Short-wave Notes

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 24, 24 December 1931, Page 31

Short-wave Notes

El Prado, Ecuador. Et PRADO Riobamba, Ecuador, on 39.5 metres, transmits a programme every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., N.Z. summer time, HKA, Colombia. LETTER..was received from Senor Jesus Amortegui P., the ownetoperator of shortwave station HIXA, a few days ago, in reply to a report on reception of this station of a special transmission on September 27. The letter was in Spanish, which reads as follows :- . "Very esteemed Senor.-TIor the present I give you my many thanks for your very kind letter of September 27, giving your impressions of this station on that morning. It would be a great favour if you will try to hear HKA on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m, N.Z. time, on 21 metres, and from 1.30 p.m. to 2.80 p.m., .Z. time, on. 41.5 metres, and send me thé*result-Thanking you, anticipation, for your favour, "J. AMORTEGUIL P." The above scedule apparently cancels the previous one, as this was given as the same days, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., on 49 metres. Mr. Page Taylor, of Detroit, gave me some particulars of the special test put over by HKA on September 27. He says: "HKA is a small station, like NRH, seven and a half watts (if he sends you a photo-which he did) you will notice a 50 watt tube on top, but he uses that for a modulator. I don’t know why, but he does. He uses a 210 as R.F. amplifier, and previous to September 27 he had only been reported in three different counries. "A gentleman in Chicago, Mr. W. H. } Reeks, and myself, determined that he should add many new countries to his log, so, between the two of us, we notified listeners in nearly every civilised country in the world. We took the names and addresses of everyone mentioned by Senor Cespedes in his book, ‘We and Little N.R.H." We don’t know the result of our labours yet, as all the reports are not in yet. Yours is the greatest dis tance so far, and I believe it will be the greatest distance recorded for this test. Countries that have reported up to the present time are United States, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Peru, England. France and New Zealand. "We heard the test very well in Chicago, and heard the announcer ¢all your name twice. In the middle of the programme he read the names of everyone notified by me and Mr. Reeks, and during the programme selections were dedicated to certain persons. The first selection in the programme was dedicated to Mr. Les:

lie Jones, and another was dedicated to you. "I was glad to know that you were able to hear Sr. Amortegui, or rather his announcer, Sr. Ileru. Amortegui understands only Spanish. The New Year .on Shortwaves. "THE owner of a shortwave receiver 16 able to "see the New Year in" a number of times, conditions permitting, by tuning-in to various stations as the local time of the country approaches midnight, After leaving New Zealand and Bastern Australia, midnight arrives at the following countries where there are shortwave transmitters broadcasting regular schedules :-Siberia, RUI5, 3 a.m. (N.Z. summer time), Tokio, JIAA, 3 a.m.; Java, several stations, 4.45 a.m.; Saigon, F81CD, 5 a.m.; Moseow, RV59, 9.39 a.m.; Nairobi, VQ7LO, 9.30 2.m.; Rome, 12RO, and Zeesen, 11 a.m.; Chelmsford, G5SW, 12 noon; and then to New York, where there are a number of stations, 5 p.m. From here a trip is made westward to San Francisco, midnight at the latter being 8 p.m. the following day in New Zealand. Jyast year W2XAF. 31.48 metres, was linked up with various stutions across the United States, and the New Year followed across the continent from New York to Chicago, then to Denver, and then on to Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is not likely that conditions will, be suitable to hear all the above countries, or the time convenient, but it will be interesting to try, and quite a novelty to hear the New Year in in other countries ' several hours after New Zealand. Reception During Week Ending December 17. ONDITIONS have been very poor the last few days, plenty of static and . weak signals from most stations. In spite of conditions, two old friends were heard for the first time for several weeks. , 12R0, Rome, on Thursday and Friday mornings, was about R7-8 at 7.30 ain. On Thursday, volume was up to R9 by 8.30 p.m., but had faded right out by this time on Friday. Zeesen was heard on Friday, being R7-8 from 6.45 a.m. to 7.80 a.m., but very gushy. Radio Maroe is another station that has returned. On Monday, at 8 a.m., they were R8-9, fading and statie spoilt reception. It is strange that when regular stations go off, others which have not been heard for a time, come to light. The 49-50 metre American stations have suddenly gone off in volume. The only stations worth while during the past few days have been RV15, which continues to be good every evening, somctimes soon after 7 p.m. ZL2ZX, of course, cannot help but come in strongly, as they are only a mile or two away. 8XL, Boundbrook, was R9 on Sunday from 4.80 p.m.

VK3ME, Melbourne, was oné of the best, being R9 on one stage of audio on Saturday. ViKQME, Sydney, on Sunday was quite good. PLW, Java, at 10.45 p.m. on Tuesday, was R9, with records, before commencing duplex telephony. Saigon, is good soon after 11 p.m., but has been bad. HKD Testing. ADVICE has been received from the N.Z. Short-wave Club‘from information supplied by Mr. Arthur Stevens, of Hawera, that HKD, Barramquilla, on 51m., will be testing at the following times: Tuesday, December 22, at 9 p.m. Friday, December 25, at 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 29, at 9 p.m. Friday, January i, at 5 p.m,