News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 26, 9 January 1931, Page 10

News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Identification Wanted TATION operating close to 3Z0, Christchurch, on December 29. Final items were recordings of flute golos with band accompaniment, and after playing "The End of a Perfect Day," the station closed down. Reception was very clear at 9.30 p.m., but the announcer’s voice giving the call sign was so jumbled I could not catch it, and only heard him asking for reports. Not ‘knowing where to write,

I am unable to assist him

C.M.

R.

(Wellington)

TATION heard on December 28 between 8 and 8.30 p.m. at R1 to R2. Heard on phones. Wavelength below 800 (1000 k.c.). Foreign talk. Items heard were:-(1) Talking; (2) Banjo or ukulele item; (3) Song "UkujJele Lady," with ukulele. Also heard

on 27th.-*

Foreign

Wellington).

{24RD American December 26 2.15 a.m, on about 243 metres (1230 k.ec.). Call sounded like KG-Salomi, ‘California. Still going 3 a.m. (7 a.m. station time). He was on gramophone records, some of which were played especially for different persons in varjous parts of California. Some records heard were 2.22 a.m.. Song, "Toymaker’s Dream"; 2.25 a.m., Lew White. Organ solo, playing "Holy City," for lady at San Pedro, California, followed by song, "Jingle Bells" ; 9A2R am. organ sgolo. Statice heavy

and fading bad.-

Clematis

(Rau-

rimu).

DOES anyone know who the stranger is, operating in the early mornings, between 4YA and KF1? I picked him up at 2.18 on the 26th. Fairly strong carrier, but little modulation.-

Ray Dio

(Shannon).

‘A USTRALIAN station (just below 2HD, Newcastle) on 210 (148v ke). Closed down 11.35 p.m., December 81. Dial readings: 2HD, 25; unidentified station, 243. Another on 22% metres (13850 .k.c.). Closed down 10.40 p.m. December 31. Dial readings -_

2Z1, 36; 2XN, 35; unidentified station, ¢ 84.-R.J.R. (P.N.). TATION heard on approx. 1510 k.c. (195 metres) at 10.30 p.m. 26/12/80. Fair volume, music slightly distorted. The only announcement heard was 5BO testing on 195 metres. Where is

this station located ?-

M.B.

S.

(P.N.).

AUSTRALIAN on about 200 metres heard about 12.35 a.m. on January 2. Could not get call.on account of static. Dial readings: 3GL on 16deg., 2HD (212 metres) on 13deg., unknown station on 8deg. Dial, Odeg.-180deg.-

Dink

(Helensyille).

[8GL, Geelong Broadcasters f£ty, Ltd., Geelong, 214 metres (1400 k.e.), power 50 watts in aerial-Hd.] Stations Identified B W. (Stratford).-8KZ is apparently * eorrect. Details are 3KZ, 322 metres (1350 k.c.). Industrial Printing and Publishing Co., 24-30 Victoria Street, Carlton, N.Z. The station on 490 metres (612 k.c.) isa Jap. I make this eall out to be JOAK, but this must

be a mistake.-

Ray

Dio

(Shannon).

D.X. Topics Christmas Broadeasts from America. ON Christmas night between 7.80 and 8.30 (New Zealand time) WTAM’s Christmas party was coming in at’

rood speaker strength. Americans previous to this had been weak with me for some time. At 1 o’clock on Boxing morning American stations Were coming in. strongly. WFAA, KFKB, KRLD, KMOX, and WOAI were all at good speaker strength and a host of others at less strength. They were all giving Christmas greetings at 7 a.m. on.Christmas Day. The Americans appear to come in the best at midnight now (that is, their early

morning) .-

W. L.

Peters

(Pahiatua).

Test Transmissions. AS 2YA.ever been known to broadcast. out of hours? At approximately 2.45 p.m. on Tuesday, December. 30, I heard a gramophone record im: progress on 2YA’s frequency. I did not hear the beginning, but there was no announcement at the end. ‘There was nothing on only a few minutes before. The volume was fully equal to that of 2YA. It seems rather strance that 2YA should pnlav a record

before onening time.-

Tiger

(Car-

terton). |

[2YA comes on the air regularly at approximately the time mentioned. The transmissions are unofficial, anil are for testing purposes only.-Hd.] A Special Broadcast for New Zealand. ANY of the American stations remained on the air all night from Ohristmas Eve (in U.S.A.) until well into the next morning. One in particular, KGW, Portland, was still going strong at 3 o’clock on the morning of Friday, 26th (ie, 7 a.m., Thursday, Pacific Coast time). I first picked him up, on 483m. (620 k.c.), at 12.45 p.m., when he was vely weak. From about 1.30 a.m. on he was coming in at good speaker strength with dance music. I also logged WOATI at 1.5 o’clock the same morning. KI‘KZ was logged at 10.46 o’clock on Thursday evening. A metre or two above KNX, WOAI comes in on 3ZC’s wavelength. Presenting a special Christmas programme, WTAM was picked up about 8 p.m. on Thursday, 25th, and held until 9 p.m., when, after an ensemble "Auld. Lang Syne,’ he signed off. During the programme greetings were broadcast to New Zealand and the studio orchestra played the New Zealand National Anthem. WTAM was received . at excellent loudspeaker strength. Another American I have logged recently is KLX, Oakland, 341 m. (880. kc). He is found between

THO and JOAK.-

Ray Dio

(Shan-

non).

Some Recently-Heard Americans. "CABBAGE" (Gisborne).-I have an official programme of KTM dated September 27, 1930, and their power

— fF is rated as.1000 watts, so I am ine ° clined to stand by my previous statement unless you. can prove to me otherwise. I hardly think their power would be decreasd since last September. Perhaps some of the "old-timers" would come to our aid. "Jaka" (Wellington).-Your report of WTAM,: Cleveland, Ohio, is interesting. I have not tried for him at the time you mention, but logged him the two Sunday evenings previous 10 Christmas at about 7.10 p.m. and held him till approximately 8.25 p.m., when he closed down. On both occasions he was acknowledging subscriptions to. the Christmas Cheer Fund for the poor of their city. Musical items were given in between, and on the first Synday I had the pleasure of hearing" ; best vocal quartet I have yet herd from America. When closing down’ he said he would be on the air again at 6.59 a.m. . ~

On Christmas night. I tuned in WTAM with Christmas carols and had him for two hours at wonderful strength. It is interesting to note that they put on extracts from Dickens’s " "Christmas Carol" recently broadcast by 2YA, so I had an impression of an American "Scrooge" with his "wonderful" accent. I have recently added WTIC, .Hartford, Connecticut, to my log. This is my most distant station to date. KIFKB, Milford, Kansas, has been coming in well the last few evenings. I get him from appraximately 10.15 pm. (when he is just starting up):.onwards. I am glad to see "Kauspanka" (Hawke’s Bay) on the job again: I really thought he had gone with several of the other: "old- \ timers" ona tour with "Rip Van‘ Winkle." . Sunday, December 28, is the best night I have experienced this summer. I have recently received verification from WENR and KFWB. The latter seems very pleased to receive reports on their station and asked

me to send in more later.-

"Kia

Ora"

(Frankton Junction).

An Unusual Night. oJ ANUARY 1 was an excellent night for Americans. There were so many on parts of the dial that it was impossible to separate them. Some of the eastern stations were relaying New Year celebrations from the Pacific Coast. One item of interest was the relay of the Mission Bells of, California, which have rung in the New Year for 200 years. Reception was excellent.-

M.B.

S.

(Palmerston North) .

Recent Loggings. Ss HE following stations have heen added to my log during the: week:--WTAM, Cleveland, 1070 (280.2 metres); TLA, Launceston, 1100 ke., (278 metres); 2AY, Albury, 1820 ke. (227 metres).; KMA, Shenandoah, 930 ke. (322.4 metres); WOAI, Texas, 1190 ke. (252 metres)). On 25th ult. I listened to WTAM for an hour and a half, while broadcasting a special three-hour Christmas Ive programme. Reception was remarkably clear, ‘and the volume was sufficient for the items to be heard all ovcer the house. On ist inst. the same station broadcast by re- ‘ PUTULICULIETIELTIELITLELIETITITLTIIriTrrerrerrrerit eerie

eave gramme to welcome in the New Year. KTHS at the same time were broadcast--ing’a. coast-to-coast. programme for the same purpose; Several other’ American

stations: were also coming in well.-

Guy

C.

Holmes

(Masterton:

: Well-known Short-waver- Closed Down. QN a xecent verification from KGO it-is stated that W6XN has gone off

the air-

B.H.

B.

Masterton:)

Anothey Australian? B W. (Stratford).-I have definitely *. identified the Melbourne station on 222 m.. (1860’ke.), as 83KZ.. I tuned into this ‘station on New Year’s Hve at oe 35, just in time to hear call and to eile | sure I waited till end of next im, which was "You and My Old Guithr." Is the new Canberra station on the air yet? On New Year’s Hve at 11.20 p.m.’ I heard a station on 2ZF"s wave-length. Canberra was mentioned frequently. .A few nights before I heard them giving an advert. for a certain business firm. The call is either 2AD or 2AC. The announcer of this station, like those of other Australian stations, seems to be in a hurry to get his iob over as sauicklyv as possible,

hence indistinct announcing.-

R.J.

R.

(Palmerston North.)

Daylight Reception from 2FC. "CABBAGH" (Gisborne) -KTM. has a power of 1000 watts, not 500. This is. according to literature (dated December 2) from’ Los Angeles. An excellent dance frolic was arranged by the American N.B.C. on January 1 from 7 to 8.30 p.m. (N.Z.S.T.). This night proved excellent for long-distance reception. 2FC has been very strong at 2 p.m. lately. Have°any other D.-

~ers noticed his e

S. R.

Ellis

(Okato).

A Correction. R. J.R. (Palmerston North) and B.W. (Stratford ) --8KZ, Carlton, Melbourne, is correct call of station operating on 13860 (220 metres) on December 20, and almost every night since, Power, 200 watts. 2AY, Albury, is not new by any means, but is not often heard, havine a power of only 50 watts ontput.-

J.P.

C.

(P.N.)

‘Notes on Verifications. I RECEIVED a very interesting batch of mail from America recently, but it arrived. just a day too late for the competition. Among the verifications received were:-IKXMA, Shenandoah; CKMO, Vancouver; WTIO, ®Monn.; and KDB, Santa Barbara. The jastnamed sent me: two signed photos of’ the "Rainbow: Boys," who are often over KDB. The following is an extract from a letter from this station: "We are on the air Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11.30 p.m.-to 3.0 a.m., C.S.T., with our ‘Midnite Prowl,’ for D.X. fans." Wavelength is 411 metres (730 ke.), and power. 50 watts. Station KMO, Tacoma, seem delighted to hear they are being heard in New Zealand. . As also were KWG, Stockton, and Sheuandoah, The new Australian station, 2NO, comes in here at. splendid volume. often erceedine that.of the A stations.

V.

Cunliffe

(Tasman. )

2NC an A Class Station. T: NOTIOD, 2NC, Beresfield, Newcastle, is described by a. number of D.Xers as a B class station. This station is owned and operated by the A.B.C. and is classed as A. Power, 2 k.w., N.Z. tating, At the official opening on De-

cember 19 the managing director in aspeech explained the reason for the erection of this station, which was to relay programmes and events from the main stations in Australia to districts which, owing to atmospherics and other conditions, were very seldom able to receive these programmes direct. An-. other station of the same class, 4RK, Rockhampton, will be erected when funds allow. 2NC is on the air every night. If D.X.-ers will look up their "Radio Record" of September 5 they will find some useful information re Australian B class stations. B.W. (Stratford).-I have been trying to identify station on 610 ke. (490 metres) for some nights past. I have ar idea it is XOW, Nanking, China, but would like to be certain, Stick to it and see what we can do between us Guy ©. Holmes (Masterton). I heard KTHS, Arkansas, on the 20th, till 10.15 p.m. They were celebrating their sixth birthday, and must have kept going till daylight. I also logged 3GH, Geelong, the same night. On the morning of Boxing Day, just after 12 a.m., I was listening to Americans on their Christmas Day stunts. They were unique in their methods. From 7.30 p.m., January 1, till 2.50 a.m., on the second, I had a royal time. I listenedin to 31 Americans. It was a phenomenal night, and I never hope to get better reception. I collected enough data to write to six stations. What pleased me most was. reception of KZRM, Manila, to whom I listened for 1} hours. Strength was excellent. Announcer gave his call only once to my knowledge, and that was when they signed off at 2.50 am. He pronounc-ed-the Z as Zee. Reception over ten Americans could be heard all over the house. I also logged on January 1 2MD,. Mossvale. and 7LA, Launceston.

J.P.

C.

(PN,)