Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 12, 4 October 1929, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Radio, Manila. Boren transmitters of KZRN (485 metres and 48.8 metres) are located at Manila. Heights, about seven miles from the studio on top of Manila Hotel. The shortwave transmitter puts one kilowatt of energy into a special tuned antenna of the doublet type. The set is crystal controlled. The following schedule has been reduced to New Zealand time. which is 83 hours ahead of Manila time. Monday, 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.;_sileni night. Tuesday, 7.80 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 9.380 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. Wednesday, 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 9.30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 9.80 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 7.80 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 9.30 p.m. to 2.30 am. Saturday, 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 9.30 p.m. to 3.30 a.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. to 7.80 p.m.; 9.30 p.m. to 1.30 a.m. Excellent reception is reported from KZRM on 31.4 metres, a wavelength which has been used since the letter containing the above information left Manila on August 11. Another correspondent, from Christchurch, has heard from Manila. He says his letter is signed by a lady as "Broadeasting Manager." (Since writing the above I have heard KZRM on 48.8 metres. ) Who is R.R.? j WRITER in an Australian radio Magazine meutions a shortwave station with the call of R.R. No particulars are given. A correspondent from Blenheim also reports "R.R." at 11.45 p.m. on Friday night, testing on various wayelengths. Some information of this new station will be welcomed. Is Big Ben Broadcast by 5SW? Bie Ben can be heard any morning (except Sunday and Monday) at 5.30 a.m., striking the hour of 7 p.m., British summer time. The "tweets" ("pips" is a better description) are heard every morning at 7.30 a.m. being 9 p.m. in England. Anybody who has heard Big Ben could not mistake its sound. The writer has often heard it on a still day quite clearly eight miles away. A friend who has fecently arrived from England says that Big Ben is often put ‘on the air," programmes permitting, during the day. Siam on Shortwaves. r STATION working on about 29.5 metres has been heard during the past week. The call, if any, was not heard, but "Bangkok, Siam, calling," was heard g#everal times. Most of the music heard was similar to that heard from the Japamese stations, now familiar to most multiget owners in New Zealand. The-native

language, also, is similar to Japanese. English was spoken quite a lot, and clearly understood. A Christchurch correspondent reported a Jap. on 30 metres during the week. I think he will find that it was Bangkok, as I put it down fox a Jap. on hearing the music. English from RAQ7, A CORRESPONDENT from Christ. ‘church reports hearing a lady speaking in English from the Russian station, RA97T-late REM. After reading some news items she said: "Radio Station Khabarovsk. broadeasting on 70 metres, station RA97. It is now 2 o’clock and 5 minutes" (10.40 p.m. here.) That concluded the talk in English. Saturday, September 21. Ppa from 5.45 a.m. till 7.30 a.m. was received at R8-9 at its best. Static was bad. 5SW at R7-8 were spoilt by rapid fading at 6 a.m. Volume was better later, but quality poor. Koningwusterhausen was R9 at first, with some talk. Music heard later at reduced strength. PCI during the afternoon was spoilt by static all through. Strength was good from 1.80 p.m., when first tuned in till signing off at 5.88 p.m. Average about KDKA was too mushy to bother with. W2XAD was not heard; apparently not transmitting. PCK, Holland, and PLE, Java, at 9.80 pm. were working duplex. Hach were R77, | RA97 was R9, with static the same strength. At 10 p.m. an American station was heard on about 49 meters. I thought I heard Crosley Radio Corporation mentioned. who are the owners of W8XAL on this wavelength, but I fancy the station was KZRM. which works on 48.8 metres. Strength was R8, very good and ‘steady, but static was very bad. Sunday, September 22. XAD was extra good to-day. T'rom 12.30 p.m, till 1.30 p.m., "The General Electric Hour." The "lucky Strike" orchestra entertained for the next hour. During this period a mouth-organ orchestra by the "News Reel Boys’ was heard. At 2.30 p.m. the special R.K.O. programme commenced and continued till the personal messages for Commander Byrd and party were "put over." The station signed off at 4.80 p.m. The other stations transmitting the same programme were good strength, but not the quality of W2XAD. T had tly station on the speaker from 12.30 p.m, till 4.80 p.m. Weak at first, but good volume most of the time. KDKA. was good strength, but surging badly. W6XN, at R& and very clear, was tuned in at 5 p.m., when a "Golden Legend" had just been concluded. A. musical programme continued from the KGO studios by the National Troubadours. The "Musical Musketeers" followed from 6.30 p.m. Request items were given during the last hour. Monday, September 23. K2MHE at R9 excellent; and GBX , RT, gushy on duplex telephony, were

the only stations heard during the evening. ~ ‘Tuesday, September 24. 5SW commenced . with the "Weekly Book" talk by. Desmond McCarthy at RS. The usual ripple spoilt reception. A French reading was heard later. This was followed by a song recital, which was received fairly well. A promen- . ade concert from the Queen’s Hall at 6.3 : a.m., with the overture "Flying Dutch- _ man. GBX and 2ME were late in starting, their carriers could be heard for some time before any conversation. Both were clearly readable. GBX R7-8, 2ME | RY. The German commenced at 6.30 a.m. with orchestral music at R8&-9 after his opening announcement. Was out during evening till late. Tuned in OSW at 11.10 p.m., when organ music was received at R4, rather unsteady. Wednesday, September 25. OTH 5SW and the German were weaker than usual. They were both spoilt by surging. Just before 7.80 am. a "station on about 29.5 metres was tuned in at RT. A. typical Japanese’ instrumental item was heard first. This was followed by ordinary music, without any call between items, At 7.40 am. "Hullo! Hullo! We are now closing down. Good-night," was heard in good English with a foreign accent. This has since proved to be Bangkok, but this was not heard during this transmission. 2ME and GBX were both good during morning and evening tests. Thursday, September 26. Baw at 6 a.m. was quite good at R7 Talk was about 75 per cent. readable. Reception too good to last and went off considerably by 7.50 a.m. Singing was heard on about 51.2 metres, very clear, but. weak. A call was.not heard. The German was all talk for some time at N8&.. Musie was heard later. when volume was less, ; .2ME and GBX both 100 per cent readable at good strength morning aud evening. PCK at 8.45 p.m. was heard talking to PLE. The Duteh station was R4 and gushy, while Java was only just audible. RAQ7. with orchestral musie and talk, were well received at RS. Statice bad. Friday, September 27, Ppa were at their best from 5.35 a.m. till 7.80 a.m. Volume R9 at the best period, but good strength all through. The German, although quite good, was hot so strong as PCJ this morning, SSW R8-9. Rapid fade again spoilt reception. On 29.5 metres (about) the weird musie similar to Japan and China at Rd. Static and mush bad. Volume increased to R9 at 6 a.m., when reception is quite good. Several musical (?) items are heard of the same style. then "Hullo, OZKD! Can you hear me?" ete, asking this station to reply, also for Also, , Hullo, here is Bangkok, Siam, calling. Just after 7 a.m, IT heard Bae eall "Hullo, OZKB, Bangkok calling. We heard you at 2,30 am., Bangkok time."

This call was repeated and then the, speaker continued in what I expect i Siamese; it sounded like Chinese. They were still going strong when I close\l down at 7.30 a.m. 2ME and GBX were testing both morning and evening. The English. station was the best yet during the evening test. W6XN was very good at R9 with dance musie by the "Musical Musketeers." RA97 with talk was R9. PCK were transmitting records at RS pr ior to them usual duplex telephony with ava, (This will be 7 a.m. New Zealand