AROUND AND BEHIND THE DIALS

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 7, 25 August 1933, Page 23

AROUND AND BEHIND

THE DIALS

A Section for

| the DXer, Short-wave Listener and Home Constructor Conducted by...... The Technical Editor

DX CLUB News and Views Experimenting with Earths: Frequency Allocation Conference Urged: American Reception Patchy: WSB’s New Transmitter: 83 Australians Logged; Central American Stations Coming in Strongly.

Answers to Correspondents "Radio’ (Wellington). The City Certificate in the last DX Competition was wou by Mr. J. P. Cowlishaw (8HQ), of Palmerston North, with a log of 381 stations, 210A ‘(Te Puke): All letters should reach this office by the Saturday preceding publication date of the following issue. Identification Wanted Two stations, one on 990 k.c., and the other on 1150 k.c., heard bétween 3.45 and 4.30 p.m. on August 18, evidently relaying a concert from a large hall. The items were loudly applauded.-d5HOB (Napier). Station on 630 k.c. heard at 7.40 p.m. on August 12, at R4. The following is part of the announcement, heard at 7.40 p.m.: ". , . letters... station W... dx programme... ." Static was trouble-. some. Also a station heard on August 12 and 18 during the day, on approx. 668 k.c. (almost on 2KC). Morse was heard at intervals. Both stations’ carriers wete of the same strength---210A (Te Puke). Stations Identified "Truetime" (Hastings). You heard station KRLD, Dallas, Texas, broadcasiing their Barnyard Hour.-‘Tegal" (Wellington), N. Jenkins (Masterton): Station on 605 k.c. is LYX, Auckland-157W (Wellington). DX Topics A 300-foot Earth, [TX last week’s issue a member raised the subject of earths, I have tried various types, including radiators, pipes, ete in fact have done so much experi menting that now if someéone starts to dig the garden they invariably strike one of. my earths! I am now using 300 feet of 10-gauge copper wire, buried 9 inches under the ground, and rutining round the lawn. ‘I installed it merely by lifting the turf and placing the wire underneath. When using this earth QRM is greatly decreased, and signal strength of distant stations is improved. N. Jenkins: 2ZK is not likely. to take the ait again unless. perhaps 2

Radio Club is formed. 1YX, on 600 k.c., comes in here at R7, QSA5, KIFBI has been heard lately at midnight. VKA has been heard on 1550 k.c. at 7.30 p.m., giving the 6 p.m. Sydney time signals. ‘The Americans are still coming in here, the best being WLW at 4.30 p.m., and XER, KSL, and WENR at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. KFI, KHJ, KSL, WLW, and XDPR are all at R&S. Dxers should try to tune iu KFAB on 770 k.c-the frequency usually occupied by WBBM, I have heard the former station on until 7.15 pm. CKCN on 1080 k.c. was R6, QSA4, on Saturday, August 12. Old-time dance music was played, announcements being made after every item. He closed down at 6.15 p.m. Ou August 13, VK4WI, 1470 k.c., was R6, but fading badly. Another VK whose call sounded like VK4W0O, was heard on 1130 k.c. at R4. Reception was very distorted. It is rather unusual to hear a VK4 on this frequeney, as they usually come in at the bottom of the dial, Latest loggings include WHAS, heard on Sundays when 1YA is off the air-JOPK, JOUK, KEX, KFAB, KGA, CPCN, KLZ, 8DB and 20W (daylight reception). Latest verifications include KOMA, KFYBK, KOIL, WHAS (No. 1 stamp), WBSO, and WLS (both ERkko stamps), KFH, WKRO, KVOO (secon), KALH, WHK, WCAU, KLO, WLBW, WCAO, WDRO, and KGIR. In their letter WBSO described the station and transmitter in detail, while WLBW sent a magazine, Congratulations to Mr. Downes on his success, and also to J.P.C., 1HQ, ahd the other dxers who spent so much hatd work and time building up stich fine logs.-‘Elgin"’ (Wanganui), . : ,

American Reception Improving. MERICAN reception is rapidly improving. On Sunday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 15, the following were heard from R2 to R8:-WSM, KEI, KPO, KGO, KTAB, KTMR, KHQ, KSFD, WBBM, KTM, WGY, WCCO, WHAS, KOA, WENR, KLX, KH, KFWB, KPRC, WHO-WOC, EKRLD, KNX, WTAM, KMOX, KSL, WHAM, KPOX, KDYL, KGMB, KGB, and KGA. KIJR, Washington, was heard for the first time recently at R4. Eastern stations have also been coming in at excellent volume. XGOA, JOHK, JOAK, 1 and 2, JOBK, JOCK, and JOIK all reach R6 by 10.80 p.m. Latest loggings are VUB, VPB, HSTPT, 1YX, XGKO (700 k.c.), JOCG, ZILY, VK’s, 38AR (1280 k.c.), TCS (1230 k.c.), SWH (1200 k.e.), and 4WI (1470 k.c.). The last-named comes in at splendid volume. CEFON was heard on August 12 closing at 6.15 pm, An American has been heard at good volume lately after 10.30 p.m. ou 1040 k.e. He is heterodyned by 5PI, Port Pirie. My latest verifications are JOIK, Sapporo, 880 kc, and 2ZC0.-

"Radio"? |

(Wellington).

83 Australians Logged. FR ECEPTION conditions in my locality are slowly improving, and the American stations are gradually coming back to nermal, The Australians have been very consistent, and my total log for 12 months is 83, including VK’s. Sixty-five have been verified, and I have reports away to 18 others, I am in a good locality for Australian reception, though the Americans are not so good. Latest loggings are KTRH, KTHS, KOA, KGB, CFCN, XEPN, RXKR. WEBC, JOXK, VK’s, 2SW, 3PY, 3RI. 80Y, 3RG, 8GK, 4WI, 4PW, BDR, BLY, 5WH, 5LR, and TDR, verifications are from WTAM, 7ZY (daylight). 27N, 6ML, VIA, 5CL, 3AR (daylight), VK3LH (6 watts), and 4ZB, My non-

reply list includes the folowing: KGMB, WABO, 4MK, 610G, and VK’s, 2BQ, and 7CW. Return postage wag included in every case. KOMA would not verify. as I did not give the name of the orchestra, announcer, or’ of the programme. KFSD in a recent verification said: "You might be interested to know that out of 30 letters which we received from New Zealand this month, only six were verified." All my dxing is done on a 5-valve a.c. T.R.F, set. My aerial is 91 feet high at the far end, and 85 feet at the lead-in end, running east to west. Total length

is DS00ft.-113W

(P

N.) =

Recent Verifications. [ RECENTLY shifted back into town. and am finding power interference is a serious drawback to dxing. American reception is fair, the best stations being KFI, WLW, KSL, KFSD, HHQ, and XBR. XER is apparently on all-night programmes again. I have heard him as late as 9.80 p.m. On Monday, August 14. WSB was heard testing their 50 kw. transmitter. I listened to them for nearly two hours, Europeans are just audible, three being heard last week. Recent verifications to hand are KHJ, KPO, and XER, while new loggings are KIIQ, WSB, THO, Brussels No. 1, Algiers, Morayska, and Czechoslovakia.-‘Hanga-

wera"

(Hamilton).

Central Americans Good. GTATION WSB has been heard lately until 9 p.m. He is-now using 50 k.w., and is anxious’ to receive reports. L:R4 was heard on Angust-183 until 5 p.m, and was much better than WHIIO. On August 12 CIFCN was heard until 6.15 p.m., and came in better than I have ever received him before. What I took to be a Cuban station was heard on 785 k.e, on August 13 up till 5.45 pm. Al announcements were given in Spanish. The Mexicans are also excellent at -present. XEB is always the first to be heard, followed by XEIFO ‘and then XER and XEPN. Quite a number of Europeans can now be heard about 6 a.m., Bratislava, Heilsberg and. Breslau being the

best:

F13

(Whangamomona).

Americans Becoming Weaker. -AST week I received the following verifications: 2KY, 5DN, 5CK, VK8BY, 5AD, 8SH, KNX, WENR and KPO. KPO returned my I.R.C., stating that they made no charge for verification. KNX says: "We are always. happy to receive letters from our New Zealand friends." My latest loggings are 3BA, JODK-1 and 2, JOKK, KGMB, and KGB. Australians are still coming m well, but the Americans. are becoming

weaker.-186W

(Wellington).

DX Jottings. FASTERN reception has fallen off somewhat lately, but the Americans are still good, though as the nights are becoming lighter they do not come in un-: til about 5 p.m, Latest loggings include KPRC, VUB, and VK3PA. _ Verifications have been received from KTSA and KZRM. ‘The latter states: "It is only through letters such as yours that Radio Manila can hope to improve its service to the utmost... . KZRM signing off. Mabuhay (Mah-boo-high)." — 157W

| (Wellington).

Americans Weakening, MBPRICAN reception is fading off slowly, though KIFTI still comes in here at 7 pm..as strongly as 1YA. | "Omsk: have not identified that sta-

tion on 645 k.c, yet; my set is none too selective. WSB has been heard testing with its new 50 k.w. transmitter reeently. He comes in at R8, but fades badly. The Japanese stations are exeellent, JOHX being by far the _ best. XGOA, Shanghai, also comes in well, but is heterodyned by a Japanese station until midnight. The Europeans are now coming in well at 6 a.m. Moscow-Stalin, which comes in at 4.15 a.m., is usually the first to be tuned in, 2F'C reaches R4 at midday, and is one of nine Australians I have logged in day-

light-210A (Te Puke).

{ Frequency Allocation ‘Conference Urged. HH} Postmaster-General, of -Australia announced recently the é¢rection of six new A-class stations in Australia, with six more to: follow soon. -Two new B-class stations are also reported. Two of the proposed frequencies are: Sale, 830 k.c., 10 k.w. (it looks ag: though 1YA will have another move, as 4RK, 2 k.w., was sufficient to cause interference when 1YA was on 920 k.c.), and Townsville, 20 k.w., 640 k.c. (will probably jam 4YA as well as being right on (Continued on page -28.).

DX Topics ewrceasceo (Continued from page 24.) top of KFI, the best received American). The International North American Radio Conference recently allotted the various channels on the broadcast band, so as to allow the 801 stations on the North American continent to operate without undue interference. In Australasia there are only 100 odd stations, and yet we are troubled with heterodyning. I think it is now opportune for representatives of the N.Z. Broadcasting Commission and the A.B.C. to meet and divide the 96 channels available so as to do away with the present interference and prevent the serious congestion that is sure to arise if early steps are not taken.-"The Southlander" (Winton).