Short-Wave Topics

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 13, 11 October 1929, Page 31

Short-Wave Topics

---- Notes from a Reader --os ACCORDING to'the latest information (writes Mr. R. Leslie Jones) 2M® is hoping to have a commercial service of at least three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon between Sydney and London. The probability is that one set will be arranged for at Sydney to commence with, and when that has proved a su¢cess another set will probably be installed. "The cost will. be heavy, but doubtless the traffic between Sydney and London will warrant the eapital outlay. Very intensive tests are being earried out between London and Sydney, aS any short-wave enthusiast knows’ who cares to tune in 2M on 28.5 metres; and officials at both ends are working long hours early and late with a view to arriving at a complete understanding. . ‘ Those head officials both in London and Sydney who have spoken by wireless *phone have expressed their astonishment and delight at the progress so far made; and with the assistance of the postal officials in London considerable headway has apparently been made possible.’ Mr. Fisk, the managing director of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., has expressed on several occasions of late his very great thanks to the London officials for their courtesy and valuable assistance. Reception of London (GBX) in Wellington varies, of course; strength of signals (speech) fluctuating considerably; and it is evident after a long daily vigil, that Sydney receives London much better than we do in Wellington. Audibility is sometimes good in Wellington from GBX, and 2ME. is usually very good for volume and clarity. 2ME often complains about signals from London fading, and "noise level," and so on; so Wellington is not the only place where these troubles crop up. Watching the progress made in connection with the foregoing ‘scheme of wireless telephony between Australia and England, the listener who has been taking an-interest in this latest wireless development must derive considerable interest for the small amount of trouble; besides which the hours for listening-in at Wellington are reasonable, especially during the afternoon session, which finishes about 8.15 p.m., N.Z. time. A feature of 2MQH’s transmission is the versatile and distinctly "Aussie" mannerisms of Mr. Farmer, the principal operator, whom listeners. hear daily. This gentleman has a very pleasing manner, quite unconventional, and speaks his mind freely over the air; in fact, his name has become a household word, like many other announcers in Australasia.