News and Views of the D.X. Club

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 7, 28 August 1931, Page 14

News and Views of the D.X. Club

Answers to Correspondents "Battery" (Stratford): Battery sets, especially if they incorporate one or two stages of screen-grid r.f., are quite good for DX work. In fact, many DxXers prefer them to all-electric sets, maintaining that they are quieter in operation. J.P. (Waihi): The set you mention is excellent for DXing, as is evident by your log. Miss N.H. (Gisborne): Briefly, the objects of the DX Club are to further radio in any possible way. Addresses of American stations may be obtained either from the 1931 "Radio Guide" or the "Radio Log." The first issue of the latter was published several weeks ago, and a few are still available at our office, Box 1032, Wellington. Your log, especially of American stations, is quite good. "Marama" (Colac Bay): With a good aevinl and earth installation your set should be quite capable of bringing in the Americans. Try listening for KFI, above 4YA, Dunedin, from about 5.0 to 7.30 in the evening. The frequencies (or wavelengths) of unknown stations may be arrived at by two methods. Firstly, according to their relative position in regard to well-known stations, and, secondly, from a graph. In the latter, wavelengeth is plotted against dial readings for a number of stations whose wavelengths are known. These points

are then connected by a curve. Thus, the wavelength of a station may be determined from the dial reading by referring to the graph. DX13A (Mangamuka): Comparison of reception conditions in different districts is very difficult because of the difference in aerial and earth installations, presence of screening objects such as trees, houses, etc. We would be pleased, however, to hear of any marked difference. ‘Red Bird" (Wellington) and others: Full particulars of station KPI, Los Angeles, were published in last week’s issue. Your letters, however, were much appreciated. E.P. (Christchurch): The number of complete cycles that occur during one second in an alternating current is called the frequency of the current. In the case of radio transmission, the number of waves (cycles) leaving a transmitting aerial during one second is called the frequency of ‘the transmission. One thousand cycles equals one kilocycle. The wavelength is the distance from crest to crest of one of these waves. The speed of radio waves is that of light, that is, 186,000 miles per second, or 800 million metres per second, Now .you see if we have the distance from crest to crest of one wave, the frequency of the trans- mission may be obtained by dividing this into the speed of the wave. TFrequency in kilocycles and wavelength in metres of a transmission are connected by the equation W x F equals 300,000.

Thus, if a station jis transmitting on 300 metres we see that its frequency is 1000 kilocycles, and vice versa, or the remainder of your question see the answer to "Marama" above. "John Bull" (Christchurch): As New Zealand postage stamps are not accepted in other countries, it is usual, when writing for verification, to enclose return postage only when the stations are in this country,

B.V.W. (Wellington): For a two-valve receiver your log is excellent. Address of VK4LW is as follows: Mr. C. R. Morris, 20 Elizabeth Street, Rosalie, Queens and. ‘J... (Wellington): It is very doubtful if you could receive Mngland on your set, but if you.care to try, listen-in in the early morning between 4.80 and 6.30 or 7 aan. RAB, (Dunedin): The phenomenon you notice is caused by cross-modulation and may be eliminated by the use of a band-pass filter or by incorporating the new multi-mu valves. The effeet is greatly increased by your nearness toa "Cobere" (Cambridge): For nine weeks’ DX-ing your log is excellent. The news item you mention was sent in by 4 correspondent and published-in good faith. It is, however, wrong. C.F.H. (Hamilton): If you have compiled the log you. forward in only six weeks yoy certainly cannot complain of poor reception, and it is doubtful whether you can improve.it much.’ However, if you heightened..your aerial at the house end-you. could do this by attaching a pole. to the chimney-and inveaged the length of your serial to 100 ee | " ~ a 2, eee wat me

or 120 feet, including lead-in, you would possibly notice some improvement in reception. I expect the insulated support indicated on your sketch’ projects far enough from the house to give the lead-in a good three or four clearance from the walls and roof, "Orion" (Blenheim): The mystery station on 330 m. (910 k.c.) was identified last week, and again this week, as XWW, Mexico City. The Mexican on 425 m, (705 k.e.) has not yet been identified, "Gipsy Moth" (Auckland): Your log, for a two-valve set, is easily the best we have seen. According to the latest list there is no station WBCD operating in America. See "Addresses and Addresses Wanted’ column for the information you require. We have often thought of inaugurating a competition similar to that you mention, but hava decided that for obvious reasons it would be impracticable.

Addresses & Addresses Wante "Night Bird’ (Dunedin): S8BY, H/ Holst, 27 Bambra Road, Caulfield, Vie. ; 38RU, R..A, Durand, 6 Trumper Street, Camberwell, Vic. (For 4L°W, see reply to B:V.W., above.) ~ . "Hydro" (Hawke’s Bay) would like the address of 8TRO. "T.D,H.": (Napier): 3KR, H. R, Rankin, Boundary Street, Kerang, Victoria. Address of 83TFO also required. Identification Wanted, AUSTRALIAN on 1100 ke. (278 m.), heard at 1.6 a.m, on August ‘16 with the following items: *(1) "Down | the River of Golden Dreams," (2) item by a marimba orchestra. This was followed by "God Save the King" at 1.33 a.m. Strength R4-light fade--"Night Bird" (Dunedin). QTATION heard after 2BL closed dow on same frequency (825:ke., 864 m-y. Foreign speech, and orchestral and vocal numbers were heard. No call was heard, but a chime was given between items.DX12HB (Havelock North), : STATION heard about.5.48 p.m. on August 16 on LYA’s old frequency. 5.57 pm. "Dancing with Tears in My Hyes’; 6.3 p.m., song; 6.6 p,m., duet; 6.9 p.m., quartet. I could not understand speech. Also American heard at about 6.7 p.m. ‘On 17th on 89 (7ZL Hobart 88). 6,9, male voice recording; 6.11, orchestra: 14, announcement; 6.15, orchestra. Announcer referred to recordings as "phonograph records."--"Ground" (Wanganui). STATION on 710 heard from, 6.80 to 8.30 pm. almost evéry ° evenin (WLW 700, 2YA 720), Announcer referred to the MacMillan station. Also foreign station on 670 ke, (448 m.), heard after 2F'C cioses down. It usually closes at about 1.30 a,m.-.J.M, (Oamaru), Your log compares quite ‘favourably with others we have seen.-Nd.] "st

CR CEO SD 0D 0 SAD 0 (3 Are YOU a Member of the DX Club? If not, post your application to the DX Editor, Box 1032, Wellington, enclosing 2/6 to cover cost of badge and certificate (post free). Subscription to the "Radio Log"-the DXer’s own magazine-is 6/6 per annum, post free. . Book your order now and receive the latest in DX news. a ge a al a ee

Not Quite Correct REPLYING to a correspondent, the Wellingion "Evening Post," recently stated that the reason why. the Government. refused ‘the application: of the Radio. Broadcasting Company last year to erect. a series of relay stations was that the company required a five years’ extension of its license. When this statement was referred to the Broadcasting Company by a "Christchurch Star" reporter, Mr. A. R. Harris, General Manager, said this was the first he had heard that reason advanced for the nonacceptance of the company’s recommendation. It was in January, 1929, that the company pointed out that additional relay stations would be required to give more efficient radio coverage. In reply the Postmaster-General, the Hon, J. B. Donald, advised that the whole question of broadeast would be comprehensively reviewed early in 1930, This was over. two years ago, and sinee then the company had had no further communication on the subject.

‘ATION heard at 11.45 a.m, on August 11, 4 degrees above 2BL, Sydney, Someone was speaking in a foreign language, undoubtedly Japanese. Reception was weak with bad fading-J.H. (Wellington). ‘At 8 a.m. on August 16, station heard on dial reading 70 (1YA’s new number), Reception was very weak. Wollowing was heard: "Tests in this town for many years to come,’"’-"Gee-gee’ (Wellington). [The particulars you give of the other stations you require identified are not full enough to be of any use, For instance, you give one station as heard on dial reading 89, but do not give the reading of the. nearest known station to this. This station might come in, for example, at 70 on another set, So you see that more details are necessary.-ld.] MBRICAN on approx 277 metres (1080 ke,), just under 4Z0O, heard on 20th, Played the following items :-~ gecgnlight on the Colorado," 4,49 p.m, ; ‘oll On, Mississippi, Roll On," 5,10 p.m. I was unable to hear call through interference from 4Z0.-DXS5HB (Napier), GTATION heterodyning 2ZL, Hastings, strongly, on August 21, closing down just after 9 o’clock our time. 2Z2L, Hastings, ig on 225.6 metres (1330 Ke.). The station sounded like an American.-"‘Sta-tic’ (Nelson).

Stations Identified "NEW OHUM" (Dunedin) : Station between KOA and 3ZR is WHAS. WABO may be logged from 4.30 p.m. onwards just on 2BL. He signs off at 5.15 Ao 530 pm-DX10C (Timaru). B. (Dunedin): KZRM, Manila, oper- * ating on 484 metres (620 kc.)}. Dew (Wellington): ESTP, St, Paul, Minnesota, DX2HB (Hastings): KELW, Burbank, California. DX6300 (Dunedin): 8RU, Balwyn, Victoria. Address, 8 Yerring Street.- DX2200: Your station is 6ML, Perth, who appears to be off his allotted frequency. .P.C. (P.N.). GTATION on 2FC’s frequency heard at 1 am. on August 20 after 280 had closed down. peech was in Japanese or Chinese.-‘Digger" (Hamilton). p*0e (Invercargill) : Station on 1400 ke, (214 m.) is possibly VK8RI, Melbourne. The one on 1014 ke. (213 m.) is Ske, Melbourne.--. Jenking (Masterton). 42W (Wellington): K'THS, Hot Springs, Arkansas, relayed a welcome to the Japanese Prince and Princess. I recently received a verification of this reception. "Amazon" (P.N.): Most eastern American stations sign off at 4.30 pm, or before; central at 5.30 p.m; mountain, 6.30 (some 7.30 p.m.)3; and Pacific, 7.30 p.m. (all New Zealand time). This is 12 p.m. their time in each differ- ent time zone--W,. L. Peters (Pahiatua), DX. Topics Reports Wanted by 3ZE. » yas station is owned and operated by Messrs, Schaef’s Gatage, Mackay Street, Greymouth, on a wavelength of 366 metres (820 kilos,) with a power of 50 watts, on Wednesdays from 8 p.m, till 10 p.m., and Fridays from 12 noon till 2p.m. We would be very pleased to reesive reports on own transmission.-2, M, Schaef (Greymouth)

Two Well-known Americans, A COORDING to a recent verification, WSAL operates on 1830 ke. (225 m.) with a power of 500 watts, and WLW on > 700 ke, (428 m.), with a power of 50 kw. -‘Clarity" (Bay of Plenty). A Good Suggestion. I HAVE written to half a dozen of the NZ. "B" class stations in the last months, and have received answers from none of them. Perhaps some members of the DX Club who live in towns where these stations are situated, would call on the owners and ask them to explain. The two Gisborne stations and 3ZR, Greymouth, are three of the defaulters, I have never had any trouble with the Australian stations. My latest cards are from 4BC and 2M0.-DX36A (Otorohanga). For Short-wavers. OULD any DX’er let me have particulars of station GBR? I heard him sending International news in morse code on a wavelength of approximately 35m, This was followed by "Wireless Press," and then CK-A was called. News was finished about 2.80 p.m., N.Z.T. Station KUP, who transmits news from the San Francisco "Hxaminer," is also well received, and I would like, if possible, to obtain the schedules of the two above stations for their news transmissions, Also, has anyone the address of station LST? He is often heard calling HAH in morse--"Pilot" (Kakahi), . XEW, Mexico. HE foreigner on 910ke, (830m.) still appears to be a mystery to most D&’ers. On June 17 and again on August 9,-I heard the call XHW, Mexico City, quite clearly from this station. notice many DX’ers ask for addresses of various stations. I have always found that the callsign, town, state and country_are quite sufficient, Juatest logging is KDB, Santa Barbara, California, on 1500ke, (om) power 100 watts.DR40A KPL, Not KGL. RECENDLY I logged KGA, Spokane, ~ Wash. 1470 k.c.; KSTP, St. Paul, 1460 k.e.; and KMPOC, Beverly Hills, 710 kc, (between 2YA and WLW). _ Several ocrrespondents have been wondering about KGL, and I sée someone suggests the call as KPL. About two months ago I heard the call distinetly KPL, and think it was San Francisco. ‘There were several people in the room at the time, and we remarked abont the new station. Lately I have heard a station on approx. 850 ke, (between WINR and I), ving _ call W. New York, operated by General Blectrie Co. They were broadcastiag a selection of electrical transcriptions for test purposes on Saturday, August 16,

From 5.30 p.m. onwards he was very strong -‘Huru Huru’ (Waimate). Full Particulars of 2XL. ¥ was speaking to Mr. BW. Spiers, announeer and operator to 8ZR, Greymouth, to-day, and he mentioned that 8ZR_ is operated quite separately from 382Z0, Greymouth. I think many DXers are under the impression that 3ZR was closing down when 3ZH came on the air. He also mentioned that 3ZR will shortly be increasing their power to 26 watts. I noted in a recent issue of the "R.R." that "Amazon" (P.N.) was asking DXers what they did with their badges. Were in Nelson I have not seen the badge on anyone’s lapel, but I am always 'on the lookout for one. On August 21 I heard 2X, Broken

Hill. This station began operating on August 14, and the following are the par-ticulars:-2XL is owned by Barrier Broadcasts, Ltd., and located at Argent Street, Broken Hill, operates on a wavelength of 220 metres (1363.6 k.c.), at the following times; Weekdays, 7-8 a.m., 12 noon-2 p.m. and from 6 p.m, to 10 .m.; Sundays from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m, the transmitter is one of the latest type, erystal-controlled, rated at 50 watts. The plant has been designed, built, installed, and will be operated by Mr. Hi. A. Mar. shall, a well-known amateur experimenter, more familiarly known as QHAM, Bondi-*‘Statie’ (Nelson). Two More Australians. K J.W. (P.N.)-Re KFBI and KMTR, * JZ remarked that I had not heard the former since he changed his call, but I have heard the latter sign off on three oceasions, giving time as 3 a.m. (10 a.m. here). e KGL, I have another official American list received on August 19, and KGL does not appear. This list was issued at the middle of July, so should be correct. DXSHB (Napier).-Power of KYBB is 1 k.w. Two more new Australjan stations to log are 2KO, NewcastleI received quite a classical programme from him on the 20th-and 3HA, Hamilton. I also logged 3RU, Balwyn, Victoria, recently. On the 20th I thought I had found a new station on 1100 k.c., but found it was 6ML, Perth, who is weil off his frequency. DXJINW (Blackball) : Is this one of the easy-to-log Australians? -J.P.G. (Palmerston North). Some Useful Information. Pon following information is to hand from an American DX enthusiast :- WBZ, Springfield, Mass., 990 ke. (302.8 m.), now uses 50 kw. instead of 15 kw., as previously, and is operating on a eleared channel, as are also: WSM, 5kw., 650 ke., 461.38 m.; WMAQ, 5 kw., 670 ke. 447.5 m.; WIR, 5 kw., 750 ke., 399.8 m.; (Concluded on page 31.)

More European Stations FOLLOWING is a further list of European stations. Tantcine (Mactartan) | 0 Coa DD 0)

(The last station relays Vienna, 516.4m., 581 k.c.) bd i

DX. ‘Topics -_--_-- (Continued from page 13.) WLW, 50 kw., 700 ke., 428.3 m.; WGN, 25 kw., 720 ke., 416.4 m. ; WHAS, 10 kw., 820 ke., 365.6 m.; WENR, 50 kw., 870 ke., 344.6 m., and WLS, 50 kw., 870 ke., 344.6 ‘m. (shared time) ; KDKA, 50 kw.,

980 ke., 305.9 m.; KMOX, 50 kw., 1090 ke., 275.1 m.; KSTP, 10 kw., 1460 ke., 205.4 m. and WJISV, 10_kw., 1460 k 505.4 m. (shares time) -DX13A (Nor Auckland). DX Notes. Or Angust 16, an excellent night for American stations, I logged a new one, giving call WEBF, Indianapolis, 1400 k.c. (214.2m.), 500 watts. When he closed down at 6.30 p.m. strength was R6, but fading was fairly bad. I think it would be better to have DX seals instead of DX envelopes, which no doubt would be expensive, whereas the seals. would be fairly cheap. If DX1INW (Blackball) can log all the Aussie stations (VK’s included), then he must have a very efficient set. Verifications’ received tely are: 2WL, Wollongong _ (1485 kc.) 5 KTAB, Oakland, (560 k.e.), 172 PRalelntha (1340): and 3BO, Ben-

digo (980 k.c.). "Hydro" (Napier) : 20u are quite safe this time im saying 2. is a new station. WABCO, New York City, seems to come through better: on Sundays than any other days. I think this is because 2BL does not come on the air till late-N. Jenkins (Masterton). Unanswered Verifications. I NOTICE quite a number of DXers have 4ZP, Invercargill, on their black list. I’sent him a report on a Wednesday, and received his card on the following Monday. The only stations that have not replied to my report are 4BC, Brisbane, and 2ZJ, Gisborne. Latest verifications include 4ZR, Balclutha, 27H, Napier, and 3KZ, Melbourne._DX270C (Dunedin). WBOQ Testing. At 9.80 p.m. on the 16th, 2XL, Broken Hill, was heard testing on 1360 k.c. (220m.). Latest loggings include 2K0, KTRH, and WBOQ, New York. The latter has been heard testing on the last two or three evenings -L.J .M. (Oamaru).

Particulars of 2ZP. "THE following are particulars of 2ZP, Wairoa. | Frequency 820 k.c. (3866 m.), schedule Monday to Saturday (ex~cluding Tuesday) 12 noon to 1.30 p.m., Tuesday 12-130 p.m:, 8-5 p.m, 6-10 p.m. ‘Sunday, silent day. Power, 50 watts.-DX3W (Wellington). Unanswered Reports. I HAVE written three times to 2ZM. and 4BC, and twice to 2ZP and 8whk, enclosing stamps, but with no results. These are the only defaulters out of neatly 40. 20A Canberra, and 38SH, Swan Till, were received at good volume on the 16th at 11 p.m. -D,4.5W (Palmerston Worth). . [Your set is quite a good one for Your log is also quite good.-Hd.]

s Hornby (Sweden) oe Huizen (Holland) ee Veltham-Louvain (Belgium) Barcelona, £.4.d,1, (Spain) London Regional London National Muhlacker (Germany) Algiers (Algeria, N. Africa) Toulouse (France) .,. Bucharest (Roumania) Katowice (Poland) .. Budapest (Hungary) Brussels (Belgium) .. Graz (Austria) ee > 15 kw. . 8.5 kw. 12 kw. 8 k.w. 45 kw. 68 kw. 75 kw. iS k.w. 8 kw. 16 k.w. 16 k.w. 23 kew. 15 kw. 9.5 k.w. --N, Jenlims (MAsterton). an aa 2 ee oe oe on oe ae ee @o os ae K.e. 1166 1004 887 860 $42 1148 833 825 779 764 734. 545 590 851 eo ae ae ee o* ae ee eo ee en ee @e ee etres. 257.3 298.8 338,2 348.8 356.3 261.3 360 363.6 385.1 $94.2 408,7 550.5 508.5 352