The WORLD on SHORT WAVE

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 22 February 1935, Page 51

The WORLD on SHORT WAVE

Conducted hy the

N.Z. Shortwave Club

Club Notes From the Secretary's Pen.

( By

A. B.

McDonagh

Sec,, N.Z, S.W.C.,

# Queen St.. Wellington).

LJSTENERS should rementber that a penny stamp will not suffice for postage to any country. Be sure to inguire the postage rates at your Post Office (a list was published in. the September, 1934 "Radio Times") otherwise your letter may be refused and sent to the Dead Letter Office. For instance, Japan is 24d. for the first ounce. HE Japanese station heard on 10.74 megs (27.93 m.) is JVM, a telephony station. who sometimes relays a programme. Lower down, on 10.66 meg. (18.14 m.) is JVN, used for telephoning Kurope. A list of these will be ready for the next issue of the "Shortwaver." EC NBA, the schooner "Seth Parker," ‘broadcasting experiences of their world cruise for the NBO, also had on board the portable transmitter, W10XDA. Usually they worked Rocky Point and amateurs. LL members of the N.Z.S.W.C. are now also members of the World Radio Research League, and, pending articles on the objects of this society, I would be pleased to receive information from members on radio phenomena, THE second broadcast of the League . of Nations special tests came through practically 100 per cent. readable, and was rebroadcast by VK8LR cn 31m., also, I understand, by the broadcast stations. Australia is making a feature of the remaining tests. : NE, Moscow, 25m.. seems to be definitely back on their old schedule of 11 p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays and Sundays. They have been heard broadeasting to France and WNorthern America in the early mornings. 4 ee Seth Parker (KNRA) reports that she is still broadcasting. The ship was heard on February 15 from 4.15 p.m, on about 28 metres at good strength. The announcer said they would be on again at the same time next week, [THE following shortwave notes are .from Mr. H. I. Johns (N.Z.171W), Wanganui:

'* SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10. FYA, 25.60m., was heard at 12.40 p.m., with talk in French, but was very weak. At 1.50 p.m. station had greatly improved. , WS8XK, 25,25m., was also’ heard at weal strength at 4 p.m, .

RNE, 25m., was heard at 3.50 p.m., but very weak, signals being spoilt by bad surge taking place. FYA, on opening up at 4 p.m., had a strong signal which was very clear. Station was giving out news bulletin in French. WSXK, 48.9m., was heard at 5.14 p.m, reading out letters to friends in the Far North, signals being 95 per cent. readable with fair strength. W38XAL and W8XAL on 49.1 and 49.5m., both coming in at good strength round 6 p.m. with usual dance music. VK2ME, 31.28m., at 6 p.m. was coming in at fair to good strength with usual good programme, but slight surge taking place, RX15, 70.1m., heard at 8.15 coming in with fairly strong signals. Talk was being given in Russian. GSB, 31.5m., was putting over a religious service from Wakefield Gathedral at 8.15 p.m., with good loudspeaker strength and clear signals. The 20m., American "hams" in ’phone are Starting to come in again, W6HDK, which js the portable call of W6FYM, was logged at R4, QSA4, on February at 2.15 pm. American "hams" are always worth listening to and should any S.W.L. log any of these stations and require the address, the writer will be pleased to forward it, on receipt of a Stamped envelope. My address is 45 Abbott Street, Gonville, Wanganui. . MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11. FYA was heard at 12.45 p.m. with talk in French at R3, QSA8, at 2.5 p.m. Station was at fair speaker strength, with musical items, quality being good. At 5.55 pm., FYA finished up with a very fine signal, being at full speaker strength. The National Anthem was played and the station closed just on 6 p.m. W2XAF, 31.45 m., was heard at 4.15 Pm., reading out letters from friends in America to Admiral Byrd and men of the Antarctic Dxpedition. Signals were Rd, QSA4, but- unsteady. W1iXAZ, 31.28 m., with musical items, Signals at R4, QSA8, also unsteady. KEE, Bolinas, Calif,, 38.89 m., putting over a short play, signals being R5, QsA4, at 4.32 pm. This station broadcasts to Honolulu. .

WSXK, 48.9 m, with musical programme at 5.45 p.m. Signals RG, QSA5. Other American stations on 49 m. band very weak. VP1A, Radio, Suva, Fiji, 22.94 m., very good to-day, R7, QSA5. VP1A will be operating on above wavelength for some time yet. Listeners will be notified when a change does take piace. Announcer thanked all S.W.L. who sent in reports. So many have reached the station thab it may be some time vefore they receive the station card. WO2OXF, 49.5 m., at 6.40 p.m. was RG, QSA5, asking for reports and giving out station address in the Spanish language, after which they continued with musical programme. WSXAL, 49.15 m., was also on the air at 6.45 p.m., with a musical programme at R5, QSA4, with slight noise level. League of Nations, Switzerland. The above station was heard calling up Australia and New Zealand at 9.4 p.m., for a few minutes. They were also heard testing with VIK8LR at 8.10 p.m. Announcer was heard to. say that in five minutes’ time the station would broadcast a special programme for Australia and New Zealand. At 8.15 p.m. an address was given regarding the work of the League and was found to be very interesting. This lasted for 25 minutes... Near the end of the address, signal strength fell from R7 to R5, but the address was never less than 95 per cent. readable. The above test was carried out on 20.64 m., probably by HBJ, and algo on 16.25 m. by HBH.

IVT, 44.4 m., putting over very strong signals at 9.15 p.m. at good speaker strength. Singing by children © heard, then talk in Japanese. . DJB, 19.73 m. Much to-night at 9.32 p.m., with fair strength, R5, QSA5. Giving out news in Bnglish. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12. FYA, at 7 a.m.,. was the strongest sta. tion on the air, with a signal strength of R77, QSA5. GSB, 31.5 m., with fair strength, R6, QSA5. GSD, 25.5 m., was not quite so good. Musical items being given by’ the B.B:C. dance band. HVT, 50.26 m., was very. weak. *-Station on the air from 7 till TB. a. m.. daily. FYA at 2 p.m., with a very’ good signal, R6, QSA5, and first-class: ‘musical programme of vocal and orchestial: items. Station has been coming in earlier in‘ afternoons with better strength. ‘during the past week. _ PMY, 58 m., very weak. at 10: 38. ‘p. Me! YDA, 49.02 m., with a good, strong signal, but QRN was very. bad... JVT, 44.4 m., also with strong signal, R8, QSA5. Programme of good orchestral music. PKiwk, 85.96 m., good, etrong’- signal, but ‘little can’ be heard. owing to QRN. VE3LR,. 31.5 m., R6, QSA5. Musical programme. from atations at 10.55 p.m. WEDNESDAY, ‘FEBRUARY 18. Between the hours of 1 and 2.80 a.m., there are as many as 80 stations to be logged on the different bands, but as conditions play a big part in shortwaves, the writer was .only able to log. about 10 of these, and these were all logged round about 11 p.m. They are as follow :- FYA, 19.16 m., at 1.30 a.m.,, RS, QSA5. News in English. DJA, 31. 38 m., to Bast aia, 1.47 a.m., R8, "QSAD. News i in English. YDA, 49.02 m. Good Strength, spoilt by morse station. : VsXAL,, 49.4 m.; at 2.5 a:m. Very weak PMY, 58 m., at 29 am. At fair. strength with good musical programme. RV15, 70.1 m., R7, QSA5, at 2.13 a.m. PKiWK, $5.89 m., at 2.13: am, Fair strength, with good musical programme. 20 m., American amateur on *phone was to-day at 3.35 p.m., calling CQ. SWL will remember "that W9LD was one of the best, if not the best, of the 20'm. ’phones heard last year, Power is. 970-. watts. Several ; other W. ’phones Were also heard round about 3 to 4 p.m. HE following are extracts from the log of Mr. J. B. Thompson’ (N.Z.233), Palmerston North :-

FZR, Saigon, 18.5 m. on January 31 was R8, QSA4, at 10.25 p.m, with French. talk. : DJB, Zeesen; 19. 73 m.,. nightly at 845 p.m. are only just audible, ° VP1iA, Suva, 22.9¢ m., Monday- -Saturday have a strong. but music and speech are only « "RT QSA8-4, with slow ‘fades. RNE, Moscow, 25. 0 m. Have not heard . this station on Wednesday, but is usu‘ally R9 on-Sunday nights. GSD, Daventry, 25:53 m.: Is begitining to go off now, as-is Radio Coloniale, 25. 63:-m.: Usually’ R89, QSA4-5, by 5 p EAQ, Madrid, 43: m. From. 7: 30 a.m. with. organ MUSIC, on * February 5 was R8, QSA : ‘DIN, eas . m.: At 8.45 p.m. is very weak, and is spoilt by a heterodyne from a nearby station, SVT, 44.4 m, usually commences around 8.45 p.m. with.a few. test records. They are usually R8.,

" W8XL, Boundbrook, 46.69 m., on February 7 at 8.50 p.m. was RS8, QSA3- +t. W9XF and W8XAL closing at 7 p.m. are very noisy, never getting past Rd. WSXK, closing at 6 p.m. is about R7, QSAS. Radio Nations’ Tests N Monday, February 11. Radio Nations, 16.25m. and 20.94m., was heard testing, with VK3LR. The. former was R7, QSA5, and ‘the latter R6, QSA5. On February 4 the 16.25m. « station, | which uses a ‘directional aerial, was RS. QSA4.° These ‘experimental broadcasts took place at.8.15 p.m. _May,I take this opportunity of expressing my. appreciation of the interest you take’ in. shortwave . hraadpacte ato —

I.K.

H.

(Wellington;)