News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 35, 13 March 1931, Page 10

News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Addresses and Addresses | Wanted MeM. (Dunedin): KGO, National * Broadcasting Co., Inc., San Francisco, Calif.; KNX, Broadeast Hollywood, Calif. ; KGU, Marion Muirony, Advertising Public Co. . Honolulu, Hawaii. H. HVA. (Masterton): ZLABH, A. H. Hudson, 15 ar Hobson’ Street, Remuera; ZL4BT, ©. Callander, 121 Richardson Street, SCA: 2" (Marton) would like call and address of the Buropean station at Bratislava, from which Mr. L. Peters recently receiyed a verification. D. LC. (Hamilton): There is no station with the call WBIP given in the latest" call-book. Identification Wanted ox Feb. 28 station heard at 12.15 am..at 60 and 604 on my dial. Two. organ recordings were heard. The announcer, whose voice was marred by static, .then stated that two violin solos were to follow, one being "- in the -Twilight." He then faded out, and I was unable to pick him up again. Was this 6WH, Perth? I receive Wellington at 58 and 2FC at 65. Another station, evidently a Jap, heard at 12.85 on 79. A lady was delivering.. a lecture and was very clear, but I received no call (3AR on 73 and 7ZL on-84). Another Jap two degrees above PRT, (former on 4@ PRT,

on 44):

Mark

(Dunedin).

QTATION heard from 1.30 a.m. until "~~ -2.15 am. on the 38rd on approximately 700 kc. (428 m.), 56 on dial {2YA 50, 6WF 57). . Call sounded like JOXR1,-Lombasa (or (Mombasa), An‘uounced proceeded to speak about the Peace Conference and the benefit France and Italy would derive from the same. Also about the progress made in Paris and the understanding, between France, Italy and America, At 1.40 gave call and went on to musieal items. Second dise called "Abardon, Norado" (song). Also station on: 800 kc. (875 m.) (41 on dial), broadcasting orchestral items at 2.15 a4.m., and a Hawaiian instrumental number at 2,17. Both were waltzes. Gave call, but conditions prevented my hearing this. Would this be TCA, Calcutta? Also a Jap on 1330 k.c. (225 m.) (74 on dial), talking at 7.80 p.m., on March 4, quite clear and strong. Congratulations to Mr. Ellis on his popular win of the first DX Cup. Quite & number are now after his "scalp."

myself included.-

R. L.

W.

(Nelson).

AMERICAN station heard on Febru22 on 950 ke. (315.6 m.) from 8 to 10 p.m. -He came in when KFWB closed down. Fading was bad. The first two letters of the call sign were "KM." | Another American on 810 k.c. (870 m.) relaying dance musie from the Hotel, on March i. Closed down

about 7.30.-

N.

J.

. (Masterton).

GTATION heard at 7.55 p.m. on March 38. Call sounded like " Qne oe the items was entitled "Don’t Forget Me in Your Dreams." Prior to closing the announcer gave the time as 12.1, followed by the weather report from different American States. Wrequency given as 1290 (2382 m.). Above this was an American telling fortunes or forecasting. The announcer had a very deep voice and was very hard to understand.-‘Big Bill" (Timaru). A MERICAN on 690 k.c. (4285. m.)

~*% about 14 deg. above WLW.

Ray

Dio

(Shannon) _

LL, DX-ers, this is my initial entry into the club. Having recently logged my 25th American, I feel entitled to say something as well as the other boys. Foreign station which sounded Chinese heard about 7.15 and 8 p.m..on 225 metres (1830 k.c.) on February 27. Items, which included stringed instruments and singing, lasted about 15 minutes. Static was heavy and no call was heard. Congrats. to 8. Ellis on his fine achievement in carrying off the Cup.’ Drop me a line if you like, Mr. Bilis. I also correspond with ou: friend in Cincinatti. Address Box 9.

Tuakau.-

Ray DX

(Waikato) .

QGTATION heard at approximately 11 k? p.m: on February 26 operating between 7ZL and 3AR. ~~ All speech was foreign and sounded like either Japanese or Chinese. Wavelength about 395 metres (760 k.c.). Wonld this he

XOW, © Nanking ?-

E. W.

D.

(Invercar-

gill) _

MERICAN on 950 kc. (815. m.) heard at 8 p.m. on February 24 at 8 p.m. Strength was good, but electrical interference spoilt signals, and only one item, "Singing in the Rain," was recognised. Announcer remarked they were playing request numbers fcr people, whom he named. He was still on the air at 9 p.m., when 2GB_ was heterodyning him. ‘This is probably the station mentioned by WSK (Nelson). Another American on 745 k.c. (402 m.) heard at 7.30 p.m. on March 1. Signals were at good strength, but gradually faded until they were just audible. Item "You're Just Love." Call sounded like KBL, Tacoma. I picked up two stations. on the same frequency this evening between 7.15 and 7.40 p.m. One gave his call as WBAL, Baltimore. I heard the following from the. other: "We'll continue with the test programme of Victor Orthophonic Recordings(a) ‘Dream Lover,’ (b) monologue, (c) ‘Lonesome Little Doll’." Note.-F requencies. given above are dial readings and are 15/20 k.c. below the station fre-

quencies:

Seven

Kicker

(Okoroire).

QTATION on 1300 ke. (230.6m.), heard at 8 p.m. on March 5. I could‘ not catch the call, but I heard Dunedin mentioned. One item heard was. "Happy Days are Here Again," and then another station came on the air and spoilt the

transmission:

Yankee

(N.P:)

Stations Identified "TINK" (Helensville): Station on -LYA’s frequeney is without doubt KHJ, Los Angeles, on 383 metres (900 k.¢.). During last winter I heard him every Monday night, but he has not been so: good lately---‘‘Ray. DX" (Waikato). "QCOL" (&. Bay): Station broadcasting foreign musie’ was *probably KGMB. The station puzzled me until

I heard the announceménts a few nights ago. "Squeak’? (Christchurch) : WHAF has been testing for several nights lately

on 660 k.c: (45° metres)

N.

J.

(Mas-

terton).

"DORis" (Dunedin): KFOX, Long Beach, California. A.M.H. (Tirau): Probably KFWB, Hollywood, California. "Oscar" (Marton): Station on 680 ke. (441m.) is KPO, San Francisco, and the other on 640 ke. (469m.) is KFI, Los Angeles. "Civic" (Cambridge): All the New York stations’ ealls commence

with * ; h "W," and not "K.2-

Yankee

(NP:)

DX , Topics A New Jap? WHILE listening-in on the 31st at 7.40 p.m. I heard what I thought was a new station, but I was surprised to hear Mr. Drummon’s voice announeing race results (probably 2YA’s first harmonic, on 208.2 m., or 1440 k.c.). A few minutes afterward I received KGMB, Honolulu, for the first-time. On March 8, at 7.45 p.m., I tuned in to the latter and heard a Japanese voice. Then followed some typical Jananese music and the announcement KGMB, Honolulu. The remainder of this was obliterated by a local power leak. Would this be a new Jap, or Honolulu broad-

easting a Jap record? . KGDR, Caliwas logged shortly after, and also a station with a call that: sounded like KNX. As the latter. was) on ‘a slightly higher wavelength than Honolulu, however, and as KNX is listed as being on 286 metres (1050 k.c.), it does not appear possible that this call was correct. My total log, including 5 Japs and 18 Americans, is 81. I attribute my success to the earth system used, which comprises eight 43ft. long pipes driven into the ground... A coil of heavy copper cable is used to connect them together and to supply a lead running to the set. The pipes are not driven in in a straight line as in the Pierce system, but are two feet apart and zig-zagged to ensure contact with different stratas, as earth: resistance

vaties evelv few incheg

Wireman

(Masterton)

WJZ. Testing.. \ RECENT loggings include KHQ, -Spok- 2 ‘ane, on practically the’ same quency as 2ZR; WMAQ,. Chicago, just below 2FC and heterodyning with it;. and WJZ, New York, a little above 4QG, with whom they were heterodyning from 7.45 p.m. onward on March 4. WJZ (the "Z" igs pronounced "Zee’’) stated that they were testing. ~Reception was marred by a peculiar "shaking" effect which seemed: to vary in speed every few minutes or so... .When it slowed down the station appeared to be surging, as on shortwave. Jollowing this it would quickly spéed up until the effect on speech or music ‘was almost like a.c. hum. Several of the American seem to be afflicted periodically with the same trouble, notably: KNOX, K¥WEB and WTIC, on 650 ke. (461 m.).

Has anyone else noticed thigs?-

Ray

Dio

(Shannon).

Beverage Aerial Successful. I HAVE justa rigged up a Beverage aerial, 400 yards long and 16 feet high, and although I am using only a home-made resistance, pencil.lines on a piece of card, at the distant end, the first try-out indicates that it would prove a complete success. KYW, KFBD, KHJ, WSUI (heard this station for the first and K'TM coming in so strongly that volume had to be cut. down. KGO was at the same strength as 2YA at 7.45 pm. In addition I also logged four new stations. As a test I tuned in KTMR, Hollywood, using the Beverage. Announcements were clearly heard. Then I changed to my inverted "L" aerial, 132 feet long and 35 feet high, but could not even get a whisper from. this station. In just under seven months DXine T have

heard the calls of 49 Americans,

Seven

Kicker

(Okoroire Springs), °

At 5 a.m. on February: 28-I heard four foreign stations coming in at R7. The station on 780ke. (884m.) wai's at excellent strength, and the music 4 could be heard all over the house. The music was of a classical nature, one item taking 15 minutes to complete. An-« nouncement was in a foreign language, and this, combined with static, prevented my getting the call. I presume this to be a Rumanian station on a power of kw., though my latest call books are of no assistance in identifying this.. Stations

Relay from ‘Whangarei LASt year 2% number of very successful relays from Whangarei; were carried out by 1¥A, when concerts given by the Whangarei Municipal, Band were broadeast. On Wednesday, March 25, 1YA hag arranged another such attraction, and listeners can look forward ‘to a very enjoyable programme, —

also heard working on the following frequencies: 1085ke, (276m,), 1070ke. (280m), and 840ke. (357m.).. The language from all these was foreign. A man and 2 women were speaking from the one on 1085ke. (276m.), and no doubt they were conducting a children’s session. This is the station Mr. Peters (Pahiatua) hag received verification from. According to my latest call book, the station call is OKR, Bratislava. Reception. of distance stations is excellent at present and I would advise DX-ers to rise at 4 a.m. in the morning to log these Europeans. L.am writing to the station on

"80kc: for 4 verification:

S.

Ellis

(Okato)

An Excellent Suggestion. R# the DX competition. Would it not be a good idea to divide New Zealand into a number of areas and give the winner of each a certificate (as well as ‘presenting the DX cup to the grand winner)? Conditions vary. very much in different parts of New Zealand, and ‘the above-mentioned scheme would give those of us who live in bad reception districts a little more interest in a competition we have small chance of winning. My own experience is that reception in Taranaki is 40 per cent, better than I obtain in my present shingly situation. Moreover, it gets dark much earlier in the north. Incidentally, as daylight reception of Australian A class stations is to be allowed, what do you define as daylight reception? Would R.I.R. (P.N.) tell us what it is that he knows now and did not know before? I am in the same -predicament as he, for I have often picked up that Buropean station on 278.8m,. (1080ke.), e.g., 7 am, piano and violin, followed by announcement, "Bramolatum (??) .. ."' Then lady. singing, followed by anouncement by a lady,’ ete., ete. Then suddenly in English, "Hullo, everybody . .. four rograd ... another number... Fox-trot Answer," static being responsible for the gaps. The Japs. give me the same trouble in securing enough data to write for verification. Another European station heard between 4 and 6 a.m. on 315m. (950ke.). A man counts in BDnglish to orchestral accompaniment as though at rill, but his numbers sometimes get yery complicated, eg. 1, 2, 6, 7, 1, 2, 3, 5, ete. Others heard on 338m, (887ke.). (887ke.), 860m. (833ke.), 378m. m. (770ke.), 400m.

'T5ukc:) and 467m: (642kc. )

A.

N.

(North Otago). |

, LXour suggestion for the DX competiis being adopted. An announcement to -this effect will appear shortly.-Hd.} Recent Loggings. A§ "Dink" (Helensville) remarks, , KHJ is the station behind 1YA. He was fairly roaring in on the 4th, until he closed down at 8 p.m.. Latest loggings are: COMK, China; KGA, ,- Washington; KJR and KOMO, Seat‘tle; 2AY, Albany; and 3KZ, Melbourne: I would like to know how "D.T.H." (Timaru) got the calls of 32 Australians in one hour or so, for it took me over half an hour to get one the other evening. He must have influence or something. Most of the Jap stations have language courses, mostly Hnglish, for 30 minutes "from 6.30 p.m., Japanese time, and give their time signal at 9.40 p.m. The children’s hour commences at 6 p.m., and often ineludes Enelish mn-

sic_

R. L.

W.

(Nelson). .

Identifying Japs, THANKS, ° J.C.8. (Beckenham) and _J.P.C. (P.N.).. for. information about WBBM. .Since writing I have heard their call distinctly, D.T.H. (Timaru) : When listening to the Japs I usually wait until singing commences (this comprises about half of their programme), and then give the exact time and describe it (high or low, ete.). It is practically impossible to

describe their music. The Jap A.F.. (Wayerley) heard below 2BL is JOAK. Vhe time would be 7-p.m. approximately. I have just been listening to the new French short-wave station on approximately .32 metres, It is R9 with

a fine orchestra.-

H. F.

A.

{ Masterton ).

Schedule of 1ZH. QCHEDULHE of Station 1ZH, G. §. Anchor and Co., Radio House, Hamilton, is as follows :- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12 noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. Saturday: 12 noon to 12.30 p.m. Wavelength, 480 metres (630 kilocycles) ; power, 50. watts. Interesting Booklets. J P.O. (P.N.) has forwarded us three *- interesting booklets received by him, one from .WBBM, Chicago, and two from a station in Salt Lake City. The former contains: numerous photographs of the studios and artists, an

excellent map which renders the geographical location of American stations a simple matter, and, most important of all, a complete and up-to-date list of American broadcasting stations, giving full particulars of each. The other two booklets contain lavishly-illustrated descriptions of the beauties of Salt Lake City and its surroundings, including the famous Yellowstone Park. ’ * PX Competition. I CONSIDER the barring of ail New Zealand stations and most of the Australians in the DX competition most unfair, This means to say that only owners of receiving sets with not less than seven or eight valves would have a chance of winning. Would it not be better to judge a DX-er’s results according to the number of valves his set uses? I have a four-valve set, and during the last six months I have logged 60 identified stations, which includes only two Ameri-

cans. How would this compare with some of your runners-up with their eight and nine valves? I notice in the last issue of the R.R. several readers report receiving a station with the call "2NG" on 2YB’s wavelength. Others: refer to this station at "2MOC." It is, of. course, ye eaten Reader" (Wellingon). [We are afraid that your suggestion, i.e, that of judging DX-ers’ results by the number of valves used, would in practice be impossible, Also the descrepancy between a seven or eight valve commercial a.c. and a well-designed five-valve battery-operated one is, for DX-ing at least, not as great as you seem to think. The competitior who secured third place in the recent DX competition operated a four-valve B.D? Finally, these stations were barred so as not to encourage oscileee receivers on local frequencies.Frequency Determination. Hew do DX-ers determine the frequencies of the different stations mentioned in the DX notes? Are they guided by a call book, are’their dials set so that they can determine just what freaqueney they record, or do they use a

wavemeter ?-

DXGC

(Ohura

{All these methods are used, but the first two are the most popular. One of the easiest methods is to draw up a chart or graph, showing dial readings and wavelengths or frequency of stations you can receive regularly. Then by a comparison between these readings and those of unknown stations the frequency or wavelength of the latter can be determined accurately enough for identification pur-poses.-Ed.]