Short-Wave Notes

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 32, 21 February 1930, Page 31

Short-Wave Notes

News From Correspondents. RA97 on 85 ‘metres-Mr. Vernon Wheatley (Auckland) has heard the English-speaking lady announcer state that "This is RA97 on 35 metres." There does not appear to be any doubt that RA97 transmits on this wave-length sometimes; as other listeners have heard the same announcement. HSLPJ, Bangkok, Siam-Mr. R. T. Stanton (Christchurch) has forwarded a letter received from Phra Aram, radio engineer, Royal Siam’s Post and Telegraph Department, Bangkok, Siam, which contains the following information :- "In reply we beg to inform you that the broadeasting tests are generally carried out on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday from 4300. to 1600 G.M.T. or from 2000 to 2800 clock local time (i.e, 7 hours ahead of G.M.T.) from this transmitter using 29.5 metres wave-length. Since this is only an experimental station we hope that you will not expect us to adhere to the schedule given. We, however, always broadeast the news. to our listeners when any change is being contemplated or decided upon." Sneneeaiion a re a a a ny

(The above transmissions are equal to Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. New Zealand summer time.) Notes. RAvPrI0 Experimental, Paris, on 31.65 metres, is the first broadcasting station to transmit a children’s hour on short waves. The broadcast is arranged for juveniles resident in French colonies overseas. : N American station is planning to install a short-wave set in a trailer behind a motor-lorry and tour New York to pick up events of interest occurring during the day or night. These will be relayed to the main station for rebroadcasting. WORK has now begun on the erection ‘ of the Papal wireless station in the Vatican City. The apparatus is being built by the Marconi Company. PpARis Pxperimental Radio is a new short-wave station. Transmissions of gramophone records and speech are made on 31.65 metres, with a power of 1 kilowatt, four days a week at the following times: Sunday, 10 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.; Wednesday, from 9.30 a.m.; Friday, 5.80 a.m. to 7.15 a.m., and Saturday, from 6.30 a.m. (New Zealand summer time). The interval signal adopted is that of a metronome with 120 beats per minute. The station closes down with the playing of the well-known French military march, "Hntre Sambre et Meuse." Reception during Week ending February 15, . ECEHIVING conditions have been _patehy. On Friday morning all signals were very weak. Zeesen, 7TLO and 5SW were not audible at their usual times, while PCJ was only R4 at its best. The same evening conditions were better than usual. RA9Q7, Siberia, 70 metres was spoilt by severe static on most evenings. WO9OXF, Chicago, 49.83 metres, has been received at good strength each evening except Tuesday, when signals were weak. On Saturday a note was made of the volume from time to time. At 5 p.in. this was R5. gushy, with a noisy background, slowly increasing in strength to R8-9 by 6.80 p.m., where it remained till signing off at 8 p.m. The gushiness and noise disappeared after 6 p.m., from whieh time reception was excellent. W3XAL, Boundbrook, . 49.7 metres, was heard on Saturday at R38 at 5 p.m. inereasing to R5 by 5.80 p.m. W2XAF, Schenectady. 31.4 metres.On Sunday 2XAF was R7 at its best. with a Byrd Expedition programme. They were picked up at 10.55 p.m., Tuesday evening. playing records and calling W6XN, California, whom he told that "We are going to raise Australia in @ minute." Strength was R4. with bad static. Volume increased to R5 by 11.15 pm. A pnrogremme of dance musie from the Hotel St. Regis was received at R7 on Sosturday till 5 p.m. PCJ. Eindhoven, Holland, 31.4 metres, were weaker than usual on. Friday, but on Saturday were up to R9 from 6 a.m., decreasing to R7 by 7.80 am. A very strong hum spoilt reception. —

Zeesen, Germany, 31.38 metres, has been received at good strength each morning except Friday, when conditions were bad. 3L0, Nairobi, 31 metres, is still audible on most mornings, but too weak’ to hear much. VK2ME, Sydney, 28.5 metres, comes in at R9 mornings and evenings while testing with GBX. The question of a full moon affecting reception was discussed one morning. It appears that this does have some affect on signals received from England by 2MB. GBX, England, 27.5 metres, testing with Sydney. Strength and readability varies a lot. KZRM, Manila, 48.8, 24.4, and $1.4 metres (about).-This station appears to be experimenting on various wavelengths. I heard.them once only since last writing; that was on Tuesday, when they were on about 31.4 metres. Volume was RS when tuned in just after 10 p.m. GbSW, Chelmsford, England, 25.53 metres, is stronger at 7 a.m. now when opening, but too gushy to be. clearly readable. KDKA, Pittsburgh, 25.4 metres, — On Sunday, messages to the Far North and the Byrd Dxpedition at Little America were R6 at 4.30 p.m. An improvement was noticed on Saturday, when a programme from the William Perm Hotel was received at R8-9 till 5 p.m. W6XN, Qakland, California, 23.35 metres.-Reception is improving from this station. On Sunday they were excellent at 5 p.m. at R8, which was the

maximum, Again on Friday a programme by the "Musical Musketeers" was well received. W2XAD, Schenectady, 19.5 metres, was only just audible on, Sunday, but on Saturday they were up to R7 by 5 ne with the same programme as PCK Holland, 16.3 metres, at 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday was very clear at: Rd with records. PLE Java, 15.74 metres, were on at the same time as PCK, with records, at about the same strength. Unidentified Stations. 41.6 metres (about).-A station has been heard each morning on this wavelength. Volume is always weak-about Talk in a foreign language is heard about 6 a.m. 31.5 metres (about)--On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 6 a.m. till 6.15 a.m., a man has been heard. talking in what I believé to be German ae call has been heard. Strength about I sending in a very comprehensive log, rather too long for publication, "Super" (Hawera) writes:-"I pick up many every evening quite strongly, but am unable to understand their call signs, so have not listed. WOO does not appear to have a settled programme. Some evenings they play records, and other times it is all talking. They come in very clearly, but I have not been able to get their location. Several evenings they were giving a word test. I wrote down most of the words, but could not get the address on account of static. On the 3rd 6AG were testing on 20.75 metres, and later on 41.5 metres. They came through excellently on 20.75 metres, but the second test was too late for me (3 a.m.). They were asking for reports. Eyery word was clear and distinct."