Round the World on SHORTWAVE

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 47, 3 June 1932, Page 24

Round the World on SHORTWAVE

Conducted by

F. W.

SELLENS

‘An Interesting Week. Wwe are accustomed to picking up an occasional broadcast of more than usual interest on our short-wave receivers, but not several in the course of two or three days, from different countries, as was my fortune last week. Empire Day in Great Britain. T 8 am. on Wednesday, I tuned in one of the Rugby Post Office stations, on about 33 metres. which had just commenced a special broadcast for reception in Canada, Montreal being the location of the receiver. ‘The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, spoke from his home at Lossiemouth about the Commonwealth of Nations, the coming Ottawa conference, etc. The ‘"Marseillaise"’ and other national anthems were played by a band. Other speakers were heard whose names could not be identified. Community singing was heard during the proceedings. The National Anthem concluded the broadcast at 9.5 a.m., when Rugby ealled Montreal, esking for a report of the transmission. Reception at first, during the Prime Minister’s speech, was R8, and about 70 per cent. readable. Volume soon went off and readability poorer. German Programmes for America. UST before 8 am. on Monday, a stranger, on about 29 metres, was talking about a broadcast about to take place and that "we will begin at 31 minutes exactly." At 8.1 am., we heard "FTullo, America, this is Berlin." The names of the items that followed were given first in German, and then_in Eng‘lish, the first being, ‘""Veronica, Spring is Coming." . The broadcast, concluded at 8.15 a.m., was arranged by the National Broadcasting Company, and the station heard was DHB, Nauen, Another programme was announced for next Sunday (Monday here). After asking for a telegraphic renort of the transmission, addressed to "Junker, Berlin,’ DHB closed at 8.20 a.m, Reception was excellent at R9.

America Listens to France. A MUSICAL programme was commenc‘ed at 10 a.m. on Tuesday from "Radio Colonial" on 25.63 metres, for reception in America. Mr. Daniel Harris was the principal singer, being heard several times. These special programmes, it was announced, take place every Monday from .30 p.m. to 12 p.m., French summer time (Tuesday, 10 am. to 10.30 a.m. N.Z, time). Tom-toms from Africa. WHILE listening to Radio Maroc, Rabat, on Thursday morning, at 7.45 a.m., some native chanting or singing with tom-toms was heard as a background to a talk in French. Just before 8 a.m. the speaker finished, and was followed by shouts and/or war erys of what appeared to be thousands of natives. It would have been interesting to knew what it was all about.

W3XAL, Boundbrook, 49.18 metres: Daily till 4.30 p.m, reaching R8-9 by closing time. WS8XK, Pittsburgh, 48.86 metres: Heard on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Ifriday. R65 at 3 p.m. to R8 by 4 p.m., when they close. Moscow, 46.6 metres: Tuesday, at 6.45 a.m., R4 only. REN, Moscow. 45.38 metres: Pach morning about R7 from 6.30 a.m. till 7.30 a.m.; weaker later. Rugby, 33.2 metres (about): From a.m. till 9.10 a.m., on Wednesday, from R8& 4 R5D at finish (see Hmpire Day paragraph). — Rabat (Radio Maroc), 32.26 metres: Heard nearly every morning till about 9:30 a.m., when they fade out. Volume is very good at 8 a.m. XY, Denmark, 31.51 metres: A regular station now, but R3-4 is the maximum with my receiver till after 9 a.m. W2XAF, Schenectady, 31.48 metres: On every day till 3.30 p.m., usually reaching R9; from R45 at midday. Zeesen, Germany, 31.38 metres: Excellent quality at good volume each morning except Monday. W1iXAZ, Springfield, 31.35 | metres: Has been good volume, but a noisy background the last few days. : VK2ME, Sydney, 31.28 metres: Sunday commenced programme at 5.37 a.m.; they were R9 with one stage of audio till closing at 7.30 p.m., with but little fading. } 31 metres (about): On Friday at 8.45_ a.m. about R4, musical items, each concluding with a cuckoo call. The call could not be identified in full, but coneluded with "ah ah." "Hullo, everybody," was heard once in English, but missed the balance of what was said. I held this station till 9.15 am., when they were only jrst audible, getting the cuckoo ' call, but nothing else. EAQ, Madrid, 30.4 metres: Every day from 12 noon till 1.30 p.m. Volume about R8-9, but usually gushy. Music, with all talk in Spanish.

29.9 metres (about): From 6.20 a.m. on Thursday orchestral items, with clapping at conclusion of each selection. Talk in French later, but could. not identify ; R8, quite good. FYA (Radio Colonial), Paris 25.63 metres: Very good every morning from 7.30 am. till 10.30 a.m. Some days it is nearly all talk, but other times there is plenty of musie. G5SW, Chelmsford, 25.5’ metres: Fair ly good on several mornings recently. being best after 8 a.m., reaching R8 at times. but always gushy, sometimes not so bad. 12R0, Rome, 25.4 metres: Improving again on this wavelength, best about 8 a.m. WS8XK, Pittsburgh, 25.25 .metres: Wednesday and Friday about R38 at 1.30 p.m. to R8-9 by 2 p.m.. when they close.