Short-wave Jottings

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 41, 26 April 1929, Page 32

Short-wave Jottings

iad URING the week our shortwave cora respondent, Mr. Sellens, has made the observations :- Radio Vitus, Paris, now broadcasts its daily concerts simultaneously on y metres and 41 metres, the latter with a power of 150 watts in the aerial. In the meantime, the Radio LL transmissions on 61 metres have been suspended. 1AX, an amateur transmitter at Rone, frequently relays the programme of the local station. on 45 metres. The telephone -service between Berne and Buenos Aires, via Berlin, a distance of 7200 miles, will soon be officially opened. Three-minute conversations will eost. about £5. Tests of the shortwave wireless service between a Berlin station and Bangkok in Siam, have been satisfactorily carried out. The new Vienna shortwave experimental station now under construction, will shortly carry out its initial test on 49.4 metres. Listeners in New Zealand and Australia should have no difficulty in tuning in China during the winter months. It is Jearned from Veking that seven new shortwave stations are to be erected, some of which should be on the air within a month. The wavelength on which the stations will operate is not yet available. Two hundred kilowatts will be the power used by the new German radio station to be erected shortly, the idea being to make the Berlin programmes receivable throughout Europe. Rome also is to erect a high-powered station. Work on the necessary building and equipment for a 50-kilowatt station is already under way, and it is thought that it will be in operation by October. A. shortwave beam transnitter is also being installed to make the programmes available to Italian listeners in Australia and America. The call of the new shortwave transmitter at Huizen (Holland) is sent out in several languages, including Dutch, English, German. French and Spanish.

bh dp a De Bi ie er Gee ane yee ed el fli ie ‘Test transmissions are being carried out between midday and 38 p.m. (11:30 p.m. till 280 am. New Zealand time), the most favourable time for reception of its broadcasts in the Dutch East Indies. The wavelength is 16.88 metres. Following is my log for the week :- Saturday, April 13. A’ 5.15 a.m. talk was heard from WO6OXN (KGO), in reference to iterior decoration. "his would be a section of the "Californian Home Life’ hour, ‘Vhe song "Twilight" followed. R3-+ very clear, but severe fading. TLO, Nairobi, carrier wave only heard. PCJ, gommenced ut v.35 a.m.: RY, perfect reception, but suddenly went oi the air, and were not on aguin till yust after G am., When they put on the same recoru again as at first. The programme conunued to (30 a.m., wiln but little decrease in volume. dSW, big Ken at 6.30 am., followed by a talk on "Music"; its, 10U per cent. readable. ZXAD was RS at 1.45 pum. with a slight surge. uring their "Lialf-hours with the Senate," the Assistant NSecretary of Agriculture was heard speaking at Washington. This was also broadcast through KDKA. "Slumber Hour" was the title of 2XAD’s just hour's music. Strength wus RS during the yzreater part of the time heard. , KDKA was heard with good volume but unsteady, so 1 did not listen much to them. Two stations were heard between 31.4 metres and 32 metres. but, were too weak to identify. They bave since proved to be 2XG. Rocky Point, N.¥., and a London station, call not yet beard. PCJ were first heard at 2 p.m. at R8, ealling America and Canada. Signals increased to R& by 3.80 p.m. CIRX, Canada, was transmitting, but morse QRM spoilt reception. Bither PCL on 18.4 metres or VLG on 18.88 metres was R& at 11 p.m. with records. Quite good. but call not heard. Sunday, April 14. XN the S0-metre band ZL2BO was well received during the morning. At 11.10 a.m. on about 26 metres a voice was heard calling "Hullo, Nauen," several times, and then changed over to code, Botit KDKA and 2XAKF were just audible ut 11 am. KDIKA was Re+ at 1.30 pan. with a musical programme, which was followed by the weather report and messages to the Byrd Expedition. The parents of the Boy Scout with the expedition spoke to their son in the Antaretic. Strength R29 ©XAF and 2XAD were both on the nir with the programme from WGY. The "Lucky Strike’ hour was heard, and later music from the Crystal Room of the De Witzler Hotel, Albany, N.Y. | KDKA and VK2ME were a short duplex telephony test when tuned in at 7 p.m. Both were RO. REM owas RS later in the evening. Monday, April 15. . V KSME, Melbourne, opened at 6.27 am., and passed over to 3L0 for their weekly programme. Reception was xood at ROX. REM was much weaker than ustal during the evening.

a hi i i i hi i i ii, re ne Tuesday, April 16. "SW DUPLEX telephony, with 2X0, were RO and 100 per cent. readable at 5.20 am. 2XO were not audible direct, but at times through the English station. TLO, Nairobi, was just audible at 5.45 a.m., and but little better at 6.25 a.m. PLE, at 6 am. were R2-3, with duplex telephony. A lady was talking. She was still there at 7 a.m. at R65, and would have been 100 per cent. readable if English was spoken. SSW, Big Ben and London ealling, was R8, but intelligibility was bad on account. of rapid fading. PHI, Wuizen, Holland, were testing from 4.30 a.m. till 11.30 a.m. Nothing was heard before 6.15 a.m., when au weak carrier was audible. PLF was heard at 10.45 p.m. ealling "Hullo," and "Schtung," volume R65. Wednesday, April 17. ‘PNILE 40-metre German (DOR 7"), speaking very slow and distinct at R9. 7LO, Nairobi was R1-2. 5SW opened ut 6.27 am. 6.30 am., Big Ben was extra loud. Lord Burnham, chairman of the Press Association, gave a talk on "Printing." This was easy 100 per cent. readable, being the clearest speech heard from Hingland for some time. ‘"Gardening" was the subject of another talk later. An orchestra was well received at 7.20 a.m. W6OXN (KGO) were tuned in at 5.50 p.m., when it was announced that the Rovers would entertain. This they did till 6.30 p.m.- Reception was excellent at fully R9, except for severe fading at times. A gong was struck at 11.1 p.m., Pacific standard time. After giving the next day’s programme the station closed down at 11.3 p.m. P.S.T.-6.33 p.m. here. PLF was heard at 10.80 p.m. with duplex telephony at R8. OXAF was picked un at 10.45 p.m., playing records at R@. This is an unusual hour to hear an American, it being 6.15 a.m. in New York.

Thursday. April 18. DUTCIL (?) station, probab PLE, was on duplex at R 2-3. increasing later. 5SW: Big Ben at 6.50 asm. was Rs. Sir William spoke about the Imperial Institute. This speaker was much clearer fhan the aunouncer. ‘The works of Michael Angelo were the subject of a later talk. At 8.35 p.m, 2XG was heard on one ot his word _ tests, "write down apricot," ete... on about 32 metres. W6XM (KGO) was R2-3 at 6 a.m. Talk was not readable, but the voice is familiar. Friday, April 19. T 5.20 am. SSW was R8, but with 4% a rapid fade, duplex test with 2X0. VCOJ commenced at 5.87 a.m... RS, very clear and steady, decreasing to Rd-6° at 7.30 a.m. 7LO, Nairobi: Carrier only. 40-metre German, R8, with his usual siow talk. Music from this station should be worth listening to as he is so clear and steady always. 5SW: Big Ben, R8. "Miss will give her fortnightly talk on recent novels’ was announced. This lady could be followed easily in her talk. At 10.15 p.m. on about 16.4 metres was heard calling, "Hullo, here is Bandoeng." Musie also was heard. PLF was calling "Hullo-Bandoeng." , 2XAF at 10.30 p.m. said, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and when I say good; morning I mean good morning. It is now 6 a.m. in Schnectady. A

special programme will be given in honour of the radio festival at Meibourne." A march by Sousa was the first’ item received at tully RY. The announcer in speaking again ap‘peared to be much amused at rising early to put on a-programme at 6 a.m. to be received in Melbourne. at 9.p.m. the same ay. ‘Yo prove that an orchestra was in the studio and that they were not using records, he called for, and three hearty cheers were given by what seemed quiie a crowd. Much laughing was also hegrd.’ Later Mr. Roy Sheppard spoke t® his friends in Melbourne. He mentioned that there. was a foot of snow in Schnectady. Summertime comes into effect in Great Britain on Sunday, April 21. It will therefore mean that 5SW will ir. heard one hour earner atter this date. I am not certain, but believe that America observe summertime one week later,