Short-wave Notes

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 21, 2 December 1932, Page 24

Short-wave Notes

What of PCJ? RITISH listeners to the once-famous Dutch experimental station PCJ, at Windhoven, are wondering how much longer the reopening of the station is to be deferred, writes the "Wireless World." The closure took place in November last, when Messrs, Philips announced that a complete reorganisation of the transmitter was to be undertaken, and since then little has been heard eoncerning the future of what was undoubtedly one of the most famous of the world’s broadcasting stations. We understand that the owners are now negotiating with the Dutch Government on the question of wavelength and power. Anzac Memorial Broadcast. HE short-wave broadcast of the unveiling of the Anzac Memorial at Port Said last Wednesday was a great suecess. Considering the handling the signals received before being heard by the average listener, speech and music was good, From Port Said to Cairo by land -jine, then to England by radio, and then to Rugby, where it was_rebroadcast by the post office station, GBP, picked up and rebroadcast by VLZ, of Sydney, and again by 2YA. The writer tuned in and heard it from GBP, which was received at good volume. Reception, however, was marred by a listener who does not know how to tune a short-wave receiver. Too much reaction weakened the signals, making them mushy. It is best to listen to the rebroadcast from 2YA_ for these special events, and leave the air clear for the receiving stations doing their best to pass on a clear signal, Giving the Empire What it Wants. | Sik JOHN RBITH, Director-General, and Mr. Cecil Graves, the new Empire broadcasting director, have been planning the make-up of the Empire programmes to be broadcast from the new stations at Daventry. . . The Empire is to have what wants, not what the B.B.C. thinks it ought to want! If the ery goes up for vaudeville, it shall be given. If overseas listeners like their humour "broad," they shall. have it-but there will be nothing vulgar! A big demand for light entertainment is expected-hence the bustle to augment the programme staff with revue producers, who will be ready for home or Empire work. Although no contributions to the Empire service are as yet forthcoming from overseas, the B.B.C. is determined to make use of its best material. It is recognised that the programmes must be "robust" to catch the ear of the colonial. The very best artists of every department of the B.B.C. will be engaged im this Empire work. One of the difficulties is the time difference between the various countries. and even between one part of a country and another. At first Mr. Graves will be satisfied if he can feed each of the five zones with programmes between 8 and 10 p.m., local time, extending the | period later from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight, | local. time. , The two-hour transmissions for each zone will be as follow, New Zealand | summer time:. Australian zone, 9.80 p.m. to 11.80 p.m.; Indian zone, 2.80 a.m. to 4.30 a.m.; African zone, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.3 West African zone, 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 adtag Canadian zone, 1 pm. 0 3 pm

i Empire Station Testing for All Zones. E reported last week that the Empire h station at Daventry had been testing on the Australian zone transmitter, and the results of our observtions. Since then tests have been made on the Indian and African zone transmitters, which the writer made a point of observing, although it meant the loss of some sleep. As previously announced, the Indian zone was tested on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2.30 a.m, to 4.30 a.m., our time, on 16.9 and 25.3 metres. On the last morning I was up at 4 a.m. to see what was doing. Signals on 16.9 metres were too weak to be readable, just a weak carrier only. On 25.3 metres reception was very good, being only a trifle weaker than from the 25.53-metre transmitter for this part of the world. It was announced that the African zone transmitter would be tested on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. our time, on 31.8 and 49.6 metres. Again observations were made,‘the lower wave being fairly well received till after 7 am., when they became weak; 49.6 metres was poor, being just readable at times, fading right out every few seconds, and gone altogether about 7 a.m.: The next test is on the West African zone on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 8.80 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. our time, on 31.5 metres and 49.6 metres. It is doubtful if these will be audible here, if the. African zone tests: are a reliable guide. . It has not been announced, but tests will probably be made on the Canadian zone transmitter on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. our time. As regards wavelengths, we will have to wait and see, but: will most likely -be one or two of those used for the other zones, or waves near these. ' The results of these tests to date prove that we in New Zealand will be able to hear the Hmpire station at other :times than when the transmissions are intended for reception here. Of course, the change of seasons will vary reception, and different frequencies will probably be used on the various zones, Briefly, the prospects are very bright for the success of our Empire station.