Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 24, 27 December 1929, Page 32

Round the World on Short Wave

Prague Transmitter. HE Prague short-wave transmitter regularly transmits on Wednesdays and Saturdays ‘between 7.30 a.m, and 9.30 am., New Zealand summer time, on a wavelength of 58 metres. The call-sign is OKIMPT, Germany and U.S.A. GERMANY has concluded a contract with America for the interchange of radio programmes. The service commenced on October 7, a special concert being transmitted through the Konigswusterhausen station on $81.38 metres. / This was clearly received in U.§8.A., and rebroadcast through KDKA, one of the pioneer broadcasters. There have been no reports of this concert having been tuned in by any New Zealand or Australian listeners. GSSW in Australia. (COMMENTING on reception in Australia of G5SSW, the short-wave writer of "Listen In" says: ."G5SW has been excellent in the evenings with its midday lunch-time programme (10.30 to 11.45 p.m., Melbourne time), (12.30 a.m. to 145 a.m. New Zealand summer time). This station, however, is absolutely indecipherable in the mornings." This is our experience in New Zealand just now. Reception During Week Ending December 21, 1929. RA97, Siberia, 70 metres.-Static has been very bad all through the week on this wave-band, so that the Russian has been almost impossible. W2XBH, Brooklyn, N.Y., 54 metres, reported by Mr. Morrison last week, was logged on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. Volume was weak, about R3. Signals were gushy, but the Call-sign was jdentified. . _ W9XF, Chicago, 49.83 metres.-Re-eeption of this station varies quite a lot. On Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. they were R8-9 with excellent modulation, but other evenings strength was poor. W2XE, Long Island, New York, 49.02 metres.-This station was tuned in ar 7.80 p.m. on Tuesday, when they were testing. The power was given as 750 watts and reports were asked for from the West Coast (U.S.A.), "if we are getting out that far." The transmitter was described and technical notes from Q.S.T. were read.

This transmitter belongs to the Columbia broadcasting system. Reports asked for to be addressed to P.O. Box (?), Ozone Park, Long Island, New York. Reception, considering the power used, 750 watts, was quite good, being R4 and 100 per cent. readable most of the time. After 8 p.m. strength and readability went off. Mr, Wiffen, of Blenheim, reported good reception of this station, but like myself, was not sure of the post office box number. W3XAL, Boundbrook, New Jersey, 49.7 metres, was heard on Sunday at 6.30 p.m. at R4, increasing to R6 by 7 ‘pm. They were still going strong at 9.15 p.m., but static had become tvo bad to continue listening to them. W2XAF, Schnectady, 31.4 metres.On Sunday they were not audible till about 3.30 p.m., after which et gained fairly rapidly to R7 by 5 PCJ, Holland, 31.4 -This popular Dutch station was. transmitting a special programme on Thutsday morning when I tuned them in at 5.40 am. They were received at R9 with slight static. A man was singing the "Marseillaise." .At 6 a.m. the Dutch National Anthem was played and the transmission concluded. A station was just audible on this wavelength on Friday morning, but too weak to be certain if it was PCJ. On Saturday they commenced just after 6 a.m. at R7-8, weakening to R4 by 7 am. Static was very bad. The afternoon programme was inaudible till 4.80 p.m. when they were R2, reaching RS by 6 p.m Statice again was very bad. Essen, Germany, 31.38 metres, was only heard once during the week, that.

was on Monday morning early, when they were R6. WLO, Nairobi, 31 metres, ‘has been very poor all the week. The best day was Tuesday, when a play was being broadcast at 6.15 a.m., received at R4. Volume was R5d by 6. 30 a.m., but rapid fading spoilt reception. VK2ME, Sydney, 28.5.metres and GBX, England, 27.5 metres (about) are still to be heard at good strength mornings and evenings on duplex telephony. KZRM, Radio, Manila, 26 metres (about).-This station continues to come through well from 10 p.m., but has been spoilt on most evenings. by static. G5SW, England, 25.53 metres, has not been worth listening to any morning. An announcement was heard on Wednesday in reference to the Christmas holidays, but was not intelligible on account of rapid fade. Strength was Rd. KDKA, Pittsburgh, 25.4 metres, was first heard at 1.80 p.m. on Sunday, when the carrier only was audible. Volume was up to R5 by 5 p.m., when Christmas and New Year greetings were being transmitted to the Far North. No sign/ of KDKA was heard on Saturday (December 21). FW or PIT, St. Assise, France, 24 metres.-This old friend was heard after some weeks’ silence on Monday morning at 6 am. ‘Talk only was heard with "Allo! Allo! Ici Paree" at intervals. Strength R4-5. W6XN, California, 23.35 metres.On Sunday this station was heard at good strength-R8 at 5 p.m. This was the maximum; by 7 p.m. it was down to R38-4. W2XAD, Schnectady, 19.5 metres, was heard at 6 a.m. on Tuésday at R3. ‘PHI, Huizen, Holland, 16.88 metres. -I tuned in this sister station of PCJ on Tuesday soon after 10 p.m., when the "Blue Danube Waltz’ was coming in at R9. Reception was perfect. Aanouncements were made in WBnglish and Dutch. They were still as good ‘at 10.30 p.m. when I closed down. PLF, Java, 16.8 metres, was heard on several evenings at good volume, but with a strong generator hum. PLE, Java, 15.74. metres, was on duplex on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The latter evening they were calling 2ME, Sydney, till 11.10 p.m.,° but could not, get a reply. PCK, Holland, 16.3 metres, was on when the above stations were working duplex with them. — LP3, Monte Grande, 15.03 metres, is heard on most evenings at good strength.

’ Unidentified Stations. — 4 HE 20.5-metre station often reported, is, I believe, a’: transAtlantie telephony, transmitter. On Tuesday morning "Hullo, London" was ealled, followed by reading from a newspaper. On Wednesday morning, just before 6 o’clock, a2 business talk was heard from this station, concluding with: "I am going to Chicago for a holiday, See you next week. Good-bye."