Radio Round the World

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 51, 5 July 1929, Page 25

Radio Round the World

[t is interesting to learn that station KDKA has for some time past been rebroadcasting British time signals from 2LO by, means of short waves. This forms part of regula. tests which are being conducted upon short waves between the two countries. KDKA, Pittsburg, often rebroadeasts the chimes of Big Ben. The Chief Broadcasting Engineer of the Westinghouse Company at Pittsburg is Mr. ©. W. Horn, who has been prominently associated with broadcasting and_ particularly with short-wave experimental work for some: time past. T is anticipated that one of the first relay stations to be built by the Australian Commonwealth Government under the National Broadcasting Service will be in the Newcastle district, where there is a population of over 200,000. people who will come directly under the influence of radio. Newcastle at the present-time suffers from certain disabilities in respect tu its reception of programmes from Sydney. The night: programmes ‘are a4 ‘ected to a-cortain extent by distortion, and:it-is |

to. the relay station that listeners in that district look for relief. It may ‘be anticipated that within twelve motnhs of the establishment of ‘a re lay station in the Newcastle district, 20,000 new licenses will go ‘towards Swelling the total for New South Wales. IRELESS licenses in force in Australia at the end of May were as follows :--

"THREE years ago the percentage of crystal sets operating in New South Wales was about 70 per cent. The reduction from 70 per cent. to 25 per cent., its present proportion, has been e..ected by slow and easy stages. In Victoria, however, the large percentage to-day of crystal set receivers, estimated at 60 per cent., is explained by the fact that local interference has not played a big part in reception of programmes by listeners and it is still possible in Melbourne to satisfactorily receive the two "A" class station programmes with a very humble type of crystal set. It is evident now that a change-over from crystal set to the valve set is taking place, as we find that during the last’ twelve months licenses in Victoria have suffered several setbacks. Between May 1928 and 1929 the increase in the southern capital is under 7000. .

[THE R.A.F. wireless station at Cairo has sent a message to Croydon Aerodrome stating that telephone conversations sent out by an aeroplane, which was carrying out tests. with a Marconia short-wave experimental transmitter, while flying over England, were distinctly heard in Cairo. This would appear to be a record in longdistance transmission from an a2eroplane in flight. ‘ A DEVICE has now been perfected whch will send out. 8.0.8. signals automatically once it has. been started. The machine is not unlike a small portable typwriter in appearance, and in addition to the S.O.S. it will also send, by wireless telegraphy, transmissions of latitude and longitude, call-signs and certain other signals, and can :be operated by any one unacquainted with the code.

In force. Month’s totals. New South Wales .. 98,550 1,673 ¢ Victoria .......... 148,344 49 +t Queensland ....... 24,681 547 South Australia ... 23,578 8387 + Western Australia.. 3,799 327 Tasmania .ocsseoo. 4,604 137 7 298,551 2,234 f Increase. +t Decrear: