Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 22, 13 December 1929, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

THIS page is conducted in the interests of short-wave enthusiasts. A " ' weekly log comprising notes of reception and interesting topical

events is contributed

by Mr.

F. W.

Sellens

"Northland, Wellington, but

"all listeners are invited to send in paragraphs ‘of general interest.

U.S.A. and Germany to Exchange Programmes. ACCORDING to an American report, confirmed in Germany, arrangements have been- made for a regular exchange of radio programmes next winter between the United States and Germany. Experiments will be carried out by the Riverhead (Long Island) transmitter in conjunction with the new Konigswusterhausen short-wave station. . U.S.A. and Italy. '[HE Marconi Co. has been entrusted with the construction at Rome of -& short-wave station for the purpose of relaying the U.S.A. concerts to*the ‘Italian broadcasting system. -Short-wave Stations for Madagasear. MA4PAGASCAR has in hand the construction of three new short-wave stations. One, which will be devoted wholly to Morse working, will have the eall-sign FZT, and will work on 13.4, 24.4, 30.5, and 39.1 metres. The others will work on 16.7, 20.8, and 59.5. metres, with the call letters FZU and FZV. The two latter stations will broadcast telephony. ‘Another German Short-wave Station. ‘A N experimental short-wave station, working on 48.6 metres, with the call sign of D4AFF, is testing, and should be heard in New Zealand during the early mornings. , ’ Russian Station RA97, HIS well-known station has recently been reported on about 31 metres, when reception was better than on 70 metres. Both wave-lengths were being used. More Siamese Short-wave Stations. HE Post and Telegraph Department, ‘ Siam, state that there is a station at Bangkok, 20 k.w., 16.9 metres, call sign HSP, which normally works telegraph traffié with Europe, but is sometimes used fox telephony. The same station is also used as an experimentak broadcaster, call sign HSIPJ; hours of broadcasting, every Sunday, 12.30 to 14.30, GMT (Monday, 12.80 a.m. till 2.30 a.m., N.Z. summer time). Mostly Siamese music. There is. another small experimental station, HS4PJ, wave-length 37 metres, power 200 watts, transmitting on Wednesdays, 12.30 a.m. to 2.30 a.m. and 6 | caupstenaspunalons ------

‘a.m. to 8 a.m., and on Saturdays 12.30 a.m. to 2.80 a.m.; all N.Z. summer time. Announcements are made in English, French, German, and Siamese. Re‘ports are asked for. Address: Engin‘eering Service, Royal Post and Tele"graph Department, Bangkok, Siam. Mr. Smythe (Greymouth) reports hearing Bangkok on about 16 metres (no doubt the 16.9 transmitter referred to above) on Wednesday, November 20, talking to Hamburg on about 15 metres, both at R7-R9, from 9.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. Radio equipment for a new station was being ordered. Mr. Smyth feels certain that the stations often heard on 82.5 to 388 metres calling "Hullo London" and "Hullo New York," are connected with the Transatlantic Telephone Service. He has often clearly heard telephone conversations between the two countries. | American Amateurs on the 80-Metre Band. R. MORRISON (Brooklyn), reports having heard both 6th and 9th district American amateurs on _ telephony from about 7 p.m. on the 80inetre band (75 metfes to 85.7 metres) ‘Several evenings recently. — W2XAF Testing from 11 p.m. to 12 p.m. STATION W2XAF, Schenectady, on 31.4 metres, is transmitting experimental programmes daily-except Sunday, from 11 p.m. till 12 p.m. N.Z, summertime. These are for reception ™

in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and the Far East. Although timed to start at 11 p.m., 2XAF is often heard now by 10.30 p. m. Reception During Week Ending December 7%. (CONDITIONS are improving slightly in the morning, but American reception during the afternoon is still bad until late. RA97, Siberia. — 70 metres, continues to come in at good strength. One evening, during what appeared to. be a children’s session, pigs, cows, dogs, ‘etc., were: imitated, after which a girl sing, and an "Auntie" was heard. W9XF, Chicago: " 7 49,83 metres, has been heard each evening till 8 p.m. (except Monday). Volume is best about 7 p.m., » When it is about RS to R9. W3XAL, Boundbrook, New Jersey. 49.7 metres, was quite good on Saturday from 5 p.m. Reports of reception were asked for. W3XAF, Schnectady. 81.4 metres, has been heard every. evening from ‘about 10.80 p.m. Volume is quite good from the start, but improves by 11 p.m. This is a special transmission for the "Far Hast and South." On Sunday they were weak until yop in the ° afternoon, reaching R7-8 by PCJ, Eindhoren. 31.4 metres, Friday and Saturday, from 6 a.m. they started well at R8, but rapidly decreased in volume, and. were very weak by 7.30 a.m. On Saturday afternoon a carrier. was heard for awhile, but too weak to hear. what . was said. . Zéesen, Germany. 81.38 metres. Volume is less on this station now. On Monday and Thursday they were heard till 6 a.m. at R7, static being bad each day. 7LO, Narrobi. . 31 metres, was poor all the week; except Tuesday, when music was R8 at 5.50 a.m. Just after 6 a.m. a play was put on which was about 50 pef cent. readable... Static and rapid fade was the cause of readability being so poor. Bangkok, Siam. 29.5 metres, was only heard once. On’ Saturday 4t 11.45 p.m. they were R7, wack & Morse station causing trouble.

VK2ME, Sydney. Y 28,5 metres, on. duplex telephony, with GBX, England, 27.5 metres (about), were experimenting nearly every morning and: evening. KZRM, Radio Manila, 26 metres (about), have been well received each evening from 10 p.m. (except Monday, their silent day). On Tuesday, at 10 p.m., they relayed from the -..-- Theatte; a-talking picture "Pagan Love Song. " Reception was excellent- at R9. ‘Radio -Manila is about the most consistent short-wave ‘station being heard just now. G5SW, : England. 25.53 metres. Reception has improved slightly from the "Empire Broadcaster" from 7 a.m. Strength has been about R4. "y La KDKA, Pittsburgh. 25.4 metres. On Sunday, at 4 pm., they were R5,' with a _ special programme for the: Byrd Expedition. R8-4 was the best I could do with them on Saturday. W6EXN, Oakland, California. 23.35 metres, was fair on Sunday, reaching R7 by 6-p.m., but was. gushy all through the programme. On-Tues-day they were just audible at 7.45 ’. W2XAD, Schnectady. 19.5 metres. This station was heard for a short time on’ Sunday and Saturday. 2.15: pm. till-2.30 appears.to be the peak of volute when they were about R3-4.- -- . r PLA, Java. 15.74 metres; PCK, Kootwigh, Holland, 16:3 metres; were heard on Wednesday, Thursday; Friday and Saturday evenings with-‘records, and later duplex telephony, volume increasing as time goes on’‘till R8-9 is reached about 10 p.m. ‘ Unidentified Stations. "THE London and ‘New York transAtlantie telephony stations (7?) were heard several . times during the (Concluded: on page 81.)