News and Views of the D.X. Club

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 11, 25 September 1931, Page 10

News and Views of the D.X. Club

Answers to Correspondents

. DX9A (Mangere).-You are obviously picking up a relay of 2FC. KIT is located at Los: Angeles, not Mexico. DX23A (Cambridge) -DX _ stickers have: been ordered, and delivery is expecteds within a week. "Audio" (Blenheim).-See conditions governing both DX Cups, in the July issue of the "Radio Log." When stations are referred to as "just below" other stations, ihe wavelength is, or should be, meant. Ilowever, the fact that the tuning dial of many commercial sets are marked in. kilocycles, confusion results, for "Just below" in kilocycles is "just above" in metres. It would be a good idea if eorrespondents did not use this method of locating stations --Yes, there are quite a number of members of the DX Club in Blenheim. ‘The times given for the Aus tralian stations in the second issue of the "Log" are corrected for N.Z. time. Your 300-feet aerial will rather broaden tuning, but as long as you mention that fact in ‘your-report, it will be O.K.

J.G.R. (Blenheim)-We have decided that "daylight reception" is to be interpreted as being between the hours of 6 am. and 6 p.m. all the year round, "British Every Time" (Kailoura).Your log, for the type of set you are using, is easily the best we have seen. Congratulations. . .....

M.G. (Cheh).-With a good aerial and earth you should succeed in picking up thé main Australians without difficulty, ‘Digger’ (Hamiltomn).-You have done excellently to compile the log you hav in three months. Keep going. J.G. (Tapakanui) and others.-Your

jetters will appear in this month’s "Radio og.’ " G.F. (Ohura): The "Radio Timetable" was printed on both sides for the sole object of giving purchasers full value for their money. DX clocks are sold unmounted for the same purpose. Incidentally, our office boy did not take at all kindly to your suggestion that he should

mount them, and he threatened immediate retirement should we ask him to do SO. "Monotrad" (Christchurch): We ae pleased. you brought up the question of unpublished letters containing replies to queries appearing in the "Identification Wanted" column. Often a number of correspondents write in identifying the same stations, Of course’ we cannot duplicate these, and only one letter appears. Unfortunately space reasons preclude any acknowledgment of the other letters, but they are none the less appreciated. We trust you can see our difficulty in this matter.

Addresses & Addresses Wanted

AH: (Tirau) . WI, Wollougong Broadcasting Co:, Wollongong, VXWV _

Identification Wanted

Station just above 8LO and just under 2BL, heard broadcasting a church service at 3.30 a.m. on September 7. Closed down at 4.10 am. Also a station be tween 2ZP and 2BL. Speech was foreign At 2.5 a.m. orchestral number with tenor solo was heard. At 2.15 a.m. a talk was heard, followed by a violin solo with piano accompaniment at 2.25 a.m. This was followed by a further talk, and at 2.35 am. a further violin solo with pianoforte accompaniment. After an orchestral selection at:2.40 am. TI heard an announcement in Wnglish, "We are now going to ’-A.E.J. (Levin). ; Station ‘heard at 6.30 p.m. on September 12 on 248m. approx. (1210 k.e.) with call: * I, British Columbia." A: concert was in_ progress, and clapping could heard. A lady called the ‘Venetian Nightingale," sang two numbers, and then another station came on the air and blotted the transmission out. Announcer had an slight American accent. What Amevricans operate on 206m. (1450 ke.) and 205m. (1460 k.c.), and are hard to sep-arate?-TLY.A. (Masterton). Station on about 1420 k.c. _ (211m) heard at 5.45 p.m. on Sept. 6. vead-

ing KGA 20, stranger 24, KGHR 27. He was asking for reports from all DX clubs. Items heard were:-Band item, "Stars and Stripes for Ever’; dance numbeg¢, "the Girl." The "New York News" wis mentioned several times. All that was heard of the call was "W--H." Strength R8. He signed off at 6.11 p.m.- DX46A (Cambridge). Siation heard at 12.50 a.m. on September 13 on 1245 k.c. approx. (241m.), broadcasting a dance programme. Announcer was distinctly American, Also, at 1.80 a.m., a Japanese or Chinese station, on 850 k.e,, broadcasting the usual weird music. I often hear an American on 1280 k.e. approx. (234m.). On the 13th it was relaying music till 7.30 p.m. from tbe Hotel Angeles, Announcer mentioned "mountain time’ when closing.

Kennedy

(Wellington),

On September 14, at 12.35 a.m., station operating on 2AY, Albury’s frequency, heterodyned slightly by 83RU. Balwyn, on a shade higher frequency, and a Morse station directly behind. Some of the items were "The King’s Horses," ‘Eleven More Months," and ‘The Stein Song." Strength was quite good, but QRN spoilt the call every time, and, to make matters worse, a lady with 4 weak voice sometimes announced. I heard as much as "Hxperimental Station VK," and some of the balance resembled "J.IS."" He closed down at 1.30 a.m. Does anyone know the frequencies of 8GK and 38HA? It may have been one of these. If 1 am not very much mistaken I have heard 1ZQ operating a couple of times lately. I don’t think there is any mistaking that announ-

cer $ voice:

B.

W.

((Stratford).

Two Americans heard on September 10. one on 1140 k.c. (263m.) broadcasting organ music. The only item recognised was "Songs My Taught Me. » The other was on 1860 k,c, (220m.), and was broadcasting a boxing match. Both were very weak, and consistent fading, combined with statia, prevented any announcement being. heard.-DNI5MC (My podend). [Please give times heard.Of Station heard from 10.30 to 12 p.m. on September 7 on 440m. (680 k.c.), relaying 2FC at R9, equal to 2BL in strength. Another station on 1080 k.e. (278m.) heard from 11.25 to 11.30 p.m. on Aux" ust 80. He announced "Station relaying the National station. Miss Gladys Moncrieff will now sing .’ He signed off at 11.80 p.m. N.Z.S.T. with no further call. Strength R7. Also an American heard testing on August 30 _-ibetween 7.30 and 8 p.m. on 770 k.c. (390 m.). Items heard Volga Boat tong," at 7.40 p.m. on August 30. 42W (Lower Hutt). station heard 14 deg. above AR. Announcer spoke in a foreign language resembling Japanese, and every now and again he would say 1981" in broken English. Has any DX-er picked up KHQ, Washington. on the same fre-_ queney as the above station? -DX9A (Mangere), : Cuba station heard. between 2MO and 3KZ on September 12 at 10.380 p.m, heard a call in broken nglish which sounded like "This is CM or TH. Tlavana." Fle then played a foxtret, during which he gradually faded out. Although. I wait-

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.

_ ed for 20 minutes I could not locate him again-DXiHB (Waipukurau). Station heard at 10.50 p.m. on Sept. 14 on Auckland’s frequency. Announcement was followed by a girl playing some stringed instrument. He then gave callsign, which I could not get for static, followed by a song with band accompaniment, "Nobody’s Darling." Trans-

mission then faded right out.-

Oscar

(Christchurch),

[Japanese call-signs can usually be picked up from 12.15 a.m. onward, when these stations close down.-EHd.] On September 7 a station was heard from 1 a.m. on approx. 825 k.c. (863 m.), two degrees above 8L0. Music sounded like piano with voices chanting. Also # station heard from 1.15 a.m. on approx. 840 kc. (357 m.), three degrees below HSPI, Bangkok. A man spoke for some time and was followed by what sounded like native music from flutes or pipes -DX2SW (Wellington). ‘Station on approx. 244 m. (1230 k.c.), between 1ZM, 248 m. (1210 k.c.), and ANC, 241 m. (1240 k.c.), heard from -6-a.m. in the early morning. An orehestra was playing most of the time -With occasional speech in a foreign language, During the whole time I did not hear the station call. At 558 a.m. there began what I mistook for a clock striking, but it was a cuckoo call (60 calls took exactly a minute), and then the announcer started talking again. I have also heard other stations in the early morning on 516 m. (580 k.ec.) and

approx. 540 m; ((353 kc)

Digger

(Hamilton).

Stations Identified

"Hydro" (H.B.): KTAB, San Francisco, on 560 k.c. (585 m.). "Hopeful’ (Christchurch) : KGW, Portland, Oregon. on 620 k.e. (484 m.). "Big Ben" (Auckland): Racing results from 6WF. Perth. 690 k.c. (484 m.). and boxing from KZRM. Manila. on 618.5 k.c. (484 metres) -DX1HB (Waipukurau). DX9A erry he KZRM, Manila, on 618.5 k.c. (484 m.)

DX Topics

A Good Night for Reception. SEPTEMBER 13 was a very good night for American stations. Nine were loggéd at RY, and several others at strengths below this. KSL was broadeasting a Spanish programme, ineluding

Spanish songs and dances.-

H.F.

A.

Mas:

terton.)

‘Felevision in America. I HAVE just received a verification from KOA. Denver, Colorado. They sent a large brochure with views and information about KOA, and also a copy of "What's on the Air," a monthly publi"wation giving all the chain station pro"grammes throughout America. A late comnplete list of all American stations, ineluding those onerating in Canada, Cuba, Mexico, and Haiti. is also included. The station manager remarked that he was always glad to hear from New Zealand. and that. in the last mail he received 17 reports from N.Z%. DX’ers. There are now 19 television stations in America actually on recular schedule. KOA also advises that the Federal Radio Commission are at present consijering- allotting them 50 kw. power.-DX23A (Cambridee.) DX Notes. .. RECENT loggings include KHX, Portland on 254m, (1180k.c.), KHJ, Los Angeles, on 33838m. (900k.c.); KVOO, Tulsa, Oklahoma, on 263m. (1140 k.c.) ; and KGO on 379m. (790k.c.). I picked up WOAI, San Antonio, Texas, on the 14th, at about 4.55 p.m., just as he was signing off. I have not heard him since. At present my aerial consists of 63 feet

of stranded wire slung between two poles, each 88 feet high, but I am contemplating erecting an aerial 300 feet long, slung between a tree at a. height of 120 feet, and a pole 83 feet high. Do you think this will broaden tuning to any great extent? -DX54A (Cambridge). : [Such an aerial will certainly broaden tuning, but as you are fortunately fairly distant from any powerful station, this will probably have no detrimental effect. se. noe oan

vw Se ee -eeaeeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeo-oee eee eee ee ae ae If it did, a wavetrap would be quite a simple solution to the problem.-Hd.] Has 2XN Closed Down? HAVE not seen 2XN, Lismore, mentioned recently, nor have I heard him. Is he off the air now?-"Meppo" (Granity). The Moon’s Influence on. Reception. R= the moon’s influence on reception mentioned by DX1T: I have always looked forward to a full moon because it is then that reception, for me at least, is at its best. However, the last full moon. on the 28th, did not improve matters for that night bad weather conditions prevailed. WBOQ and WABCO. New York City, have been testing lately, and at 7.15 p.m., when 2BL closes down for halé-an-hour, they come through at R7.P.K.B. (Oamaru). The Echo Equipped with Radio. X-ERS will be interested to know the secow Bcho, which trades between Wellington and Blenheim. is now fitted with a transmitter. Callis ZMJD. output 40 watts. wavelength 198 m. (1510 ke.). Daylight range. 100 miles. This vessel is owned by Messrs. Bickford and Com-nany.-DX24HB (Waipawa). A New Relay Station. Aka DX-ers afraid to wear their badges? So far I have seen only one other besides my own in Dunedin. For the information of other members my badge attracts much attention, from both those interested in radio and those who are not. Several who are interested have stated their intention of joining the club, so DX-ers. get busy. ‘Wear your badges and let the world know that the DX Club is not merely a name, "The Voice of Radio Service," station 4ZL. Dunedin. is back again on the air, on 1220 ke. (246 m.). He has been testing several nights after the local B stations have signed off. coming on even as late as 1 am. According to a local paper there is a new relay station under process of erection in South Australia with the eall 5CB, Crystal Brook. It will be on the air probably by the_end of the month. The only information I have about this station is that its munis are 200 feet high, while the station is situated 650 feet

above sea-level. Does anyone know its frequency ?-G. B. Boy (Dunedin). An article incorporating the clipping you enclose, appears elsewhere.-Ed.] Frequencies of Mexican Stations. OPINION seems to be divided as to the frequencies of the Mexican stations There are 82 stations operating in Mexico. and 14 of these are in Mexico City. The following are some of the more powerful ones :--

The 910 ke. (330 m.) channel is a cleared Canadian channel-DX3HB (Hastings). DX Pads Wanted, K.B. (Oamaru).-Schedule of 3SH * according to recent verification is: Week days, 7.380-10 p.m., and Sundays 12.15-2-15, 4.15-6, 7.30-10 pm. (N.Z. 14 hours later). Operates on 1080 kilos. (278 metres). Power 50 watts. Crystal controlled. I think DX 15W (Shannon’s) suggestion of a pad with DX badge is a good one. I find that im writing to foreigners the ordinary DX paper does not give enough space for the details that I like to give. e DX37W’s suggestion to use the other side of an ordinary DX sheet, This would give enough space, but the general look of the letter is then not very presentable. Would_it be possible to publish in the "Radio Log" a map of Australia showing the time in different parts similar to the one of U.S.A.? I am sure it would be of benefit to DXers."Wainui"’ (Gisborne). [Yes, such a map will appear in next month’s "Log.’-Hd.] XEW on Shortwave. GTATION XHW, Mexico City, operating on about 49.6 metres, was heard on the 6th with guitar, vocal and dance numbers. Volume R8-9 from 6.30 p.m He signed off at 7.2 p.m. Re RV15, Kharbarovsk, this station’s wavelength has not been altered, as: stated im several recent reports. He is still on 70.1 metres, and may be heard at R9 every night.DX25W (Wellington).

4ZW’s Schedule. DW: Following are particulars given on 4ZW’s card :-Schedule, daily, 7 a.m., Sunrise Programme. 8 a.m., Stewart Warner hour. 9 a.m., Brunswick hour. 1 p.m. Panachord hour. 2 p.m., Stewart Warner hour. Also 11 p.m, to 1 a.m., Midnight hour. This is an "all request" programme. Frequency 1080 k.c. Address, Radio Sales and Wxchanges, Ltd., Excelsior Hotel Corner, Dunedin. Power is not given, but lists state it to be 50 watts-DX24HB (Waipawa). Exchanging Views. DURING the past few weeks I have noted with interest the, views of members on the subject of getting together and exchanging notes. DXIO'T’s idea is a good one, I think, and would make DX-ing very interesting. Also a little local competition would make the cup log next year a record one. I heard a station recently which gave a call sounding like "8FH, Swan Hill." I heard it very distinctly and wrote for verification, but I notice that DX220C in a recent issue gave the station as 38H. Is this correct?-DX5800 (Kurow). [Correct call is "8SH." Re private logging competitions among members. In this month’s "Radio Log" and in future numbers we are devoting a corner to an Address Exchange. Members desiring to correspond with others are asked to notify us to this effect, and their names and addresses will be published.-Hd.] Notes on the N.Z. "Bs." A RECENT verification from 22H, Eketahuna, states that he is using a cage aerial and an M.O.P.A. transmitter. Schedule is:-Sundays, 4.80-6 p.m. No mention is made of frequency or power. New loggings include: 2XL, 4MK, JOOK and JOPK. 4ZL, Dunedin, has been heard testing at excellent strength on Sunday evenings. 2ZD, Masterton, has been coming in at splendid strength with its morning sessions. A recent verification states that power is still only 24 watts. What is the power of 2ZL now? He has been coming in with almost local strength and on his right frequency during the past fortnight. In the latest "Radio Log" the power’of WSXAR is given as 60 k.w. I understand from latest American information that W8XAR is using 400 k.w.

American Stations FOLLOWING is a list of American stations, showing relative strengths of reception, as received from 5.45 p.m, to 7.45 p.m. on September 18. "f.ogan Park" (Dunedin)KMOX, St. Louis ....0+.. KTM, Los Angeles ..eceWTAM, Cleveland ....00WENR, Chicago .....+-- WCCO, Minneapolis ...... KFOX, Long Beach, Calif. WBBM, Chicago ....-00++ WLS, Chicago eeevnocecoe KNX, Hollywood ce ecoo00 KOA, Denver ....cccesce KFI, Los Angeles ..cccce KGO, Oakland ...... cooee KRLD, Dallas, Texas ... WHAA, Dallas, Texas ... WLW. Cincinatti .....0. KEWB, Hollywood ...0¢¢ CIKAASAaWIaaG~e DHSS / a ee ee 6

oo aeenatiats his tests from 1-6 a.m. G.S.T.-DX42W (Lower Hutt). {Power given in station lists is that used on regular schedule broadcasts. Acording to latest information from the Fe and T. Department, 2ZL’s power is watts.-Hd. ]

DX Competition Rules

Some Interesting Points X6800 writes stating that the stutions allowed for the competition should be collected during the one period only, as the old hands have a decided advantage over the newer ones. We must say that we cannot agree with this. In the first place the cost to dxers. would be prohibitive. If they had to send away for verifications each period it would run up a tremendous postage bill. Furthermore, it would take a lot of time writing to the same station every six months. Incidentally, wouldn’t we be popular with the stations? If we barred stations that had been entered, it would hardly be fair to the man who has a good log and who-gets somewhere near the top in one competition and then is debarred from entering those stations again. We think ‘that the rules as we have them now are, both the simplest and the fairest. However, we see our corregspondent’s point. Many dxers, fairly new to the game, have within a very ghort time collected an excellent log, and it is only a matter of a year or eighteen months before they are in the running for the cup. Mr. Morley Staf-

(A ford, last period winner, has been dxing for only a very short period. Another correspondent, IF. OC. Barnett, sent rules are fair for the following reasons — i. The Australian stations can be’ received fairly easily in daylight on the West Coast of both Islands. The average Hast Coast listener in most of the large towns has some difficulty even in logging the "A" stations in daylight. A.: This does not altogether fit in with the results of the last two DX competitions. In the first case a listener on the West Coast won the Cup, and the next time one on the Bast Coast came first. Both winners had about the same number of stations received in daylight. 2. That a station once verified should count, although it changes its frequency; providing such station is still on the air, as the present and future @hanging of frequencies will give dxers much writing to do. A.: There is something in this objection. We would like to hear from other dxers on the subject. We may possibly amend the rules, for it would cértainly save complications. 8. I do not see any good reasons why all stations, New Zealand, and others, should not count for the com- __ petition. A.: We bar the New Zealand and main Australian stations because some people use small regenerative sets, and if they have any trouble in working these stations they will cause interference to those with bigger sets.

Dxers! The September "Radio Log" is Out

"THE September "Log" is full of matter that will be of interest to dxers. This issue has been enlarged and is particularly well illustrated with beth diagrams and pictures. There is an interesting aecount of the new German wonder station at Muhlacker, which has recently been heard by Mr. Morley Stafford, of Gisborne, There are several pages of lively letters from correspondents, and these are crammed with information of vital interest to all dxers. There are yevised schedules for Australian "B" class stations and notes concerning new stations which are expected on the air shortly. The list of amateur Q.R.A’s is completed, together with amendments to the portion already published. There also appears a full list of the abbreviations used in radio parlance, together with the "Q" signals. Particularly now that the reception of European stations is improving, dxers will find the full-page redio map of Europe of great interest, It gives the locality of all the main stations and the number of miles distant they are from London, and we have explained how the dxer ean determine how far he is from New Zealand. There is an interesting map of Japan, showing the location of all the Japanese stations, together with a complete official list of these. The price of the "Log" is 6d. per copy, or 7d. posted, and is obtainable from all booksellers amd dealers. Experience over the last two months has shown that there is a great demand for the "Log," and it would be advisable to secure your copy as early as possible.

Location. Power. XEB, Mexico City 1kw. XEG. Mexico City 2kw. XBW, Mexico City 5 kw. XED, Reynosa . 10 kw. XEN seccceeee§ Lkw. seeeee eee LkEw. Er Juarex ... LkKw.