News and Views of the D.X. Club

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 14, 16 October 1931, Page 10

News and Views of the D.X. Club

‘Answers to Correspondents —

"Country Lad" Gore): Yes, if you heightened your acrial poles to 40 feet and increased the span to 60. you would get better results. An article describing methods of attaching headphones to an all-electric set appeared a short while ago. DxX-ers are divided in their opinions as to whether phones are an advantage for long-distance work. TDXC (Gamaru): Full particulars of the Transcontinental DX Club have appeared in the "Radio Log." ~ DX26W (Ohakune Junction): A list of the main Duropean ‘stations, giving frequencies, wavelengths, and interval signals, will be published in the next ‘issue of the "Radio Log." DX14 (Pahiatua) and others: Your letters are being held over for publication in the next "Radio Log." "A ELS." (Wellington): It will be quite in order for you to print your club number on your DX forms. Yex, we would like to see a cony. "WH." (Onehunga): Your log is only fair. It seems that your locality is da favourable. S.C. (Pukekohe): We value DX-ers opinions too much to ask them to identify a carrier wave. They might resign in a body. . PK58A (Moititi): You might let us the secret of the frequency on which

you logged JOAA,a

B.

W.

Strn.o"" .

ow ‘Addresses and Addresses Wanted

"Country Lad’ (Gore) wants address of station 8TFO.

Identification Wanted

For the past two weeks I have been listening to a station, I think foreign, on approximately 276 metres (1080 ke.). The following are the items and times heard: -September 26, 5.30 to 5.50 a.m., piano solos; October 1, at 5.15 a.m., soprano. with violin obbligato. At 5.20 a violin solo, followed at 5.40 by a soprano with

violin obbligato. At 5.30 aan, on Octoper 2, a man and woman were speaking, evidently giving a lesson in English. This took the form of a description of a house and its contents.-Riser" (Dunedin). Station on about 1280 ke. (284 m.) between 3KZ Melbourne, and 2NC Newcastle, heard on September 30 at 11.50 p.m. Two soprano solos, "loch Lomond" and "The Bluebells of Scotland’ were heard. followed immediately by ‘"fhe Last.

Tose of Summer "

L.

M.

Aueklead ) _

Kuropeans heard on 1260 k.c. (240 m.) and 885 k.c. (339 m.), on Oct. 5 from 5 am. From the former, guttural speech,

singing and a band selection were heard. At 5.50 a cuckoo chime sounded. The latter station was broadcasting a vocal duet, apparently in Italian, from operas, both at R7-8.-‘Marama" (Colac Bay). Station on dial reading 118 (2ZJ, Gishorne 112, 2ZP, Invercargill 112%) heard at 5.89 p.m. on October 4. "Where the Wind Blows," an orchestral number with vocal refrain, followed at 5.56 p.m. by "leven More Months and Ten More Days." At 6.4 p.m. a trombone solo with orchestra was heard. Announcer mentioned Havana and counted one, two, three, twice between each item.-DX5S8A (Tauranga), What station heterodynes KDB, Santa Barbara? Would Mr. Killis please give me some particulars of the best Canadians to be received at the present time (excepting CJOR)?-N. Jenkins (Masterton). An early morning station on approx. 26S m. (1120 k.e.). First heard at 5 a.m. with a woman talking in what I thought was German. A man then made a short announcement and organ music commenc-ed,-HLF.A. (Masterton). I listened to a station on approximately 820 ke. (868 m.) from 11.17 p.m. to 12.22 a.m. on October 8 and 4. The signals were coming in at R9, QSA5. A man announced the item, but no reference was made whatever to any call.

{own or country. ‘The following are some of the items I heard: 11.27 p.m., "When Your Hair has Turned to Silver’; 11.88 p.m., "Be Careful of Your Conversation on the Telephone"; 11.56 ym. "I’m Dancing with Tears in’ my Eyes’; 12 midnight, "Little White Lies." There was no fading. It is puzzling to know why he made no sta{ion announcements. It was certainly

not 2Z2P or 8ZR-

Maru

(Napier).

What station did I hear on October S on KOA’s wavelength, between 2BI. and 8ZR? I heard him at 7 a.m. with an orchestral item, followed by a vocal

item, At 7.15 a piano was followed by a vocal duet comprising several tunes, ineludinge "Mademoiselle from Armen-

tieres:

S.

C.

(Pukekohe).

American often heard operating on fridays, 6 to 7.80 p.m., on approx. 1250 ke. 240 m.), just below KFOX. Call sounds like KPAC. Generally plays request numbers.-VW.EL (Onehunga). Station on approximately 196 m. (1530 k.c,)-certainly not an American. I have heard him often, but cannot secure a call, He is just below 2AY¥, Albury."Statice"? (Nelson). On approximately 368 m. (790 k.c.) a station Gomes in every morning between 5) and 6 a.m, at an average strength of _ Musie is similar to that radiated by Bangkok-all reed and stringed instruments. I have never heard singing or a call, and there are only momentary spells between the items. He signs off abruptly at about 6 a.m. Could he be NAJI5, Seville, Spain?-*Digger" (ITamilton). Stations Identified

DX8HB: Your early morning stations are 1225 k.ec. (245 m.). Kracow, Poland; 1120 kc. (268 m.), HAJ183, Barcelona. Spyain; 1085 k.e, (276 m.), Hleilsberg. Germany; 780 k.c. (384 m.), Toulouse, France; 850 k.e. (358 m.). Graz, Austria; 1000 k.c, (800 m.), Huizen, Holland, (Please note these are only suggestions.) DX64A (Mokau): WFAA verified my report in quick time and also sent an American station list. DX 84NW: Station on 1190 k.c. (252 m.) was 2ZD, Masterton, 24 watts. They are on every morning excepting Sun-

days from 7-9 am-

N.

Jenkins

Mas-

terton).

"WWyvdro" (Napier): You heard TDR. Devenport, Tasmania. I picked him up on October 4 and held him for 17 hours. He put over 2 eall for the special benefit

of J.P.C. (P.N.). ‘However, I think

your clock was 10 minutes tast.-

B.

W.

(Stratford).

DASSA (Motiti): our stations were 2A and 2AC, Mr. Patty (2AE). was testing the Gisborne Harbour Bozt¥'s transmitter under his own call with Another Gisborne amateur, 2AC. Mr. R. G. Patty’s address is 55 Salisbury Road, Cisborne.-DX24HB (Waipawa). f, M. (Auckland) : 3BA, Ballarat Broad- * casters Pty., Ltd, Ballarat, Vietoria, operating on 221 metres (1308 k.e.). {p*400c (Invercargill): Station on approx. 880 metres (790 k.e.), Radio Toulouse, France. That on 239 metres (1255 k.e.) is Nuremberg, Germany. Zurich, Switzerland, and San Sebastian, Spain, both operate on 459 metres (652

k.e.).-

T.D.X.

C.

(Oamaru) _

DX Topics

a Change of Address. A ; ACCORDING to a latest verification, WIENR, Chicago, has changed his address, The new one is: National Broadcasting Company Inc., Merchandise Mart, Chicago.-‘Red Bird" (Wellington). JOHK Schedule. N October 1 I logged 8ZC, Christchurch, testing on 1250 k.e. (268 m.). Why do all the "B" class stations crowd on the lower wavelength? It is now impossible to listen in comfort to any station on that part of the dial. A verification received from JOEHK recently states that they broadcast on 770 k.c. (889 m.), with 10 kw. aerial input. Schedule 6 a.m.-9.40 p.m. week-days, 9 a.m.-9.40 a.m. Sundays and holidays---DX80W (Tokomart). Recent Loggings. ECHENT loggings include WBOQ, New York, 860 kc. (849 m.); KEPY, Spokane, Washington, 1840 k.c. (224 m.) ; KOIN, Portland Oregon, 940 k.c. be m.); and 2KQO. Neweastle, anprox. Ap10) Ike. (213 m.). I recently received a° verification from 4BC Brisbane after waiting five months, so it pays DX-ers to be patient. I see you have included a few more Aussie "B" stations in the list of barred ones for the DX Competition. I think this is making things a little too hard, for, although I have an eight-valve commercial a.c. set, and live on the coast, I cannot receive some of the Aussies at anything like good readability---DX1IONW (Brunnerton). On Reports. Ps a recent letter to the DX page 4ZP states that they receive about 50 reports a week, and that each card costs 1d, . with postage a further 1d. I think most listeners send postage with reports.’ I forwarded them a report several months ago when they were asking for them and included postage, but I never received a reply. I also agree with the Hditor that an R&S signal does not mean maximum readability, even when QRN or QRM

eee — is absent. I have heard speech R max. ~"but readability R2 owing to poor opera-

tion.

Metre

(Huntly).

Identifying Europeans. _AGRED with Mr. Hillis about 5AD and 5KA, I have yet to log the latter. However, I do not agree with his . other suggestion that all Australians should be cut out, as many of them are very difficult to log in some localities. I also agree with 90 OC. (Dunedin) about guessers, but if anyone can tell me another way to identify Huropean stations, except by comparing frequencies with other identified stations, I will be grateful to him. DX2600 will have to give more particulars before we can help him as there are sometimes six Duropean stations sharing the same frequency.-

H.F.

A.

, (Masterton),

Australian VK’s. X2400, Dunedin; Verification has just been received from 6ML, Perth, which now operates on 264 m, (1135 c.). N. Jenkins (Masterton): I have ‘eard from VK8GK, §S. ©. McLean, 6 Siood Street, Seddon, Victoria. The transmitter is crystal controlled with 20 watts input. "Wavelength is 199.9 m. (1550 k.c.). 38GK was logged on September 6, and verification received Oct. 1. A recent card from VK3HB, Brighton Beach, gives their schedule as Thursdays and Saturdays from 11.30 p.m., and Sundays 8 am. to 10 a.m. and from 10.30 p.m. Melbourne -time. Power is 25 watts and wavelength 214.2 m.

(1400 ke.)-

A. I.

B.

(Dunedin).

zx CJOR Logged Last Year. 1 the issue dated Oct. 2 several DXers report a Canadian station OJOR, Sea Island, Vancouver, British Columbia. I first heard this station on December 19, 1930, and later received a verification stating that this was the first authentic New Zealand report. Frequency 1210 kc. (248 m.), and power 100 watts aerial input. KDKA, ke. (306 m.), was heard on Oct. 4 at R7, QSA 3-4, reading letters and deliyering messages to members of expeditions, ete. Call was given as KDKA and W8XK. Im a recent verification from KWG, Stockton, California, power 100 watts, he remarked that my report was the best received from New Zealand. I would also like to support DX36A’s (Otorohanga) suggestion that when European stations are listed, the call letters be given where possible, and also the identification signals, I have heard many of the early morning stations, but have identified none yet. I often hear one ’ which broadeasts what «sounds Jike a time signal with the usual pip. pip, ete., followed by a longer "peep," this being vnanaated 9 faw times. Does any station

use this ag an identifying eal] ?-

C.V.

B.

(N. Auckland).

Concerning Aerials. G W.B. (Birkenhead): In my opinion M%> the oblong-shaped aerial you propose to erect will not be as good as an efficient Beverage. T have tried eight chains of wire in a "Z shape and have found that the same length straightened out gave much better results. Has any DxX-er in Christchurch heard CJOR, Seal Island, British Columbia, lately? I heard him between 2YB and 3DB.DX23MC (Christchurch). Postage to Japan. MONG a batch of verifications recently received from Japan, one from JONK, Ngana, has a P.S. which veads as follows: "For your information we might perhaps just mention that almost every letter from New Zealand to radio ‘stations in Japan has insufficient postage, and we have to pay 4 sen as a penalty in order to accept such letters. This is because such letters have only 2d postage instead of 23d." I should be pleased if you will give this information ‘prominence, as DX-ers generally have tio desire to’ place the stations they write

to to extra expense, but unknowingly do so owing to lack of knowledge of postal charges to foreign countries-DX6MW-(Westport). Two South Africans Logged. RECEPTION has been good in the Hamilton district lately, but early morning stations are fairly weak. Bratis-

lava and Bolanzo are both good. My latest loggings include CJOR, 1BZ, on 4538 m. (662 k.c.); 21, South Africa. on 452 m. (664 k.c.); and 2TO, Cape Town, on 361 m. (880 k.c.). The last two were not very strong, but I heard sufficient to take notes and send for verifications, I have recently received a eard from HSPI and 4BC. I wish to thank those DX-ers who have assisted me in identifying stations for which I now have definite verification -‘Digger" (Hamilton).