THE D.X. CLUB views and news.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 18, 15 November 1929, Page 11

THE D.X. CLUB views and news.

Identification Wanted (ouLD anyone assist me in the identification’ of a short-wave station heard on Sunday, November 8, at 8 p.m. An item, "Till We Meet Again," was heard together with the station slogan "Voice of Service." I think the eall-sign was W9XF, Chicago, and the wavelength is approximately ‘45 metres. I would also like his address as I would

like to send for verification.

C.

Mac

Farlane

(Dunedin).

[W9XF is the new short-wave international relay station of station WENR, Chicago, Illinois. Wavelength, 49.83 metres (6020 k.c.).-Hd.] Stations Identified H:- WALKER (Bluff), in reply to Miss Dryden’s request for :identification of a station she had heard, states that the unknown station or stations were the Ross Sea whaling ships. These. were, however, identified by S. Ellis (Okato) in last week’s D.X. club notes. Mr. Walker further adds that the C,. A. Larsen broadcasts on a wavelength of 420 metres (715 k.c.); and the Sir James Clark Ross on a wayelength of 430 metres (695 k.c.). ~ ‘DX Topics AS§ a result of a letter received from KDKA, Pittsburgh, I would like to state for the benefit of short-wave listeners that KDKA now broadcasts on a wavelength of 20.8 metres (14.420 k.e.). This rebroadéeasts the 305.9 metre (980 k.c.) station of the same eall-sign, nearly every. evening from 8.00 p.m. to 12.00 p.m., Eastern standard :time.. They also have a special broadcast on 63 metres (4760 k.c.) for television experimenters from 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. (B.S.T.) on Monday. Wed-

nesday and Friday.-

G. B.

Butterworth

(Dunedin).

HAVING to-day "received confirmation of reception of WTIC (W1XG) on a four-valve set, I thought a few details of that station would be of interest. Included in. the ceollection of literature they sent re their y station were four large photos and a 15-page foolscap book giving particulars of the transmitter. "The microphones used are capable of reproducing every sound from 30 to 10,000 cycles. The transmitter is 10 miles away from the studios, situated 3000 feet above a valley, while the antenna is 500 feet away from the transmitter. The cable connecting the studios and hill weighs 150 tons, and besides containing cireuits for the programmes, the cable also carries telephope and, telegraph signal systems. The station is crystal controlled and _varies only 20 cycles in 1,000,000, or 1-50 k.c. The radio and audio paths are first put through a 500-watt transmitter, then one of 5000 watts, and finally the 50,000 watts. Among the notable features of WTIC are the giant 100,000 watt R.C.A. vacuum tubes, two of which are used in the 50,000-watt amplifier, These tubes are capable of supplying continuously the 200,000 watts of power tequired instantaneous-

ly for 100°per cent. modulation, and generate enough heat in a few seconds to melt their copper jackets unless cooled by water. They are the biggest ever used. The primary power source is 2800 volts A.C. and a generator operated from this source supplies 600 amperes to light the valve filaments. The whole station can be controlled by one button, which, when pressed, works a series of relays and gradually puts the plant off the air. The whole is enclosed in copper screening, while the transmitter is totally enclosed. If any gate or door is opened the whole of the power is cut off." ‘ These are only a few of the details contained in the book, but they may be of interest-C.B.L. (Palmerston North). I AM .énclosing a copy of a letter received by the last ’Frisco mail, in reply to one I sent asking for confirmation of reception from station WTIC, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A. During August last I logged this station at fairly good strength, although reception was spoilt by 2KY. I wrote for confirmation of reception, and the following reply will probably be of interest to listeners, and to D.X. enthusiasts especially :-- . "We are very much gratified to receive your report of the ist ultimo respecting our broadcast. Yours is one of five letters from New Zealand which reached us in the same mail. We have not yet ceased our testing after midnight, and you may hear us again. Our regular broadcasting includes the hours from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. every other day, and you ought to hear that. We enclose verification stamp and schedule of our broadcasting hours, and we are also sending you under another cover an advance copy of what we hope will eventually become a regular station souvenir. It includes a descriptive article and some photographs which we hope will give you a fair idea of the station. "Our station is, of course, very much further away from you than any of the United States stations which you have mentioned. We are nearly 1000 miles east of Chicago. In considering the comparison of time which you mention with KNX, we are approximately 8000 miles further from you, and the actual "distance in time between our station and KNX is three hours. "We congratuldte you, on a very highly commendable pick-up. The airline distance between New Plymouth and Hartford is, I think, in the neighbourhood of 9000 miles. We hope to

hear from you again.-

W. G.

Cowles

9 vice-president)

WTIC is "The Travellers’ Broadcasting Service Corporation of the Travellers’ Insurance Company. Power 50 k watts. Frequency 1060 k.c. Wavelength 282.8 metres. At present WTIC divides its time equally with WBAL,

Baltimore.-

E. H.

White

(New Ply-

mouth).

AVING removed to the North Auckland district from Nelson and taken my four-valve set (screen grid) set with me, the folowing notes on comparative reception may be of interest to your readers. In Nelson daylight reception was good from 2YA, 1YA, and 8YA, volume in the order named: 4YA was heard occasionally; 2YA was usually cut down in volume on account of being too loud. Here 1¥A is the only station heard at good loudspeaker strength; 2YA is very faint, usually until dark; 2BL was heard once at 3.30 pm. Other N.Z. stations inaudible. BHven 1YA is not reliable. Night reception here is apparently better than in Nelson district, with the exception of 1YA, which is often weaker at night than in daylight. 2YA is excellent here at night, though in Nelson it was very poor on account of distortion. 1YA was my best in Nelson at night-here it is only worth listening to when there is no static. The

N.Z. stations here in order of clarity and volume are at present 2YA, 3YA, 22M, 4YA, (2FC), and 1YA. This seems rather curious, as 1YA is, of course, the nearest. The Australians, except 2FC, have been very weak 80 far. With regard to Americans, I have up to now logged five-KFOX, KNX, KZGA, KGO, and GFQZ, three of which I received in Nelson. With regard to KZGA, I notice a correspondent in your issue of November 1 gives its; wavelength at 332.1 metres (905 k.c.). The first time I heard it, it was about half a degree below 1YA on my dials. Of course I could not cut 1YA out, but as the latter was fading frequently that, night, I heard the announcement several times from KZGA. The last time, on Sunday, October 20, KZGA was right on 1YA’s length when I tuned into it at 10.5 pm. after Wellington had closed down. It was so loud that. I thought at first it was 1YA, until I realised it was a jazz tune. The announcement after the item was finished said: "KZGA, Los Angeles, testing on 900 kilocyeles.’ So if your correspondent (Mr. A. P. Morrison) is correct, the wave-length must have been changed to 900 kc. since he wot his informa.

tion.-

J.

B.

= N orth Auckland.