The WORLD on SHORTWAVE

Radio Record, 4 September 1936, Page 47

The WORLD on SHORTWAVE

Conducted by the

N.Z. Shortwave Club

Shortwave Club Notes

From the Secretary’s Pen

(By

A. B.

McDonagh

4 Queen Street,

: Wellington, E.1.). LETTERS from all parts of: New Zealand advise that g new transmitter, using the cal] VPD2, replaces VPD. the A.W.A, station at ‘Suva, Fiji. This station appears to be on "almost every night at 10 p.m. on. approximately 31.45 metres, which ig almost alongside VK38MB. Mr. L. B. Dent, now resident in Blenheim, was one of those who enclosed an International Reply Coupon to HJ1ABE when reporting on the 24 hour test and so received a card. He mentions that, at. 2.80 p.m, on the 15th, a clock, similar to Big Ben struck ten and they closed with "Beautiful Lady in Blue,’ and "Farewell to Thee’ at 3 p.m., and particularly requested coupons to be enclosed with reports. Mr. Dent adds that HJIABH was calling Australian and New Zealand 20 metre amateurs at 5.30 p.m. on the Saturday. "Cocky" of Maromaku, Bay of Islands, mentions that when VPD2° was testing they had: only four records available, as the studios were Jocked, but they payticularly asked listeners to spread the news that they would be on nightly from 10.0'to 11.30 p.m. New Zealand time. except Sundays. Prior to EAQ’s English news session, about 2.10 p.m., two strokes of a gong are given and a lady announces. Bad News for Dxers. I regret to report that advice received states that from Séptember 1 music is prohibited on the 20 and 40 metre amateur bands in Australia: I -understand this will be from about 9 p.m. N.Z.S.1T. until about noon. Dxers have mad? many friends with VK telephony amateurs and ae the founder of the N.Z.S.W.C,; ‘which encouraged . many _ members to become transmitters, I can see that this prohibition (particularly in the case of a certain VK. transmitter who, in directing his transmissions towards my licensed ‘station is giying out valuable information to listeners, 5metre transmissions, ete.), is not only going to discourage dxers but amateur radio overseas is going to lose the opportunity of interesting those who are just going in for the game and who are just "finding their feet." In New Zealand the amateurs are confined principally to the SO metre band for telephony, and the. majority of the transmitters I have personally met -have given listeners a great. deal of assistance and many dxers will now turn ‘to the ZL’s. However, I sincerely hope that the information given in the last issue on reporting to amateurs, will be thoroughly studied. As I have mentioned, ‘ night" reception, is becoming better, but’ with the advent of daylight saving. at the end. of September, a great difference will be noticed round about 5 p.m. though the "night birds" will, of course, be half an hour later, and ‘this means a lot about midnight. Those who will now enjoy the 40. ‘hour. week ‘will find the Saturday morning a, change. ;

In addition to the possible Brisbane shortwaver, a watch should be kept for the new VK6ME which is now being built., In answer to several correspondents, International Reply Coupons are on sale at the Post Office, and also, at the main offices, postage stamps of some countriex. When reporting to different countries, listeners should always inquire the postage rate at the Post Office. For some the rate: is 24d. Germany's letter-box is usually at 11.50 p.m, , N.ZS.T., particularly on Fridays, but. Mr. "Fuller, of Wellington, at 6.25 p.m. on Friday 21, heard DJE on the 16metre band call up Messrs Main, Hamilton; Potts, Greytown ; Langford, Christ- ; McDonald, and Mayse, Sawyer's Bay. Great interest is ‘being taken overseas in ZLT, though, this is purely a commercial station. My inquiries regarding a goodwill programme elicit the fact that the aerial is directed towards Australia, which naturally places difficulties in the way of such a broadcast. However, the question of a national shortwave station for .New. Zealand has been under consideration for some time, but owing to technical difficulties involved, it means more than just putting a station on the air. For quite a long time W2XAF has been in touch with me regarding tests. but listeners can rest assured that the completion of a shortwave station is fully recognised, but pressure of . legislation and‘ technical difficulties. make for delay, eo it will be better to wait for something good than to have merely an experimental job. From time to time the question of the’ Russian stations crops up. In my correspondence the only call given’ is RV15 (70.2 metres) and no mention is made of a 35 metre station, although I suggest that the 85 metre wave we receive is ‘harmonic. RNE on 25 metres is definitely. a shortwave station, there is a telephony station on the same wave but this goes off when RNE comes on. . The 381-metre station which comes on daily at 11.80 a.m. N.ZS.T. has the call RAN. In inquiries for identification of stations I require exact New Zealand time and wavelength, also nearest stations | heard. It is an impossibility to give full details of everything in my weekly notes but more complete information is to be found in my private mimeographed "‘N.Z. . Shortwaver," which deals with matter concerning shortwave information, and which is sent to-ail who pay 5/- to cove"

cost of printing, postage, etc., for these things cannot. be done for nothing. The N.Z.S.W.C. headquarters office will be closed for a time owing to alterations, but members may ring me. My phone number is 58-816 after working hours.

7 Reception Notes

"THE following shortwave notes are from Mr. H, I. Johns, Wanganui :- OT1AA, 31.09 m. was heard coming in very well round 8.21 a.m. (Sunday). The cuckoo call was heard plainly, as also was the call-sign. "Radio Say Tay ona Ah Ah" (CTIAA). A musical programme was broadcast, the music being of a good quality and signals Rd, ZA, 20.15 m. was heard to good advantage round 4.40 p.m., with* military band music, some of the finest heard for some time, and aise orchestral music. Round 5.20 p.m. station ‘starts to fade out. Station is heard on Sundays only, R6, Q5. * ZBW, 24.96 m, Heard round 10.30 p.m. for the first time for many weeks, and was only at fair strength, with a musical programme, Night. stations are beginning to come in again with better volume; R4, Q3 PLP, 27.27 m. Transmits an excellent signal at 10.85 p.m., with a musical programme. This station seems to transmit a better signal than the other two sister stations, PMN and YDB; in fact, PLP is received better in New York than the on two stations. Signals were RT, 5. DJE, 16.89 m. Is a station well worth tuning into on the 4.85 p.m. transmission to New Zealand and Australia. The signals on this band are really remarkable for volume and clarity. The writer tuned in at 6.15 p.m. (Tuesday) to hear the New Zealand letter box programme, which was 100 per cent. readable and volume R6 on the speaker, with a four-valve battery set. Signals were also wonderfuily steady, 8MBE, 31.55 m., has improved in volume during the last week or so, and shortly one .should be able to enjoy excellent (Continued on Page 48.)

Reception Notes

(Continued from page 47). entertainment in the evenings. VPD2, 31.28 m. approximately, wag heard transmitting at 10.80 p.m., with a musical programme. and is apparently a new transmitter. It was coming in with very good volume, though slight fading was noticed. The signals were 7, 5. OA‘AA, 20 m. Heard very well today (Wednesday). his voice coming in on a good. clear signal. Strength was R6, Q5, which was good, seeing his power 19 only 85 watts'input. OA4AA was speakine ‘on Chile and "W" phones, TPAS, 25.23 m. Heard with an excellent signal at 5.80 p.m, Wednesday. This ‘band, round-5 p.m., is rather noisy at pree sent, but is better in the afternoon.