THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 35, 14 March 1930, Page 8

THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

‘A Maori Broadcast.

HURSDAY last 2BL (Sydney) broadcast a special programme of Maori music and songs for New Zealand listeners, including compositions by Mr. Alfred Hill. The broadcast was termed "The Land of the Long White Cloud." Mr. C. N. Bayertz, well known to New Zealand as a musical critic, spoke about New Zealand, and lectured on the "Legend of Hinemoa and Tutanekai." Miss Hazel Fuller, soprano, late of Wellington, sahg "Waiata Poi," and the New South Wales Broadcasting Orchestra also played the same piece and other delightful Maori music, The beauties of New Zealand were . referred to the: speaker in humorous vein, stating that. New Zealanders desired to make money to go somewhere else, whereas a Scotchman wanted to go somewhere to make money. Invercargill had a harbour, but it was all "bluff," stated the speaker. Wellington was the capital of New Zealand, but really New Zealand was the capital of ‘Wellington, was another witty remark. New Zealand bird life was dealt ‘with at very great length. ‘"Komate," ‘composed by a Maori, was sung with orchestral accompaniment, and Miss Hazel Fuller also sang "Home, Little Maori, Home." There were many other items in the special programme. This programme was being rendered at _the same time that the Australian farmers’ delegation were speaking to Australian listeners from 2YA. Station 2BL called up 2YA and 1YA, and New Zealand listeners in general advising them beforehand what was to be broadcast from Sydney.

A New Amateur

AMATEUR transmitters will be interested to know of a new shortwave station on the air. It is operated by Mr. J. F. Gabites, and the address is 445 Marshland Road, Christchurch.

Identification W anted

ID anyone log a station on about 31 metres on Sunday, 23/2/30? I heard the announcer say: "If you understand ‘potential,’ write it down." He added that he had repeated 100 words. I heard him from 10.20 p.m. till about 10.28 p.m., and I fancied he _ closed with the words, "The caller, R.B.A.," but I am not positive. The next evening I heard a voice very similar on the same wavelength at 7.45 p.m., speaking in German or Dutch. He seemed to be

repeating the same sentences.-

G. H.

Chambers

(Christchurch).

LJSTENING-IN on my shortwave set at about 9.80 p.m. on March 7, I heard a station operating on about 26 metres, which at that time was playing records. I listened for a few minutes to this station, when I heard its call sign announced as KAIXR, This station was calling PLB, Java. After the call sign was announced (which was in England) all other talk was foreign. This station seems a new one to me. Could anyone advise

me where this is situated ?.-

F. O.

Evans

(Eketahuna).

Stations Identified

N a recent issue Mr. R. BE. Marsh (Rotorua) requires identification of a station on 210 metres (1400 k.cs.). This is more than likely 2HD, Newcastle, N.S.W., for to-night I had this

station on that frequency at 9 o’clock at good volume. -This station I gave as approx. 1830 k.cs. (225 metres) in the issue of February 21, but I notice the wavelength has since dropped, as the dial reading was 8; it is now 6. Tonight (February 28), I logged WEAR, Cleveland, Ohio, at good speaker strength (though static was bad) at 7.45 p.m.; also WENR at 8 o’clock, exactly as I was turning to 1YA, Auckland, when I picked it up on a dance item with vocal refrain. There was little interference from 1YA, and 2BL was inaudible, too. I see that WEAR is marked as not being heard in N.Z. before, but in the latest "Record" I see that two listeners have logged it. Re KTM (that is the call), I logged it on January 24, and on February 10 [I heard an announcement to the effect that they would be on regularly Sunday night and Monday morning, with a dance and concert programme. KTM was also heard early last Saturday afternoon..’ WHK I logged February 5 (Wednesday) at fair volume. Conditions for receiving seem to be improving, for 5CL and 6WF made a_ re appearance at good strength last night, while 2BL and 2FC were excellent.-

Arthur E.

Allen

(Avondale).

RE STATION just below 1400 k.c. (214 metres), which has been the eause of several inquiries lately, "Switch" is correct in his supposition that this is "2HD, Newcastle," which has lately come on the air. Last night, Wednesday, the 5th, I succeeded in getting his call. The station has a pronounced hum, and is subject to lengthy periods of fading and distortion, and though music can be heard all through, it is only on the peak that speech can be understood. Last evening they seemed to be on a@ gramophone programme, interspersed with advertisements. At 9.85 (N.Z. summer time) they were transmitting "Silver Threads Among the Gold." At 9.40, by request of (name missed), "The Wedding of the Painted Doll." A correspondent recently asked concerning a station heard on 725 k.ec. (418 metres), after 2YA closed down.

This is 5CL, Adelaide.-

G. W.

O'Sullivan

(Trentham Camp).

[TN THE ISSUE dated February 28, Mr. McConachie (Gore) stated that he had heard three stations that he was unable. to identify. The sta-' tion on 1080 k.c. (278 metres) is 420, Dunedin; the one on 1150 kc. (261 metres) is 4ZP, Invercargill; and the one on 1200 k.c. (250 metres), I

think, is 4ZL, Dunedin.

J.

Stewart

(Southland).

Amateur Transmitters .

-_-_-_ ME. C. R. CLARK, Radio ZL2AW (Wellington), writes: I think the record for reception on the broadcast band undoubtedly belongs to Mr. J, Mills, of Hastings, now known as radio ZL2BH. He has received 56 American stations on

the broadcast band, and I have seen the verification cards he has received from 42 of them. These, in conjunction with Australasian. stations received, made up a great.number. I have been a transmit‘ting amateur for six years, and have had two-way communication with 200 stations in all parts of the world. Confirmation has been received from 100. During this period, a great number of amateurs have tried four, so that I can safely say by log is over 500. Some years ago, twoway communication with Australian amateurs was regarded as DX work, but the only real DX I heard then was ANE and PKX, Java, and the amateur 2NM in BWngland talking to 83BQ, Melbourne, on 3500 k.c. (80 metres). This was re‘ceived on two valves. A few days ago a Frenchman, F8AXQ, and a station in Peru, OA4T, spoke to me on 14,000 k.c. (20 metres). Did anyone else hear them? I notice Mr, Morrison states in his letter re an amateur in Alaska that the latter has a power of 150 volts. I presume he meant 150 watts, as power is rated in watts. This power could easily reach here on the 3500 k.c. (80 metres) band. Mr. Mills (Hastings) and myself both use 150 watts input on 3500 k.c., and we have been logged in the States. Mr. Mills, however, holds the .best record, as he has a very fine fone stationprobably the best in New Zealand on the amateur band. --

Short-wave News

"QUPHR," writing of radio conditions in Taranaki, states: Reception during the last two weeks has been. poor, for static has spoiled the programmes. On Monday, February 17, PLE put on a very fine selection of records at 11 p.m. and continued until about midnight. Reception was by far the best I have ever had on short waves. On Friday, February 21 and also on March 1, 3ZC, Christchurch were on the air on about 45 metres, I was using a new set of coils and am ‘therefore just making a rough calculation as to wavelength. They came through at full speaker volume from about 7.20 p.m. until I shut down at 8 p.m. So far I have not seen any report on their transmission in the "Record," Taking reception over the. last two weeks, W6XN has been the best station, with 9XAF next. LASst week I received a verification of W2XAL, and it may be of interest to short-wave enthusiasts to know that this station expects to be testing on different frequencies. The power of W2XAL is gradually being increased for regular international broadcasting, and the frequencies to be used are 11,800, | 15,250 and 21,460 k.c. respectively. The address of W2XAL. is: ‘The Aviation Radio Station, 27 West TFifty-seventh Street, New York City. A new station using the call sign of GBP was heard one evening last week on a wave slightly lower than GBX. Rugby. Has any listener heard the Java station working on about 27.5 metres? I have heard him every evening lately, but failed to woe

get his call.

A. D.

Rogers

(Newtown).