Short-wave News

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 15, 24 October 1930, Page 30

Short-wave News

News from Radio Saigon. HF) following is an extract from a letter recently received from Saigon :- "We have no call sign, properly speaking. The words of our announcer, ‘Hello, hello, here is Radio Saigon,’ are preceded by notes obtained by the clashing of a rod on a erystal glass. On the other hand, each item is announced as being played by the orchestra or the ‘septuor’ (a piece for seven voices or instruments, which probably refers to the Chinese item: which are so familiar) of Radio Saigon. Finally, our wave-length is fixed at 49 metres, and stabilised by a quartz erystal. Therefore, having found it once, you should have no difficulty in tuning in again, at the hours which have been indicated by our announcer, which we -will repeat in a few days, or when our transmitting hours are changed or ‘modified." Reports are requested on the station’s transmissions between 10.45 a.m. and 1.45 p.m, (3.80 p.m. till 6.380 p.m., New Zea~ land summer-time). The Vatican Short Wave, OCORDING to recent .information from Europe, this short-wave station will shortly be opened. It is being presented to His Holiness the Pope by the Marconi Company. Two wavelengths will be employed, 19.84 and 50.26 metres, The power of its aerial feeder system will be about 12 kilowatts. Stations Heard During Week Ending October 18. ECEPTION conditions have been fairly good except around 50 metres, where static has been very severe. RV1i5, Siberia, 70 metres.-Volume excellent every evening with a fair amount of static, ZLXX, Wellington, 62.8 metres, was testing on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Quality and volume was very good. 50 metres (about).-At 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday some American talk was just audible through severe static. 49.9 metres (about).-Each morning reaching about R6 and 7 by 6.30 a.m. and then going off again. Static has been too bad to identify. The voice is English. On Thursday morning-the best during the w eek-figures and prices in sterling were being given. ‘At 6.37 am. "The first item will be .? Was heard, followed by music. The fact that prices were being given in £ s, d. appears to_vrove this to be an English station. Who is it? W9XF, Chicago, 49.83 metres.-This station is on till 7 p.m. our time. coming in at great volume till closing down. Cincinnati, 49.5 metres.-On Saturday volume was fair. but, as with all stations on this band, static was bad:

W3XAL, Boundbrook, , New Jersey, 49.18 metres--Sunday and Saturday, maximum R7 by 5 p.m. Radio Saigon, Indio-China, 49 metres. -Were R9 on Sunday at 10.10 p.m. Statice very bad. -WS8XK, Pittsburgh, 48.86 metres.Sunday, at 5 p.m., were R8, with messages to the Far North,

KIXR, Manila, 48.86 metres.-Each evening except Monday from 10 p.m. Volume is better now, but static bad most evenings. 48.5 metres (about).-Sunday at 5 p.m. musie at R6; generator hum spoils chance of hearing call. 43.4 metres (about).-7 p.m. on Wednesday, duplex at RS; statie bad. VK2ME, Sydney, 37.6 metres, duplex ra 2LW, Wellington several evenings.

W2XAF, Schenectady, 31.4 metres, Sunday and Saturday. Just audible at 1 p.m., with very little increase till about 3 p.m. On Saturday a long foreign talk was put over till 4 p.m. from about 3.15 p.m. Zeesen, Germany, 31,38 metres.- Every morning; Tuesday was the best, being R9 with one stage of audio at 6.30 a.m. which time is the best just now. WIXAD, Springfield Mass., $1.35 motres.- Were on till 5.3 p.m. on Saturday. Volume wag good. Three calls were given, WIXAD being the last; the others were difficult to copy, as they were given 80 quickly, with the strong American accent, sounded like WBB and WBA, but not too sure, PCJ, Eindhoven, Holland, 31.28 metres. -Thursday morning R7 at 6.80 a.m., decreasing to R5 by 730 am. Friday, abont the same. Reception was very poor on Saturday, afternoon. 30.3 Metres (about).-Saturday, at 2.30 p.m., duplex in English, only odd words readable. LSH, Buenos Aires, 29 metres-Sun-day and Saturday, at excellent volume. Closed at 3.4 p.m. on Sunday, and after 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. 28.5 Metres (about).-Saturday at 8 p.m.. foreign talk at R5. VEB2ME, Sydney, 28.5 metres.Telephone service with London twice daily. except Sunday, GBP, Rugby, 27.7 metres.-Telephone service with Sydney. ZLW, Wellington, 27.3 metres.-Test-ing with VK2ME several evenings-too much yolume; can hear several metres either side of wavelength. G5SSW. Chelmsford, 25.3 metres.Still no good in the mornings; volume all right. but rapid fade every time. 3R0. Rome. 25.4 metres.-Monday was the only morning that this station was not up to its hest; it was gushy at R4 at 7.30 a.m. Other mornings, excellent. at RO. Radio Saigon. Indo-China, 25 metres (about).-At 11.10 p.m. on Saturday at RO. with one stage of audio. "Tu'lo-here is Saigon," with musical item. This appeared to be a test. as the music was interrupted several times to call.