Around and Behind the Dials

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 13, 4 October 1935, Page 46

Around and Behind the Dials

DX CLUB News and Views

Answers to Correspondents’ 164A. (Morringville) and J.P.C. (Palmerston North): Many thanks, for your information regarding VK8FL. I had the same information to tell you, but my notes were evidently too late for the last

issue:

Brunswick

Otago

Identification Wanted

STATION on approximately 32.1 metres, ~ heard at 11.15 p.m. on September 17. Band sélectious were played aftey which a diym-and fife band .was, heard, the annonnesr Speaking a few words. "At the conclusion of this; a lady spéaker was introduced and spoke for some time: in the same language as used by the announe-

er. The signals were R7, -QSA4, with bad fading at -times.-"Dual-Wave" (Auckland). . : Station on 1080 k.c., heard from. 6.39 p.m, till 6.51 p.m., on Friday, September 20. Items heard were "Bye-bye Blues," at 6.39 p.m.; "They Cut Down the Old Pine Trée," at, 6.44 p.m.; and "Whispering," at 6.51 pm -"Butch" (Wellington).

Stations Identified

"Digger" (Cambridge): Re your Japanese station on 665 k.c., RW38, Alexandrovsk, Siberia, operates on 662.2 «k.c., aid sometimes has Japanese programmes. -"Brunswick" (Otago). . "Digger? (Cambridge): The Japanese station on 665 k.c. has the call JOJH and I hope to know the locality soon, as I have hau a report aivay since July 11.-186W (Wellington).

Special DX Broadcasts

From VK4RJ, Hamilton. VRiks announced that he: would’ be putting over a DX programme on October 6, from 10.30 p.m. B.S.T.; from 12.30 am. on October 7, New Zealand summer time. He operates‘on 1270 k.c. The address is, Rey. R.-J. R. Delbridge, 64' Oxford Street, Hamilton, Queensland. -4HQ (Waipukurau), me From WIRE, Indiana, ; WIRE, 1400 k.c., 500-watts, will be putting over special DX programmes on Wednesday, October 16, and Wednesday, November 20, from 8 p.m, till 10.10 p.m. New Zealand summer time,: The address: is 540 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.-217W (Masterton).

DX Topics

=) Comment -on the VK3 Contest. [ RECENTLY heard VKE8BY and VK38FIu: on two-way transmission, commenting on the ‘reports received in the VK3 eompétition. 8BY stated that it was a curious thing that previous to the compétiion several. VK3’s had been receiving reports in which dxers were cer‘tain of hearing their calls, but could not name any items, but in the competition "the reverse was ‘the: case, as many save . the titles of items, but could not give. the calls. He went on to say that New Zealand dxews cerainly deserve credit for the Way in which they enter into. these com"fietitiong and report to. the stations, Recent VK _loggings in this district in"elude 4LG, 4PW, 4CB, 3BT, 3CB. 3CR, oe ow 3FL, 31M, 8GY, 27x, 2LB and | oRI217W.: Marton )y 2

, VK News. I HEARD 8XY, a new Australian sta- . tion on the same evening as "Clarity" and have a’ report away to them. They are very anxious to receive reports and their address is Dfftee Broadcasting Station, Princess Theatre, Melbourne. VK2DL on 41,1 metres, welcames re: ports and will give personal calls ovey the air if asked for in the report. He acknowledges all reports by the station’s card. He is at present constructing a new transmitter and will shortly be operating on the 80-métre band. ° 3JT. on approximately 42.7 metres, was heard on a test transmission at 10,30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, and was asking for reports. Signals were R6-7, QSA4. "The address is 47 Blizabeth Street, Malvern, Australia. ‘ VK4FEN, on ‘approximately 41.9 metres, transmits regularly, and. was heard at 8.35:p.m. on September 4. He has not acknowledged my report yet. The ad _- is 34 Lake Street, Cairns, Queensand, . ‘VK2IL, on approximately 41.9 metres, was heard from 8.46 p.m. till 10.30 p.m. on ga test programme on Thursday, September 19, and was asking for reports. ‘Sighals were R6-7, QSA4. The address is 145. Paramatta Road, Ashfield, Sydney. ZHK, Hong Kong, was heard at 8:30 p.m..on September 19, relaying dan music from the Hong Kong hotel. This station must have changed its hours of . transmission as it usually eémmences at 10.80° p.m.-"Dual-Wave" (Auckland). Has Any Dxer Heard YDB6? T is certainly gratifying to see the re‘sponse made to the appeal for more DX notes, and I hope the boys will keep it up. , ° Conditions bave not been very good for dxing lately, QRN being very heavy. Americans are very poor, even ‘the powerful ones being hardly audible, while the Wuropeans are very erratic. VK’s are coming in at good yolume and were especially good on the morning of Sunday, September 23, when sixteen were heard

DX Club Meetings AUCKLAND. In Scot’s Hall, Symonds Street, at 1} & p.m. on Wednesday, October 9. |

A. G.

CONCHIE

(341A4.).

Correspondence Secretary. ||

SOUTH CANTERBURY. At the secretary’s residence, 35 Bowker Street, Timaru, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9.

D. N.

ADAMS

(IR.0)

Branch Secretary. NAPIER, In..the clubroom, on the premises of the Napier : Radia ©o., Dickens Street, at 7.30 p.m. on the second and last Tuesdays of each month.

O. N.

HALLETT

(143H.B.}

Branch Secretary. HAWKE’S BAY. ‘* "At the premises of Mr. L, next Annand’s, Waipukurau. at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9. Subsequent meetings will be held on October 23, November 6 and 20 and December™ i.

L. W.

MATHIE

(4E.Q ),

Branch Secretary, POVERTY BAY. In St, Aridrew’s Svhoolroom, Cobden 8t., Gisborne, at 7.30 p.m., on Wednesday, October 2.:

V. C.

ROTHWELL

(9HB) .

Branch Secretary, MANAWATU, At 12 Campbell St., Palmerston North at 8.15 p.m. on Saturday, October, 5,.to receive a ‘visit from ‘theHawke’s- Bav branch |

C. J.

MORGAN

(143W

Branch Seeretary. MARTON, In the Toc FE rooms, at .7.45- p.m, on Tuesday, October 6.

J. R.

BAIN

(R1'

. Branch Secretary. WANGANUI, At 21 Lowther. St., at 3 im. "on * Monday. October 21. .

F.

CARR

ae (150W),°

Branch: Secretary. 4 ‘ FOXTON.. At Mr. G, Cull’s. residence, Whiro- ‘| kina .Road, -Foxton, at.%.45 p.m,.onThnvadav.. Octaher 10. |

M. H.

Wishnowsky

(219W.)

Branch Secretary.

at. good yolume, although. static. made thei ‘call signs hard’ to catch, My only’ new loggings this week are 3XY, 7BU, ZLAFI, VK8CR and a‘.Javanese ‘station ow approximately.-190° metres, heard- on September 23, ‘between 1. and J am. I-think this- station was YDB6; has any: Other dxer beard this station? The French ‘station ‘on 600 k.c. has been, heard.: at’. good . volume lately.-164A (Morrinsville). ey Rennes. to Increase Power. ° DXERS have certainly rallied to "Digger’s" SOS, and. last week’s efforts showed that there are still keen dxers in the club. One thing I would like. to. mention is the way some writers mix their shortwave loggings with their broadcast _cnes. This can be very misleading, especially in the case of VK’s,:and. makes a broadcast dxer think he has been sleeping ‘at the dial wher he sees a number’ ot strange VK calls among the ones ‘he knows operate on 200 metres, VK’s logged eu shortwave should be kept separat? else their wavelengths put beside’ ‘them. ; ; American reception has‘ been fair, anil . the following have. been logged ‘at’ good strength: WBBM, WGN, WHAS, WBNS. WOKO, KFVD, KLRA, KERN, KRE, KVOD:aund WBAA. KLRA can be heard nearly eyevy. night, closing at 7,50 p.m. m, VK’s are not as good as they were last year at this ‘time and very few new ones have been logged... The only ones reported to lately are 8XL, 3X1, 2KD and 8AC. Other new. loggings are 3XY, 41P, 4AK, 2KA, FFZ; JOCG, JOOK, JOJH, -Hamburg, Lyons, Kosice; Munich-and Pecs. Verifications are to hand from KMTR, KPRG, KRE, WOR, KDKA, KFAO, WREN, JOBK, JONK,-JFBK, XHHG, . XQHC, ZBW, VK’s 3FL, 4GG, 7JB. 5NR, Konigsberg, Rennes; and LR8, . In my ‘letter from Rennes they stare that they are increasing power from: 40 k.w. to 120 k.w.-028. (Invercargill). . Seven Reports-and No Replies! 4 ONDITIONS: have been. very poor. in. my locality lately, and. American stations are right out of ‘the. question. I think this: year is. the’ worst. I have ever’ experienced since I started dxing. _ Stations iwhich ‘were heard with ease last year. can be heard only faintly this year. However, the radio inspector has settled a lot of the QRM lately, so I am hoping to log a few VK’s now. Reports are out to VK8DX, VK38FL ‘and V3TM, and two of the. new ‘"Aussies," namely, 83XY and' 4AY. . Verifications have. been received from. WOR (after seven. months), JOOK (after two months), VK8TM and VK38FL. I have _ sent seven reports to 83WR, Shepparton, and so far have: not received-an answer. | I have.sent four reports to VK2Z0, and ‘they also have not replied.. Replies are overdue from VK’s 8PY. TCW, 4NW, "TDR, 4GM, 2LW. 38BK, 8KW, 3AY, 2AY nd 3GY, and KSCJ, KFRC, KMMJ, GRS, XEBC, XHAW, XELO, XGOD (two reports), XHHX. XHHH, XHHV, XHHC, XHHB, XHHJ, XMHC, XMHB, JOBK, Nos. 1 and 2, JFAK, JPBK, . JONK, JOLK, JOJH, Prague, Lwow, Katowice, Kharkov, Hamburg, Munich, "Odessa, Toulouse, Budapest, -Funkstunde nnd VUC. Half-hour to one hour reports were sent to Chinese stations, and one hour reports to the Wuropeans, and. return postage. was. enclosed with all reports -186W. (Wellington).. VK’s and Their Frequencies. T°? my mind, dxing for VK’s is easily as interesting as hunting. for Buropeans or Americans, and.they make. real DX, inasmuch as we have very little in- , formation as to their frequencies. ° In. A this respect, one particular failing among . members writing in, is that. they omit: to ‘give the frequencies of the VK’s they have logged, and do not-state whether they are shortwave VK’s' or ‘VK’s operating. on the broadcast band. This is very misleading, except: to. those.-dxers ) who are..extremely well acquainted with' the VK’s

and their frequencies and results in dx-. ers trying to log VK’ s. on the broadcast band which are’ really on shortwave. Some VK’s I have:heard recently are 4RJI (1270 k.c.),, 83CR (1480. k.c.), 3FW (1225, k.e.), 30M (1563 k.e.),, 830Y (1450 c.), 4QL (1470 k.c.), 3FL (1290 ..k.c:), (1880 k.e.), oxy (1260-k.e.), 3KH. (1860. k.e.), 2XL (1400 kc.) and 3BY. (1114: kc.) -JP.C. (Palmerston’ North). Details of .HSP1. ONDITIONS.: have been fair. in‘ this... ‘district lately, aud I have managed to log a few new -stations. Dxers are advised to. try_ ‘for the early-morning U.S.A. stations,’as they are starting to come in‘ well: sow.: WIBW, on 580 k.c., ° is -heard trom: 11 pm.; on 570 k.c.,.is heard at midnight ; KERC,.on 610 k.c., opens at 1.30 a.m. ; ‘and I have also’ heard stations on 1400 k.e, and 550 ke. opening up at midnight. Some: VKX’s ‘heard recently include Add, 4A, 4GG, 4RJI, 3PY, 3SL, 3rw, 220, "TIW and 4IN.. to hand recently are from VK’s 2HG, 2ZX, 3DH, 38L, 3DX_ (secard, BBEW: JOBK, Nos. i and 2, and Details of HSP1 are: Wavelength 3800 metres, frequency 857 k.c., power 2.5 k.w., uerial ‘twin inverted co Pe They ‘use Ueising modulation and the valves -used are 1/50, MB2/200,, MA4/G00K, 12/ 10,000K, MA12/15,000.. The station is ownéd by .the. Post’ and Telegraph Department, and transmits daily except Wednesdays anc Saturdays: from 12.00 to 15.00 G.M.T; They trausmit. mostly Siamese music, though Huropean’ orchestral numbers are "broadcast. at 14.00 G.M.T. on Fridays -4H.Q. (Waipukurau). : ' VK’s-on the Broadcast Band. VRC (248 m.), power 6 watts, ison the air on Sundays from 10:30 p.m, E.A.S.T. His address is Wynyard, Tasmania. -VK8LN (1400 ‘k.e.) will be on the .air again in. November. VIX’s 5DX and 'BY will not verify: reports. The following is a list of VIS’s‘at present operating’ on the broadeast band: 58U, SLR, 5SBY, SRP, SMD, SWS, SKU, 5DX, 5SWH, "5ML, SDR, SAT, ‘DMW. SRI, 5SL, 5IC, 5DC, 5WJ;, 5WG, 5BNR and 5RM. VK7’s on the broadcast band are :- TIW (1350' k.c.), TBQ (1800 -k.c.), TLZ (1890 k.c.) and TRC (1210 k.e.).-818 (Invercargill). « Conditions Good Down South, ONDITIONS for dxing have been very good in the soath. Americans. are coming through very well on ‘their evening sessions, and I. have heard. some on their early-morning ‘sessions. KUOA.can be heard at about 1 a.m. on Sunday mornings. I have tried for. Europeans on one or two. mornings, and have heard several coming through at R6. Incidentally, one of the. members informed me that he bad seen that the best time for reception of these stations was one hour before dawn, while I have found that reception is’ better one hour after dayn ’ Some VK’s heard. lately are 38TA (1185 k.c.), BFL (1292 k.c.), 8GY (1178 k.c.), 3RG (1150 k.e. C.) 5: 4GG (1400 k.c.), 3HE.

(1400 ke), 4QL (17/80. k.e.), TIB (1820. ° k.c.) and 3RW (1450 k.e.).. The Australian. VK3~ was certainly. a success for southern . dxers, and, although’ static. and station calls ‘difficult to hear ‘plainly,’ signals were-‘coming" through’ quite well. LIheard at least. twenty of the’ twentyseveh or more stations’ that, were on. I would ‘like to. eugeext that members, when giving the ‘ealls of VK’s/logged or verified, also give the frequencies: Such information is of. great: -benefit: to. many members, and would. be greatly appreciated. -2H.Q . (Invercargill). ; ; Patchy. ECEPTION has been very patchy here lately. September 7 was a good night for Chinese stations, and XMHA was heard: calling Australia and:New Zea1and several times during. the programmgy,' ° which was heard here at good strength. I have managed to get-a:few reports away, CFGN,. KGaA; 4AK, 3XY, XMHC, XHHX, VK2Z0 and several shortwavers. Verifications to hand-in-clude LR9, JOKK, XMHA, ZBW, XENT, INT and TI2RC, OER2 and W5DCO. XUMA in‘ a covering letter‘ with their card state that at. the ‘time of my report they: were using théir small transmitter, which has only 350 to 500 watts: output, owing fo’ the fact that the large transmitter Was ‘undergoing replacements; i A ‘translation of LR9’s ‘letter stated that they were broadcasting .from "Comedia Theatre" ‘and- gave the name of the play and the author, and: that they were pleased to fully confirm my-reception on ‘the date mentioned, XHNT sent a booklet on cancer.-164W:: (Wellington). Extracts from’ Verifications. D* has ‘been particularly good during the past week, reception being clear and on most nights free from QRN. As quite a few new stations have been heard I ani hoping that this good: spell keeps up. (Continued ‘on ‘page 49.)