Around and Behind the Dials

Radio Record, 17 July 1936, Page 47

Around and Behind the Dials

DX CLUB News and Views

Stations Identified — "Wattle Bark" (Motumaoho): Your station on 1400 k.c. is probably KHBC, Hilo, Hawaii. They usually broadcast till 9.80 p.m-370A. (Te Pahu).

-DX Topics An Experienced ‘Ham." M* VK log now stands at 199. Latest cards back are from VK’s 3AX, 3HL, 30W, 2NO, 4WF, 5FM, and W204, W6HAA, W9RUW, and W6BGH, VK2NO sends a very fine QSL. This ham has had a very extensive experience since taking up radio in 1911. His. history is as follows:-Commercial amateur radio in England:in 1911; during European War, Royal Naval Air Service, in Hastern Mediterranean and Russia; GGOXG, 1928; first G to work U.S.A. with low power, 1924; two years, afloat, P, and O. S.N. Co., Ltd.; B.B.C. engineer, 1925; quit Europe for Australia early 1926; licensed: A2N0, QSO’d everywhere hams existed; radio journalist; 1930, VKGNK, at Wyndham, Northwest Australia; station figured in rescue

of bushed aviators lost while en route to Hngland in 1931; built country B.C. station 2MO, in New South Wales. The owner-operator of VK2NO has been a ham for twenty-three years, .and is still going strong. He is a lieutenant in First Division Cavalry Signals, Australian Military Forces. He has had over 500 S.W.L, reports in the last four months, and worked 800 Americans ‘and others, His power is 50 watts.-187M.C. (Timaru). Loggings for 27 Days. FoR 27 days’ dxing I have reports out . to the following -etations: KOA, KFBK, XEMO, XEW, XEAW; XEB, "KPO, KHJ, KGMB, KMOX, KGER,: WOAL WBT, KNX, -.KSL, KVOO, KFI,: KGU, WBBM, KOMA, KGB, KRLD, W6XAI, WOXBY, 3Hs, 4BH, .2MO, 20H, 2KO0, 2GB, TLA, 2UZ. 2GZ, 2WG, 2BL, 2FC, 2AY, 2HD, 4BC, 2UB, oKY, 4WK, TR, 8BO, 4GR, 3MB, 3DB, 2SM, 2WL, 2GN, 2UW, 4TO, 8XY, 3GL. Americans have been improving rapidly around here, also the Aussies, 2KY, 2UE, 2FC, 2BL being quite good at. midday, and 2SM and 20H being just audible. Americans are coming in very early, one or two coming through as early as 2.45. I am using a counterpoise aerial, S8d5ft. high and 600Et. over-all. Could some of the "old hands" give us an idea as’ to when we should be ‘able to pick up some 100-watt "Yanks" and their » frequencies ?-"Wattle Bark" (Motumaoho). Eastern Stations at Good Strength. . (SONDITIONS have ;been erratic for _overseag reception lately, good nights being few and far between. QRN is usually severe’ in the early evenings, but — ‘better. conditions prevail after midnight. The: regular-..Americans are coming through well,. but new loggings, are scarce. WSMB (1820 k.c.) has been heard. through KGMB. -some~ nights. KIEM is now closing at 5.30 p.m. instead of at 9. 30 p.m, The best:.hunting ground at present is _to ‘be found among’ "the Hasterns. ‘The Chinese have’ been outstanding, most of the 100-watters and some of the 50-wat-ters being heard at good strength. . XHHG; XHHB, XHHYV, XHHI,

XHHH,; XHHU, XHHN and XHHR.are the best of these. Several Japanese have been heard testing on’ their new frequencies with English recordings. Calls are given at frequent intervals, making identification definite. MTCY has not been up to usual strength. .HS7PJ is good on ‘Thursday. and Sunday mornings, and HSP1 is very consistent. Recent loggings are WFAA, WWL, WSMB, KWK, KPRO KFOX, JODK-i, JOBK-2, JOCK-2,' JOFK, JOTK, FEZ, 4MK, 4WK, 4AY; 6ML, VK’s 2QY., (7. 30 a.m, ); 3DX, 3KI, 3LU, BCR, 8FL, soy. and 4QIi. 'Verifications, Pra 1, Bratislava, WCAU, KOMA, XMHO,,- XHHG, HSPi, JORK, JOBK-1, owl, 4WK, "4AV, 6ML, VK’s 2KV, 3DH, and 4K, who mentioned that he had received about a dozen reports from. New Zealand. Letters written in Mexican and not yet translated have been received from XHFO and XHBH. 2WL, Wollongong, advises that reports will only be verified if a self-addressed and stamped envelope (twopence in. Australian stamps) is . sent, Since increasing their power to 300 watts ‘they have been. deluged with’ reports from New Zealand, dozens of them with no return postage enclosed and some with New .-Zealand stamps, which. are, of course, useless to ‘them.. New Zealand dxers should make -a.practice of sending return postage to all Australian stations, otherwise’ station officials will get chary of our reports and the number of "black-listed" stations will increase.-370A, (Te Pahu). Exchange of QSL Cards. A§ everyone knows, the Aussies are coming in earlier and better than ever, when QRM and QRN don’t step in (Continued on next: page),

N.Z. DX Club Meetings . HAWKE’S BAY. In the new club room, Wood’s Tearooms, Waipukurau, at 7.45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. L. W. MATHIE (4HQ) Branch Secretary. AUCKLAND. In the committee room, Scots’ Hall, Symonds Street, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. H. SUTCLIFFE (198A), Branch Secretary. WELLINGTON. ~ In the:offices of National Magazines Ltd., Third Floor, Dominion Buildat 8 » m. on Wednesday, July 15. : . J. REEVES (2HQ), Branch Secretary. MARTON, At 97 Princes Street, Marton Junc‘at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11. J. R. BAIN (217W), Branch Secretary. WHANGAREI, . All shortwave "fans" in and about Whangarei are cordially -invited to attend the meeting of the Whangarei Branch, to be held in Fulljames’ Salon at 7.30 p.m. on Monday, July 20, as it is proposed ‘to start a shortwave section. R. ‘A. ROYCROFT ° (222A), Branch Secretary. WANGANUI, At 21 Lowther: Street: at 8 pm. on Thursday, July 16. F. CARR (150), _Branch Secretary. SOUTHLAND, At the residence of Mr. J. Ure, 335 ‘Tay Street East, Invercargill, at 8 p.m, on Wednesday, July 22. L. C. MecCORMICK (818), Correspondence Secretary. NAPIER "In. the Club Room, Dickens’ Stheet; Sat: bart Dam. on, Tuesday, . July) j28. , oO. HALLETT (143HB), . Branch Secretary.

DX Topics

(Continued from previous page.) and take a hand, but in this locality it has been a pretty poor. season for Amerieans, KSL and KPO being the best, with XEQNT also good. KF! is getting to be real DX these days, as he is not reeeived anything like last winter. Latest verifications to hand are XENT, 4BK, 4AK, 2NC, 3UZ, 88H, 8HS, 8TR, 7N’T, 4ZC and 8XY, only five reports being away, Did any dxer succeed in getting LR5’s specia] programme? I had no luck with it-local QRM saw to that. By the way, any dxer who is interested in the exchange of QSL cards may have mine by simply sending his eard to L. Oxenham, 6 Glendaver Street, Berhampore, S1.-205W. (Wellington).