News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 37, 27 March 1931, Page 10

News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

‘Addresses & Addresses Wanted we tg, d \ EH F.A. (Masterton); W5PP. L. F. "* MeCollan, 629c,. New .Post, Fori Sill, Oklohoma. W2XP. lL. G. Pacent, Myers Ave, and Queen’s Blvd, Winfield, N. York. W6EFAI. We cannot trace, "QSCAR" (Marton): Your letter has been dispatched to Europe. ‘A N.. (North Otago): VK3HS, E. 8. * Yorston, 15 Springfield . Avenue, St. Kilda, Victoria, is an Australian amateur transmitter. As you heard him on the broadcast band he probably has ‘an experimental license. Replies to Correspondents . A G. (Inglewood): Unfortunately we * have not the list you inquire for, and we can give you no indication of the verifications which were accepted. A number of factors influenced our judging -such as comparisons with verifications from other DX-ers, etc.-so you can well ‘understand that to compile such a list is now impossible. However, the majority of letters in which verification was not definitely granted were not accepted, and zou wil probably be able to sort these out.- id. . Identification Wanted STATION heard at 6.30 p.m. on March 13 on 1460ke. (205m.) Station was just closing down and gave the time as 1.30. Call sounded like KFGB, owned by the Federal.Radio Commission, Washing‘ton, Station KGA was heard 1 degree above, broadcasting a description of a rwrestling match between George and Marecovitch, the latter winning by one fall, Dial readings: 2HD 21, KGA- 15.

‘and unknown station 14-

Bulls-eye

(Featherston

STATION 2 heard on March 11 on 1410 (212m.). was unable to get _eall as was bad, with rapid fade, ‘but managed to hear the following an"mouncement at 7.30 p.m.: "You are now -‘to hear . known as the red-headed ‘entertainer, in two numbers . an 1] eK.

HLM.V. record." Faded out at 8.10 p.m.

T.J.L.

T.

(Miramar).

St ATION poard on 2NC’s frequency from 3.50 am. to 4.30 a,m., on March 15. strength, but. mushy, and was unable to get call. At 3.55 a.m. a baritone solo was heard, followed by a banjo solo. accompanied by piano. .20 a.m., annouzicer mentioned time was in the morning. Closed down at 4.30 a.m, with orchestral item and baritone singing a verse ‘ending "GQood-nieht. vood-night. vood-night.’-

Mark

(Dunedin). |

At 9.45 p.m. on March 16 I heard a strange station, I think an Australian, at 124 on the dial. A string. band was performing at the time, At 9.55 p.m. "God Save the King" was played and the station closed down.-H.T.B. (Blenheim). TATION on 850 ke. (353 metres) heard on March 16 at 12.30 am. A man was speaking in a foreign tongue. I returned to him at 1 a.m., and heard .musie followed by three strokes on a gong, an announcement, and then three more. Also a station on 780 ke. (3884 metres) heard at 12.17 am. After waiting a while I heard the man say "One, two, three, four (repeated twice), KT,

T> testing: He then closed down:

C.G.

C.

(Christchurch) .

At 9.20 p.m. on March 15 heard a station on 1360 ke. (220m.), playing classical orchestral music, good volume. No call was heard. Also at 7.15 p.m. on March 16 station on 1180 ke. (254m.) playing gramophone recordings. Two items were "In a Monastery Garden" and "In a Persian Market." Statice pre-

vented my getting the call-

W.A.

P.

Halcombe

I HAVE recently received a letter from 7LA Launceston, Tasmania, owned and operated by Findlay and Wills,

Broadcasters’ Pty., Ltd. The transmitting plant occupies a site 4 acres in area. The steel aerial masts are 160 feet high on 2& land site 650 feet above sea-level. Aerial radiated power is 200 watts, and the wavelength 278m.° (1100 ke.). Hours of transmission are: 4.30 to 6 p.m. daily except Sunday; 7.80-11.30 p.m. each even-

ing (New Zealand standard time).-

M.

B.

(azapol) .

ST4 TION heard at 2 a.m. on March 9 just below 2NO, Newcastle.’ A tenor solo. "Mary, the Rose of Tralee," was heard just afther 1 a.m., followed by a foxtrot. I think the said 8F or 33}, but I-could not catch the remainder of the announcement. Is there more than one station at Albury, N.S.W.? (Not on the broadeast band.-d. ) I heard a shortwave station just after midnight, and it closes down about 3 a.m. He announces *Ah Loo" twice, and tans a sone before

each: item,-

Jacko

(Rewinui)

Stations Identified L F.C. (Cheh.) : PLM, Java, on 24.46 * m. They called Sydney and asked them if their transmission was coming through all right. Children were singing at the time, Later they called Amsterdam. ‘The sawmill noise you heard was probably occasioned by vower-line

leakages during a relay.-

L.

Saunders

(N.Z,12.W.).

-D.X&. Topics DX Cup Winner Offers Trophy. R. SPENCE R. ELLIS writes thanking all the DX fans who took the trouble to write him congratulating him on his win of the "Radio Record" DX Cup. He also desires to thank members who. expressed their appreciation through the DX Club’s column. Mr. Bilis has also made a proposal regarding the establishment. of a cup for the best log of verified stations received on a battery set up to five valves, under the same general rules as apply in connection with the "Radio Record" competition. We are in correspondence with Mr. Willis concerning ‘details in connection with this matter, and hope to be able to make an announcement at an early date. Seasonal Effects on Transmission. LATELY a station giving the call ZAY has been heard as loudly as any New Zealand station. [2AY, Albury, on 227 m. (1320 k.c.), ‘with a power of 50 watts-HEd.] 8DB. Melbourne, has also been at full strength. I have noticed that lately 2YA has been fading badlv.-

E.F.

B.

(Blenheim).

LNote: This is due not to any fault of the transmission but to a seasonal effect, which was fully explained in last week’s issue-Ed.J] , Verifications from Australia, "(NROMDALE" (Otago): Re KZRM, Manila, and KGW, Portland, Oregon. [ think we must both be right, as I hold verifications from both stations for programmes on January 1 (KGW, 7.40 to ) p.m.), and 2nd (KZRM, from 12.0 to 2.50 a.m.). "Cromdale" evidently heard them on their morning transmission. I still think he should hear the Manila

station on .the same. frequency, 620. k. (485 m.), as: they have increased thei power to 50 k.w.. In common with other DX-ers, I have -written to amateur Australian stations. in answer to requests for ‘reports and have sent complete data for verification. I have received no reply. I have written twice to 4ZP, Invercargill, and once to 2ZR, Wanganui, but have not heard from them. Of course, they are under- no. obligation to reply, but when reports are asked for it is at

least common courtesy to do so-

J.P.

C.

(PNJ)

4A. Two-way Tall. A unique conversation between ten "hams" took place on the 80-metre band last week. The transmitters, 8A}, 3BJ, 3CK, 3BO, 3AM, 8BG,*80W, 302, 8CA and 3AD, -are all in the third district. ‘The best, in this locality at least, was 8CW, of Greymouth, operated by WH. Spiers, .5 Cowper Street, Greymouth. His phone was. very clear and at good strength. Some of the others were-d's torting, possibly through little or }o

fault of the transmitters.

R. L.

J[?]es

(Wellington ).

A Mystery Solved. TX arecent issue "Wireman" (Masterton) mentions hearing a station on a wavelength ‘slightly higher than that of KGMB, ‘with a call sign which sounded like KNX. I also heard this station and received the call quite clearly. Some time ago I heard this station announcing WLW, so it evidently makes a practice of relaying other stations. "Wireman" also mentions hearing Japanese music from KGMB. This is: quite common. A few nights ago I heard a complete Japan-

ese programme.-

G.R.

M.

‘Clevedon, §.).

| " 4ZP's Schedule. HE} hours of 4ZP Invercargill, as given by "Inquisitive’ (Motueka) have been changed: He came on the air on March 7 after six week’s silence. Schedule as follows:-Monday, Tuesday. and: Thursday, 8-10 p.m.; Friday, 8-11 p.m.; Sunday, 6.30 p.m.-7.45 p.m.; present power is from 50 to 100 watts. but this will shortly be inereased to 500 to 1000

watts.-

Amuri

(Invercargill).

New English Short-Waver. SHORT-WAVE reception is steadily improving as winter approaches, and Zeesen. Rome, and Chelmsford are anproaching their normal strength. HVJ. Vatican City. is on the air every morning on 50.26m. Carrier is P9. but musie and speech is barely audible. Following is an extract taken from "International Short wave Radio News" :-"Plans are now’ bes ing madg by the Ministry of Colonies and the Ministry of Dominions to erect a short-wave station at Daventry which will transmit on two wavelengths. This Station will. take the place of the experimental station 5SW, and will have 25 kw. power. Construction work will start

shortly

H.F.

A.

(Masterton),

Frequency Mix-up. qs "Big Bill’ (Timaru) sure that he heard "Don’t Forget Me in Your Dreams" on 1290 k.c.° (282 m.)?° On March 3 I received KGO on 790 kc. (.380 metres), and heard the same item. Time was given as 12.1, followed by the weather forecast. I also heard KTM (just above KGO) on the same night

fortune-telling.-

B.

Ginna

(Rotorua) _

D.X. Wanderings. ON March 1 KWX, Portland, 254 m. (1180 k.c.), was clearly heard, and later KOB, State College, was transmitting a special test programme at good strength, WOIA on 252 m> (1190 k.c.) was also heard. Recently KFYTB was heard on a special test programme on metres.- Could anyone give me his location? [This call does not appear in’ the latest call book-Hd.] On the 5th D.X. eonditions were excellent. KHJ, Los Angeles, 383 m. (900 ke.), wags heard with wnusual clarity relaying from the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles. This programme’ was also heard through "£ \

# xpe, Salt Lake City, 282 m. (1290 / ke), KFOX was at excellent strength with music from the Silver Slipper Cafe. An American on about 216 m: (1890. k.c.) was heard. on most evenings, but cannot be identified. ‘The suggestion of giving certificates. to the best D.X.-ers according to location is certainly good.-

A.D.

R.

(Wellington).

Wavering Carriers, I NOTICE "Ray Dio" (Shannon) has been puzzled by the wavering of sig- _ nals from certain American stations. I have noticed this and attribute it to heretodyne between stations nominally on the same frequency. KIFOX is afflicted with a low-pitched hum which varies in intensity on different nights. This is not present in their early morning programmes, however. Sometimes during a fade music can be heard in the background, and twice I have caught the call WRHM; Minneapolis. Once Yse announcement of the next number vas heard before KFOX came back again. "hey are both on the same frequency. Regarding WTIO, I believe this station synchronises with another and transmits the same programme on the same fre-

quency.

Ben

Adhem

| (Qamaru).

Special S.W. Broadcast, N a recent letter Mr. Amando Cespedes Marin, of station NRH, Heredia, Costa Rica, Central America, states that on March 29 he will transmit a special programme dedicated to myself. Time will be from approximately 4 p.m, until possibly 5.30 p.m,, New Zealand standard time. The carrier should be heard a little before 4 p.m. Wavelength will probably. be approximately 30.5 m. If any listeners succeed in picking up the transmission I would apnreciate a report addressed to Box 6, Wellington, in order that a comprehensive report cover-

ing New Zealand reception may be compiled and forwarded to NRH, The following is an extract from his letter:"My son, nearly 12 years old now, has no time but for playing the piano at first sight. I had to buy one for him, and many times the world has reported the hearing of his entertaining. The latest record for N.R.H. has been from Zamboanga, Philippines. In accordance with the National Geographic map from Washington, U.S.A., New Zealand is 6500 miles S.W. of us; Adelaide 10,000 miles, and Philippines 11,000 miles. I always begin generally with 9 chimes and end with 10 o’clock chimes. The familiar American music which you all hear is not any anthem from U.S.A., but the regular noble anthem of my Costa Rica which the world has learned to know and eing ac wall"? A nhotosranh of the N.R.H.

pi+O transmitter is enclosed:

L. W.

Jones

(Wellington)

The DX Competition. "PHERE is one point concerning the DX Competition on which I would like to be enlightened. I have just started in earnest to write for verifications, and by July will not have’ time to have received my replies. Will the verifications { have in hand on July 1 count as well as though received in the next six months? Is the enclosed log a good one?

D.N.

A.

(Timaru).

[Any verification, provided that [tne station is still transmitting on the frequency indicated on the card, is accepted. Thus you might have a two years’ old verification which can still be entered for ‘each succeeding competition until the frequency is changed. Your present log compares very favourably with any we have seen,-Hd.] Address of OKR, "OSCAR" (Marton): I addressed my letter to Broadcasting Station,

OKR, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. I posted it on November 1, 1930,. and received a reply on,January 29, 1931. I advise DX-ers to get a DX clock, and than work ont the Huropean time when

Uae the items are received:-

W.L.

P.

(Pahia-

tua).

A Low-power Record-breaker. UNDER date February 20, Mr. Amando Cespedes Marin, of short-wave station NRH; Costa Rica, sends the following copy of a letter received by ATDU fram an anthnaiaagtie listener in

CLULZ IZ ea Octl Boston: Mass.

R. L.

Jones

Welling-

ton):

"Working with only (3 watts power (less than a small electric light pulb), NRH, Heredia, Costa Rica, Central America, reaches out to Hurope on the DPast, and Australia and New Zealand to the West. While the more powerful stations on account of atmospheric conditions fail to come through at all; this little fellow-just like a little boy wriggling his way through a small hole in a fence to see a ball game, while his bigger brothers must stay outmanages to wiggle through the ether, rain or shine. But, as marvellous as this little station is, the most fascinating part of it is its owner, Senor Amando Cespedes Marin, who, like the one-man band, is a one-man broadcaster; for he combines in himself the positions of operator, enginéer, announcer, and correspondent. "his highly-cultured Spaniard, with his qaint English, is the most interesting person on the air. Since NRH is a private (non-commercial) station without any advertising, his nightly little chats in Spanish and Hnglish between.

the musical numbers are very. entertaining. At every intermission one-can hear him greet some of his multitude of friends and admirers in his cute English, thus: ‘Hello, Mr. -~, ‘Boston, Mass.! How are you to-night? I received your letter and am sending you my diploma. How is reception tonight? ete, ete. It is this personal touch that makes him the most fascinating character on the air. But, last but not least, those who have the pleasure of corresponding with him discover from his letters that the hu‘man family is the same all over the world, in spite of differences of language, race, or nationality. And it is short-wave radio that. will foster better relations and more friendly feelings all

over the earth.

Jacob H.

Borofsky

Boston, Mass."