Round the World on Short Wave
The "R" Signs. For the benefit of new readers, the following is the international "R" system for indicating the audibility of signals :-- R1,-Faint signals, just audible. R2.-Weak signals, barely readable R8.-Weak signals, but readable. R4.-Fair signals, easily readable. R5.-Moderately strong signals. RG6.-Strong. signals. R7.-Good strong signals, readable through lots of interference. | R8.-Very strong signals, audible several feet from the ’phonés R9.-Dxtremely strong signals, Rebroadecast Extraordinary. R. 8. HALL (Wellington) reported that while listening to a duplex telephony test beeween VK2MH, Sydney, and W2XAF, Schenactady, late one evening recently, the American told Sydney to listen carefully to what was coming. ‘The voice of the Australian was then heard from W2XAF, but, Mr. Hall states, he was surprised in tuning in 2MH to find they were silent, At the conclusion of this mysterious talk, the American asked the Australian what he thought of his own voice. It appears that in a previous test, advantage was taken of good reception to experiment with making a sound film of the talk received, this being transmitted about a week later back to Australia. This opens up a wide field for retransmitting programmes, speeches, etc., which are-received at distant places at a time not suitable for rebroadeast. A sound film can be made and then put on the air at a suitable time. This will particularly apply to New Zealand, where, on account of the difference in time, many broadcasts from the Old Country through G5SW are only heard by a few, where. if they could be "bottled up" for a few hours, could be heard by all with a receiving set. . Short-wave News. A CCORDIN G to a message from Rome, contrary to rumours, no relays are to be made of religious services given at the Vatican Sistine Chapel, and the transmitter to be built in that city will not be used for that purpose. ey response to requests sent by Germans abroad, the Konigswusterhausen short-wave transmitter on 31.38 metres daily broadcasts a news bulletin at the end of the evening transmissions. [THE interchange of radio programmes between German broadcasting — stations and the National Broadcasting Company in America has been given final approval by the Reichsfort Ministerium of Germany. These programmes will be sent through the short-wave station recently erected at Konigswusterhausen.. A SPECIAL Service of Intercession for the Naval Disarmament Conference, now sitting in London, was anounced several times during the week «= 5SW, to be held at Westminster
Abbey on Saturday, March 1, at 4.30 p.m. G.M.T. This time, being 4.30 a.m. Sunday morning, would not find many in this country willing to leave their beds so early to listen to a service. The writer decided to lose a little sleep and was repaid by hearing the whole of the service, almost as clearly as if broadcast by 2YA from a local church, instead of originating from the famous Westminster Abbey in London. G5SW "went on the air’ about 4.20 am., putting on their tuning whistle to allow listeners to ture in properly before commencing: to broadcast. Promptly at 4.30 a.m. they switched over to London, when the Abbey organ was heard. The hymn, "Thy Kingdom Come, O God," was sung by the choir, and congregation. This was followed by an address from the texts "Let the peace of God move" and "Let the Peace of Christ decide." This was all clearly readable. After this address the "General Confession" was repeated by the congregation. The Bishop then prayed for "The peace of the world," "The Naval Disarmament Conference," "Ourselves and all men," and then "Let ug pray in silence," The "Lord’s Prayer" was then repeated by all. The hymn, "When I survey the Wondrous Cross," was announced and sung. This hymn was worth the trouble of rising early. The organ with a well-trained choir of men and boys, was delightful. Another prayer and the Benediction concluded the service at 5.10 a.m. Gv announced that they were closing down till 12.30 GMT on Monday, and went off the air at 5.12 a.m. Reception, although quite good, being 100 per cent. readable at good strength, R8-9, was marred by a slight rapid fade or gushiness. In spite of this trouble, every word could have been copied by a shorthand writer. This is an instance of where the sound film referred to préviously would be of value. The whole service could be put on the air at a suitable time for all listeners. Reception for Week ending March 1, ‘ 19 RA9Y7, Siberia, 70 metres.-Reception has as usual been more or less marred by static. What appeared to be a children’s session was heard on Monday, at 9.30 p.m., when an Uncle was imitating animals. Some fine orchestral musie is broadcast at times, but about 95 per cent. of their transmission are talk. 3ZC, Christchurch (N.Z.). 50 metres.This station was heard on Friday from 7 p.m. tili 880 p.m. with a good selection of records. Reception was excellent at R8 with slow fades to about R5. 8ZC announce their wave-length at 50 metres, but I make them to be about 46,6 metres. They broadeast on this wavelength on Wednesdays from 8 p.m. till 380 p.m., and on Fridays from 7 p.m. till 8.30 p.m. Reports of reception sre asked for. W9XF, Chicago, 49.88 metres, continues to come in well till 7 p.m., when they sign off. W3XAL, Boundbrook, New Jerséy. 49.7 metres, was tuned in ‘at 5 p.m, on Saturday, when they were R3, rapidly
increasing in volume to R8-9 by 5.30 p.m. Dance music was being relayed from the grill room of the jt. Francis Hotel, New York City. W2XAF, Schenectady, New York, 31.4 metres.-A very enjoyable programme was heard from this station on Sunday, which was being transmitted for Admiral Byrd and party. It was "all Seotch." Sandy McFarlane was there, and sang a num: ber of Scottish sonzs. The General Hlectrie Orcliestra, a piper, and a male quar tet also contributed to the enjoyment of the programme, which was received at excellent strength. . On Saturday the last hour was devoted to dance music from the Hotel St. Regis. This was excellent at R9. PCJ, Eindhoven, Holland, 31.4 metres. This station'is now back to its usual good reception. Friday and Saturday mornings from 6 a.m. till 7.30 a.m. volume was even at R9 all through. The relieving announcer is not so clear in his Bnglish as Mr. Startz, who is away on holiday. Reception was very poor on Saturday afternoon from PCJ, R3 at its best with a bad rapid fade. Zeesen, Germany, 31.38 metres, has been good on most mornings except Wednesday, when they were not heard. VK2ME, Sydney, 28.5 metres, are still to be heard night and morning testing with GBX, of England. Tuesday was an extra busy day, as after the refylar test ‘with GBX they were testing with PLE, Java, from 10 p.m., and later from 11 p.m. with our 2YA._ I understand they were testing with W2XAF at a still later hour, but did not hear it. GBX, England, 27.5 metres, testing twice daily with 2ME, Sydney. KZRM, Philippine Islands, 48.8, 26, and 24.4 metres --KZRM has been heard on each of these wavelengths during the past week at different times. I find that reception is best on 26 metres. G5SW, Chelmsford, England, 25.53 metres, is slowly improving in the morning session (as received here). Big Ben is now heard at R8, and the talk that follows is a better percentage of readability. The time is not suitable for me to do more than just tune them in and then leave them. KDKA, Pittsburgh, 25.4 metres.-I did not hear KDKA on this wavelength on Sunday or Saturday, either’ because reception was poor or they were not transmitting. On Sunday they were working on 48.36 metres at 6 p.m. with messages for the Far North, Reception was R6 with continuous crackling static. . W6XN, Oakland, California, 23.35 metres, was excellent Friday at R8 when tuned in just before 7 p.m. with a programme by the Nationa] Plectrie Orchestra. The "Musical Musketeers" followed with a dance programme. They were heard on Tuesday, but not tiJ] nearly 8 p.m., when volume was only R4. W2XAD, Schenectady, 19.5 meties, was heard for a short time on Saturday 4t R38. but was soon lost, . PCK. Holland, 16.8 metres, were on duplex on Tuesday evening at R4, and records on Friday at 10 p.in., . PLE, Java, 15.74 metres, wére heard at the same times as PCK at about the same volume each evening as the Dutch station, ‘
Unidentified Stations. ON 25.5 metres (about).-On Thurs day, at 10 p.m. a. foreiguer was calling "Hullo, Hullo, SPN," at least, that is what it sounded like. Other talk was heard, but beiig foreign could not understand it.: : 31.5 metres (about).-This _ station which I queried as a German, is, so I am told, definitely a German. It has been héard again during the week at about 6 a.m. on most mornings. _ ; 31.2 meties (about)-Another stan ger that is being heard frequently dur ing the early morning, but so far hag been too weak to get their call if one has been given. I SHOULD be much obliged to you if you can let me know the day and hour, New Zealand time, when Americans Huropean, short-wave stations broadi-ast programmpes.-J.W.L. (Duriedin). (A tall order, but perhaps some entrusiast can oblige. Mr. Sellens usually gives the timés he hears the stations.athe
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Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 34, 7 March 1930, Page 31
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1,573Round the World on Short Wave Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 34, 7 March 1930, Page 31
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