Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 35, 14 March 1930, Page 31

Round the World on Short Wave

\ . Pert wave Wireless on American AeroPlanes. EUROPEAN commercial aircraft generally use a wave-length of about 900 metres for ordinary wireless communication, but in the United States many of the machines operated by the principal Amerioan airways male extensive use of the short waves below 100 metres. The Boeing Air. Transport machines, for instance, are equipped for radio-tele-phony on wave-lengths of 53.7 to 71.6 metres, These transmitters have been allotted call-signs within the series, HBA-KHBYV. Similarly, the Western Air BPxpress ’planes, have sets working on’ 46.8 metres in I.C.W. with ecall-signs, KHCA-KHCE, The aircraft operated by the PanAmerican Airways and the Suburban Air Lines of New York are equipped for ransmission ‘in C.W., I.C.W., and radio (telephony on'72.7 metres and 97.5 metres, in addition to the usual ayiation frequen~ ‘cies within the longer wavetbands. The eall-signs allotted to these stations are contained in the series)s KHAA-KHAY and KHFA-KHFH. It will be noticed that these call-signs in use at present are four-letter combinations, and are therefore exeeptions to the rule of five-letter call-signs, which prevail in respect of civil aircraft of, most other countries. W2XE, Atlantic Broadcasting Company, New York, Att the programmes originating over the Columbia system in America are rebroadcast over W2XH, the short-wave station of WABC, New York, operating on 49.02 metres, New Stimulus to Empire Broadcasting. . "THE following is from a recent issue ~. of "Wireless Word" (England) :- "How much longer is 5SW to be known ‘as the experimental short-wave transmitter’? Possibly the project for a permanent Hmpire broadcasting station will receive fresh impetus on January 21, when the speech of His Majesty the King at the International Naval Disarmament Conference will be sent out from Chelsford primarily .for reception throughout the Empire. The B.B.C. can, I think, be spared any further criticism in the matter of Empire broadcasting, as the question is now in the hands of the Colonial Office. I understand that the Dominions and colonies are now being canvassed for contributions towards defraying the expenses of a permanent service. His Majesty’s speech will thus come at an appropriate juncture; the Dominions are sure to make a determined effort to hear it (as well as the speeches of the Dominion representatives on the. Conference), and the degree to which 5SW can make itself heard on this occasion may directly affect the financial enthusiasm of its audience." i

Reception during Week ending March 8, 1930, CONDITIONS are improving for early morning reception of Buropean short-wave stations, and it is hoped that some of these elusive_strangers heard at about 6 a.m. will be identified as their signals increase in strength so as to be readable. RA97, Siberia, 70 metres, has been received as usual at good strength, with plenty of static. On tuning them in on Wednesday at 8.50.p.m., Soviet news was being broadcast in English, received at full speaker strength, but static spoilt readability. A sextet from the opera "Lucia" was transmitted from the studio during an interval from the news items. This was followed by the doings of the Communist Party in various countries, W9OXF, Chicago, 49.83 metres carried on until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Since then I only heard them once-on Wednesday ; they are evidently closing down earlier now. W3XAL, New Jersey, 49.7 metres, was only heard on Sunday for a short time, being only R2 at 5.15 p.m. W2XAF, Schenctady, 31.4 metres.-A programme of dance music from the crystal room, De Witzler Hotel, Albany, came in at R9 from 4 p.m. till 5 p.m. on Sunday. Volume was not quite as good on Saturday PCJ, Holland, 31.4 metres-From 6 a.m. till 7.80 a.m. on Friday and Saturday POJ was received at very good volume. On Saturday afternoon, signals were just audible at 2.30 p.m., increasing to R8 by 4 p.m., and remaining at that till 6 p.m., when the special New Zealand and Australian programme coneluded with the striking of Big Ben. (Their Big Ben must have been the studio clock, at it was too fast in the chimes, and striking for the Big Ben.) Zeesen, Germany, 31.38 metres, was heard each morning at an average volume of R8. On Wednesday, by the way of a change, some humorous songs with patter were heard. This was relayed from a hall where the audience were thoroughly enjoying the jokes judging by the way they laughed and applauded. 2ME, Sydney, 28.5 metres, continue to test with GBX, England. GBX, England, 27.5 metres, vary considerably in the clarity of their signals when working duplex with 2ME. On Friday morning at 5.45 a.m. they were very good, the BEnglishman’s voice was clear, but, strange to relate, the speaker from 2ME could be heard through GBX with even better clarity than the voice direct from England. This was probably accounted for by the Australian having a better broadcasting voice than the Englishman. KZRM, Manila, Philippine Islands, 26 metres, appears to have settled down to 26 metres again, as this is the only wavelength I have heard them on since last writing. Reception from 10 p.m, is not quite so good now as a few weeks ago. G5SW, Chelmsford, England, 25.53 metres, is improving quite a lot now at 7 a.m. Volume when opening at that time is about R?, readability being quite good. Rebecca West gave a talk on new novels on Tuesday morning. On Saturday morning "Tiiterary Work" was the

subject of a talk in a series of talks on "Careers for Boys and Girls." KDKA, Pittsburgh, 25.4 and 48.86 metres, were transmitting on two wavelengths on Sunday. Volume was poor on each. WOXN, Oakland, California, 23.35° metres, were received quite well on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. Volume is best about 5 till 6 p.me W2XAD, Schnectady, 19.5 metres, was very weak on’Sunday, about R38 at its est. PCK, Holland, 16.3 metres, at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday were received at R8-9 with gramophone records, and were heard at 9.45 p.m. on Friday working duplex with PLE, Java. PLE, Java, 15.74 metres, were calling Amsterdam and playing records at 9.20 p.m. on Tuesday. Strength R8. They were heard again on Friday at the same time. : PHi, Holland, 16.88 metres.-This station usually works at times not suitable for reception in New Zealand. They eonducted a twelve-hour test on March 4 from 12 till 24 G.M.T. (midnight to noon on Wednesday here). Signals were R6 at 5 a.m., when records wére broadcast; volume decreased to R3 by 6.80 a.m. Again on Thursday evening they were tuned in at 9.15 p.m., when strength was R7. Reception was excellent.- An- nouncements were made in Dutch and English. DGW, Nauen, 14.83 metres, was heard at 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday, R5, but very gushy, PMB, Java, 14.5 metres, were working duplex at 9.45 p.m. on Friday; R5

Unidentified Stations. "THE list under this heading 1s growing, but with the approach of winter and better receiving: conditions it is hoped that most of them will not remain unidentified much longer. 45.8 metres (about), Friday, 6.10 a.m., duplex in a very deep foreign voice ; R4. 41.6 metres (about).-Every morning about 6 a.m., Friday the best, being R7, with talk and music; closed this morning at 6.20 a.m, without a call being heard. 31.5 metres (about).-A German is heard talking on this wavelength from about 6 a.m. nearly every morning. 31.3 metrés (abouté).-Another station heard every morning. On Saturday the talk was readable, being English at R4 at 5.50 a.m., inereasing to R6 by 6.30 a.m., when. static becomes bad. All that was heard were the announcements as to what the next item or items were to. be, but without any call being given. Perhaps some other listener heard a call when I was. listening to other stations. If so, I shall be glad to know who the stranger is. The last item announced while I was listening was just after 7 a.m., "On with the Motley." 25.2 metres (about), 10.30 p.m., Fri‘day, at R9, all talk in French, sounded like duplex, 23.6 metres (about), 9 p.m., Sunday, at R2-3, a foreigner talking.