Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 21, 6 December 1929, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Transmissions on 7 Centimetres, XPERIMENTS in transmission on wave-lengths as short as 7.12 and 19 eentimetres have recently been conducted by Professor Protoff, of the Soviet State Laboratory at Nijni-Novgorod. According to the Russian "Radio Journal" Professor Protoff’s signals have been heard clearly at distances of several thou- , sand miles, with a transmission power of only 20 watts. , Trans-Atlantic Short Waves. FXPERIMENTS have for some time been going on between KDKA_ (Pittsburg) and ‘Nauen, Germany, in order to find out whether two-way conyersations between these two countries , are -practicable under varying weather and electrical conditions. The tests usually take place between 7 and 8 a.m:, New Zealand summer time. , Short-Wave Picture Transmission. | XPERIMENTS in "Fultography’’ picture transmission on short waves are being conducted = at Vienna. These tests, which enable .definite comparison to be made regarding the relative ranges of telegraphy, telephony, and picture telegraphy, take place daily on a wavelength of 41-42 metres. The eall sign is VOM,‘ and the . following schedule is observed (N.Z, time in parentheses) :-Telegraphy : 10.10 a.m. to 10.20 am. (10.10 p.m. to. 10.20 p.m.);_ telephony : 10.20 a.m. to 10.30 a.m, (10.20 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.) ; picture telegraphy: 10.35 am. to 10.45 am. (10.385 p.m. to 10.45 p.m.). In the afternoon a similar transmission takes place at 3.10 p.m., continuing until 3.45 p.m. (3.10 a.m, till 3.45 a.m.). Reports on reception will be welecomed by Fultograph Gesellschaft, M.B.H., Austria, IV Prinz Eugenstrasse 10, Vienna. Short-Wave Station, Essen, Germany. URTHER particulars are to hand about this new high-power station from an DPnglish radio magazine as follows: "The short-wave station at Zeesen, using the wavelength of 31.38 metres on a power of about 8 k.w., has relayed. the Berlin and Konigswusterhauser evening programmes regularly since August 26. The relays have hitherto been confined to musieal items. An exception was made on the morning of September 4, when the arrival of the Graf Zeppelin at Friedrickshafen was broadcast for the benefit of American stations, which relayed the item. Good reception is reported from America, as also from Russia, where the Zeesen station has been heard on quite small sets. The transmissions are still experimental, and for this reason no ¢all sign has been given.

Reception During the Weel. (CONDITIONS are still bad for reception of American ‘stations during the afternoon. This appears to. be general, according to reports receivéd by correspondents. A friend suggested that the wavelength of each station reported be included as a guide to new listeners, RA97, Siberia (70 metres), has been spoilt’ by sévere static dn several evenme Strength has. been good, average W9XF, Chicago, 49.83 metres, is not audible.mych before 5 p.m., after which volume increases rapidly. Hach evening, except Monday, they transmitted till 8 p.m.; on Monday they closed at 7 p.m. Static was bad on this station early in the week. W2XAF, ‘Schenectady, 1.4 metres. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons _ this station could not be heard, but on several mornings they have come in at good strength, but with a noisy background. On Saturday, from 11. p.m., they were R8, but very rough. PCJ, Eindhoven, 31.4 metres, came at good strength both on Friday and Saturday, when they commenced at 6 a.m., but went. off ‘very rapidly. On Saturday afternoon they were not audible till nearly 5 p.m..and only reaching about R4-5 by closing time, 6 p.m. Zeesen, Germany,.31.38 metres. I have been unfortunate with this station; they appenr to have: altered their hours of transmission. On Wednesday they closed at 6 am, after several orchestral items were received perfectly at R8. At 5.85 a.m.‘on Friday, after an announcement, a gong was heard, followed by "Hullo, hullo--Radio--" in another voice, and, I think, in another language. This was apparently the commencement of a relay of another station. An orchestral item followed, which was receiyed at R8-9; this item, lasting 15 minutes, was loudly applauded at the conclusion. After a slight pause, the. gong and another announcement was heard, followed by more orchestral music. They closed down about 6 am. On Friday, a talk concluded at 5.80 a.m., followed by orchestral music till. 6° a.m., when they closed. Reception again was R8-9. This is the best station received just now, but is too early for the average listener. 7L0, Nairobi, 31, metres, has only been just audible ‘each morning till 7 a.m. VK2ME, ‘Sydney, 28.5 metres, duplex with GBX, England, 27.5 metres (about) are heard almost every morning and evening. KZRM, Radio Manila, 26 metres (approximately). On Sunday the Constabuwlary Band was heard from 6 p.m,, after the studio chimés, at R&-9, static being very bad. Every evening, except Monday, they have. been heard from 10 p.m. G5SW;. Chélinsford, 25.53 metres, is still too weak’to bother with from.7 a.m. On Tuesday I tuned them in at 6 a.m. just as a record was concluding. After this they closed ‘down, stating that they had been testing. Strength was R8 and reception very’ good. ‘When opening again at 7 a.m.-they were, as usual, very weak. ek _ KDKA, Pittsburgh, 25.4 metres, was audible on Sunday and Saturday by 4 p.m, and only about R3-4 by 5 p.m.

W6EXN, California; 23.35 metres. This station has. like the other Americans, gone off recently. . On’ Sunday they were — readable’. for. a short time during the afternoon. At 7.15 p.m. on Friday they were R5-6 with a programme by _ the "Musical Musketeers," W2XAD, Schenectady, 19.56 metres, was heard on Friday morning at 6.30 a.m. with musical items at R4, very clear, with a slight gush. It was announced that stations W2XAD and W2XAF were transmitting this programme. At 7.30 a.m. the same morning’.a game was being described; readability was too poor (volume having decreased) to understand what it wae

PLE, Java, 15.74 metres, PLE, Java, 17 metres, and PCK, Holland, 16.3 metres, were heard nearly every evening on duplex telephony. ; Unidentified Stations, BOUT 41.5 metres on Wednesday morning at 5.50 am. a lady was heard talking very ‘fast at R6. A few bars of band music followed her talk. A man then spoke; this was also followed by the band for a moment or.two. Later there was singing with a piano. The transmission finished at 6 a.m., but the carrier was audible for .some time after, 88.8 metres (about). Music was just audible on Monday morning at 6 a.m. 31.4 metres. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday about 6 aim. a.station on this wavelength has been heard at. fair volume with foreign talk and music. Modulation has been poor.