Short-wave News

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 5, 11 August 1933, Page 28

Short-wave News

WIXAZ, Springfield. Wwe wondered what had happened to WIXAZ last week because their signals had. not been heard for a. few days. Aceording to several readers, who kindly phoned me last week, this station has closed for about. one month, while the transmitter is being shifted to a more suilable location. Their éngineers are of the opinion that this change will ensure better reception of programmes broadeast from WIXAZ. This station should be back on the air in about another fortnight, when we will be able to determine if the engineer’s hopes are realised. PRIWK, Java. HE Dutch East Indies Government short-wave station, PKIWK, which operates on about 49.5 metres, is being heard frequently in Australia between 10 p.m. and midnight, Sydney time. It appears to have a regular schedule each Wednesday night between about 11.80 p.m. and 2.10 a.m., N.Z.M.T. The writer has often heard music and speech on this wavelength after 11 p.m., but a local commercial station prevents good reception. Other stations are heard on the 49metre band toward and after midnight. Attempt at Altitude Record. WE reported several weeks ago that an attempt was to be made by Professor Picard to break his previous altitude record. The ascent was to be made from the grounds of the New Century Progress Wxhibition at Chicago. We listened-in on the date given, but nothing was heard concerning this balloon flight. It appears that suitable conditions were being awaited, and these were not satisfactory unti) Saturday, August 5 Barly during this afternoon (our time) all the American short-wave _ stations which were audible here were, from about 3 p.m., relaying descriptions of all the preparations. A receiver and transmitter were installed on a motor-lorry. which was to follow the balloon as closely as possible. keeping in radio touch with it and the transmitters in Chicago. It was from this mobile transmitter on the lorry that the final details of the balloon’s forced descent were heard at about 9 p.m., or about 4.30 a.m. in Chicago. The short-wave stations heard on this stunt were: WS8XK, 48.86 and 25.58 metres; W2XAKF, which was excellent at 3.30 p.m., being R9; WOXE, like W8XK (48.86. m.) was too noisy; W3XL was held from the time the other stations _ became too weak or noisy till signing off at. 9.10 p.m. Notes on Reception ONDITIONS have been normal during the past few days. Morning reception has been patchy, results varying from poor to very good. The HWmpire station, GSD, has been heard at its best several mornings. French "Radio Coloniale"’ continues to come in well most days till about 3.380 p.m. A stranger on about 26 metres was tuned in at 12.45 p.m. on Wednesday with dance music. Between items foreign talk was heard. It was a telephone station, either in Mexico or calling that country, Volume was from R5 to R6, The afternoon American stations have been well received, Saturday being the best day, probably because most of the "stations were on later than usual.