Short-wave Jottings

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 34, 8 March 1929, Page 32

Short-wave Jottings

On Short Wave

Mr. Morrison, Brooklyn, writes :- THE most interesting reception this week was the rebroadcast of Commander Byrd’s message to America from Little America, Bay of Whales, Antarctica. I must say I have also had some very good receptions this week from all the American and Canadian stations. The following item of interest to "S.W." listeners is from "Radio News" :- Argentine to India. Wit commercial services by telephone between America and Hurope, and between Holland and Java, all records for phone communication has been recently broken. On October 16, Bangoeng, Java, spoke with Buenos Aires, Argentina, via Kootwijk, Holland, and Berlin, Germany. The rather circuitous route of the message covered about 16,000 miles. It is proposed also to link the British Empire by telephone, using the beum system, which communicates with Australia, South Africa, and India, in the same manner that the Rugby station connects with America over two channels. My log for this week is as follows :- The Sehnectady station, W2XAD, since changing their wavelength, has not been reported as heard. Here in New Zealand I have often louked for him, but was not successful in receiv- ing him till Monday, February 25. After his signing off, he gave his wave as 15.340 kilocycles, which is approximégely 19.557 metres. Friday, February 22. -- ~-- At™ 4p.m., W2XAF was coming in at good strength, R7 to 8, band selections being played by the Carborundum Company Band, coming through WJR, Detroit, Michigan, and a lot of advertisinmg was given to its company throughout the programme; this coneluded at 4.30 p.m., New Zealand time. They afterwards changed over to Albany, New York, for an organ recital from the Stanby Grand March Theatre, the opening number being "Serenade." Many selections from different operas were played, the organist being Mr. Floyd Walters. With the concluding item, "Mysteries of

Life," the station closed down. at 12.15 am. E.S.T. strength then R9, 7.10 p.m. DHC, Naun, Germany, carried out another test with VK2MH, Sydney strength, from both stations, good R8 to 9. 11 p.m.: Station in 31 metres heard calling "Hullo, hullo," his call sounding like J2X. This was carried on for a quarter of an hour, then another announcer would relieve the other, and he could call the same, "J2X, J2X,’ following with "Do you get that?’ Valparaiso was mentioned, so I think that this probably was a station in South America testing. RIM, Russia, was also heard during the evening at good strength, R7 to 8. Saturday, February 23. T 7 am. PCJ, Holland, was heard playing records at about R7. 7.15 a.m.: 5SW was listened to, when a lecture was in progress, but I must say I do not get good reception from this station in the morning. He seems to fade a great deal with me, so I do not trouble about him very much yet, but as time goes on he will improve. I did not listen-in during the afternoon. © 9 p.m.: RFM, Russia, with his usual long talk, RG to 7. 10.30 p.m.: Stranger again on 31 metres calling at usual. This new station comes in at great strength. but modulation is very poor about R7 to 8. Just before closing down a station was heard on 20 metres with music, but was too weak to get call. Sunday, February 24. At 3.30 p.m.: KDKA was heard. At that time he was not v0 be heard too well, but by 4 p.m. he was coming in at good strength, R7 to 8 at 4.10 p.m. The weather report was given. After this a programme of music and vocal items was given by the Winchester Arms Co. Band. The announcer said: "We have our old friend Winchester Bill vith us again this evening" (and a very humorous old fellow.he is, too). He read a letter from some SW listeners in Mexico in reference to reception of KDKA, when on one of their Winchester programmes their programme, coming through as clear as a bell, with only one interference, that of a cat fight outside their window, which was soon fixed by a shot from a Winchester rifle. Afterwards messages were read to the Far North, continuing by calling up the Byrd Expedition in the Far South. A conversation was carried on for fully twenty minutes by KDKA in speech, and the City of New York with Morse signals, and at 5.22 p.m. the rebroadcast of Commander Byrd’s message as reported. before. KDKA carried on afterwards with messages to the expedition. I closed down early, so did not hear the rebroadcast of the second message from Commander Byrd, which was to come through at 6.55 p.m. New Zealand time, and this, I believe, also came through well, 11 p.m.: The stranger on 31 meters was heard again calling, "Hullo Hullo, J2X\" RZ to 8

Monday, February 25. A.M.: 3LO Melbourne was heard at good strength R7 to 8, playing reuwds. His wavelength was given as 31.55 meters. 3.30 p.m.: W2XAD_ was heard, strength 8 6 to 7, the programme being supplied by the National Broadcasting Company. Items of music and vocal bv the White Opera Company, a musical sketch, "Good Morning, Dearie," also coming through very well. This concluded at 5 p.m., New Zealand time. Afterward W2XAD carried out a television test for 30 minutes, closing down with the statement that the stajon was working on 15,340 kilocycles. 8.5 p.m.: DOR, Germany, was heard on 41 meters at good strength, R 8 to 9. Tuesday, February 26. @ AM.: RSR Germany was heard on approximately 40 meters with a lot of talk and a few items of music, strength R7 to 8. 6.30 am.: DOR Germany on 41 meters with a long talk and a few words of English could be understood. The strength was quite as good as when he is heard here in the evening, R8 to 9. 8 p.m.: KDKA was at that time R6 to 7. On listening to him again, a gentleman was giving a lecture on the building of the Great Northern Railway of America-a most interesting talk. KDKA closed down 4.5 p.m, New Zealand time. 4.10 p.m.: W2AD was heard again with another programme of music by an Italian opera company, rendering the most beautiful singing and music I have heard for some time. The principal artists were given, but the names were all in Italian, so I will not attempt to write them here. W2XAD closed down at 122% EST. One thing about these Americans you can always depend on them giving you the correct time. 7.5 p.m.: DHC Nauen, Germany, was playing records and calling VK2MH, Sydney soon came on the air, and another duplex test was carried out, strength from DHO was good R9, but VK2MI, Sydney, at good strength R8, was fading ‘badly, I heard 2ME state that the temperature in Sydney on this day was 106. The test concluded at 8.7 p.m. on account of fading. 9.30 p.m.: RIM, Russia, was very weak, R6 to 7, though on other nights he has been at wonderful strength, R9. Wednesday, February 27... ve 380 A.M.: 5SW was RG to 7, but ° was fading very badly. 3.15 p.m.: W2XAF was on, with a programme of music given by the National Broadcasting Company; strength RG to 7. I did not listen to 2XAF very long, because KDKA was coming in so much better. 3.25 p.m.: KDKA, Pittsburg, was coming in at good volume, R7 to 8, also on with National Broadcasting Company programme. At exactly iminute to 11 p.m. EST, the time signal was given, with a sounding of a gong. Afterwards the programme was continued from William Penn Hotel, Pittsburg, where a Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were lecturing on a picture to be shown

in Pittsburg dealing with wild animal life in Central Africa. This was a most interesting lecture. Mr. Johnson also spoke to friends in Nairobi; Kenya, Africa. 4.20: A station was heard just above KDKA. This turned out. to be CJRX, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When first picked up, the announcer asked if anyone wished for any special item to be played by "Ihe Boys," to phone or write to James Richardson aryl Sons, Exchange Buildings, Winni@&, Manitoba. Afterwards an announcenient was made re stations: "This is CJRW and CJRX." CJRW, the broadcasting station of Fleming, Sask. CJRX, 25.60 metres, short wave station of James Richardson and Sons, Winnipeg, Manitoba, continuing its programme. "The Boys" played one more musical item, and then played "God Save the King." At 4.30 a lecture was given of the early history of Manitoba. This lasted till 4.55 p.m. when the station again announced. The announcer stated: "Just wait a moment, and we will continue with another programme of nusic." This was an organ recital from the Garrick Theatre, Winnipeg, the organist being Mr. Barney James, opening with a march from "Chu Chin Chow." Other items heard were "I’m Sorry, Sally" ("Me and the Man in t Moon’). "hen CJRX called "Hull "a Australia," Hullo, New Zealand. Let’s hear from you. Hullo, New Zealand. We have an old friend of yours up here in Canada in the person of Uncle Krnest, of 2¥YA, Wellington, New Zealand, the Rev. Weeks, The continuing musical items heard were "In a Little Spanish Town," (Romana), "She’s Funny That Way," "Dreams Lullaby," "High up on a Hill Top." The announcer. _ stated here: "Tf any of our British friends are listening, they must be early birds because it would be 5.55 a.m. there. Other items heard were "Dance of the Blue Danube," "Marie," by Irvine Berlin, "The Moon Waltz," which was the eoncluding item. Announcements were made re stations that CJRW was operating on 399.7 metres, and CJRXSW station }u 25.60 metres, and that a Wicks org¥a had just been installed at the Garrick Theatre. "The music you have just been listening to is from there. It is now .2 ‘minutes to 12 p.m., C.8.T., so Mrs. you can put the kettle on. I ‘am coming home" (so evidently the announcer’s wife would be listening to this programme). Next Tuesday (that will be Wednesday here in New Zealand) another hour’s programme will be relayed from the Garrick Theatre, Winnipeg, from 11 to 12 p.m., O.S.T.; that will be 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. New Zealand time, so any §8.W. listener desiriny a good (Concluded on page 31.)

(Continued from page 32.) hour’s musie tune in CJRX, Canada; he will be found just above KDKA wave. I have written a full report of the. reception of this station for one reason because of the wonderful reception I received for a 2000-watt station 8000 miles away. Right throughout, reception was steady and strength from RS to 9. (Anyone wishing a repeat item on Wednesday, James Richardson and Sons’ telephone number is 87053. ) 7.20 p.m.: DHO, Naun, Germany, was heard carrying out another duplex test with VK2MH, Sydney. Although reception was very good here, both stations coming in at R8 to 9, conditions vere not so good between Australia d Germany. Thursday, February 28. 2 30 P.M.: KGO, California, 23 ° metres, was heard, strength R7 to 8, with programme by Palmolive Co. gave some very enjoyable items. ' At 2.58 p.m. the announcer from KGO said: "We will now go over to relay a description of the big fight between Jack Sharkey and Young Stribuling, where one of the preliminary bouts is now in progress. ° I listened for a minute or two, but KGO went off the air, so I tuned for KDKA, because I was looking for a description of this fight. On tuning to KDKA the fight was already being relayed and was in the first round. KDKA was. R7 to 8, but was fading a little. For all that the bout could be followed quite well. On looking yover the report in the paper on Friday morning it read as if young Stribuling was outclassed, but from listening to KDKA the description was altogether different and not a word was missed. At the conclusion of the sixth round the announcer stated points were about even, and that in the _ fifth round Sharkey was practically knocked out of the ring. After the bout finished he stated points were about even up to the seventh round, but in the tenth and last round Sharkey fought so well that the points decision went to him. ‘Tom Heeney will be in battle against Maloney. In his last bout with Maloney, Tom made short work of him in the first round, and thinks perhaps it will be a repeat item. Let us hope so. 415 pm: W2XAD was coming Mrough beautifully, R8, the proYYamme of music being given by the old Wire Co. After this programme concluded he went over to Albany, New York, where further music came from Hotel St. Regent, concluding at 12.2 a.m., B.S.T.

7,10 p.m.: DHC, Germany, was calling VK2MB, Sydney, and VK2MW was also heard calling DHC. Sydney stat~ ed Naun was coming in at good strength, but DHOC reported that he could not hear Sydney. 2MH gave it best at 7.50 p.m, but DHC continued to call Sydney, and it was most amusing to hear DHO trying to tell Sydney that they could not hear them; he was putting all his words _ backwards, such as "Meet again till we." DHC closed down at 83 p.m. 9.15 p.m.: RFM was heard with music, R7 to 8. 9.30 p.m.: W2XG was heard on word test on 25 metres, R7 to 8. | Later in the evening 2BO, Wellington, was heard testing on the 80-metre band. This was coming in. at good strength, the modulation being good, R8 to 9.