Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 45, 22 May 1931, Page 31

Round the World on Short Wave

THIS page is ‘conducted in the’ interests of shortwave enthusiasts. A weekly log comprising notes of: ‘reception and interesting topical events is contributed by Mr. F. W. Sellens, Northiand, Wellington, but all listeners are invited to send. in: 1 paragraphs of general interest.

‘N.Z. Short-wave Club The Secretary Writes ENDING confirmation, the next meeting and -lecture will-be held on. Thursday, May 28 next, at 7.30 p.m., in Messrs. Nimmo’s Concert Hall, corner Willis and Bond:Streets, when the presi-dent,-Mr. F. W. Sellens, will take for his subject "Wavelength Calibration," showing an easy way of finding stations. Any shortwaver in Wellington on that date will be welcome. ‘Country members will be interested to note that we are getting ready a complete list of stations and times of operation to send to them. In addition, I hope to be able to enclose a few notes of interest not Treasury notes, as a member suggests). This will enable us to keep in thuch with members until the suggestions sent in can be put into operation. Any shortwaver in the Auckland district who attends the Auckland Radio Exhibition is invited to introduce bimself to NZ1I2W, Mr. I. Saunders, who will be at the "Radio Record" stand and will be very pleased: to’ meet members and prospective members.- In his absence Mr. Colin Smith, of the: "Record" (NZ60W). will supply information and collect subseriptions... It is hoped that Q.S.L. cards will be available for sale at the stand.to boni-fide members of the club, mo Several stations have sent to Headquarters Q.S.L. cards in reply to members’ reports. These I will forward on to their destination. -. Members are-asked to make their reports as.complete as possTxle’ as, owing to the new postage rates, it is an expensive matter to reply to a . acts saying, "I heard you -so-and-so; \ ple: @ send me a card." "- \. We missed a’ special’ announcement rom W8XAQL in Wellington; but, fortunately, NZ9OW, Mr. Gee, of Otangihaka, wrote’ in ‘giving us full détails. A numLer of. reports were sent in, whiich . I handed to Mr. Sellens, who asked me to thank members on his behalf. ¥rom these reports we can make some interest: ing comparisons of reception in different localities. The Bay of Plenty seems a very favourable place for shortwave reception. *

Yours,

MAC

Short-wave | News KEL Testing. URTHER to my report. in May 8 ‘issue, re Californian station working JIAA through Manila, I picked this

station up ‘direct on the Gth. Details are as follow: KEL (10,410 kilo,), Bolinas, California. .To be found ‘about one point on dial above VK2MH, Sydney I stated previously that it was a broadcast station, This is not the case. As they also gave the call KEF they were evidently rebroadcasting them. I pieked them up at 5.5 p.m.. when they were about RT (reaching R8-9 by 6. p.m,). working JIAA direct. Programme coni-

prised a selection of gramophone records They stated they were testing with the latter station. A few evenings ago this station working through Manila: put ,over greetings to the HMmperor of Japan from the Japanese Ambassador, who was seated in the room at. his hotel in New York. As greetings were transmitted the English translation was given by the Ambassador’s secretary. This was put over from about 11.45 p.m., April 30. to 1.30 a.m. next morning. Station KEL is owned by the Radio Corporation of America and Communications Ine.-M. Walker (Wellington). Recently Heard Short-wavers. TATION NRH, Costa Riea, Centru! America, has been heard operating on29.8 metres for the last month. Reception is even better than on the previous wavelength of 30.5 metres. It is now possible to receive him 100 per cent. throughout his one hours’ trans mission, His special test on 80.5 metres to Mr. R. L. Jones (Wellington) on March 28 was not received here too well. Before commencing transmission his general broadcast was carried out on 29.8 metres. He came through very well indeed, and once he called Mr. Jones and referred to his special broadcast. Afterward, however, he changed his wavelength to 30.5 metres and he was only 25 per cent. readable.

A verification was recently received: from -7LO, Nairobi, Kenya, Bast Africa, ‘and they mention previous to my report reaching them’ reports had come from Auckland, Christchurch and Johnsonville. The engineer in charge, Mr. N. U. Venn. mentions that he belongs to the city of Wellington, o Quite a number of vevitications were received recently from American ainateur 80-metre zone stations. One station I hear often is W6BII", Glendale, California. Mr. Lester LP. Abarta, operator, states in a letter that he is receiving credit not due to him, and that he has received several. letters prior to mine stating that they had heard his transmission on phone on 8O metres. Mr. Abarta states someone is using his call letters, because he does not work on 80 metres, and asks if any New Zealani listener hears the call and the address of W6BIF given on SO metres he would appreciate it if they would drop him a line. Mr. Abarta mentions ihat New Zealand amateurs on 80 metres phone are being heard well in America. in one reply I received from the Stutes the writer expresses considerable surprise at my hearing h.m, because he was using extremely low power, even lower than NRH on 74 watts! He was alsu using an ordinary telephone microphone. On May 3, at 7.30 p.m., VE9CL was heard on a special list programme, transmitting, from the Royal Alexandra Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Reports were asked for. Strength was R7 to-8. On May 2 a French station was coming in like 2YA with musical items, and calling Saigon. Tlis wave length was approximrately 25 metres. A letter received from Mr. Fred Easter, Ohio, recently, remarks that this Fyvench station is FTK, who also works Saigon on 18.8 metres. Mr. Fasten’s letter contains some interesting topics on shortwave — stations :- "Watch out for XZ6A on 41 metres (7300 k.c.).. This station is located at Nuevo Lanedo (Mexico), and is broadcasting daily now. You would hear it in the early evening, your time. El Prado, in Riobamba, Ecuador, South America, is on 39.5 metres, and is on the air from 9 to 11 p.m., Ohio time. The announcing is done in Spanish." Mr. Baster states that the station Mr, Sellens mentioned on March 6 is station XDA, on 51.2 metres, which has been testing a 14 kw. transmitter lately. HKF, Bogota, Colombia, is 39.4 metres. The 7-watt station mentioned by Mr. Sellens in his notes on May 1 with the call sign of HKD I have heard on approximately 41 metres, but the

a call, as far as I could make out, was V. He has been heard acknowledging reports from. listeners, and the word "Colombia" ‘has been mentioned, so it is probable the correct call sign is HKD. I am writing for a verification and data. .On May 7, at 11.45 p.m., a station was heard on 47 metres playing music, and ah announcement was made that it wus "Patan, California, U.S.A." Strength was R9, and very clear: I: would like to hear from Mr. Mark Churton, of Auckland, and Mr. Ellis, of Okato.-A, Vv, Morrison, Brooklyn, Wellington, Free Licenses for Unemployed FRAvI0 is considered to be practically ‘a necessity in Germany, and the Government is considering a scheme whereby persons who have been ont of employment for, six months or more shall continue to work their receiver without payment of a license fee until such time as they are earning again, The same privilege of free radio is accorded the blind and’ those who are suffering through war service. Enthusiastic Radio. : Amateurs Clandestine Listening HAT his establishment -is "full of clandestine wireless amateurs" is the complaint of the headmaster of a famous. Paris school. He states that pupils are constantly "making radio sets on the sly," installing them in their dormitories, and. sometimes concealing them under their beds. Certain ‘pupils, he declares, have hidden receivers in their classroom desks, and when they have appeared to be listening to their professors, have actually been holding phones ‘to:their ears.

Aoud t @onld Siott we 7