); KNX (R7); KZM (R4). February 3: KFOX (R7), 6.55 p.m. N.Z.M.T.; WLAC cn midnight jamboree (R4- 5); WENR, 7.25 N.Z.M.T. ° Usual sign-off song (R7) fading; KGO, VO 790 k.c., items by "The Trocaderauis," signed off 12.3 P.S.T. (R6) ; KZM, near 886 metres, dance numbers (R5). I have also logged a new one to me, WGN, Chicago. I tuned in just too late and only heard a couple of telegrams acknowledged and the sign-off on 720 k.ec. at 7.42 p.m. N.ZM.T. 2YA. was inclined to drown him out now. and again. I have just received verifications from KNX, KOMO, WLAC, WLW, KHSJ. KIR. WELA, Clearwater, Flori-

da:

C. V.

BLUCHER

(Waihopo, ex-

treme north of New Zealand).

Heterodyning Nuisance. ° I SHOULD like to call your attention to the nuisance being created by KHJ, Los Angeles, being on the same wavelength as 1YA, thus creating a continual howl, which I am sure you will agree is very disagreeable. Would it not be possible to alter 1YA slight! to overcome the troubie? In soni places it is impossible to get any sattsfaction from 1YA while KHJ is on the

air-

F.

TERWIN

(Marohemo).

KTM, Los Angeles. I NOTICE in. the last "Radio Record" | that-one of your correspondents had a station called KTM, Los Ange‘les: ‘ I had‘this station to-night. about 10’ metres above KGO. . There was quite a number of player piano music mingled with talk, and then dance music. _Fading and morse were bad, but I heard him say distinctly ,"Station KTM, Los Angeles." He also mentioned some park, probably where they are located, and said that the. time was 12.28 a.m., Pacific Time. He.came in with fair speaker strength between: fades, ‘and kept on fairly late. 9: : KNX is the best station I get, which comes in some’ nights with- too much yolume for my speaker, which is of

small cone type. Most of their pro- .. gramme is dance music and advertising their "Silver Fizz’-"which will make the roughest stuff on earth taste like 2 million dollars." . WENR is a good second. Your correspondent thinks his slogan is "The Voice of Service," but is sounds to me like "The Voice of the Sioux." KGO and KFON sometimes come in well, but cannot be depended upon, while KHJ sometimes bids fair to drown 1YA. Can any reader tell me the station which ‘theterodynes sometimes with 2BL (not

JOAK) ?-

CIRCUIT

(Pahiatua).

Americans’ Heard. IN a recent issue of your valuable ‘Record" you gave a list of Ameriean stations which: had been heard in ‘esv Zealand, and also a list. of other gh-powered Americans, which to your knowledge had not been heard in New Zealand. Well, on Thursday, January 81, at 11.50 p.m. approx., I heard: on loudspeaker, volume fair, W.L.W., Cincinatti, Ohio, gramophone musie and then speaking about the *flu, which apparently is prevalent in the States. He plainly announced his call and time-50 minutes after 6 a.m. His location on my set a six-valve, was just two notches above 2YA, Wellington. KNX, California, comes through good every night, and also the Japs. I thought perhaps this information might be useful if you have not already hoard af the rereention of WHEW. Cin-

cinatti Ohio. before this _

HECTOR

R.

HAYWARD

(Wairaki).

New Zealand Broadcasters. ERHAPS some member can tell me -the name of the Christchurch station which I heard last evening Tuesday, 5/2/29), operating on 242 metres, and using 50 watts output. His last two items prior to closing at 11.15 p.m. were "Oh, Doris" and "Toy Town Artillery." To-night on 208 metres I logged a station using the call 2ZQ. Plenty of volunie, but fading was very pronounced and rapid. Some of his items were: 8.21 p.m.: "Hallelujah Blues" 9.55 "It Goes Like This."

10.15: "Just Like a Melody out of the Skies." . 10.45: Closing down. Can anyone tell me the locality of this station? I am in receipt of a verification from 4ZO0 Dunedin, in which he states my report is the most distant received, the next most distant report coming from Pahiatua. Auckland DX should get this- station, as he comes in here good speaker strength. ‘He gives is hours of transmisison as follows: Daily except Sunday, 12 noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 10 p.m. to 12 midnight.. Wavelength, 277.8 metres; 1080 KC, power 74 watts. On tbe » dial just below 2ZM. I have not hedrd KFOX since Monday, 28/1/29, when he closed at 9.55 pm. WHNR was-very loud to-night. I have found the DX. corner a9 creat help in logging

new stations.-

JAKEMAN

(Hunt-

ly).

Station 3ZC operates on 200 metres, while 2ZQ is a private Masterton broadcaster. Letter From WENR. IN this week’s "Record" you publish a letter received by W. G. Sturgess, Christchurch, from Mr. DB. H. Gager, chief engineer of WHNR. As I have also received a letter from ‘Mr. B. H. Gager, which seems to be of a later date than the. previous one,

-_- I am sending you a copy, which will explain why 9XF has not been heard «qo frequently. Hoping this may be of

interest to DX listeners

J. A.

CAL

LAGHAN

(Rakaia.)

DPD=#4k Radio Friend: Thank you for your report and comments on the transmission from our new 50,000-watt transmitter, which operates under the call-letters WENR and 9XF. This station is located on a 40-acre plot of land, three and a-half miles south of Downer’s Grove, or about 23 miles south-west of Chicago. This station was constructed at a cost of approximately 500,000,000 dollars (£120,000,000), by authority of the Federal Radio Commission, and was ready for operation on April 1, 1928. Since that time, the Federal Radio Commission has restricted the use of this station to daylight hours at a reduced power of 5000. watts. On previous test programmes, this station has been heard in every State in the United States, every province in Canada, Alaska, Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand, so that we know that it is able to furnish good service to the people in a large proportion of the United States if we are given the authority to use it at its full power. Under the new allocations, WENR has been assigned to a frequency of 870 kilocycles (344.6 metres), sharing time with station WLS, with power restricted to 5000 watts, Under this plan, station WLS is to be given five-sevenths of the time, while WENR is restricted to twosevenths of the time. We feel that this restriction is unjust, and that we should be allowed to use full power, and should be given more time on the air. Very truly yours, GREAT LAKES BROADCASTING COMPANY,

E. H.

GAGER

Chief Engineer.