Short-wave Jottings

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 36, 22 March 1929, Page 32

Short-wave Jottings

PEP PPPPP LLL LLL LL LI LLL LLL ILI ELLIE Me EF. W. SHLLENS writes :~ Philips New Short Wave Transmitter. HE "Wireless World" writes: "The { new 130 k.w. short wave transmitter at Huizen (Holland) was formally opened on January 16, to carry out a daily Morse service to the Dutch Hast Indies. Apart from the telegraph transmissions, the station will give a weekly concert on Wednesdays, on a wavelength of 16.88 metres. Huizen’s call sign is PHOHI." This powerful station has been heard Sn New Zealand. Several tests were carried out recently, the times of which I was advised, but too late for publication, The hours of these tests were inconvenient, but I tried for them twice, ois Short Waves and the League of Nations. O enable the League of Nations to \ carry out a new series of short wave tests in the spring, the Nederlands Government is again placing the Kootwijk station at the disposal of the Secretariat for one experiment a week. The tests will be in three series. The first will be an endeavour to reach America. Japan will be the goal in the second series, and Australia in the third. Similar experiments were carried out with varying success last summer. . Reports will be welcomed, and listeners should make such reports as accu-, rate and as comprehensive as_ possible. They may be addressed to the Short-wave Division of the League of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Schedule of Transmissions, March, 1929. Reduced to New Zealand mean time. erican Continent (in JHnglish, French, and Spanish).-March 13, 20, and 27, Time, 9.30 am.-10.30 am. _ Wavelength, 88.8 metres. Japan (in Japanese).-March 13, 20, and 27. Time, 1.10 p.m.-1.40 p.m. WaveJength, 18.4 metres. Australasia (in English) March 15, 22, 29. Time, 1.30 a.m-2 a.m. Wavelength, 18.4 metres. My log for the past week does not contain much variety: it is as follows :- Saturday, March 9. PCJ commenced at 6.5 a.m. at excellent strength-R.9-with a programme for British India, Egypt, and South Africa. Volume decreased to about R8& by 7.30 a.m. A stranger, on about 81 metres, R.2. 5SW, Big Ben was heard striking 7 p.m. at R8. The talk following ‘was spoilt by rapid fading and static. PCJ was heard again during the afternoon signing off at 5.25 p.m. Reception was spoilt by a howler nearly all through the transmission. Both KDKA and 2XAD were broadcasting a political talk by a Senator, through the National Broadcasting Co., and its associated stations. This is to be a weekly feature, so as to keep the American citizens in closer touch with Washengion. . DKA closed down at the of this talk, at 4 p.m., while 2XAD caryied on with a programme of dance music

from the Hotel Saint Regis, New York, closing at 5.1 p.m, (1 minute past midnight), Their frequency was given as 15340 kilocycles, or 19.56 metres. Sunday, March 10. KGO, or to give it the short wave call, W6XN, was tuned in at 2 p.m., at about R2-8, Volume rapidly increased, and by 2.30 p.m. it was possible to follow every word spoken. This portion of the programme was presented by the General Dlectrie Co. till 3 p.m. Then followed the "Lucky Strike Cigarette hour," originated in a New York studio, and carried by land lines throughout America. At 3.30 p.m. this programme was interrupted owing to line difficulties between Oakland and New York, so they continued from their San Francisco studio till 4 p.m. The "Singing Peaches" from the Sunshine Orchards of California commenced the next session. This was followed by the weather forecast, and Westminster chimes, the gong being struck at 8.344 Pacific standard time. After this, they announced that a special programme was being broadcast by 2XAI for the Byrd Dxpedition, and that they, W6XN, would rebroadcast it. This was received very well, louder than direct from 2XAF, but, as would be expected, not so clear. KDKA was tuned in at this time, when they were also putting over a Byrd Expedition programme, but different from the one from 2 . After a short rebroadcast, W6XN gave one of a series of extracts from the Golden Legend, this one being "David Garrick." It was very good, but the characters were supposed to be English, and the American accent of the players was out of place, the lady being very noticeable. After their clock striking 10 p.m. (6 p.m. here), it was announced that "The Big Show from KGO," the Pacific Coast broadcasting station of the General Electric, at Oakland, California, would commence. The N.B.C. Trocadarians Orchestra, under Mr. Frank Harris, supplied the dance music, and Captain Bill Royal was master of ceremonies. The broadcast finished at 14 minutes past midnight (8.14 p.m. New Zealand time). This, as far as I am concerned, is a record short wave reception, hearing a continuous programme for six hours, five of which were good speaker strength. KDKA and 2XAF were both tuned in during the Byrd programme only. Monday, March 11. At 6.15 a.m., the stranger on 31 metres was tuned in, when organ music was heard at R2-3, increasing to R6, but became very noisy, closing at 7 am., call not heard. 3LO commenced at 7 a.m., a howler spoiling reception. Talk was heard from REM at 10 p.m., at R9. Static was bad. Tuesday, March 12. SSW, at 5.45 p.m., with records, was R9. Later he called W2X0. Could not hear the American, except through 5SW. At 7 am. Big Ben was R8. The "Literary criticism" that followed was 100 per cent. readable, being very clear and steadv, the best for some time. Talk again was heard from REM at 10 p.m., at R8, static being bad. Wednesday, March 13. 5SW was not on this morning, at least, I did not hear them, neither did Mr. Morrison. The 31-metre stranger was very weak, about R2. Two New Zealand amateurs were during the evening, on the

PPD ALLL LAE metre band. ZL2BO, Wellington, and ZU2GH, Wanganui. " Thursday, March 14. KGO was picked up at 6.25 a.m., being about R4, increasing to R5-6, SSW, at 7 . am, was R8, The talk following Big was not readable, except for odd words. Friday, March 15. At 5.45 am., a strong carrier only was audible from 5SW. At 5.55 a.m. they announced that they were closing till 7 p.m, this evening. PCJ commenced at 6.30 a.m., at R8, decreasing at R7-6 by 7.30 a.m. Although speech was 100 per cent. readable, signals were mushy. This also applied to London later on. 5SW, at 7 a.m., was R8, only about 50 per cent. readable. 31-metre station, about R2-3,