News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 51, 3 July 1931, Page 12

News and Views of the D.X. CLUB

Answers to Correspondents MES. R.LD. (Otahuhu): It is impos‘sible to identify stations from the frequency only. Sometimes there are as many 28 six or seven stations on or very near.the same frequency, and to sort one of these out without further particulars is impossible. Some data concerning ai least items heard, and time of reception, ave essential. "OM, (Wellington): The fact that you cannot receive Americans is not the fault af your receiver (if, of course, it is‘working efficiently), for it is of excellent make, nor of your aerial, Unfortunately clay-even wet clay-does not make the best of earths, as the resistance is rather high, If you could sink a new earth in wet, loamy soil, you would prohably notice a marked improvement. Incidentally your locality is rather poor for long-distance reception.--Iid. ° ( N June 16 many Americans were log. sed between 4.30 and 11 p.m, Among them. were the following: KGER, KYW, WEAA, and RFRC, At about 10 p.m. KYLE was louder than 4YA. TZL, Hohart, .was badly heterodyned by an American until about 10 p.m. Between 1350 k.c, and 1050 k.e, (222 and 286 metres) there must be about 30 stations or more all operating at the same time and- heteredyning badiy, and still new stations are given license to operate be-

tween theso frequencies;

L.

I.

Gis-

borne).

"pRouT" (Taupo): Verifieations from : New Zealand stations and the following Australians, 2FC, 2BL, 3L0,; 2NG, 8AR, 4QG, 2BE, 2UE. 2GD, 3DB. 80Z, 5CL, 6WF, 7Zl and TLA, are not accepted for the D.X. competition. The lastanamed Australians are, however. eounted if Jogged in daylight, but the verification cards must clearly admit this fact, Your log should be well worth entering for the Ellis Cup (for competition..among battery-set owners). TEntries for. this should ‘reach our offices not latex dha Deremher 31, 1931. » Tentifcation Wanted ee "ppc PITCH" (Putaruru): 38BO0, "Bendigo. 4BC, J. B. Chandler and Cod Street, Brisbane. 6WH. Natlonat Broadeasting Station, Hay Street, Perth. " ASE o" (Kakahi): JOWK, Sendai, is hoy Quite suflicient. "BoB (Wellington): WTAM, National Broadcasting Co., Cleveland, Ohio.--KTHS. Chamber of Commerce, Hot; Springs, Arkansas, WFAA, Dallas Nows and Journal, Dallas, Texas, WLS, Agricultural Broadcasting Co., Tilinois. W, JACK (Wellington): WLS, Agrieullural Broadcasting Compuny, Chidhgo, Illinois, and WENR, Great

Lakes Broadcasting Company, Chicago, Mlinois, These two stations share transmission times. Would P,K.B. (Oamaru) please send his address? AMERICAN station heard at 6 p.m. on the 28rd on 605 k.e. (495 m.).

A xylophone solo was heard.-

Oscar

(Marton).

AT 12.25 am. on the 2ist I heard a 4 station which sounded Chinese. A lengthy talk, followed by an announcement, was given. Dial reading 68 (SAR. Melhourne. GO: TZ, Tahart 7)

Hilltop

(Wellington)

fKor a four-valve Browning Drake your log is quite good. Why not bring your set up to date by building the "Outspan" ?--Bd.]} At 3 am. on the 19th, station heard 1 dep. below 2FC. Dance musie was heard, followed by an announcement that, the last dance number would be "Safety First.’ Wollowing this, what sounded like "Auld Tang Syne"? was heard, and the station went off the air. —

Also, an American between 4QG and 2YA announcing "K ---- IL." At 8.10 p.m, the announcer made reference to au advertisement concerning the cleaning of ears for seven dollars, At 815 pm. a2 man was singing "Nobody’s Sweet-heart."-~""Radio" )Auckland). GTATION on approx. 845 k.c, (3855 m.) beard at 5 a.m. on the 28rd. An instrumental item followed by a short talk in BWuglish was heard. After a piane solo the station closed down. Would this be VUB. Bombay? Also station on approx. T85 kc. (882 m.) between KTM and JOU heard several evenings this

Teek at aDnrOX 9.30}

Ocol

(ELB.).

TATION heard on 11.5 deg. (8D. Melbourne..on 12) from 1 a.m. till 2.45 am. on June 21. The music was clear, almost all the items being noted, but announcements were poor. At 2.4 a.m, a call resembling 3BY, was given.-‘Punch" (Dunedin). JAPANESE. stations heard at midnight *¥ on June 21 broadcasting on 525 ke. (568 m.) and 780 ke. (BS m. ‘High Piteh™® (Putaruru). STATION heard at 3.45 am. on June 13 on 810 ke. (8370 m.). Man was speaking in a foreign language. Also a station on 1070 k.c. (280; m.) heard on June 7. Several vocal numbers © and orchestral selections were broadcast between 12.30 and 2.15 p.m.. when he signed off. Station on 1120 km (268 in.), Which signed off at 9 p.m, on June 17. Portion of eall sounded like "F.S,° Also station on 1460 k.c. (approx. (205 m.) heard on June 2. Man was singing to orchestral accompaniment. Announcer remarked that time was — 20 minutes to {or past) ten, and station signed off at 6.88 p.m., N.Z. time, Lady heard speaking from station on 1140 k.e. (962 mm.) at 1.25 a.m. T later heard

"Flere Comes the Sun."-

Murihiku

(Invercargill) _

TATION heard between 5.30 and 5.45 p.m. (when he closed down) on June 2 ylavine dance music. Onerating on

880 m. (790 k.e.)-

Pop

(Wellington)

QTATION on 303 m. (990 k.c.) heard on June 9. Items heard: 9,20 p.m., "Old Pals are the Best Pals After Al" {tenor solo); 9.55 p.m., organ solo; 10.5 p.m., it was announced that --- was relaying from the Town Hall. It was also heard on June 10 broadcasting what appeared to be a children’s session. [ am practically certain that the eall was 4GR, Toowoomba, but that station is listed as hoine on 294 metrea (1090

_ ke). It was not 8BO,-

R. J.

R.

(PN.)

At 4.45 p.m. on June 17, station heard on 910 kc. (330m.) Speech was foreign, A number of gramophone re« eords was played. Also at 4.15 p.m. on the 21st, another foreigner on 950 k.c. (515.9m.) was heard playing records, and also ~broadeasting songs with stringed orchestral accompaniment. Songs and

speech were both foreign. Has any DX er heard the Cuban station Jas any

L.

I.

(Gisborne).

TATION heard from 4.30 p.m. until 5.10 p.m. on June 21 on approximately 250 metres (1200 k.c.). About a dozen records were heard, but even on Closing down no announcement was made. Evidently fairly close to Hastings, as signals were loud, Also an American on approximately 280 metres (1300 k.c.), closing down about 7.25 p.m, An orchestra was playing and the following items were heard: "Old Black Joe," "I Don’t Suppose You Have Me in Your Dreams." and "T Have

but I Flayen’t Got You.

Molecule

(Iastings) _

TATION heard at about 2 a.m, on June 22 on approximately 700 k.e. (428 m.). One of the records heard was (2.24 a.m.), "Tet the Rest of the World Ge By." At 2.28 a.m. a talk was given in very slow English. followed by "GQo4 Save the King." Closed down at 2.40 am Qlall wae oiven hnt wae mivccod

owing to static,

N.

Jenkins

(Master-

ton).

QGTATION heard from 10.30 until 11.15 am. (when they closed down), on June 21 on 30.4 m. Several recordings and 2 few orchestral numbers were played. Call letters could. not be distinguished, but I heard "Hispaniola" and a reference to the Spanish Bulletin.

Strength about R7.-

T. P.

Sewell

(Christ-

ehureh).

STATION heard at 5,45 Pan, a June on approx. 250 m. k.c.). The following accordion solos were play: ed consecutively :. "Scottish Airs," , march, "Sole Mio," and "When You Come to the End of a Perfect Day." Also a station on 227 m. (1820 k.c.) signing

of at 10 pm. N.Z, time, on June 18, after playing the National Anthem. Pre.¢vivusly a band selection with cornet solo heard. Also station just below NC, heard at 10.15 p.m., playing "Men of Harlech." Station was evidently: broadcasting a sponsored programme,’ as mention was made of Proprietary, td. This was followed by two humor-

ous solos by Tom Cook.

G. B.

Boy

(Dunedin).

Stations Identified "FLLECTRON" (Oamaru): American near KGA is WLACG. Nashville,

Tennessee.

N.

Jenkins

(Masterton ).

"GE-VALVE" (Christchurch): Station heard when 2NC signed off was SHF, Dllwood. "D.MchL," (Wellington): JOAK, Tokio, 345 m. (870 kc.). "MAAH" (Morrinsville): WOAI, San Antonio, Texas, 252 m. (1190 k.e.). They alyvys have a news session before they eldsa down at 5pm, " Sahem" (Feilding): THO, Hobart, 387 m. (890 k.e.). "A, D. Henderson" (Hastings): JOFK, Hiroshima, 858 m. (850 ke). "Novice" (Dunedin); 4BC, Brisbane, 265 m. (1180 k.e.). "Oct. 8 (Havelock North): 3BO, Bendigo, on about 308 m. (965 k.e.). "Distance" (Wellington): JOAK, Tokio, 345 m. (870 k.c.). "W.F." (Blenheim): KIM, Los Angeles, 385 m. (780 kc.) ; KPO, San Francisco, 441 m. (680 kc.). ‘"Blectron" (Oamaru): Station between 3YA and 2UH is an Australian, the call of which I have not been able to get. Wavelength is about 303 m, (990 ke). KEBB, Great Falls, Montana, 234 m, (1280 k.e.). "Petector" (Auckland):°2ZD. Master-

ton, 254.m. (1180 k.c,).-

R. J.

R.

(PN)-

I J.M, (Christehurch); Station on 890 " . was JOHK, Sendai, relaying JOAK. On Sunday evenings the Japs. play quite a lot of English and European dmusie, either with their own orchestra, which is quite e bigh.class, or with vecordings. W.H (Auckland): Your station was "éthe Theatre of the Air," on their midnight request session, D.Mch. (Wellington): JOAK, Tokio, "Distance" (Wellington) : "Station you heard is Radio Bangkok, Siam, as deseribed in last week’s notes. ‘Novice’ (Dunedin): 2UN, Radio House, Sydney" MAA ‘H." (Morrinsville) : WOAT, San Antonio, Texas, He is my best’ American and now ¢an be heard at good speaker strength on an old 6-valve battery set in this poor locality at 3.45 p.m. and can be handled on the © local" switeh when giving the news session, with which he | closes down at 5 pm. (our time). 8" (Havelock North): Greetings from a Napier H.S.0.B. Your station is 83BO, Bendigo, which is coming in now at RV This station has no eards as yet, but acknowledges letters over the air, Have been able to hear KFT testing on recent nights about 11 p.m: quite clearly on speaker without

either earth or aerial.

E. J.

Crabbe

{Buller Gorge).

"GUS: (Hastings): KTM, The Pickwiek Broadeastine Corn... Tos An«

geles:-

Proton

(Gisborne)

C.A, (Aramoho): Station 4BC, Bris- * bane. I heard the announcer counting up to ten recentiv. WN. Jenkins (Wace

terton 5ws: Adelaide

Murihiku

(Invercargill).

IX-VALVB (Christchurch) : Station on 1260 k.c. (238 m.) is swR, Wangaratta, "Live Wire’ (Wa1 nganui): Jap. on 595 k.e. (504 m.) re-

laying JOAK. "Oct. 8" (Havelock): 8BO, Bendigo, on 980 kc. (306 m.). WW (Rienheim): KPO. San Francisco,

on 680 kc. (442 m,)~-

Oscar

Mar

ton)_

DX Topics Verification Notes. (THE following are notes taken from recently received verifications: Call latters of KMIC were changed to KMCS on January 16. KOL, Seattle writes: "This is the first letter we have received from New Zealand. Since your reception of our programme we have installed a new transmitter, power 1 k.w., with 100 per cent. modulation, and you should be able to receive us consistently with increased signal strength." They also asked for reports on their new transmitter. As verification of my report to KREG, the owner of that station, ‘Mr. A. R. Van Campernolle, sent a newspaper clipping of an article on my report which appeared in the "Santa Ana Daily Register." Other verifications were received from KMCS, Inglewood, California; WkKBF, Indianapolis; KVI, Tacoma; KLX, Oakland; and KGA, Spokane--"‘Seven Kicker" (Okoroire Springs). Who Heterodynes 2YA? AMERICAN stations have been coming in very well lately. WTAM Cleveland, 1070 ke. (280 m.) has been heard at 430 a.m. at R8 on speaker. Like "Six-Valve" (Christchurch), I receive 5CL Adelaide at good volume and very seldom notice any heterodyne with 2¥YA-then only between 5 and 6.15 p.m. On June 14, after 2YA had closed down at 4.30 pm, WGM Chicago wag received at RZ on the sneaker. This station

may possibly be the eulnrit.-

Bill

(Hastings). —

LXYour log is quite a good one. ims creasing the height of your aerial above 40 feet would not be of any distinet value. 4ZR Well Received. A NEW station, 4ZR, Baiclutha, has been heard operating on 1330 kc. (225 m.). He comes in at excellent volume here. Verifications have been lately received for davlight reception of

2BL and 2FC-

W.

Hampson

(Black?

ball) ,

4LW, Brisbane, At about 9.6 p.m. on the 28rd, experimental station VE4LW, Brisbane, on approx. 1500 kc. (200 m.), was received at good strength. Address was given as 20 Elizabeth Street, Rosalie, Brisbane. "Live Wire" (Wanganui) : Y heave also heard the new Jap on ap-

proximately 895 k.e. (8285 m.).-

Sahem

(Feilding) _

A New American? LAzest verifications are from KH, KPO, KNX and 2F0, which was logged on May 23 at 4.45 pm, Will this count for the DX competition? {Yes -Hd.] W.H. (Blackball): I have heard the station whose call you take to be WXAR, and think the call is KXAR. I heard him on June 21 ait 5.10 p.m., until 3YA’s carrier cut him out. { have the WBBM Call Book with 620 stations in it, but this station is not in-

eluded.

Proton

(Gisborne).

KFI .Coming in Weil. ONY the cyening of June 16 station KEI, (469 m.), was heard testing at °16 30 p.m. Though this locality is extremely for American reception, volume was much

hatter than that from 4VA. Statice wak

moderate, with no fading.

N.

Arthur

(Napier

Recenf Loggings. LATEST loggings are from KEVD. Culver City; KOA, Denver, and KHJ, Los Angely. WTAM is my best | American, and comes in at R5 at about 4.30 p.m., while KTHS is R3.-"Oseax" (Marton). ; Particulars of 4Z5. RIFICATION was recently received from station 4ZE, Dunedin, which is operated by Laidlaw and Gray, Ltd., 123 -George Street, Dunedin. Power approximately 74 watis. Frequency approx. 1080 k.c. (278 m.}. No regular programme schedule as yet.-‘"Lohta" Shortwaver on @ Broaieast Set. At 11 p.m. on the 20th four new Japanese stations were heard. Their ealls, noted as they closed down at about | 12.30 am., were as follow: JOAK, 870 kc. (344.6 m.); KOGK, 790 kc. (879.5 m.); JOHK, 770 k.c, (389.4 m.); and JOAA, 580 ke, (517 m.). All were at good loudspeaker strength. I receive quite a number of short-wavers on my six-valve a.c. broadeast set, They inelude 2MB, Sydney, often heard at about 6.30 p.m. calling up the Norah, a coastal steamer, and I can hear the Norah acknowledging the message. I can also hear a number of New Zealand "hams" on two-way conversation, Is this usual with a broadcast set? Below is given an excerpt from a verification received from station KOB, State College, New Mexico.-"28G" (Takapau). {Your receiver must be oscillating and probably its third harmonie is heterodyning with the carriers of the short-wave stations you receive, resulting in a beat frequency which is being detected and amplified by your set, Your receiver | igs well designed and soundly built through= out.-Hd.] "Station KOB is owned and operated by the New Mexico State College _ of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts at Las Cruces, New Mexico, 40 miles north of Hl Paso, Texas, It is one of the oldest broadcasting stations in existence, have ing eommenced regular telephone broad casts with a five-watt experimental set in 1921. A regular broadcasting service has been maintained ever’ since. e present transmitter is a 20 k.w. set constructed in the shops of the college from, our own design. The antenna system, consists of a cage type of aerial and a‘ counterpoise suspended on insulated pipe, masts 140 feet high and 175 feet apart Our frequency is 1180 k.e. Sot ees DX Notes. wt JUNE 21 was an excellent night for reception here. Of the Americans (Concluded on page 29.) 23

Foreign Pronunciations HE following is the alphabet with German and Spanish pronunciations. This should be of great aid in identifying stations. For exaniple, if you hear, "ai’ley ai’ssey ai’kesa," you will know for certain it is LSX, Argentina. GERMAN. A ak. N "n" as ‘in English. B bay. 06 "eo" as in English. © say. P pay. D day. @ coo, E aay. Rairr (roll the "r’). x "£" as in English. S "s" as in English, G gay. T tay. HE hay. U oo (as in "too"). E ee. V fow ("ow" as in "cow"). -§ yot (shoré "o"). W say. K . XK ix (as in "fix’). L "" as in English. Y ip’see Jon." M "mm" as in English, Z% tsett. . SPANISH. NOTE.-~An apostrophe (’) after a syllable means that it is accented, One before "h" means that "h" is guttural.-"NZ17W,, (P.N.). A ah. J *ho’tah. S ai’ssey. B bay. K kah. % tay. C thay. LL aij’ley. U = oo. D day. Msai’mey. V_ssvay. E ay. N_ai’ney. (There is no "W""). ¥ = aj’fey. 0 ok. XxX = ai’kess. G "hay. P pay. Y yay (or) ee HE ah’chey, Q coo, gree ay’ga. I ee. R afrey. Z thay’tah.

D.X: Topics (Continued from page 13.) WENR, Chieago, and WFAA, Dallas, were the best at R9. WGN, Chicago, WCCO, Minneapolis, WTAM, Cleveland, and WLW, Cincinnati, were R7. ‘Two new stations, one on 3YA and the other on 1YA, were coming in at R6, but the New Zealand stations coming on the air at 5.30 p.m. prevented me from getting their calls. VK4LW, Rosalie, Queensland, was heard at good strength recently on approximately 1480 k.c. (210 m.). Has any D.X.-er received a_ verification from this station? A verification was recently received from KLO, Ogden, Utah 214 m (1400 k.c.), with a power of 500. watts. Congratulations to Mr. Dudley TIT. Huston on his new DX. re-

cord

N.

Jenkins

(Masterton),

DO not know what part of Wellington ‘Red Bird" is situated, but his reception table in the "Radio Reeord," June 26, is, through my own experience, all wrong so far as my locality, Hataitai, is concerned. To put 2NC down as R1-2 at 11.15 p.m. would not be doing the station justice at 7,30 p.m. Late at nights all the A class Australian stations are about R8, with the possible exception ot 3L0O. The accompanying table (printed elsewhereEd.) gives an indication of my recep-tion.-""Windswept" (Wellington). ["Red Bird’ lives in Newtown and is separated from your locality by a range of hills. This undoubtedly largely accounts for the difference in reception strengths of Australian stations as reevived by you both. "Red Bird" is certainly not misjudging the strength of 2NC, because he has sent in anothcr table this week (printed elsewhere), in which 2NC is rated as R2. Also, the great difference. in strengths between his estimate and your own precludes the possibility of error-HEHd.] Who Heterodynes 2VA? IX VALVE (Christchurch): Address of station 4Z1I is Bachelor’s Radio Service, Dee Strect, Invercargill. I agree with E.W.V. voncerning the hetcrodyning of 2¥YA by another station, which is evidently SCL, Adelaide. While the effect on 2YA is often not very pronounced there are times when a highpitched whistle completely spoils pro- ¢ The Effect of Locality.

grammes.

T.

O.

(Invercargill) _

Ship Stations. | ‘/VERLEITS (Wellington) and §.L. McC. (Greymouth): On June 7, 2MB, working on 197 m. (1520 k.c.), called up several ships. In the following the call letters only are given, as I am sure of the name of only one ship: First call at 735 pm. was "Hullo, VIML." Second, "Hullo, VJMN. All . I have nothing for you. . Will cali u at 10 a.m. to-morrow." Third eall as "Hullo, VJQY." Mention was made of Port Lincoln. ‘Someone by the name of "Mac" was spoken to and was to receive @ further call at 9 a.m. next morning. Fourth and last eall, "Hullo, VIMKE." Call was finished at 8 o'clock. J.0.S. (Napier) states that WOAI can be heard every evening between 5 and 5.30 p.m. I have listened to this station several times lately and the Iatest I have ‘heard him is 4.55 p.m. His time for elosing is usually between 11.20 and 11.25

p.m:

R.

Fleming

(Tuntly) .

Recent Loggings. ATEST loggings include 4ZW, Dunedin, 277 m. (1080 k.c.) ; WCHI, Chicago, 201 m. (1490 k.c.); XED, Reynose, 312 m, (960 k.e.); WSPD, Toledo, 224 m. (1840 k.c.); JOPK, Shizuoka, 885 m. (780 k.c.); and WCAU. Philadelphia. 256 m (1170 k.c.). WS8XAR (KDKA), Pittsburgh, was heard testing on 306 m, (980 k.c.), on June 21 at 5.7 p.m. Walnme annroached that-of 32YA and

fading was absent-

R. J.

R.

(PN)

American Reception. AMERICAN stations have been coming in very well lately, and among others I have logged the following: K'TM, WFAA, KOA and KGF. KFI, on a power of 50 k.w., has been coming in like the local, while KZRM can be heard nearly every night. 8BO is a splendid station, and it is a pity he transmits on the same frequency as 3YA.-‘Seven-Valve" (P.N.). ’ Frequency of KZRM. Al P. (Waihi) seems to query that the station on 3AR’s frequency = is KZRM. I ean assure him that he is, since ] heard the same fight and have

written to him for verification.-

G. B.

Boy

(Dunedin).

[The exact frequency on which KZKM transmits is 620 k.c. (480 m.). 421. Balclutha, was reported by several listeners in last week’s notes.-Hd.] An Unusually Favourable Evening. DESPITE the fact that Wellington is in general a poor locality for the reception of Americans, conditions were so good on June 21 that a number of these stations, including the following, were logged:-WFAA, Dallas, Texas, 800 k.c. (875 m.); WENR, Chicago, 870 kc. (845 m.); and WTAM, Cleveland, Ohio, 1070 k.e. (280 m.). These were all R9. Many more were heard, but owing to a big increase in the noise level after sunset these defied identifica-

tion:

A. J.

H.

(Wellington).

New Brisbane Station. N June 21 the Americans were roaring in, especially WENR. WFAA, KRLD, WOAT, and several others. They were all at full loudspeaker strength. New loggings include:-WLS, Chicago, 344.6 m. (870 ke.); KMTR, Hollywood, 528 m. (570 Ke) and KFSD, Californix, 500 m. (600 k.c.). Has any DXer heara a station the eall 4MW, ~~ Brisbane, on 227 m. (1320 k.c.)? = logged him about a week ago at R6, but have

not had him since:

Miner

Bruuner

ton

Two Often-heard Americans. } FI and KGO have both been relaying half-hour periods of dance music¢ from the N.B.C.. Room of the Hotel Francis, San Francisco. KGER, Long Beach, and WABC, New York, testing on 860 k.e. (349 m.) on the 22nd, have

becn very clear lately _

Bill

Hast-

ings) _