"Ham" Notes

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 11, 27 September 1929, Page 4

"Ham" Notes

An Enthusiastic Correspondent Mr. R. Leslie Jones (Lyall Bay) writes: Those who have not acquired a short-wave receiver had better get busy ; they are "missing the bus" daily. If about a dozen different countries is not sufficient "bill of fare’ to choose from they will be mighty hard to please. Sunday nights there are always a few "Hams" working ’phone; and another "Ham" will shortly be putting on good music through an electric "pick-up." About half-a-dozen "Hams" on *phone are working within easy distance of Wellington; especially Sunday nights after 2YA closes. 8BE (Christchurch) was heard at fair volume over a recent week-end. 2AX (Palmerston North) was very fine; he is using an electric "pick-up" for records now; look out for 2BH (Hastings) with his new "mike" and "pick-up," after 2YA closes Sunday night. 2BH’s brother knows something about the xylophone, and is to play from 2B shortly. Pxcellent results are being achieved by 2BE (Hastings) and 2AX, Palmerston North; the former having reeeived reports on ’phone transmission from Western Australia-5000 miles distant from Hastings; and 2AX has also received reports on reception from the same territory. In each case the writers quote specific items, times of reception, volume, and clarity, etc, and eulogise the operators of these two stations. Wh hs lee CE Eee Te Bs a bebe eds fe ad

2AX was putting in 30 watts and 2B has been delivering even more than that; therefore with such a low power it is a creditable performance to receive acknowledgements that reception in Western Australia was good. It will be remembered that it was 2AW (Mr. Roy Clarke) Wellington who eonnected with three African amateur transmitters some little while back on morse, all at one sitting. 2AX has‘intimated that in response to numerous requests that amateur station will, from 9.80 p.m. until 10.50 p.m. each Wednesday night (after 2ZF Palmerston North has closed down), broadcast music on 80 metres; reports will be welcomed and answered by 2AK (J. V. Kyle, 50 Waldegrave Street, Palmerston North). A baseball match was well described from Manila (short-wave), Saturday, September 7, strength being excellent, permitting loudspeaker reception. Sunday, September 8, WGY (New York), on short-wave, was probably the best for many weeks, every word being heard easily on loudspeaker; each message to the Byrd party at "Little America" proving of interest to short-wave listeners. Notwithstanding good reception during that Sunday afternoon from New York, when 2MH (Sydney) tried to raise CJA (Canada) same evening, it was impossible for 2ME operators to hear speech from OJA, and the latter were requested to change over to telegraphy. HEven 2ME was distorted to Wellington listeners, a thing which seldom happens to 2MH. This proves again the vagaries of the boss "Atmospherics." If "Atmospherics" would take a long holiday, we should all be very pleased. He is a prowler of the worst kind, and keeps "butting in" when not wanted; a second cousin to "Induction" and first full brother to "Static," only the breeding is bad in each case. "Atmospherics"-or one of his rela-tions-upset calculations. Saturday night (really Sunday morning), so far as 5SW (London) went. Still the volume was good, and quite a fair amount of speech audible, but not sufiiciently clear to guarantee any figures for repetition, excepting at spasmodic intervals. Christchurch listeners on short-wave apparently had better luck than Wellington listeners. The roar of the seaplanes was easily heard in Wellington. 2YA did well, nevertheless, in keeping going, the music being entertaining. One must offer thanks to the stations for that night’s work, especially the announcers and operators. The contrast between speech from London and Australia is marked. There is a distinction in the delivery, enunciation, speed, and phraseology; the conservative English compared with the free style of Australian speech is as different as two poles apart. Wednesday, September 11, GBX (London) was splendid, good volume and clear when testing with 2M (Sydney). The latter was also excellent, although a bad storm was surrounding that city and coast.