Round the World on Short Wave

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 31, 12 February 1932, Page 24

Round the World on Short Wave

‘HIS page is conducted in the intereste of shortwave enthusiasts. A weekly log comprising notes of reception and interesting topical events ie contributed by Mr. F. W. Sellens, Worthland, Wellington, but all * listeners are invited to send in paragraphs of general interest.

Short-wave Notes

U.S.A. Hams on 80 Metres. i GROUP of the seventh disirict "hams" are having a test during the next few weeks with ithe view of being heard on telephony in New Zealand. Commencing about the first week in February they will be on the air each Tuesday and Friday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., New Zealand summer time, until the end of March. . The stations taking part in this transPacific phone test are as follow :-- W7APD, 3515, 3530 and 3542 k.c., 200 watts. WT7BCI, 3517 k.c., 300 waits, W7A00, 3510 k.c., 80 watts. W7BBH, 350 k.c., 50 watts. WT7AEH, 3502-4 k.c., 30 watts. Full reports of reception of any of ‘these tests will be welcome and should be addressed to Mr. J. G. McKay, W7APD, Rainier, Oregon, U.S.A. Mr. McKay, who has taken much trouble over jnaugurating these tests, will forward reports to the station concerned, and prompt replies are promised. Mr. A, P. Morrison (Wellington) kindly supplied the above information. G5SW, Chelmsford, 1A NEWS and musical session is now broadcast from GSSW on Saturday midday (midnight here). Hear America via Germany. SEVERAL German broadeast stations have begun regular relays of the American short-wave transmissions. A different day is chosen each week; the time is usually between 8 a.m. and 9 am., New Zealand time. ¥rench Colonial Broadcasting. /*#*° LETTDR from "Radio Paris" in reply to a report on reception of HYA says:"Our emissions are made at the present with’ an antennae power of about 12 to 4 kilowatts at the following hours (New ealand summer time) ; 2.30 to 5.30 a.m. on g wavelength of 19.68 metres with 2 broadeast more particularly for the colonies in Asia; 6.30 a.m, to 8.30 a.m, on a wavelength of 25.2 metres for Africas and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on a wavelength of 25.63 metres for America and Oceania." The address for reports is: Director of ‘Radio Diffusion Service, Ministere des Postes, Telegraphes et Telephones, 105 Rue de Grenelle, Paris.

Log for Week Ending Feb. 7.

RV1i5, Siberia, 70.2 metres: Continues io be quite good each evening. Volume iz even better after midnight than earlier. HVJ, Vatican City, 50.26 metres: RS&- ® most mornings at 7 a.m. RV59, Moscow, 50 metres: Good voltame till after 6 a.m. ‘They close soon

after 6 a.m., Feopening at 7 a.m., when volume is about R6, gradually becoming weaker, seldom audible after 8 a.m. now. W9SXF, Chicago, 49.83 metres: Best at 6 p.m., but seldom better than R8, and always with plenty of background noises. ZL2ZZX, Wellington, 49.5 metres: Although a local station, reception varies in the different suburbs at about equal distances from the transmitter. Here in Northland, 2ZX is quite good, but at Lyall Bay it is reported to be unsteady. WSXAL, Cincinatti, 49.5 metres: Sunday was 2 fair sample of this station, 5 p.m., R2, increasing to R7-8 by 5.30 p.m. By. 6 p.m. volume ‘had reached R8-9, renea at this till signing off at 6.30 PWSXAL, Boundbrook, 49.18 metres: Very weak till after 5. 30 p.m., when volume rapidly increases to RY by 6 p.m. when they close. ¥W3iCD, Saigon, 49 metres: One of the best stations for late listeners from 11.45 p.m. W3XL, Boundbrook, 46.69 metres: Sunday, 4.30 p.m., R4, increasing to R7, but very gushy the time. 838.3 metres (about): Friday, at 11.85 p.m., the Dutch National Anthem, at R5. Static was very bad. Dutch talk followed. 33.3 metres (about): At 4.45 p.m. on Sunday, music was heard at R5. Recention was too gushy to get a eall, Radio Mares, Rabat, 32.26 metres: Monday, 8.15 a.m., orchestral music at R8-9, Reception was quite good, except for medium static and a slight slow fade. LY, Java, 31,86 metres: I have always given this station the call letters PLW, but heard them give the ¢all at PLV when calling Sydney one evening during the week. Records can be heard most evenings at good volume, when not in communication with Sydney. VEK3ME, Melbourne, 31.55 metres: Wednesday and Saturday. from 10 p.m. at excellent volume. W2XAF, Schenectady, 931.48 metres: First audible soon after 3.380 p.m., increasing to about R8 by 4 p.m... when they close. On Saturday night, or ‘rather, Sunday, at 12.25 a.m., thev opened with

a bugle call and "Good morning, everybody." Physical exercises from then till 1 a.m. were received at R9. Just after 1 a.m. they called "2ME, Australia." Zeesen, Germany, 31.88 metres.-Mon-day, Wednesday and Thursday, starting at about 7 a.m., when volume is the best, but not good yet-R7 at their best. W1XAZ, Springfield, 31.35 metres.--Not much to hear till about + p.m., when signals slowly increase to about R& as a rule,

, VR2ME, Sydney, 31.28 metresfrom 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. and again from 10 p.m. at R9, with very severe fading. G5SSW, Chelmsford, 25.53 mistres.Esch morning, when audible, reception has has been spoilt by their usual rapid fade. On Friday morning, at 12.30 a.m., they were very weak, only just audible, but on Sunday, at the same time, a R8& eavrier was there. Nothing else was heard till 12.45 a.m., when Big Ben struck the three-quarters (12.45 p.m). The news service followed at R&-9, but rapid fade spoilt readability. At 1 a.m. volume wis down to R7. ; i2ZR0O, Rome, 25.4 metres.-Monday, 7.40 a.m., lady announcer talking. Rd, very gushy. Thursday, same time, R7 {not audible at 7 a.m.). Saturday, 7.50 arm, R&, very gushy. These were the only mornings I heard 12RO0, but it looks as though reception is improving with ths station. WSXK, Pitisburg. 25.25 metres Straday, RD at 3.45 p.m., decreasing to R2 by 4.45 p.m. Saturday, 2.45 p.m., R5 to R8 when signing off at 3 p.m. EFYA, Paris, 25.2 metres.-Reception varies. Tuesday, 6 a.m., R8-9, with rapid face, down to R4 at 6.45 p.m., and then up to RT by 7 am. Soon after this they faded out. Wednesday and Thursday were similar, while on other morrtings they were not audible or very weak. W2XAD, Schenectady, 19.5 metres--At, one time this station was received quite well, but it is a long time since this eall appeared in these notes. On Friday at 7.50 am., they were R&3 for a short time, with slow fades.

IN.Z. Short-wave Club Notes

Ms new location appears to be better from a reception point of view, and it is a relief to be away from the interference from trams, motor-cars, and power-lines. I am indebted to Mr. H. Hackett for assistance in getting up a "string.’? The one we have is north and south, about 80 feet long, sloping down te the lead-in. For short-wave we will be_trying a different aerial. With the rapid growth of the club, 2 telephone is now a necessity, and, when it is installed, it will save city and suburban members Many a journey. Ove member has set himself the task of regularly patrolling a certain beat be-

tween two coils, and thus noting. new arrivals and conditions in that locality.. With the advent of the telephone and a few members on duty we should be constantly in touch with what is going on. By dividing the city into districts a ring to one man in each would notify all those within call of him when there is anything special on. A well-known amateur sends me a collection of reports he has received; some are excellent, but some are atrocious, and gave no information whatever. The ama- _ teurs spend a great deal of cash on their equipment, and it is not fair to expect them to spend more money in getting ecards printed to send to everyone who writes and asks for them. A collection of cards is evidence of prowess in the art, but they should be honestly earned by means of a good report. Don’t forget te enclose stamps for reply, do not enclose an envelope unless it is of large size, big enough to hold a card; these chaps have to earn their living as well as we have, and to post fifty cards costs money. A schoolboy writes in to tell met Mat he has had @ valve given him, can Dell him how to go about rigging up a set. Generally speaking, reception seems to be quite OK recently, and it looks as though we shall have a good season. Great attention is being paid to. some of the overseas stations in view of the possibility of news from the Far Hast. Judging from overseas papers, we seem to be doing quite all right when it comes to short waves, and, to receive a report from New Zealand means much to most stations, Our club’s activities are attracting attention abroad, and, as time goes on, we hope to be able to justify our existence. We now have members in America, Dngland, Scotland, and Holland, besides at sea. Membership of the club is open to all, and we have reduced our subscription for the remainder of the year to 3/- for all outside of Wellington, new members to receive a list of times, calls, wavelengths. ete., with their certificate, and I send out a monthly letter to each member consisting of several closely typewritten pages. Fill postal notes in and keep the butt: this protects us both. Please note my change of address, which -is now: A. B, McDonagh, Secretary, New Zealand Short-wave Club, 4 Queen Street, Monnt Victoria, Wellington, Yours fra-

ternally,

MAC.