THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 34, 7 March 1930, Page 8

THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

Identification Wanted

wHo is the transmitter on 1400 k.e. ((214.2 metres) to be heard alnost every night? There is an accomanying noise similar to an aeroplane. have never been able to hear an an-

yuncement. It is not Wairoa.-

Majes

[?]

(Napier).

(JOULD any D.X, listener tell me the call of the American to be heard m 1YA’s frequency. Last night he was very prominent (February 27). Also the station playing dance music vout 7.45 pm. the same day. This cation was causing a_ heterodyne "nistle with 4ZB, Dunedin, 1080 k.c. -nother one which I get on most nights ath a powerful hum, but music and eech faint, is just above KEWB, vllywood, about 319 metres. Can any itener tell me who this is? I logged .YW, Chicago, to-night with good .volme, but spoilt by static. My log for chree months, with a six-valve factory set is 46, identified with several unidentified, 18 N.Z., 14 Australian, 5

Japanese. 9 America.-

M.B.

S.

Palm-

erston North).

DX = Tobpics

ON February 25, after 11 p.m. (N.Z. time) I heard another duplex test carried out ‘by 2YA, 2ME, Sydney, and 2XAI*, Schenectady, New York. Speech from 2YA, except for a little static, could be heard in Sydney quite well by the operators at VK2ME. At one part of the test 2ME ‘asked 2YA to play a record, and they rebroadcast it. This rebroadeast came through quite well, except for a little static. Conditions were quite ideal as regards 2MH and 2XAF, the latter’s signal being 100 per cent. readahle,, modulation perfect. I had two sets arranged so that I could listen to both 2YA and 2XAF at the same time, and could consequently hear the whole of the broadcast. This made it one of exceptional interest. After 2YA had closed down the other two stations were to carry out an experiment in the broadeasting of television, but as it was get-

ting into the early hours of the morning I decided that bed was the best place for me. In the "DX" corner of this week’s "Radio Record" Kauspanka, of Hawke’s Bay, is given first place for the greatest number of stations logged, his list being given as 102 logged and identified, but not all verified. ‘Three years ago the "Radio Record" published my log of 138 identified stations received with a twovalve set. Since that time my log has grown to 278 identified stations, a great manv of which have been verified, Though this log includes both long and _ shortwave stations, those in the b.c. band number 150 odd. It do not wish to claim the "champ," for I believe a listener in the Auckland district has logged 306 stations, but I do not know that they are ajl identified. I can safely say that my log of 278 stations is a genuine one, because nothing is gained by saying you have logged so many stations if you have not done so. Can anyone say they can beat my log-if so,, I must say good luck to them? I would like to ask who holds the New Zealand record for loop reception, no matter the number of valve. used for reception. The "hams" on the 3500 K.C. band still continue to come through, some nights better than others. Recently I heard. one situated in Alaska call, W7AMP, owned by a Mr. A. B. Carter, of Sitka, Alaska. He stated he was using a power of 150 volts. I should say he has an excellent transmitter to get out to New Zealand with

that power.-

A. P.

Morrison

{ WW elling~

ton

RE whistling note on 1YA’s wavelength. I have noticed that correspondents suggest that this is caused by a Jap. station heterodyning with 1YA. Surely that would be difficult at 7.30 p.m., N.Z. time. For some time now I have separated music and speech which

sounded very like American dance music and station calls, but have not been able to distinguish the stations. Last night, howeyer, with LYA silent, I got the sta tion as cleany as the static would permit. Ele was giving an organ recital, and closed down at 8 p.m. (N.Z.), giving his call as KHJ, Los Angeles. His wave-length is 8383 metres (900 k.c.), and strength 1 k.w. He would cause plenty of intereference, up to closing time, 8 to 9 p.m. (N.Z.), by which time the Jap. might be beginning to cause trouble.

J.

Currie

(Wanganul).

HE vexed question of the existence .of a broadcast station IGA, Caifornia, still seems to cause interest amongst a section of your readers. "Varia" (issue dated February 21) is quite positive that a station with this call-sign is on the air. This may be so, but KGM appears neither in the last issue of the "Citizens’ Call Book Magazine" nor the published list in the "Los Angeles Examiner’ as late as January 20 last. The latter contains schedules and programmes of all Los Angeles stations, including KTM (Santa Monica), There are two other Western American stations whose call-signs may cause some confusion in this matter, namely, ISZM and KGGM, the former at Haywood, California, and the latter at Albuquerque, New Mexico, Both are on the same wave-length of 219 metres (1870 k.c.). It has to be noted that Z in America is pronounced as "Zee," "Zed," as with us, and might easily be mistaken for "gee" (G). Present reception. of American stations is not the best for the purpose of settling the question, but later observations may assist to that end.-

E.H.

C.

(okaanu )

HE following report of the two-way tests carried out between ZYA, 2M and 2XAI", may be of interest. Late un Tuesday night (Kebruary 25) 1 tuned in to 2YA transmitting a talk on someoue’s experience of aviation, describing a portion of the flight. This appeared to me as coming from a record, as the talks lasted for about two minutes, and were separated by short periods of silence. Following a gramophone selection 2YA called 2ME, Sydney, so I hung on awaiting what proved to be a splendid night’s reception of a two-way broadeast between 2YA, 2ME and 2XAF, Reception from 2YA was flawless, volume was all that could be desired, and not one trace of static was evident. The chimes from Wellington at twelve o’clock were very clear, erisp, and natural, Records and talks by Mr. Ball continued until approximately 12.55 am., when 2YA went into a bad fade, necessitating the judicious use of the "nersuader" (reaction) to keep up the continuity of this broadeast. For about 15 minutes this fade did not cease once, and thereafter until the end of the tests, T had to manipulate the receiver a few times. A few short notes of interest were jotted down, "2XAF inquiring re Byrd broadeasts from Dunedin, if the City was equipped with radio; distance from Dunedin to Wellington. (Here Mr. Ball supplied the necessary figures.) A talk by Mr. Ball asking 2XAF to convey to 2XAD the R.B.C. of New Zealand’s appreciation of broadcast of HeeneyTunney fight. Mr. Ball inquires if_ Mr. Warrington was sneaking from 2XAF. Reference by 2XAF of a future broadeast of Scott-Sharkey fight round for round. Mr. Ball exchanves weather reports with Mr. Farmer, 2ME. 2YA eoncludes talk with 2XAF. "Good night

and good morning." 2YA. arnounces fade for the first time from 2MQH, time 1.9 a.m. (February 26). "Good night" was announced from 2YA to 2MBE wi no further announmements for New ZenjJand listeners. During these two tests no distiguishable words could be picked up from 2M: or 2XAF, as evidently the receiver used" by 2YA° was not close enough to the microphone. Concluding, I hope the "Static" Committee achieve their objects,.for I am sure their efforts will be appreciated by all rad.» owners.

C. R.

Annison

(Dunedin).

For the last week or two the Ameriean stations have been just booming in here, some as loud as our YA stations. I have added several new ones to my log lately, which makes a total of 107 stations, 78 verified. My latest station I have not seen reported in the "Radio Record" is XEN, Mexico City. I logged this on 420 m., testing at 9 p.m. on one of 2YA’s silent nights. The call was announced in good English, while the selections were in Spanish. I heard several dance numbers and organ numbers. I have sent for a verification. They work on a power of 1000 watts. Also I have seen them listed in one of the latest numbers of an American magazine in their DX Club. Several enthusiasts over in the States have logged two Chinese’ stations, JQAK, also COTN. The latter is usually heard on 483 metres. It 1s owned by the Chinese Government and situated at Tientsin. Power, 1000 W.; it should be heard in New Zealand early in the evening. The following American stations have increased their power :-KGHit now on 1000 watts, KWSG 1000 watts, KGDM 250 watts, Re KTAR (formerly KFAD and KREP) have been granted 500 watts. RYA has been granted by the Federal Radio Commission a temporary license to operate on 1230 k.e., 1000 watts. T have received a letter from a "Flam" in the U.S. station call WTPU who has worked on the 20-40-80-150 metre band from 1924 to 1927, and he states he has worked several New ZeajJand, Australian, and Tasmanian amateurs. He states the N.Z short-wave stations are found in the California district in fine style. I hope this draws the attention of some amateur who has communicated with him. His name is

Mr. Il. H. Bolen.-

S.

Ellis

(Okato).

Topical Notc

i" R. "GEOFF." SHRIMPTON, the well-known amateur transmitter, 2XA, Wellington, who is announcer at the Wellington motor-cycle speedway, gets plenty of amusement out of the position. On a recent occasion he mude the crowd laugh heartily when during his entertaining of the multitude with a gramophone record, his voice could be heard above the music calling "2YA. Wellington!" a la Mr. Drummond, the 2YA announcer, during the dinner music session. That broadcast listening and 2YA were familiar to the crowd at the speedway was evidenced by the immediate "hit" scored by this little poke. N a recent Sunday evening a gentleman with a raucous American accent could be heard announcing from 4QG, Brisbane. If he had been officiating at one of our "YA" stations, the Press would have been inundated with protests from the "pure English" udvoeates :