News and Views of the DX Club

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 11, 23 September 1932, Page 11

News and Views of the DX Club

pat mot Answers to Correspondents

62HB (Gisborne): We shall go into the question, .. 60A (Tauranga): for the aftorley Stafford" Cup are not yet available. oN mw arene

‘Addresses & Addresses Wanted

172A (Auckland): JOAK, Tokio; JOCK, Nagoya; JOHK, Sendai; JOBK, Osaka; JOLK, Fukuoka ; and JOQK, Niigata.

ft: Identification Wanted

Chinese station heard recently from 1.40 to 2 am. on 1040 kc. (288 m.). The usual weird music with a flute-like instrument was heard, Has anyone the address of XGOA ‘The first word is "Quoy."-"Omsk" (Whakatane). European heard between 5.45 and 6.15 a.m, on Sept. 11 on 925 k.c. (324 m.) at good volume. One item was the "Anvil Ohorus." Has anyone the call-sign and address of the Prague station on 620 k.c. (484 m.)?-57MC (Dunedin). For the last few nights an American has been heterodyning badly with JOAK (870 ke.) from 11 p.m.-onward. At ‘times I can just hear prices in dollars being mentioned, followed by dance music. Would it be WHNR on his morn: ing session?-140A (Auckland). Foreigner heard at 3.15 on Sept. 12 on approx. 645 k.c. (465 m.). A woman was speaking. Another station was heard on the same morning at 3.30 a.m. on 720 ke, (416 m.).-*‘Radio" (Wellington). Short-wave station heard at 11 p.m. on Sept. 9. Announcer spoke good English I caught a portion of the words of three announcements: (1) "Bells, of .--," b: Ketelby. (2 Lady singer. (3) "-and his orchestra, playing "- by Rasmussen." It was a few metres below RVIR. i.e., between 63-70 metres.-33T (Patea) Station on approx. 370 m. (810 k.c.), which closed down at 8.45 a.m, after playing two orchestral numbers. He then closed down with the usual an-nouncement.-"Digger" (Hamilton). Foreigner on 1410 k.c. (218 m.) and also a Chinese station on 1040 k.c, (288 m.). Amother on approx. 650 k.c, (461 m.) was heard recently at 11 p.m. with musie similar to that from HSP1. Also thréé new Japs on 880 k.c. (341 m.), 890 k.e. (837 m.), and 900 k.ec, (333 m.), all at fair strength. Is there a Jap JLAK Kanazawa? Huropean station on 840 k.c. (357. m.) heard at R2-3. Is this London National?-"‘Omsk". (Whakatane). On September 13 a foreign station was heard at 645 p.m. on 1300 k.c. it sounded like a Japanese announcer giving a news report. Reception lasted about ten minutes and faded completely out.-43T (Stratford). Station. on 49.4 m. giving band and piano items at R4 on September 16 from 6.30 a.m. to 6.40 am. I have heard "5t also between 5: and 8 a.m. Some announcements were foreign and unreaiable, but one at 6.37 a.m. was. English but only QSA2-3. On 40 metres approx, foreign talk was heard at 10.55 p.m. on September 14, R6. QSA5. with a quick fade. Speech sounded like Japanese. .On 29.8 metres approx., part ‘of a duplex talk in Bnelish was heard on September 15 from 6.80-7 a.m, Men-

eee ae Pee tion was made.of the new B.B.O.’s shortwaver and it was said that it would be testing within month-134W (Wel--lington). Japanese station on 720 k.c. (416 metres). I suspect call is JORK. Also what is its location? -42W (Wellington). French station heard on September 16 on 1195 k.c. (251 m.)-right on WOAI © -with speech unmistakably familiar to an old soldier.--l14N (Nelson).

Stations Identified

"Radic" (Wellington): American heterodyned by 2ZK is KFSD, San. Diego, on 600 kc. (50 m.), power 500 watts, American on.38LO’s frequency 1s | KERG, San Francisco, 610 k.c.. (492 m.). -140A (Onehunga). 164A (Morrinsville): I heard WOCO, Minneapolis on 810 k.c. playing a medley of coon songs at the time you mention. -48T (Stratford).

DX Topics

KGEF Definitely Of the Air. I AM sure KGHPF is off the air because. at the end of May last when listen-. ing to an unknown station I understood the announcer to say that they were relaying KGEF. I wrote this station asking who they were relaying on this particular date, and their reply, which t received early in August, was as folows -- ‘You say you heard KGHF mentioned. © It would be a physical impossibility, as we have been off the air since November, 1931, but we hope to begin broadcasting in the near future-most_ likely at the end of 1932 or early in 1933. We hope to hear from you then." ‘The letter is signed by the manager of KGHF.‘Digger" (Hamilton). ; WSFA’s Schedule. (THE following is an extract from a veri-. fication recently received from WSFA, Montgomery, Alabama, on 1410: ke. (218 m.), power 500 watts:-*. . .- Unquestionably you have every right to log WSFA as definitely received over your set. We have given only one other verification to a resident of New Zealand. He lives at Hastings, and picked up one of our election broadcasts at about 2 a.m. Montgomery time, which is Central Standard in this country. We checked him in every way before we verified his report, just as we have done yon, | For the information of your club our hours of operation are as follow, all times Central Standard :- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.; 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 6.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 7.30 a.m. to 6.20 p.m.; 9 p.m.11.80 p.m."-190T (Dunedin). ° , Concerning the Club. © (CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. Robson on his election to club president. [f was rather surprised at the number of. voters, Fancy. only 163 members troubl- . ing to vote. This must be very disheartening. to the Dx Hditor after the trouble . of organising the poll. I have subsequently formed the opinion that only 25 per eent. of the members have the club’s interests at heart. The remainder either

oined out of curiosity or else are. too wrapped up in themselves to bother about club. matters. I. agree with ‘All Wave" concerning his list of stations which will not verify, and suggest that. members. when sending second reports to such ‘stations, inform them that unless .areply be forthcoming they will be ineluded on our list. They could also notify as to whether they would like reports, or not.. 40NW suggests that the badges haye assorted coloured centres to denote different districts. I absolutely disagree with this, and feel sure that if this plan was adopted, the districts would gradually become separate clubs, with only their interests at heart. Several readers want to "livert up" the Dx page in the "R.R." This is a good idea, but would need the support of every member to make it a success. I think "Omsk," "Digger," and 141A deserve the V.C. for their tireless efforts in solving ‘other dxers’ problems. There are several others as well, but I feel sure more could help if they would only choose to do so. In conclusion I would like to congratulate Mr. Barnett on capturing the Dx Cup for the South Island.-‘Six Valve" (Christchurch). [ Within the last fortnight several members have written in complaining of. the limited space allotted to dx news in the "Radio Record," several even asserting that unless space was greatly . increased they would leave the club. Once and for all we would like to inform’ members that if they will take the trouble to send in news it will be published. The only dx news we have ever withheld from the "Radio Record" has not been topical and has been held to provide bright reading in the monthly mail for the "Radio Times." In conclusion we notice that

— in the majority of "eases the members who complain about lack of news never send in any themselves--Hd.J] ~ KFJF Installing'a New Transmitter, A VERIFICATION was recently to hand from KFJF, Oklahoma City, which I logged on his anniversary programme on July 3). He says: ‘As we are now in the process of installing a new 5-kilowatt transmitters we ask that you tune in on us when we return to the air in the early Fall, and let us know how our new equipment gets KFJF over to New Zealand." I also logged a new Australian on Sept. 3 calling "4MB, Maryborough, Queensland." Address is: Maryborough Broadcasting Company, Wynnes’s Station, Maryborough. 1060 k.c. (283 m.).-62HB (Gisborne). . Lady Dxers’ Cup. "THREE cheers for Mr. Morley Staf -- ford for. his donation of a cup for lady. dxers. We'll have to work our sets overtime for the next few months. Latest loggings are: HSPI, Radio Bangkok; JOPK; KELW, Burbank, California; TUV, Tasmania; and 8AK, Melbourne. Latest verifications include WRVA, Richmond, Virginia, who state that my report of April 20 was_ the first from New Zealand for nearly a year; WPG, Atlantic City; and KFRC, Los Angeles, after nine months, so one should never give up hoping.-G0A (Tauranga). An Aid for Beginners, HERE appears to be some doubt as to the identity of the station on 680 k.c. (441 m.). I have heard it often and took it to be JOLK. However, the call is given as XGOA. Conditions

— are very good at present for the reception of Americans and Eastern stations. I find that the Americans roar in till 5.30 p.m., and then gradually decrease in volume.' -CFCN, Calgary, on 980 k.c. (306 m.), was heard .at R5-6 on Sept. . . Also a foreigner on 895 k.c. (835 m.), heard till 1.30 a.m. at great strength. It. heterodyned THO badly. I take it to be NKS, Shanghai-91W (Wellington). I hold verifications from 4ZR and power -is ‘given as 74 watts. 164A (Mokau): WCOCO’s test programme _ came through here as loud as KFI.. Latest verification comes from 2KO, who replied in‘a fortnight. , The following is the list of stations referred ‘to in ‘the issue before last :-~ Canadians can: be. heard ‘at their. best from about November until January. Usually Americans give their calls every quarter of an hour, and they: are often preceded by a bell. . They can be heard at their best in the winter, December and January. ‘The two Hawaiian .. stations can be heard from about 6.30 p.m. on--wards. Mexicans ean be heard until 5.30 nm. N.Z.T., although some, for example, XER,. are heard until 6 p.m. They are heard best in the winter and round about December, Japan can be heard regularly from 9.30 to 12.30, and several stations until 1.80 am. Call is given sexeral times only during the programme, {nd dxers should listen for it at approxim/itely 12.30 am: Programmes from. Chinese stations resemble those from the Japanese, but some devote one day a week to European musiec,- They can be ‘heard from midnight until approximately 2.30 a.m., and some a little later. The winter months prove to be the best part of the year, Indan stations can be heard best in the winter months between 2 a.m. and’3 a.m. Only six Indian’ stations can be heard in this country. and their frequencies are well known, They are not occupied by other stations at that time. so dxers should have no difficulty in logging them. The Colombo station can be heard between, 2. a.m, and 4.15 a.m., their time: being six hours behind ours. The South African’ stations are best heard from September to November, from about 3.30 a.m. until 5 a.m, Siamese stations are heard best in the winter months, between 1 am. and 2.30 a.m. Several strokes on a gong every hour are characteristic of these stations. Finally, Huropeans. These are’ heard best in the winter’ months, until the end of October, between’ 4.30 and 6.80 a.m. Anv suggestions or alterations should be sent to the editor, who, I am sure, will be pleased to . publish * them.-‘Omsk" (Whakatane). . Relay of Harmsworthy Trophy Race, HILE listening for GSSW at 11 p.m. _ on September 3 I picked up a strong earrier on 25.25 m. This turned out. to be W8XK, who were relaying WGY on their’"Rise and Shine" hour. At approximately 11.10 p.m., they went over to ‘Lake St. Clair,’ at Michigan, Detroit, where they relayed the first race between Kaye Don (Miss England). and Gar Wood (Miss. America) for the Harmsworth Trophy, The broadcast was first-¢lass. The yolume was R9 at.11 p.m., bu at 11.30 gushiness set in and by. 11.45 p.m. he was almost inaudible. This was rather disappointing,.as up till’ this time Kaye Don _ was at times over a.mile.ahead, and had left the impression that he was-a sure winner, which, of course, he was not. However, during the first half-hour the station was so clear‘that the roar of the boats could be’ plainly heard rising above the talking and laughing of the spectators near’ the microphone. KIKW, California, advise that’ as the station is private ‘they will not verify. (Conditions in Wadestown’ (Wellington) at the present time’ are very noisy: and’ gushy, especially in the mornings, although one nearby’ listener reports very good reception of American hams between’ 8 and 10 p.m. nightly on. 75. metres---NZ103W (Wellington). ‘ oo ot DX Jottings, L TEST verifications are from 2ZD ’ (breakfast session), 2ZM (DX programme),: KTAB, and WTAM. Latest’ oggings are. 4MB, KGA,-4RO.-The HurePine 1

peans are coming in strongly now, some 4 or 15 being. heard on morning of September 9. LWOW, Muhlacker, Prague, and one on 860 k.c. (849m.) are the best. 2T (N.P.). Phenomenal European Reception. FTHR the local DX Club meeting, held recently, I‘caught the European "bug" badly.. On September 12, an exceptional morning, I logged no less than eighteen Muropeans on the speaker. Approximately nine of them’ could be heard. all over: the house and gome were louder than KYI-14N (Nelson),

DX News. ‘-ECEPTION conditions have been fair- : ly good in my locality of late. was’ interested to note that 7800 states that he: receives: the European Stations from 6 a.m. on.. Here I get them from 5.30 a.m., and they begin to fade out soon after 6. Some of the best are: Heilsberg, 1085 k.e, (276.4m.); Prague, 614 k.c. (487.6m.) ;| Moscow-Stalin, 707 k.e. (423 m.); Bucharest, 761 k.c. (894m.); Warsaw, 212.5 ke? (1412m.); Helsinki, 815 k.e, (368m.) ; Katowice, 734 k.c. (408m.) ; Beramunster, 653 k.c. (459m.) : Brno 878 ke. (842m.); Bratislava,-1076 k.c. (279 m.)» Another Buropean station received at{good strength is one on 923 k.e, (anprix.), which seems to specialise in talks. I think it is a Russian. Can arv dxer enlighten me as to its locality? To any dxer with longwave coils for his set advise him to tune in one morning at 5.50 a.m., and perhaps he may get the surprise I did.. These. waves, however, I find very spasmodic for results-a station at RS one. day may be inaudible except for earrier the next. a . One or two excerpts from verifications may be of interest. KMTR state that their company ("Los Angeles Herald and Eixpress’"’) now operates KRKD. 1120 k.c. and KMPC, 710 k.c. 8TR asks me to again remind listeners of hig broadcasis for New Zealand (Thursday, 11.30. 11.45 p.m., N.Z.S.T. HSPI state that their station is heard. very well in Australia, as well as here. 1Z™M state that they are still using 17 watts, although I get this station stronger and clearer than 1YA. Among the_best_ received Americans at present are KMOX, KOIN, KIR, KHJ. and KGER. Among new Australian loggings are 2WG, TUV, and 8YB. I- wrote to 1ZQ about four months ago, but have received no reply yet. Have other dxers experienced trouble © with this station, as they announced that all

reports would be answered as goon as cards were printed?-42W (Wellington). Verification Extracts. ee tRACTS from recent vertifications are as follow :-VK3LU, usual times unless allocation altered. Victorian time, 9 to 10'a.m., and from 10.30 p.m. (on Sundays). Also odd nights during the week after commercial stations close down. Address, C. T. McPherson, 34 Pickett Street, Footscray, Wil. VE3RG asks when reporting to give comparisons

with other amateur stations in Australia, say with 8EF or 8BV, as this would be a helpful point. Address, R. L. G. Blake, 29 Doveton Street, Victoria, Australia. JOCK (Nagoya). Call sign, JOCK, Ngoya (Chuo-Hoso Kyoku), wavelength 810.k.c..(870 metres), . Antenna power, 10 k.w. Address, Nagoya Central Broadcasting Station, Minamistobore-Cho, Nagoya, Japan, JOLK, Fukuoka, say they are very interested in dx reception. Theirs is a fine card, or cards, as I received two. Frequency 680 k.c. (441 metres). Power, 500 watts. Address, Radio Station, JOLK, Fukuoka, Japan,DXI7OT (Dunedin).

XER Barely Audible Now. RECEPTION conditions in Whakatane have been excellent during the past fortnight. Latest loggings include VIKA on 1500 k.c. (200m.), logged between 7.307.45 p.m. N, Jenkins. XER is still there. but is barely audible at his best. J.P. C.: Thanks for information re NKS. However, there iy a Chinese station on 960 k.e. (312m.) giving call at NKS or, NAS, Shanghai. Wuropeans are.coming in well now; those on 930 k.c., 1085 k.c.. 1120 k.c., and 1010 k.c., being all at Ri-6. That on 1120 k.e. is nrobably BAII3. Barcelona.-"Omsk" (Whakatane). Buropeans Thick and Fast. "THE Europeans are coming in in great style. On a recent Saturday night 18 and myself had a night up and logged the following :-Varis (914 ke.) ;:. PFBLI. Hilversum, Holland (1018) ; Copenhagen, Denmark (1065): OKK, Kosice, CzechoSlovakia (1025); Hornby, . Sweden (1166) ; 2BD, Aberdeen Regional (995) ; 9L0, London (842); Turin, ° Italy (1096) ; Breslau, Germany’ (920); TLanoe

genburg, Germany (635); Bervymunster, Switzerland (655);.Rome (680); Graz, Austria (850) ; Bordeaux, France (986) ; also, three other stations which I could not identify. QWastern stations heard were: HSPI, Siam; VPB, Colombo (700); VUC, Calcutta (810); VUB, Bombay (840); and VUL, Lahore (882). On the following week I had another night up, and heard more: COMK, Mukden, China (720); COHB, Harbin, China (670) ; GEO, Tientsin, China (1005): Heilsburg, Germany (1085); LWOW, Poland (788); Bucharest, Roumania Cat) OKP, Prague, Czecho-Slovakia 612); HSP3, Bangkok, Siam (930) ; RWB, Odessa, Russia (665); Toulouse, Prance (780); RW39, Moscow (705); 5GB, Daventry Regional (625); MuchJacker, Germany (830); OKB, Brno, Czecho-Slovakia . (878); Milan, Italy (398) ; OKR, Bratislava, Czecho-Slovakia L. Teychenne.