Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 20, 29 November 1929, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

HIS page is conducted in the interests of shortwave enthusiasts. A weekly log comprising notes of reception and interesting topical events

is contributed

by

F. W.

Sellens

Northland, Wellington,

but. all

listeners are invited to send In paragraphs of general interest,

China Enters the Radio Field. ‘ERY ambitious plans are being made } for an extensive programme of radio activity in China, according to an Ameriean report, A prominent official, Dr. Tsa Tso, is making a survey of radio stations in the U.S.A, and is purchasing equipment for two short-wave stations in China. These will be the most powerful stations in Asia -at least, they Tsa Tso! © High Power for Vatican’ Station. EPORTS from Rome indicate that the Vatican wireless station, concerning which there has been much. speculation, is to have a power of 20 kilowatts. This will place it fairly high among Europe’s transmitters, so far as strength goes. For telephony only short waves are to be used, the suggested wavelength being somewhere in the band between 15 and 45 metres, French Stations. TATION FS8BP, the experimental station of the French wireless association "Le Journal des Huit," has increased its wavelength from 47 to 55 metres. Hiffel Tower, Paris, has resumed its experiments in short-wave telephony; the wavelength has been reduced to 31.5 metres. | . From September 1 a radio telephony service was opened between the s.s. Leviathan and Berlin on short waves. Radio Manila-KZRM. nN LETTER from this Philippine station was received during the week. They give their short wavelength as 48.8 metres, nothing being said of 26.5 metres (about), where they are more often heard. The weekly schedule is the same as was published a few weeks ago on this page. The following are features worth tuning in to:Philippine Constabulary Band, Wednesday, Friday, Saturddy and Sunday, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Bureau of Prison’s Band concert, Sundays, 7 p.m. to 8 pm. Dance music from Sta. Ana Cabaret, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1.80 a.m. till 3.80 a.m. Stadium prize-fights, Sundays, 2 am. to 4 a.m. Church services, Sundays, 2.30 p.m. The above times are New Zealand summer time, which is four hours ahead of Manila standard time. . A correspondent last week said, in reference to the call of this station, that it- was KGRM not KZRM.. The letter referred to gives it as KZRM and I think the explanation is that they pronounce the Z and Zee, which, of course, could easily be mistaken for G. GTATION VK2ME has been heard during the week on 15.5 metres calling GBX. This was the exact wave-length

given by the Sydney station. 6AG, Perth, has been heard again; he is now working on 41.5 metres. Reception during Week Ending November 238. CONDITION S are still ‘unfavourable for good reception of most overseas short-wave stations. RA97, Siberia, comes in well on 70 metres at R8-9. More music is heard now. On Friday, at 10.15 p.m children’s singing was very well received, the static trouble being less than usual. W9XF, Chicago, short-wave ‘station of WHNR, has not been quite as strong as Su. on most evenings.~ Saturday, the they were about the best ever heard, RO at 6.380 p.m., perfect except for a very slight surge. Volume slowly decreased till signing off at 8 p.m. Zeesen, relaying Konigswusterhausen. On Sunday, the 17th, a fine programme

was heard till 6.30 a.m., when they closed down. Volume RS. ‘They apparently closed down by 6 a.m, other mornings as I heard them only on Saturday from 5.40 a.m. till 6 a.m., when they came in like a local station, full speaker volume, free from any static, etc. This was the. only morning Zeesen was tried for before 6 a,m. ‘PCJ, -Holland, started well on Friday at 6.5 am., being R9, but rapidly decreased in volume, being R38 by 7 a.m. On Saturday’ morning’ they commenced about 6 a.m., but apparently closed down before any items were — broadcast, only the metronome being heard for a few. moments. The afternoon session was late before readable strength was reached, R5 at 5 p,m., increasing to R8-9 by close time at 6 p.m. 2ME, Sydney, still carry on most of their duplex with GBX on 28.5 metre during the early evening, but were heard on 15.5 metres about 10.30 p.m. on Monday at R8-9, very clear and steady. 2FC was relayed for a time. 2XAC, Schnectady, was heard on Sunday afternoon, when, with its sister stations, 2XAF and 2XAD, they were transmitting their usual ~ programme. Strength at 5 p.m. was R7. 2XAF was very poor on Sunday. 2XAD was only audible for a short time early in the day on Sunday. KDKA, like the other Americans, was very weak. Bangkok, . Sianyv-This_ station was tuned in on Monday morning about 6 a.m. when the usual native music was heard. A eall sign was again given, but could not make out the letters and/or figures. The wave-length was given at 29.5 metres Volume R7-8. . Radio, Manila, continues to come in at good strength from 10 p.m. "When heard earlier it is much weaker. | 7L0,. Nairobi, at its best, has been _ very weak, a | 5SW, Chelmsford, is too weak when opening at 7 a.m. to be worth lis- | tening to. I understand that it is good » strength from 12.30 a.m. to 1.30 a.m.

PLE and PLF, Java, sending out. duplex telephony with PCK, Holland, come in at good strength from about 9.80.p.m. Unidentified Stations. ON about 81.4 metres an American station was received at R9 from 10 p.m., and was still going strong at 11.45 p.m. on Saturday. A Morse station was working on the the same wavelength all the time, making it. impossible to get the eall. Volume and modulation © were first-rate. It was possibly 2XAF; it was on this wavelength. mo 88 Metres (aout), a foreign voice was heard at R3-4 on Wednesday morning every few moments, "Allo! Allo!" with a eall was heard, but not understood. On Sunday morning, at 7 am., on about 33 metres, music was ‘heard at R5, with a lady announcing the items. She was not readable on account of mush.

On 32.5 metres a man and woman were heard calling, "Hullo, London!" on Saturday, 5 p.m. English was being spoken, but was difficult to follow, because of surge and mush. This station, an American, is often on the air-carrier only, for hours at a stretch, without any sign o talk. On 22.4 metres (about) an American voice was heard at K8 early on Wednesday and Thursday morning, | At 6.30 a.m. on Saturday an American station was heard on 19.5 metres, with voeal and orchestral music. Strength was R8 at first, increasing slightly, then going off to R1 by 7.80 a.m. A strong generator hum spoilt readability. A call was not heard during this period, but it was prebably 2XAD or 2XD_ on their daily test with England en 19.5 metres. Oo "a