DX Cup Goes to South Island

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 5, 12 August 1932, Page 13

DX Cup Goes to South Island

The winner, F. W.A. Barnett, describes his equipment and methods The "Radio Record" Challenge Cup, awarded half-yearly to the member of the DX Club with the largest log of verified overseas stations, has been won by F. W. A. Barnett (DX760C) of Dunedin, with 291 stations-the best "score" yet. District certificates have been won by:Auckland: R. A. Sutherland (DX19A), with 220 stations. Hawke’s Bay: Morley Stafford (DX41HB), with 2'72 stations. Taranaki: A. Greening (DX9T), with 190 stations. Wellington: J. P. Cowlishaw (DX12W), with 204 stations. ‘Neison/Westland: J.L. Frasex (DX3NW), with 194 stations. Marlborough/Canterbury: J. C. Stapleton (DX6MC), with 79 stations. -Otago/Canterbury: J.-J. Looker (840C), ‘with 157 stations. Cities: J. P: Cowlishaw (12W), with’ 204 stations. In the accompanying Mr. Barnett describes his equipment and methods.

Arran seeing the result of the first DX Competition, I started DXing with only a half dozen verifications, which I probably would not have had, if-the stations concerned had not especially asked for reports: ‘I have been a keen :‘DX-er since the days of erystal sets, but did not trouble to -write. to any of.the stations that I heard, except a few. who asked for reports... On. seeing the result of the first competition I decided to write to'the stations, that I heard, for verification and -having" the "utmost confidence in the particular. make of receiver that I use, I said: to myself, I’m-going to -get :al! thése.stationus I’m hearing. verified, and try for the DX Cup. It was easier said, than done, and has been hard work, especially as I started late: in the field. AsIam generally busy during the week, it is seldom-that I can, -except at the week-ends, listen for Dx stations. | ‘However, I set to and listened in at

every opportunity and wrote to all the stations that I heard and was able to identify. I have to date received about 75 per cent. replies from the stations that I have logged, and. have about another 50 yet to come to hand,

and am still logging a few, although conditions for DX reception have not been too good this last month. The receiver I use is a Super-Hetro-dyne, 7 valves, excluding rectifier and all Dx-ing. is done with the speaker. I have fitted output device for phones, but do not use them except if someone else wants to get some sleep, as I can hear much better off the speaker. The set is calibrated exactly in kilo- — eycles from 1500.k.s.’s to 550 k.c.’s, and has 10 k.e. selectivity on all stations except powerful locals. ‘The calibrated dial is.a big help in identifying sta- | tions, as one knows exactly the frequency,.and used in conjunction with a good call book makes DX’ing much-eas-ier, 10 k.c. selectivity also enables me ' to get even a 100 watt American with | powerful Americans on either side. | ‘Through the help of a friend of mine | | I was able to find out the following: The best time of the day and the year, to listen for American, Canadian and | Mexican stations, as he had been lis- | tening to these for years under better

conditions than I had, and had the knowledge of the best times at his -finger-tips, he also introduced me. to the place where, I have done my DXing, in fact I have’ him to thank for my success. The aerial system ‘consists of: .Beyerage aerial for American reception an aerial approximately 120ft. long, average height 25ft..for Australian, European and Eastern stations. Both are directional. The earth consists of; I Laker copper earth tube driven about 3ft. 6in. in damp clay. The receiver, aerial and earth — is situated on a rise about 1000 feet above sea-level, about 10 miles airline from Dunedin and about 1 mile from the coast. I have experimented with all ‘kinds-of aerials and earths, and find that the ones I am now ‘using are the most suitable for my locality, I have tried all the fancy earth systems that I have ‘seen recommended,

but find that the one described. is just as good for my locality, in fact the set brings in the 100 watt Americans with the earth off, providing the aerial tuning knob is adjusted to sult, just as good as with it on, I was always-of the opinion that the winter was the best.time for reception of North American stations, but have changed my mind after listening during Christmas and New Year, about this time I logged about 100 new ones. During: the Christmas and New Year holidays I heard 17 100 American stations and 1 100 watt Canadian, as well as dozens of higher ‘powered ones, there was also hardly a click of "static" or interference right through the holidays. Reception has not been of the best down here of late, only a few new ones have been logged, of course the more one gets the harder he is making it to get more new ones, as there is, onlv a limited number of:stations that can be heard out here, due to the conditions not being suitable for reception when they are on the air. There are also quite a number that will never be heard out here, as they either close down. too early for us, or are not on the air at all at a time where reception of them is possible. DX and Test programmes help us to log stations that would not be heard on-their usual programmes. , I am very pleased at having won the cup and ali the boys of the club down here are quite pleased also, especially as it has come to our district and the South Island. We are. going to keep it'in our district if we can, although we are another 500 miles away from the DX fishing grounds-America-than: our North Island DX-ers.