Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 7, 29 August 1930, Page 28

Round the World on Short Wave

HIS page is conducted in the interests of shortwave enthusiasts. A weekly log comprising notes of reception and interesting topical events

is contributed by Mr.

F. W.

Sellens

Northland, Wellington, but all

listeners are invited to send in paragraphs of general interest.

U.S.A. and his fortune would be made. The set I use is only a det. and audio out-fit-and no stage of "imagination" in front either. Wishing DX dial-turners

plenty of good shooting.-

V.

W.

(Auck-

land).

A Phenomenal Log. $ I RECENTY received a letter from a Mr. Ray de Marcus, of Los Angeles. He has a log of 287 stations, and stated that owing to information I sent him, he has received 2YA. He also stated that KMIC, 1120 ke. (268 metres) KGFJ,

1210 ke. (248 metres), and KGFS are 24-hour stations. "Yankee" (New Plymouth). A Two-Valve DX-er. TY issue of August 15 under the. heading of "An Wxcellent All-Hlectric Two," you say you have not heard of a better log for this set. I have a two-valve all-electrie local receiver, and my _ log stands at the following: New Zealand 22, Australian 18, Japan 4, American 2, making a total of 41. All on loudspeaker. Americans received were KFOX, Califor-

nia, and KSL, Salt Lake City.

D.J.Mc.

I.

(Pirinoa).

City Reception Conditions. NUMBDER of American stations may be heard nightly-some loud enough to dance to. On August 13, between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m., we received the following, identified by their call-signs:-Los Angeles: KGHR, KNX, KFWB, and KTM; San Francisco: KPO, KFRO, and KGO, Oakland; Chicago: WENR; Denver: KOA; Honolulu: KGMB; and KFOX, Long Beach, California. Also three others (unidentified) on 385 metres (780 ke.), 290 metres (1030 ke.),

and 268 metres (1120 k.c.). Just after writing the above I heard the call of the latter station-KMIC, Inglewood, California. Five Japanese stations were also

verv clear:-

J.E.

C.

(Roseneath).

[Since the inauguration of the DX competition a few readers have protested that for long-distance reception the country listener possesses an overwhelming advantage over the city DX-er. It may he seen from the above letter, by a correspondent living in the heart of Wellington, that this is by no means always the case. r-7-7-7 1

From personal observation, it has been noted that very few city listeners take the trouble to install efficient aerial and earth systems, and yet they expect to compete on equal terms with a country enthusiast who takes some trouble over his installation.-Ed.]

Short-wave News

Sunday, August 17. At about 2.15 p.m. NRH was at its best, being R4. Speech was too distorted to be readable, except odd words. W2XAF was tuned in at 2.30 p.m., when they were just concluding the "Lucky Strike" hour; R7. They were off the air when tried for again just after 3 p.m. W2XD at 4 p.m. were quite good at R5, increasing to R7 by 4,30 p.m. W3XAL during the same period were about the same volume. Radio Saigon were excellent at R9 at 10.80 p.m. RV15 at 10.30 p.m. were R8-9, but spoilt by severe statia

Monday, August 18. j Ravi Roma (3RO) were perfect av R8 when tuned in at 7.30 a.m. ‘The lady announcer was talking. Music folZeesen was good ‘volume, but a morse station was almost on top of it, spoiling reception, At 7 p.m. 2MD were R8 ma GBP R4. RV15 was excellent this even} ing, being R9 with talk and items. On about 52 metres at 9.45 p.m. talk at R4 was heard. A strong ripple spoilt readability. This station had gone by 10.30 p.m. Radio Saigon at 10.45 p.m. was R7-8, spoilt by static. Tuesday, August 19. STATION G5SW at 7.30 a.m, was RY | 8, gushy, but not quite as bad as : usual, GBP and 2ME at 7.80 a.m. were | Ri and R8. Zeesen was again spoilt by morse QRM. 8RO at 7.45 Tm. was only R2. RV15 was R9 at i1 p.m., but static was very bad. Radio Saigon at R& and KIXR at R5 were also spoilt by static, W9XAA were on the air with an early morning programme at 11 p.m. They were R8, but static reduced readibility to 75 per cent. Wednesday, August 20. T 7.80 a.m. 3RO was R7 with a slight gushiness. Zeesen at R8 was spoilt by morse. 2ME was R9 and GBP R8-9 at 7.45 am, GdSW at 7.45 a.m. was R8, spoilt by rapid fading. RV15 were excellent at RO at 10 p.m., with slight static. KIXR on 48.8 metres at 10.15 p.m. were R8 with a programme of band music. VK2ME on 31.28 metres were rebroadcasting 2UW at 10 p.m., who were describing the fifth Test match. Thursday, August 21. 2 7 HESEN at 6.30 a.m. was RY, ingMasing to R8-9 by 8 am. PCJ was very good at R5 at 6 a.m., but much better at 7 a.m. 2ME at 7.45 was R9 and GBP RS. BSW increased from R4 at 6.80 a.m. to R8 at 8 am. 3RO at 7.30 a.m. was R8, with a noisy background. ; On about 43 metres at 7.40 a.m. singing was heard at R4, being very clear and steady. The: item concluded at 7.43 a.m., and the station went off the air. HARI10, Madrid, is the only short-

Stations Heard During Week Ending August 23.

8RO, Rome, 80 metres: Each morning except Sunday. 2? America, 72.5 metres (about): Friday. RV15, Siberia, 70 metres: Sun., Mon., Tue., Wed. and Thurs. ? ? 52 metres (about): Monday. W9XAA, Chicago, 49.34 metres: Tuesday and Saturday. W3XAL, New Jersey, 49.18 metres: Sunday and Saturday. W2XE, New York, 49.02 metres: Sunday. Radio Saigon, Indo-China, 49 metres: Sun., Mon, and Tues. K1iXR, Manila, 48.8 metres: Tues., Wed. and Thurs. ? ? 483 metres (about): Thursday.’ W2XAF, Schenectady, 31.4 metres: Sunday and Saturday. ZEESEN, Germany, 31.388 metres: Each morning except Sunday. PCJ, Holland, 31.28 metres: Thurs., Fri. and Sat. VK2ME, Sydney, 31.28 metres: Wednesday. NRH, Costa Rica, 30.5 metres: Sunday and Saturday. . VK2ME, Sydney, 28.5 metres: Duplex each day except Sunday. GBP, Rugby, 27.7 metres: Duplex each day except Sunday. ZLW, Wellington, 27.3 metres: Saturday. ~ CIRX, Winnipeg, 25.6 metres: Saturday. G5SW, Chelmsford, 25.53 metrest Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. and Sat.

— hf ~~ wave broadcast station working on this wavelength, so it may have been this, 2M¥B and GBP at 7 p.m. were R9 and -RDdD respectively, RV15 at 9.15 p.m. \ were R8 when news given in English (was heard. Static was too bad for good readability. KIXR at 10 p.m. was just audible at 48.8 metres. Friday, August 22, SW at 5 a.m. was R5 and 100 per cent. readable. I got up early for the ericket score, but the only news given was "No play on account of bad weather, ete." They closed till 5.380 a.m., when strength was still R5, but a rapid fade had come on. Volume went down to just audible only at 6.30 a.m., but back to R5 by 7.30 a.m. GBP was R6 at 5.5 am. 2ME was not audible. Zeesen at 5.10 a.m. was R5, increasing to R8& by 6.30 a.m. 3RO ores ate is one

was excellent at RS when first heard at 5.15 a.m. Volume went off a little later, POJ decreased from R6 at 5.30 a.m. to R3-4 by 6.30 am. Rapid fading was very severe. On about 72.5 metres at 6.10 a.m. an American voice was audible at R5. Statie vas too bad to understand what was val Saturday, August 23. TATION GSW was. not audible at 5 a.m. for cricket scores, or at 5.30 a.m. when the regular transmission comtmences. They were just audible at 7 a.m. Zeesen was not so strong as usual. 8RO at 5.15 a.m. was R6, with plenty of static. W2XAF at 1.30 p.m. was R4, increasing to R6 by 2.380 p.m., at which time they signed off. RH was just audible at 2 p.m. CJRX at 2.15 was R8-4 with a talk, The beam stations either side, were troublesome as usual. PCJ from R1 at 1.30 p.m.

increased to R8-9 by 5.80 p.m. At 5.27 a Mr, Pettifer or Pettigrew, of New South ‘Wales, spoke to his friends in Australia. He deseribed where PCJ was located at Hilversum, about 25 miles from Amsterdam. A noisy background spoilt the talk, which was about 75 per cént. readable. ¢ ZLW, Wellington, was testing on 27.3 metres during the afternoon. Speech and music was very clear. My trouble was to cut down the volume-it was R9 without an aerial, the coils only acting as a pick-up or aerial. W3XAL was very good at 4 p.m. at R5, increasing to R7 by 4.30 pm. W9XAA was not so good, being R4 at 4.30 p.m.