Short-wave Station NRH

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 26, 9 January 1931, Page 13

Short-wave Station NRH

World-wide Reputation ME. R. L. JONHS (Wellington) writes: The "wonder" station of the world is NRH, located about 4000 feet above sea level at Heredia, in Costa Rica, Central America. The operator, Mr. Amando Cespedes Marin, is a photographer by profession. With his little 74-watt station using 550 volts, he has demonstrated to the world that the wonders of radio are by no means exhausted. There is hardly a place in the world where NRH has not been heard on short-wave phone work, judging by the extensive list of places from which reception has been reported to Heredia. The diploma issued to listeners by Mr. Cespedes Marin is very interesting and attractive, and certainly worth keeping. This diploma is forwarded to listeners who send in reports to NRH. Mr. Marin is publishing a 250-page book containing his experiences, ete., and extracts from world reports on reception. NRH is run "purely for the fun of the game"-in the director’s own words. The Government has granted him free postal facilities. The diploma measures about 14 x 103 inches, and is lithographed in foureolour work. It contains a photo. of Mr. Cespedes Marin, one of the transmitter, another of his apartments, also a certificate in Spanish and Pnglish, and bears an official number, with the date of issue and signature of the station director.. Incidentally, NRH

stated that 10 reports had been received from Australia. Following is the text of the certificate :- "Certifica que Mr. R. Leslie Jones, Wellington, does hear in far off New Zealand our wonder ‘74 watts like in France, Australia, Venezuela, Trinidad, ete.’ Then follows the commemoration in both Spanish and English; also the following list of places from which reception .has been reported: England, Espana, Canada, U.S.A, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Haity, Bahamas, Republica Dominicana, Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Canal Zone, Colombia, Equador, Peru, Brazil, Several specimen pages of the book "Me and Little Radio NRH" were also forwarded, and proved very interesting indeed. The antenna and counterpoise are 72ft. long, inverted L type. ‘The leg of the L is 48ft. long, and both antenna and counterpoise three feet apart. The western mast is 72ft. high and the eastern mast 42 feet, and therefore the antenna has an obtuse angle and the counterpoise is acute, The antenna itself is a single cable wire. The high frequency on the antenna is almost half-ampere, sometimes more, and oscillator plate shows exactly 60 milliamperes. The modulation plate shows 20-25 milliamperes, The circuit T.P.T.G., as the old stand-by, but laid out by the owner. Situation, 3820ft. above sea level, amid a plateau between mountain ranges.