European Broadcast Station Definitely Heard

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 32, 20 February 1931, Page 11

European Broadcast Station Definitely Heard

Verification from Czecho-Slavakia

X-DRS will no doubt remember the reports which appeared in these columns toward the end of last winter, concerning mystery stations on the broadcast band heard by several listeners in the early morning. It was thought then that perhaps these were Huropean stations, a supposition which is now known to be correct, for Mr. W. L. Peters, of Pahiatua, recently received a definite verifieation of reception from a station loeated at Bratislava, Czecho-Slovakia. This is the first Huropean verification we have examined, and we congratulate Mr. Peters on his splendid D-Xing, A few years ago listeners claiming to have heard American stations were scoffed at. To-day many D-Xers hold verifications of reception from that country, It appears that in a short time American stations will be regarded by ‘D-Xers as easy to log as Australians are at present, and European. broadcasters will be the aim of every enthusiast. Below is appended Mr. Peters’s description of his set, and aerial and earth installation. "T am enclosing a verification recently received from Czecho-Slovakia. The type of set on which the station was logged is an 8-valve commercial a.c, In addition I have an inductance in the aerial consisting of a coil wound on a three-inch former with a tap at every tenth turn. Wight studs in all are used with a switch to move from one to the other. My aerial is about 150 feet long, 88 feet high at the far end and 30 feet at the set end. It is insulated with glass insulators. The earth consists of a tin buried two feet and also a wire running under the ground to a permanent water hole 60 feet away. This wire is bare copper

and is joined to the earth wire leading to the set just under the ground. "J have recently heard the abovementioned station at about 4.30 a.m. and also the one on 394 metres (760 k.c.) believed to be a Roumanian, I have logged 58 American (with 24 verified) since I started writing to them six months ago, one Chinese, one Manila, and one Canadian.-W. L. Peters, R.D.2., Pahiatua." Below is a copy of the verification received by Mr, Peters. Bratislava, 18th December, 1930. Dear Sir,"In confirming receipt of your favour dated October 14, 1930, we thank you very much for your kind information. There is no doubt you heard our broadcast items on October 11 and 12, 1930, between 4.30 to 5.80 a.m. at your country, which corresponds to about 5.30 to 6.30 p.m. our time. "At the above-mentioned time we transmitted on October 11 a Children’s Session and on October 12 a broadcast scene. It is certainly extremely interesting that you should receive our transmission at this time when daylight was between us at that hour of the day. What sort of receiving set did you use please? Our transmitter is of British make working on exactly 278.8 metres or 1076 k.c. with an aerial output power of 14 k.w. Normally we don’t announce in English but in Slovak language and only occasionally we announce in Hnglish. "Thanking you for your kindness and for your wishes of success. We will gladly hear again from you and remain, dear Sir, — "Yours very faithfully, Radio Journal. 8. Kuhn." There is certainly no mistaking this verification-it is the real thing.