THE WORLD ON SHORTWAVE

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 12, 29 September 1933, Page 28

THE WORLD ON SHORTWAVE

By

F. W.

Sellens

Stations on the Higher Frequencies, R. NELSON G. WOOD (Auckland), with his 8-valve a.c. all-wave receiver, has been getting good results from overseas stations on the higher frequencies. He writes: "W3XAL on 16.87 metres is probably the best station now. Lately I have been listening to them from G-a.m., when they are R5, increasing to R9 at 7 am. This strength has been maintained for the past month. Except for a slight surge, reception is perfect, W2XAD, 19.56 metres, is also good at R5 to R7. . WS8XK, 19.72 metres, is weak before 7 a.m., but increases to R8 by 7.45 a.m. FYA, 19.68 metres, is heard sometimes about 1 am. to 2 a.m. at excellent strength, HVJ is the best station on the 49.50 metre band here, and is twice as strong as RV59.. Reception of | the Empire station, GSD, 25.53 metres, is poor in the mornings, never more than R7. I have had better reception on the 19.82 metre transmission from GSF, although one night, reception may increase to good strength from 7 to 7.30 p.m., and on another it may disappear. The 25 metre broadcasts during the evening are generally not more than R4, speech and music being very gushy. The 25 metre evening station (Russian) can be heard well with plenty of music, I have heard another American on 19 mettes, just below W2XAD, on some mornings, but never above R2-R3. RVi5, Khabarevsk. ois powerful short-wave station in the Far Hast,. which is so well received again now, is one of the real "old timers" on the air. The writer first knew it as REN early in 1927, when they used two wavelengths, 50 and 60 metres. During February, 1928, the call was changed to RIM, and they commenced transmitting on 70.1 metres. Reception on this new wavelength was not so good as had been experienced on the lower waves. For over five years they have used the same wavelength, 70.1 metres, but have made changes in the call sign. Their schedules have remained about the same, exeept for several short periods "off the air." A 1928 QSL ecard says that "RFM is a erystal controlled short-wave radio telegraph and broadcasting station." Their regular transmissions were every day, except Wednesday, from 8.30 G.M.T.. Wavelength was given as 70.1 metres. Music was rarely heard then, nearly all talk, Log for Week Ending Sept. 23 RV1i5, Khabarovsk, 70.1 metres: Received well almost every evening, static being the only trouble. L.VJ, Vatican City, 50.26 metres: Usually R8-9 between 6.80 a.m. and 6.45 a.m. RY59, Moscow, 50 metres: This station has gone off a lot recently, and is seldom audible at 7.30 a.m. now. WS8SXAL, Cincinnati, 49.5 metres: Heard most afternoons, but not above about R4,

W9XF, Chicago, 49.18 meires: Similar to WSXAL, with a little more volume. WS8XK, Pittsburgh, 48.86 metres: The best of this group of stations, but has gone off in volume a little, R7 to & beiug the maximum now. W3XL, Boundbrook, 46.69 metres: This station is operating more often now. At one time they were only heard on Sundays; now they are on the air during the week till 4.30 p.m,, reaching about R8. GSB, Daventry, 31.55 metres: Very weak now on the African zone in the mornings, VK3ME, Melbourne, 31.55 metres: RO on Wednesday evening, gushy with slow fading. On Saturday at 10.30 p.m, they were not audible, but at 11 p.m. were very good and steady at R9, W2XAF, Schencctady, 31.48 metres, has been spoilt by rapid fading recently. Volume best when closing, usually abouiy 2.30 p.m. at R7. fi > VK2ME, Sydney, 31.28 meires, R9 during the first session, with vety severe fading, being inaudible at times. JIAA, Tokio, $0.5 metres. Reception varies. Some evenings up to R8 at 10.30 p.m., others only about R4 at the samé time. PKP, Medan, Sumatra, 28.8 metres, Records heard at R7 on Wednesday at 10.15 p.m. Later they called Bandoeng and Holland. FYA, "Radio Coloniale,"’ Paris, 25.6 metres. Very weak now every morning, seldom heard during the early afternoon, Saturday was an exception, when they were R6 at 2.15 p.m. Music was good, but speech weak compared with the strength of the carrier. GSD, Daventry, 25.53 metres. Best between 8 a.m. and &.80 a.m, in the mornings, but seldom more than R4-5. ‘They are still yy poor on this zone from 5. 80 p.m. to 6.30 p.m, Beside being weak, there is nearly always a deep rapid fade. 12R0, Rome, 25.4 metres. Seldom heard at more than R38 these mornings. WSXK, Pittsburgh, 25.27 metres. Are not so regular now. Have been up to R8 when closing at 2.80 p.m., while on other days they have not been audible. WS8XK, Pittsburgh, 19.72 metres. Except for some fading, this station was excellent at R8 ‘just after 8 a.m. on Friday. Volume was down to R5 by 8.30 a.m., with no sign of them by 9 a.m.