THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 9, 12 September 1930, Page 22

THE D.X. CLUB Views and News.

Identification Wanted ON August 28, at 1.20 a.m., a station on 1300 ke. (231 metres), broadcasting "The Banks of the Wabash," and "The Sidewalks of New York.’ Two others heard, one on 1500 ke. (200-metres) and the other on 936 ke. (820 metres), I think were American, judging by the decided accent of the announcers. Three further stations on 720 ke. (416 metres), 800 ke. (375 metres), and 850 ke. (353 metres) were heard on 27th, but a howling set in onr neajiechhonrhonond enoilt rarantion —

(Toc

J} Toq

(Wellington) _

At 8.10 p.m. on August 27 I heard someone calling: ‘Hullo, BIM, hope "you are getting me now calling." Call sign quite unreadable. Then apparently shouted: "1.80 p.m. to-morrow," repeated many times. The call sign was giyen several times, but was quite indistinct. Dial 6 (dial O-100). 2ZI, Hastings, dials 12. Strength audible on L.S. across the room, but not very distinct. I tried at "1.30 p.m. to-morrow," but there was no sound: therefore I imagine it was an

Australian amateur.-

P.D.L.

H.

Gis-

borne).

STATION operating on Palmerston’s wavelength on August 27 at 6.30 p.m. Speech, song, and music were foreign, like Japanese. 2ZF' came on the air after having trouble with the microphone. and completely drowned this

stranger Signals R4_

Skv

lights"

(Martinborough).

ON August 26 I heard what I took to be 5DA, Adelaide, but in one of the reeent "Records" I noticed mention made of a station 5AD, Adelaide. The station I heard (5DA) was on a wavelength just above 2Z1, Hastings, 225 metres (1830 ke.). Is this station (6DA) the same as the one you mentioned?-K. A. Dixon (Hawke’s Bay). You probably heard 5KA, Adelaide, on 250 metres (1200 ke.), See list of Aus-

tralian stations published in last week’s issue.-Hd.] ON September 1 between 10 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. I heard a station operating on 1110 k.c. (270 metres), Dance items were on most of ‘the time and I lieard the announcer say once that "Station K-," and static drowned the rest. Would this be KZKZ, Manila? On September 3 between 12 a.m. and 1.80 a.m. another station on 83L0’s wavelength. This station was only heard after 3LO closed

down.-

J.M.

J.

(Masterton).

ON 8/9/30 heard new Hobart station. 337 metres (890 k.c.), just a little before, close down. Items heard were "The Love Parade" and march "Colonel Bogey," then "God Save the King." R4-5,

Gregg

(Dunedin)

~HORT-WAVHE station picked up at midnight on August 30 in vicinity of 33 metres. Very clear, steady and full phone strength. A man announced in a foreign language. He said: ‘"Hullo" several times, and then repeated a short foreign phrase about 20 times. Some more talking followed. Several military marches played by band with kettle-drums and flutes prominent. Prior to this what sounded like a national anthem was played, Then came bugle calls and drums, followed by a slow band piece. There was then a pause, but still no announcements. Then a choir sang what appeared to be two hymns. It was then about 12.45 Sunday morning, and I closed down.-

Query

(Te Awamutu).

MERICAN station heard 24/8/30 at 4.50 p.m. Position on dial (O-100), 364 (2KY equals 38), Item by the ated Heads, "Coming Round.the Mountain." Apparently a sort of sing-song was on, for there was an accompaniment of some sort of tin-canning to a previous item. ‘The announcer asked ‘‘folks not to leave their loud-speakers yet." In announcing the above, "Coming Round the Mountain," he mentioned several names of persons present-Baxter, Burdett (and

two other names I failed to catch), from Winnipeg, Canada. Heard the announcer speak several times in about 20 minutes. but he gave no call-sign. Good strength on head phones. Later I logged two more Americans, one certainly not. listed in the 1930 "Guide." KROW, Oakland, Cal. (not Richmond, as stated in a recent issue of the "Record."). Position on dial 51 (8UZ equals 52, 1YA equals 55). Items: Saturday Night Variety Hour, song by soprano, "Only a Rose," followed by an organ piece. Time, N.Z., 5.5 p.m. About 5.10 I logged a station with ‘call heard distinctly as WGMR, playing dance musie from some dance hall. Volume quite audible on loudspeaker. Announcer gave no locality, but his call twiee. Dial 57 (mid-way between 1YA and 2BL). I have had WENR on same dial reading. but then he usually says: ‘The music is from the world’s most beautiful ballroom." Can anyone tell me if there is a station WGMR, and its address? My set is a battery operated S.G., commercial 4.P.L.D.H. (Gisborne). ON August 26 I heard a boat calling 3LAM on about 232 metres (1290 k.c.) at 810 p.m. He gave his call as 3JAM, Melbourne, and also gave a list of the cargo they were carrying. This seemed to be chiefly poles and timber. Strength R8-5. I did not hear Melbourne calling. Also another station on 2UE’s wavelength (approximately) which gave a call sounding like 61M. I have a fivevalve battery set and have logged 22 New Zealand, 24 Australian, six American, and nine JTamanese. but have heard no

calls from the latter.-

J.

L.

(Westport).

(CouLD anyone give me any information re 4Z0O, Dunedin? I heard him about 7.80 a.m, on August 9 on two numbers, "Romance" and "Polonaise." | Strength about R6-7, wavelength. 270-280 meires. Also, can anyone give me any information re a station heard about ten weeks ago giving a call-sign R895 and operating on 800-350-metre band? I have not heard him since. I logged an Ameriean on 3l1st at about 5.45 p.m., giving a call which sounded like KLXP, on about 285 metres (1050 k.c.). One vocalist’s name was given as Tommy Burns. Three items heard were "Always, Always," "Three Sailor Boys," and "What. Good am I Without You?" Strength about R5-6. Also another American somewhere in California heard at 11.50 p.m. on September 1 on about 280 metres

(1070 k.c.). | Strength R38, static bad. He was eramonhone records-

Proton

(Gisborne)

HORT-WAVDPE station on 24-50-mette band comes in at 68} degrees, about 5 degrees below 2FC on the broadcast band. The announcer, usually a woman, is heard calling "Hullo, London." Occasionally a man speaks in English, but with a foreign accent. It is as strong as VK2ME and I receive them-at the same time that 2M is working GBP, ie., from 5-7 p.m: They appear to be testing. Also a station between W3XAL and WON ahont 2 to 1 deeree healaw

the latter.-

F.B.

P.

(Gisborne).

WovurpD "Amazon," "ZLUDX," "Unconscious" and "Incubu" please inform ‘me how many valves they are using in their sets? Also. could anyone give me the wavelengths of IZH, KRM, KGU, and KGMB? I havea set and have just recently started (DXing. So far I have logged about 60 stations. I have just received a verification card from 2HD, Newcastle. Their address is Airsales Broadcasting Co., Civie Centre, Hunter Street, Newcastle,

Australia;

Sandy

(Palmerston

North).

TATION operating.a point (on the lower dial) above 3UX, Melbourne. Practically. every evening between 6 and 8 I can hear music very faintly above a pronounced hum. ‘There are also two Japanese stations, one on 900 k.c. (333 metres) and the other on 970 k.c. (809

metres).-

Screen-grid

(Opunake). |

TATION tuned: in on July 4 at approximately 5.55 p.m. #4. degree above 2ZR, Wanganui. I was just in time to hear ‘This is station -."? The latter part of the call sounded like BY, Santiago. He then proceeded with musi cal items. Strength was Ri at ro 4 and then faded right out between 6 anti 6.5 p.m. I have had him since, but at no strength. I,logeed a second on’ August 23 at 6.55 p.m. on 34% degrees (2ZF on 84) giving call K-. Hollywood. I logged him again on the 26th at 6.25 p.m. and held him until 6.55 p.m. at strength R1-3. Statice was bad and all I heard was "Station -, Voice of Hollywood-dance-Burns." For the remainder of the time he was on dance music and songs. Also a Japanese on 60 (4RG on 61), and another on 54, where I receive 2ZP and KROW. TI am using a seven-valve battery set, and since starting DX work on June 8 this year I have logged 16 Americans, three Japanese and six Australians. I have had my set ten months and have a total of 54 stations, 12 of which I still have to identify.- .,

B.H.

B.

Masterton

} Lhe "Lyvsvu Listeners Guide and UCallBook" is still obtainable from the Te Aro Bookshop. Courtenay Place, Wellington, We would advise you to order as soon as possible. as stocks are. very limited.-Ea.] { — Stations Identified McK. (Gore): The address of * KGMB is "The Honolulu Broadcasting Co., Honolulu."-B.J.B. (Waipukurau). : . ‘ "BoB" (Wellington) : Station on 4ZL’s wavelength is 1ZIF Manurewa. I heard him testing about two weeks ago on Sunday at 11 am. Would "Kauspanka" (Hawke’s Bay) tell me the dae and time he received Canada and M ico, and what stations he heard} N from Mr. Fred Easter, Ohio, states that Station KDKA, Ne buee has applied for a permit to experiment with 400,000 watts on 306 metres, and if it is granted should be heard in New Zealand.:

Tests will be after. midnight.-

Metre

(Huntly).

"Vy BtRe" (Huntly): Station on 492 metres (610 ke.) is KF RO, San FranISCO "H.F.A." (Masterton) : 4BC, Brisane, is correct. Station opened on August 16, 1930. "Gregg" (Dunedin) : Address of 2Z1 is Arthur SimLtd... radio shecialists and mem

chants, Hastinge:-

Kilocycle

(Huntly).

TP my last letter I identified a station for M.B.S. (Palmerston North) as KZRM, Manila. This appeared as KXRM. A. D. Rodgers, Wellington: 4BC, Brisbane is on the air any night with. children’s, news, and musical sessions, and puts over very good programmes as also does 5AD, Adelaide. My log to date, all in the last three months, is 114 stations, comprising 41 Americans, 27 New Zealand, 7 Japs., 33 Australian, 2 Chinese, 2 Indian and 2 Honolulu. These were received on a seven-valve a.c., so C.H.W. (Feilding) will have to improve a little. "Grggg" (Dunedin): Call sounds like WOAT, but he operates on 1190 ke. (252 metres). "Kauspanka" (Hawke’s Bay): I receive station VK2MH approximately once a week, on 3 degrees, single dial, but I always put it down as a harmonie of that station. I picked up on Sunday last ZL2AB, Otaki, in conversation with

"LZAX, Palmerston

North:-

J.P.

C.

(falmerston North).

I HAVE now heard eall of station on ™" 200 metres (1500 ke.). It is KGER,

LoS Angeles; California_

Excusable

(Milerton)

"PROB" (Wellington) is correct re 1ZM, Manurewa, 245.9 metres (1220 ke.) in last week’s issue. He broadcasts records only, and these are always very elear. The station is only five miles away from me, and "Bob" does very well to pick such a small-powered station up as clear as he states. If there is anything further he would like to know I will do

"wfly Dest to tell him.-

J.A.

S.

(Otahuhn).

\ "Gna" (Dunedin): 4BC, Brisbane, was heard on August 15, when the announcer said the station was testing prior to the official opening at 6 p.m. on Saturday, 16th. He was operating on about 280 metres (1300 ke.). I understand this is a relay station, and listen- _ ers will get the call of the station ¢hav

may be relaying.-

E. T.

Armstrong

(Auckland),

J M. McD, heard 2YB, New Plymouth. * --Bob (Wellington): The station on 640 ke. (468m.) is KEI. Los Angeles, California, and the station above 4QG is probably 5CL, Adelaide. " " Waihi) heard 2ZH, Napier. D.L.C. Hamilton) heard KFI, Los Angeles, alifornia. "Filter"? (Hawke's Bay): The eall of the station on 1340 ke. (224 m.), is KG@MB, Honolulu, Hawaii. ‘The Australian B class have been coming in well here. I have heard 2XN, Lismore, 4BC, Brisbane, 5AD, Adelaide, 2HO, Neweastle, 22GB. 20. °Tlw. ORV and

THO, Hobart.-

Yankee

(New Ply-

mout ) .

S W. (Lower Hutt).-The foreign sta- * tion you heard was probably RV15, Siberia, on 70 metres, and the other might have been KIXR, Manila, on 48 metres. D.L.C. (Hamilton): The station below 3AR was probably KFI, Los Angeles. Rover (Ohakune Junction): The station talking to 2MB might have been ZLW, Wellington, though they usually transmit on 27.5 metres, near GBP’s wavelength, H. W. Anglesey (Nelson): The stations were 2XM Lismore, 1340 ke, (224m.), and a new "B" class. J.C. (New Plymouth): HS4PJ, Siam, and HS2PJ,. are on 37 and 29.5 metres reectively; the latter is only heard from 0 3 a.m., while the former is off the air>at present. I heard a station two days in succession about two weeks ago, on 16.75 metres at 2.45 p.m. All that was heard was counting from 1 to 10, and the last letters of the alphabet. Have vou logged thi station, (J3.0.)2~-~

Metre

(Huntly.)

"WpEpico" (Hastings) :, During Royal Show week in Sydney, 2FC was broadeasting from Wirth Bros’. circus, from 11.80 in the morning. One of the features of the programme was the goat races. Goats ridden by juvenile. riders raced round the arena three times. After the races the jockeys, which: the announcer proclaimed as "little sports," came up to shake hands with the winner. Could any DX-er supply me with the hours of broadcasting of 2Z1, Hastings?

Wilcox

(Timaru).

C. WHIR (Wellington): ZL2AX is an N.Z. amateur who tested on approx. 160 metres. one morning. *D.L.C0,." (Hamilton): No doubt 1ZM. "Rover"

Ohakune: Might be

KIXR.—ZLDX

(Palmerston North.)

[ HAVE identified a station working on same wavelength as 3ZC, Christchurch, 250 metres (1200 ke.). It is 5KA, Adelaide, Possibly this is the station heard by "Bob" (Wellington), and L.H. (Mercer). Thanks, H. G. Smith (Auntly) for address.-"Gregg" (Dunein}. DX: Topics Recent Verifications. H4v2 just received verification from 4BC. This station is operated by Chandler’s Broadeasting Service (c/o J. B. Chandler and Co.), 43 Adelaide Street, Brisbane; wavelength 233 metres (1290 ke.) ; power, 500 watts. I also have a eard from VPIA, Suva. This station is operated by A.W.A. (Aust.), Ltd. The principal station at Suva is VPD. VPIA was testing for one week only and is unable to state when the next test will be. Have received 79 stations to date, using a 8-valve s.g. set, made in New Zealand. Of the above 79 stations, 27 are Ameriean (broadcast band only).-‘‘Sereen Grid 3" (Nelson). An Irate Subscriber. R= 2MH) on broadcast band inquired about by "Inecubu" (Waitaha), 1 heard him calling "Hulloh Norah" for about 20 minutes before he satisfied my horrible curiosity as to who "Norah" was, by telling her where to berth and refuel. Who is our friend exactly on Wauganui’s wavelength, 594 ke. (505 metres) who plays the piano and sings comic songs at 1 a.m.? Come on, Amazon. We all want you.to win the biscuit. Haven't you got HWketahuna and Manurewa, or THO, Hobart, 890 ke. (837 metres), just on top of 1YA, shouting out the cricket scores at midnight, yet? Did anyone hear history repeating itself the other day in the shape of the subscriber in Sydney roaring at the man in charge in London for cutting him off at the end of the three minutes? The other fellow. of

course, was paying !-

G.

Fraser

(Ohura).

An Excellent Log. I HAVE a commercial 3-valve s.g. set, ~ and have logged the following staNew Zealand, 16 Australian, 10 American (excluding 2 or 3 I have not identified), and 3 Japanse. I cannot get the calls of the latter, but think they are JOOK, JQAK, and JOAK. On August 29 I picked up 5AD, Adelaide, and 4BC, Brisbane. The latter was apparently testing. 54D was on dance music, and both were R5-6. I am shortly adding an amplifier to my set, so "Kauspanka" had better look to his laurels. My situation is fair, and is about a mile from the sea.-

Proton

(Gisborne)

Recent Logsings. Two stations coming in well at present are 2ZI, Hastings, and 2ZC, Wairoa, 2YB, New Plymouth, is transformed since

moving into new quarters, and altering its wavelength. It is a pity, though, that this station is practically on top of 4ZL, Dunedin, which is the best of the New Zealand "B" class on my set. 5AD, Adelaide, has been coming in well of late, and 2MK, Bathurst, was heard very clearly after the larger Australians had closed down. The reception of the speeches by the Australian cricketers through 2BL at the conclusion of the last. Test .was also perfect, from about 4.20 a.m. on. Woodfull, Oldfield, Bradman, Grimmett, Hornibrook, Fairfax. and the manager spoke. I heard 2BL (or FC) I. forget which, addressing 2YA on its silent night over a week ago. KHJ, Los Angeles, KPO, San Francisco, KFI, Los Angeles, KGMB Honolulu, are the best American stations heard by me.-"Screen Grid" (Opunake). An Amazing Short-wave Station. I RHCHIVED by a recent mail a diploma, letter, and packet of pamphlets from NRH, the "little giant of Central America." The ollowing is a copy of his letter-H. W. Anglesey (Nelson). "My Dear Radio Fan,-I have the pleasure to answer your letter dated June 6 last, and to thank you for your news concerning this station. in the tropical eentre of America, the smallest on earth. We are working with 74 watts and 500 volts only, and with such power, besides your great record, that with your letter

‘we have received six reports from Wellington, Masterton, Northland, Dunedin, Christchurch, and your town now., We have been reported from all over the U.S..4., the West Indies, and from Spain, France, and England -in Old Hurope. We are not proud of such records, but we do thank the Almighty for showing the world how a radio fan with 7$w. power can cover such tremendous distances, as clear as your own report. H is a Continental station with fame, and we are transmitting just because we want to please; we have a large power outfit of 150 watts, but same has refused to work, and we are waiting some time to see if we can use it or not. Yes, the clock is our mascot, and I will appreciate very much any report of yours, besides of advising some of your friends or newspapers in Australia about this station to see if they can report also. During August and every day from that month till the last of the year we will transmit from 4 to 5 p.m. 6.8.7, or 9.30 to 10.30 night time in your place. Please report and advise your radio newspapers -from August, on every day but Monday. Yours thankfully, "Cespedes," Fourteen Stations on a Crystal Set! I WAS very interested to read the par by H. W. Anglesey (Tadmor) about reception of 2FC on a erystal and twostage amplifier, and I have often wondered if there are many listeners in New Zealand who get the Australians on an ordinary crystal with no amplifiers whatever. I was listening to 2F'C last night on my crystal set (no amplifier), and I also heard 1YA, 2YA, 3YA, and 2BL, have sent away to 2FO for verfication. Last night was the first time I have heard 1YA. During the winter of 1928 when I was residing in Christchurch. my log for a crystal set was: Five New Zealand and nine Australians. My farthest DX on a erystal was 5CL Adelaide. I managed to hear the call of this station twice. There is no imagination about this reception, as I have friends who have heard them quite plainly. arly one evening about two months ago I was surprised to hear 2MH) Sydney calling London when I tuned in to Wellington, Since then I have heard 2MHi many times, and one night a friend listened and ‘said he heard "Hello, London" "called. ‘out . at least five times. Other scraps of conversation such as "What number, please?" and "OK London," were also heard very nlainly, I have heard-local amateurs on the 80-metre band on the crystal set, but I didn’t think it was possible to get anything so low as 2MH, who are supposed to be on 28.5 metres. Are there any other listeners who have heard them on a crystal set? By the way, when I get the Australians I ean usually go- from one to the other, This seems to disprove the heory taht I get them from a neighbouring valve set. .[ am quite prepared to..believe there are’ some listeners who have done better than I, and would like to hear from them through the DX columns. A crystal set certainly has a much greater range .than 40 miles

A.

M.

(Dunedin

Australia on a Crystal. SHH that a Nelson listener doubts the possibility of picking up Australian stations (direct) on a erystal and two (Concluded on page 29.)

DX. Topics se ocnetememmaatantl 1 (Conéluded from page 23.) audio. I have a "eommercial" erystal ive pia’ pola's: in ‘feceyed a oh foe, tas nig ave’ pectively. Nore nah R3, R2 re2By, ond t they were slightly weaker. I get no static. This reception cannot be due to oscillating receivers as I have listened to 2F0 until 12.80 some nights. The same listener reports axeellent reception of 8RO. He is R2 herve

now

ZLDX

(Palmerston North).

Logegings for the DX Cup. I READ with interest in "Switch’s" . notes where -he stated a listener in (Otago) has heard a station on KPO’s frequency at an early hour in the morning. I have heard this station for the past two months now, and have got in touch with "Kauspanka" (Hawke’s ay) to see if he could clear up this sta-~ tion, but have had no luck. I have heard plenty of talk from this station, no music. Also there is another on 4QG’s frequency, with plenty of talking. "Kauspanka" has also heard the carriers of these stations recently. No doubt the listener in Milton is right. It, is a foreign station, but which one? Will try at 8 a.m. to-morrow morning to clear them up. I have not heard the Indian stations for the past two years to identify them clearly. There is always a barrage of static. I have heard 2XN, and verified QAY, SAD, 8G1, 4BC, VK4LW lately, all at wood strenvth. Let’s to it, DX’ers-

S.

Ellis

(Okato)

Australian Stations. -P.C. (Palmerston North): Your suggestion re publication of Australian stations was noted, and a full list published in our last week’s issue.-Hd.

DX Clocks

X enthusiasts who have not been able to secure a copy of the DX clock, which reduces the time in any part of the world to New Zealand time, ean now obtain one either from his dealer or direct from us, Box 1032, Wel lington. This has proved very popular and the demand was greater than we expected, with the result that our first edition sold out very rapidly. Another has been printed, and anyone on the waiting list will now receive his copy. The price is 9d., posted in special wrapper.

Trade Notes ang ese

)VESSRS. SIEMENS BROTHERS & CoO., LTD., of Woolwich, Bngland, whose dry battery experience extends back over many years, have recently installed automatic machinery. They are now manufacturing the standard torch unit and radio battery size of dry cell by a new process. An improved chemical formulae, the work of their experimental department, which gives both cells added life and power, is being introduced. To assure uniformity, the radio battery is designed for use in a climate similar to New Zealand. The new methods of manufacturing should increase their popularity. Messrs. Cory-Wright and Salmon are the N.Z. agents.