Four Days of Shortwave Listening

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 32, 15 February 1935, Page 44

Four Days of Shortwave Listening

THE following shortwave notes are. from Mr. H. I. Johns (N.Z.171W.), Wanganui :- So far as short waves are concerned, the best times to listen for Huropean stations during the winter are as follow :- 9.30 a.m, to 11 a.m. for 25-metre band. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for 31-metre band. 7 a.m, to 9.80 a.m. for 49-metre band. 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. for 31-metre band. In the summer the morning reception from Hurope is very poor, unreliable and inconsistent, so it is the night-reception that we have to depend on. The best times are as follow :- 11 p.m. to 2 am. for 16-metre. band. 1.30 am. to 4 a.m. for 19-metre bani. 12.380 a.m. to 5 a.m, for 31-metre band. 4 am. to 9 a.m,.for 49-metre. band.

It must be remembered that reception can be had at other times not mentioned here, but it ig at these times that the signals are at.their best strength. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3. Up till 5 p.m., FYA was the best station of the day, being at good speaker strength. -Other stations were very weak. RNE was not heard between 3 and +t am. on 24 m. At 520 pm, WSXK, 25 m.. was at good strength. Announcer wae heard reading letters to friends in the Far North. At 5.86 p.m. WSXK was putting over musical items by Wnglish composers. The other American stations were very weak. VK2ME, 31.28 m., with usual. good programme and at good speaker strength. They close at 8 p.m. and open up again at 10 p.m., our time. GSB, 31.55 m., on opening up at 8 p.m, was at fair speaker strength with’, musical programme by B.B.C. Empire } Orchestra. Very clear and steady sig- | nals. i JVN, 28.14 m., was at fair, speaker strength at 10.10 p.m. At this time talk was being given in Japanese. VE2ME on their second session from 10 p.m. were not so good, fading being very bad at times. JVT, 44.4 m., was coming in at good strength. A-great deal of clapping and shouting was heard; apparently a concert was in progress. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4. FYA, 25.60 m., very poor at 4.30 p.m. Only carrier can be picked up. KEE, Bolinas, Calif., 38.89 m., R5, QSA4, 4.35 p.m.. with a musical programme and the usual advertisements. WS8XK, 48.9 m., R5, QSA5, 5,42 p.m. Musical programme, signals good, but spoilt by bursts of QRN. VP1iA, Suva Radio, Fiji, 22.94 m., R5, QSA5, 5.56 p.m., musical programme. This station is on the air from Monday till Saturday from 5.30 till 6.30 ‘p.m.. our time, which is the same time as Fiji. GSB, 31.35 m. R8, QSA5, 8 p.m., opening up with "Big Ben" ostriking a.m, G.M.T, Olear.and steady signals. VK3LR, 31.5 m., R8, QSA5, 8.15 p.in. This station was heard testing with League of Nations station, Geneva. .The: League of Nations was supposed to be on 16.25 m., but I could not pick them up. PMY, 58 m., R6, QSA5, 10.30 p.m. This station can always be depended upon to put ‘over a first-class programme consisting of records. Y¥DA, 49.02 m., R6; QSA5, 10.40 p.m. Another station which puts over a good musical programme. Comes on the air 10.80 p.m. IVT, 44.4 m,, R7, QSA5, 10.45 p.m. Talk being given in Japanese, BV15, 70.2 m., RS, QSA5, 10.55 p.m.

Station at wonderful volume, with excellent musical programme and very cleat. . YDB, 67 m., R38, QSA8, 11.5 p.m. programme, but station very weak, |. PK1iWKE, 85,96 m., R7, -QSA5, 11.10 p.m. Musical items being given. . All Dutch stations coming in very well tonight. ‘The volume from 1WK is the best writer has heard for some time. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5. At 11 a.m. not one station was audible from 14 to 50 metres, Conditions are not good on any band in the mornings at present. At 7 a.m. stations were very weak, FYA being about the first station to be heard round about 2.30 p.m, FYA, 25.60 m., very weak again today, only carrier heard at 5.50 p.m, American stations on 49 m. band very weak, WSXK being only R8, QSA3. Spaitish station heard on 40 m. at 5.45 pm., R4, QSA4. No call-sign given. GSB, 31.5 m., RS, QSA5, 8 p.m, Putting over musical programme of variety nature. Signals very clear, There is no doubt that the reception of the Empire station has improved. VE3LR, 31.5 m., R8, QSA5, 8.10 p.m. Musical programme. Station has become very consistent in signal: strength lately and is worth listening to. DJB and DJN, 19.73 m. and 31.38 m. Transmission to New Zealand and Australia. They are very poor at present. Very little can be heard round 10 p.m. RV15, 70.2 m, R8, QSA5, 10.32 p.m. Station very good again to-night, with orchestral items. This station, which ‘is not expected’ to be very powerful during summer, is still going with plenty cf punch, RV15 will not verify reports. Pyvery means has been used to get them to do so, but with no success.

YDA, 49.02 m., R5, QSA5, 10.45 p.m. Musical programme of usual high standard. . WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6. FYA, 25.60 m., R38, QSA3, 1.40 p.m. alk being given in French, At 4 p.m. station opened up for afternoon session at fair loudspeaker strength; 5.85 p.m., station still at fair speaker strength with musical items. VP1A, Suva Radio, Fiji, 22.94 m., R6, QSA5, 6.11 p.m. Musical programme. WS8XK, 48.9 m., R7, QSA5, 5.45 p.m. Musical programme. Very much improyed in volunie and signals very clear. WOXF, 49.18 m., R5, QSA5, 6 p.m. Announcer gave out call-sign several times and also asked for reports from S.W.L. WSXAL, 49.5 m., R5, QSA5, 5.52 p.m. Musical programme. : GSB, 31.5 m., R8, QSA5, 8.7 p.m, Station putting over powerful signal which will help to make a good rebroadcast by the national stations in honour of New Zealand Day. Later heard speech by Sir James Parr which came over well, but before Sir James had finished the Empire station went off the air, RNE, 25 m, R8, QSA5, 11.45 p.m. Talk being given; 100 per cent. readable ‘and very clear. Olosed at 11.55 p.m. Station very anxious to receive reports from S.W.L. Address, Radio Centre, Moscow, ‘