News and Views of the DX Club

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 13, 7 October 1932, Page 11

News and Views of the DX Club

Identification Wanted ° A station heterodyning 2CA, Canberra, on 1050 k.c. (286m.), at 11.35 pm, on. Sept. 27. Dance music, followed by an Announcement about dollars, made in an American accent, was heard, Also an American often heterodyned by 2C0, Corowa, 560 (535m.), after 7. p.m. Another American was heard at 6.45 p.m. on September 20 on 590 k.c. (508m.) relaying organ music from KEY. Another station is often heard on 940 k.e. (319m.) after 7 p.m., but it is spoilt by a loud rin

pling noise.

Radio

(Wetn.).

Station heard on 770 k,e. (889m.) at R5. Closed down at 5,58 a.m. Also station on 925 k.c. (324m.) at RDS. Speech was foreign. He closed dovn at 5.45 a.m.-l50W (Wanganui). Station heard at 5.45 p.m. on Sept, 24 between 2GB and 4RK. Musie was heard. Annourcer spoke with an Ameriean accent; and the onlv words T eould

eatech were: "Nine o’clock,’’-

HJ.W:

Wcst

Coast)

American on approx. 735 ke. (408 m.), heard at 11.15 p.m. on September 27 heterodyning badly with 50L, Adelaide, An American doctor was heard giving lectures. At the close of this-gongs were heard, followed by dance music intersperged with foreign. vocal numbers. I this station often during summer last\wear. but was unable to cet the call.

L.

B.

(Johnsonville),

tind -_ Stations Identified 42W.-JORK is right, Kochi City. "Digger" (Hamilton) -VUG, Caleutta. "Omsk" (Wellington).-JQAK works on 645 k.c. (465m.,). Perhaps you have heard him. Your others are new . NES is on 952 kc. (315m.), your stations will reply if you address them to their respective towns. "Radio" . Steasboutg" on 8 COME. ‘Mukden, 723 k.c., 0 k.c.,: and Prague on 16 k.e Samo, ete WEBO on 1450 k.c. (207m.) -*Marama" (Invereargill). 331 (Patea)-You probably heard the fourth harmonie of 2UW, Sydney (267m),. which comes in on 67m. I heard it on. September 28 at 11 p.m., at R6-%, the

call being plainly heard, though QRU, and fading was severe-NZIO6W ( Wellingon). 57MC0 (Dane ae aoe on 324m. (925 k.e.) is Goteburg, Sweden. OKP Prague (or Praha), Ozechoslovakia. 14N (Nelson) )--Station on 1195 k.c. is Montpellier, France. "Omsk" (Whakatane). -I have heard this station often, and speech has always been in English. [It jag not T.ondon National. but Tiondon Re-

gional, on 356m. (842 k.c.)-

Digger

(Hamilton).

"OMSE" (Whakatane) : @) Naples, Italy, 315.m. (940 Ke.) ; 2) Genoa, 312 m. (960 ke.), 10 kw.; (8) probably San Sebastian, Spain, 453 m. (665 ke. which has increased its power a} Khakoy, 428 m. (700 ke.), 25 kw.3 (5 yal, M Milan, Italy, 331 m. (910 ke.), 75 Scottish National, 288 m, (1040 ke.), Ase Radio ‘Trieste, italy, 248 m. (Bi e.), 10kw. * (Melson) : (1) Morocco, 417 m. 720 ke.), 6 kw.; (2) this may be quite possibly ‘Athlone, Treland, 418 m. (725 ke.), with 60 kw. power. (Rangataua): (1) Lodz, Poland, 253 m. (1185 ke.) ; (2) BAJ13, Barcelona, 268 me (1120 ke.) ; (3) Heilsberg, 276 m. (1085 ; (4) 278 m. (1080 ke.) 14 kw.; (5) Nice, 285 m. (1050 ke.) ; Muhlacker, Germany, 360 m. (8383 ke.), 60 kw.; (7) Lwow, Poland, 380 m. ke.), 31 kw.; (8) Milan Italy, 830 m. (910 ke.), 7B k kw.; (9) Bucharest, Roumania, 394 m, (760 ke.), 16 kw.3 (10) probably Sottens. Switzerland. 408 m. (745

ke.), 60 kw-il6W

R.J.

R.

Ohakune |}

Junetion_

Addresses & Addresses Wanted "Omsk" (Whakatane).--Could ou please give me YVKA’s address?-64A (Mokau). . DX Topics 1iZ@ Promises Verification. ABW (Wellington) : I wrote 1ZQ Auckland on July 7, and I received a letter stating that my items were correct and that a card would be sent as soon as fresh supplies were available. So far I have not received it--164A. (Morrinsville), _ Harthing the Beverage. PERDAPS my experience with a Beverage aerial may be of some assistance to those wishing to know if earthing of the far end is beneficial. I have an American custom-built set, for which the makers recommend for maximum results a thousand-foot aerial. I discussed the matter with another Beverage aerial enthusiast, and with him made a series of experiments. There is a large hill behind the house, and I ran an aerial of No. 14 galvanised wire to the top of this (about a quarter of a mile), and then at rightangles along the brow of the hill for approximately another quarter-mile. Im the first instance the far end was not earthed, and theré was little or no improvement over my short aerial of 300 feet. We then earthed the far end, and found .. ‘a noticeable improvement, We then decided to put a resistance in series with the earth, and the question arose as to the value. My friend overcame this difficulty in rather an ingenious manner. He managed to obtain two field telephones, one of which was connected to the far end of the aerial, With the set connected and turned on in the ordinary way, the buzzer from his end would operate my loudspeaker .and indicate |

O-erL DX Club Meetings A OTAGO. BRANCH. At 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, in the room above Barnett’s' (Radio Dealers). The Octagon. Entrance to Stewart Street. (Dxers please note new meeting room and entrance).

H W_

NATTA,

Districé Secretary. j

CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH. At 7.45 p.m. on October 12, st the rooms of Messrs. Chas. Begg and Company, Manchester Street. (Please note change of meeting room.) . .

ERIC W.

WATSON, ©

District Secretary. 2

that he wished to speak to me. The set would then be disconnected from the aerial and the latter hitched on to the telephone at my end, and we could talk together. By this means we were able to try a large number. of values in resistances, and the difference was remarkable. Starting at 750 ohms, we gradually worked down to about 380 ohms before getting maximum results, yet when the 30 ohms resistance was taken out, and the end eonnected directly to earth, the results went down 50 per cent. We made the tests in daytime on 2FC. At 10.30 to 12.30 he could be heard 50 yards from the house with the speaker indoors. From 1100 k.c.-1500 k.c. I find it is not so effective as the shorter aerial, I have an idea the constituency of the soil has a great bearing on the value of the resistance. I have discovered by placing a voltmeter and milliameter in the cireuit between aerial and earth at the receiver end, and that there is a constant difference of potential of .2 volts, with current at 12 mils. I do not find the aerial at all directional, possibly because of its right angled shape. Whether this great length of aerial would be suitable for all sets I, of course, cannot tell, I find that my set is just as selective as ever, and have no difficulty in separating 1YA and KOA, or 2YA°’50L, and W.O.R. Iam uite sure that if anyone possessing a everage aerial would take the trouble to experiment with variable resistance and an nair of telanhoned hea will be well roa

warded.-

J. E.

Allan

(Nelson)

VK’S Coming in Well, ECEPTION this week has been decidedly poor, A few VK’s hayé been heard and among them a new one calling, "2WR, Bondi," on 1300 k.c. (231m.), He came in at good strength, 2BQ, Bondi, 1245 k.e. (241m.) was also good. I logged ten of them last week, and they are worth waiting up for, 3ZO has issued his new card-rather a novel one, He will not be on the air for another week yet. Europeans are coming in very well now, and it is hard to say which is the best. The following can be heard at loudspeaker strength any morningRome, Mulacher, Heilsberg, Stockholm, Sottens, Leipzig. Bucharest, Strasbourg, Brussels, Toulouse. Prague, Trieste, Bordeaux and Tiwow. Others are heard more faintly. There is a new one on approx. 920 k.c. (326m.). TI suspect him to be Breslau, 260C. 3YB was quite prompt in verifving, He also sent a letter giving complete pereeare of the station. Frequency 1050 k.c. (288m.) power is 25 watts, 3HA. verified after a long delay, Hag any dxer a card from JOHK? Ameriean reception is just ordinary now. Amone the best are KMOX, KFI, KGO and KFOX, I wonder who will be the first to vet XGOA’s §iocation? —

Marama

(Invercargill).

Powerful New European, Fifi only station listed on 925 k.c. (324m.) is Glewitz, Germany with a power of 3 k.w., go it either must have increased power or a new station is opened. How many dxers remember the Cromwell correspandent who wrote to "Switch" ‘asking what stations were coming in at 6 am.? It was he who started the rush for Europeans, Latest verifications are from KSTP and KFVD (Ekko stamp).- . 82T (N.P.). New Japanese Stations, SOME weeks ago I sent a report to JOFK, Hiroshima, for the Japanese station which comes in on 920 ke. (326 m.), asking them to forward it. Mr. Akana, programme manager of JOFK, has advised me that no station in Japan operates on 920 ke., so it must be in Manechuria or’some such place, as I have noticed that they always relay JOBK. Mr, Akana sends a list of Japanese sta; tions (those calling "JO--~’"), and. the more unusual ones :- a ,JONK, Nagana-630'ke, (476 m,), 500 w. JOOK, Kyoto, 625 ke, (480 m,), 300 w. JOQK, Niigata, 625 ke. (480 m.), 300 w. JORK, Kochi, 720 ke, (416 m.), 500 w. JOSK, Kakura-738 ke. (406 m.), 1 k,w. JOTK, Matsue-625 ke. (480 m.), 500 w. JOUK, Akita, 645 ke. (465 m.), 300 w.

JOVK, Hakodate, 680 ke. (441 m.), 500 Mr, Akana adds that he has sent my letter to JOBK, who may know of the atation an 991) ke. so mav vat lneata

the station.-

'Bulova 11

(Timaru),

A Changed Call? RECENT verification from XER has the call letters XER crossed out and XECF typed on. Has this station changed its call? The verification is a little booklet, dealing with the station, and different peonle who come hefore the micronhone.

36W

(Island Bay).

Loggihgs and Jottings. "OMSK" (Whakatane): On what frequency does the North Borneo station operate, and during what time? T notice that the location of XGOA ig still doubtful, 29W and I have heard the location as Shanghai, which would place it in the same time zone as Manchuria, My

SO SS ear ae", avr -vr---__ latest loggings include Astrakhan, 508 m. (590 ke.), 10 kw.; 4MB, Maryborough, Frankfort, 390 m. (770 ke.) ; XGY, Che kiang, 307 m. (975 ke.); XOPP, Peiping, 320 m. (935 ke.); XGZ, Nanking, 280 m. (1080 ke.) ; TUV, Ulverstone, 205 m, (1460 ke.); Poste Parisien, 328 m. (915 ke.) ; Milan, 331 m. (910 ke.) ; Florence. 500 m, (600 ke.); and Genoa, 302 m. (960 ke,). Has any dxers logged 7LO, Nairobi, Kenya Colony? I heard a station on 400 m, (750 ke.), at 3,30 a.m. recently, and took it to be 7LO. The Europeans are fair at present, and the following particulars may be of interest to readers:-Leningrad, 351 m. (855 ke.), 250 kw.; Paris, P.T.T., 258 m. (116 ke.). 50 kw.; Barcelona Portugal, 455 m. (660 ke.), 20 kw. (to operate soon); 5GB, Midland Regional, now 50 kw.; Hilversum, 296m, (1005ke), soon to increase power from 8.5 to 50 kw.; Bari, 280 m. (1080 ke.), 30 kw.; HAJ7, Madrid, has dropped from 424 to 411.5 m.; Moscow, 357 m, (840 ke.), 15 kw.; Munich has inereased power to 60;kw.,

533 m. (565 kc.` X16W

R.J.

R.

Ohe-

kune Junction).

Postage to American Stations. * OULD Mr, Barnett, who I wwuld like to congratulate on his wonder ful win, inform me whether he encloses any return postage in reports sent. to American stations? If so, I would be pleased to hear in what form he sends it. I was informed by Post Office officials that international coupons are a waste of money, as we pay 5d for something which is only worth 24d in the States, If there is any other way I would be pleased to hear of it. Also many thanks, "Omsk," for your "Aid to Beginners" par. in the "RR." this week. Although I am nota newcomer to the game, I am sure that I will be able to make plenty of use of your information, Many thanks to the members who sent a big bunch of "Topics" to the "R,.R." I do not. think many will complain atout shortness of news this time. I would suggest that

Special Broadcast from 2UW For N.Z. DX Cl Station 2UW has decided to ncorporate a N.Z. DX Club session in their Owls’ Session on Saturday, October 15, from 10,30 p.m. to midnight, Australian Eastern time (midnight to. 1.30 a.m. N.Z..time). They originally announced that the programme would be of only half-an-hour’s duration. 2UW assures the club of a jolly good session. Reports are wanted, 2UW operates on 1125 kc.

district secretaries make it a rule to colTect at leaSt one par from each of four members of the branch weekly. If all branches co-operated, this would ensure a dependable source of news. However, even if the "Times" was filled completely with dx news, I expect someone would eomplain about the colour of the paper.-

Speagle

(Nelson).

Details of VKs, [THE following are extracts from several VK verifications: VK3LU. Address: 84 Pickett Street, Footscray, Wil. VK8BY. Frequency, 1200 k.c. (249.9 m); power input to final amplifier, 50 watts; ‘ erystal control, 100 per cent. modulation. Times of transmission are: Sundays, 12.30-2 p.m., and 10 p.m. onward, Address: Station 8BY, 47 Bambra Road, Caulfield, SH7, Victoria. VK2ME has an attractive eard which, however, gives the station call as A2ME. It is a telephone station used for communication with trawlers off the Australian coast. Wavelength is 198 metres.28MC: (Christchurch). Recent Loggings. LAT in loggings are KGA, KURA, BC, KGDM, KOIL, 'VKICW, 4MB, ad 4RO, VK2BG, VK2LZ, VK 3SL, YPB, XGOA, XGY, JOSK, JORK, JON: ' and a Chinese station on 980 k.c. (306 fm.). He can be heard at R3 on almo \ every evening. Could any dxer advise. me as to his call and location, please? JI think that XGOA is situated at Tientsin, as this. town has been mentioned several times, I understand that he is using 150 k.w. at times. The Buropeans have been coming in well lately, Bordeaux being easily the best. 42W (Wellington): I, like 730C, receive the Huropeans best "after 6 a.m. During the school holidays I sat-up till 7 a.m. about four mornings of the week, and the Kuropeans were barely audible un-. til after 6 a.m. Latest verifications reeeived are KXA. WTIC. WHO. WOCc

and KFAB

Ranganui

(Dunedin).

Reallocation of Chinese Frequencies, "T)IGGHR" (Hamilton): There has been a reallocation of Chinese frequencies recently, and XGY has been shifted from 977 k.c. to 895 k.e, (3835 m.). ' The following have also been shifted :- . COME, 731 to 723 kc. (415 m.). XGZ, 1071 k.c. to 606 ke. (494 m.). ’ XOPP, 952 k.c., to 987 k.c. (820 m.). KSMS, 1083 k.c., to 1088 k.c. (276 m.). All others kept their old frequencies. This information is per an Australian friend, and will, I think, be correct. Have received a card from XEW after 43 months from date report was sent; also from KFVD, also 44 months since report was sent, so never give up hope. _ Have also received a verification from 6KG, Kalgoorlie, in which they state they appreciate reports from all listeners. They also state dx cards will shortly be available, and one will be sent to me immediately they arrive, Particulars are 6KG, 1220 k.c. (246 m.), power 100 watts aerial input. Transmission hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6.30; p.m. till 10.30 p.m., West Austratime. Studios, Bourke Street, Kalgooriie. Recently I sent a report to XEF, and in reply received a card that really is ‘"XHR’s; from that I should say the two stations are one, This is my second verifications from XER. While listening recently to a station on approx, 1280 k.c. (238 m.), which I think was KOIL, I heard.them acknowledge a report from §S. Robson, 100 Islington Street, Invercargill, New Zealand; "a wonderful report," the announcer said. I presume it was a report from our ‘worthy president, Reception generally has been very good excepting ‘ during the past week, and new and old Americans have been coming in well. The Europeans have also been very good. I have been able to hear more than 20 nearly every good morning. Some of my new .Americans are KF RO, KTAT, KOI, WCKY, KTBS, KOL, WOW,

KHO and several others. Revnorts sent to

all. -99w

P.

N.

4MB Cards Not Available Yet. DANG conditions have been made very unpleasant recently by "heavy static. My latest loggings are KGB, San Diega, 1330 ke, (225 m.); JODK, Keijo, 690 ke. (484 m.); 5PI, Port Pirie, 1041 ke, (288 m.). Extract from a letter received from 4MB, Maryborough: ‘We acknowledge N.Z, letters over the air, the evening of the day on which they arrive, between 9.30 and 10 p.m, (11 and 11. 30 p.m. time). This is usually about ten days after they are posted. We had our official opening on August 16, and have not printed acknowledgment eards yet.-Alf, P, Wynne (manager)." ‘The station is usually silent on Saturday and Sunday nights. XER is coming back again; on Sunday, September 25, he was R6 at 5.25 p.m. On his morning session on Sentem-

ber 27. he was easily R8.-

Radio

(Wel-

flngton ) _

Recent Verifications, LATEST verifications to hand are from 2ZR, Nelson, KTHS, WAPI, and

KFJF. KTM sent a verification about two months after I sent a report. We are all looking forward to competing for the Morley Stafford Cup. Are the conditions available yet?-l11A (Tauranga). "Six Valve" Taken to Task. THINK "Six Valve’ makes a rather sweeping statement when he says that only 25 per cent. of the members have the eclub’s interest at heart, Surely this is hardly fair. Quite 70 per cent. must be country listeners who have very little time to dx, and therefore would not have as much to say as those who live in town and finish work earlier. And. after all, why write just to see yourself in print,? I feel sure that nearly every member is out to do his level best for his club. For "Six Valve" to say what he does, shows a definite want of tact in the circumstances. I wonder what would happen if all the members wrote to the "Radio Re cord" every week? I think somebody would have a nightmare. [I think so, tooEid,] The elub certainly is rather like Topsy, and I am pleased to hear of the steps being taken towards constitution of the club, and I think the local secretries are to be congratulated on their fine work: I presume we will hear more of this at later date, As regards the stations heard here lately, XER is heard only seldom. In fact, I have noticed a rather peculiar thing about this station, and that he is always at his best when KFT is poor. Weather seems TO have a definite effect on some stations,, WGAI in particular. He always. comes in best during. rough southerly weather. I have heard him at 3 o'clock of an afternoon under these conditions, Also this -?

a few days ago an anti-cyclone was hovering over the East Coast, and during its stay, there were dozens of stations all over the dial, but unfortunately, static wus there too, and made listening almost an impossibility. WCCO has been well heard once or twice. Also, KMPC, MTR and KHJ were at good strength on Sept. 23, about 7.380 p.m... KMOX, KNX, KTAB, KFO, KFI, KMTR, KSL, WLW, and KHQ have been the most consistent stations here lately, I was extremely fortunate a short time ago in logvine WPCH, New York. on 500 watts.

-DX 18,

H.

B.

(Gisborne),

On the Short-wave Band. (THE following is an extract from a letter received from Cespedes Marin, owner and operator of station NRH, Costa Rica, Central America: "Received your letter and how glad to answer it. Since received have postponed answering same on account of political troubles down here. which are all over now. Try for me on 19.9 metres. I am there on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, New Zealand time, from 1.80 a.m. to 2.80 a.m., and from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. I have good reports on that channel now, I am also on 31 m. every day at 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. noon time (N.Z. time) except on Sundays and Mondays, your time. I have not heard any more from other friends there in New Zealand. Are they all dead? NRH now works on a power of 15 watts output." Not that I wish to dig up the past, but short-wave listeners will remember some time ago I reported hearing an amateur phone station located in Alaska. It re sulted in a great deal of correspondence to the "Radio Record," and I came in for a fair share of abuse. The station I referred to was K7TAMP, Alaska. I wrote the operator for a verification and receiyed no reply. Since then I have watched the 80-metre band very carefully, and just recently I heard my second Alaskan telephony station. this time K7AOC. Water-

fall, Alaska, —

Mr_

R. W.

McCrary

the

operator, writes me as follows:"Needless to say, I am surprised to know that my telephony station is being heard in New Zealand, and I want to thank you very much, Your time checks exactly with my log for time and stations working me at the time, so there is absolutely no doubt you received me. The power is 120 watts, to 150 watts tube as Class © amplifier. The antenna is a zepp. The power supply is storage batteries on all filaments, I am not on the air a great deal of the time, as I am the operator here of a commercial station. I will be on the air more later on, but at the latter end of September I leave for Seattle, and K7AOC will not be heard for some time. I will be back in Alaska next year, around May." T have received

this station often.-

A. P.

Morrison

(Brooklyn).

American Station Jottings. "THE following are particulars taken from recently received verifications: WMBD, Peoria Heights, Illinois, operates daily on 1440 ke, (208m.) until C.S.T. They want more reports from members of the New Zealand DX Club. KFJF remarked that "We think that your report forms are quite the nicest and most complete we have ever received." WAPI say they have received more re ports from New Zealand than from any country except U.S.A. and Canada. KTBS, on 1450 ke. (207 m.), is now assoeiated with N.Z.C., and has been granted unlimited time; They are on the air 18 hours daily. XEN, in Mexico City, operates on 710 ke, (422 m.). They come in at 705 ke. m.). They also want more reports from New Zealand, but "not on XER’s programmes." They said my report was the first’ correct one received this season. XETR, Mexico City, stated that mine was the most distant report ever receiyed. In July I could get them at very good strength on 605 ke. (496 m.). . Latest loggings include: KGGM on a test for the Newark News Radio Club. They state that everyone reporting would receive a packet of sewing needles, so I have something to look forward to. Also WWNO, Ashville, N. Carolina, on a frequency test.

at Re

Bulova

Timgtu)

Have These Verified Your Report P DXERS have experienced difficulty in obtaining verifications from the stations listed below: — 4ZL, 2ZB, 4ZM, 2ZE. 7LA,

2HA.-

Digger

(Hamilton"

KGER, KOIL, KMOX, KV0O, KFWB, KFPY, KT¥FI, KTRH, WDSU, KCRC. — "Bulova" (Timaru). WOC, JOHK, 2ZM, 2Z3.-. dita (Tauran ga): 2ZB, 2ZL, '8$ZR.-1644 (Morrinsville). [In connection with this we propose to run two lists, the first being of those stations reported unsatisfactory by one dxer only, and the second of those reported by four or more. We feel that it is only fair to stations to do this, as a single report could quite easily go astray or be delayed.J