SHORT WAVE WANDERINGS

Evening Star, Issue 22032, 18 May 1935, Page 4

SHORT WAVE WANDERINGS

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY STATIONS OPERATING. A steady improvement on all bands is still taking place, and a fine variety of distant stations is being heard daily. Many of these come in at maximum volume, and the programme is enjoyed without the annoying bursts of static so usual upon tho medium wave length stations. Short wave transmission is now definitely out of the experimental stage, and with powerful stations using aerials to beam their programmes to definite „ portions of the world, and efficient receivers being marketed, the short wave “ fan ” is being catered for as never before. There are, at present, some two hundred and fifty short wave broadcasting stations in operation, and the list is being added to weekly. The 8.8. C. is about to build two superpower transmitters to challenge the German system, while a high powered American at Newark will shortly be opened. , A few years ago, the main objections listeners "had" to short wave were the poor reception, due to surge and distortion, and the unsuitable hours that the prograines were heard, usually after midnight here. All this has been changed by the use of directional aeriels, higher power, and the zoning of the world by such organisations as the 8.8. C., and the French and German Governments. By this method, sessions are presented at hours most suitable for the countries to which they are directed. The excellent rebroadcasts of Daventry made by 4YA last week disprove the often heard remark that short wave reception is interesting, but has little programme value. In last week’s notes mention was made of a stranger hoard on 25 metres. This station is coming in fairly well (so far as clearness of signal is concerned) during the early afternoon, and is believed to be HJ4ABA (25.6 metres) at Manizales, Columbia. RECEPTION OF LATE. At 10.30 p.m. WIXK (31.36 metres) is heard opening, while at 11 o’clock WBXK, on 19.72 metres, has been at excellent volume. This appears to be a new session. After 1 a.m. the 19 metre band has half a : dozen stations all at good volume, DJQ being a newcomer at this hour. At 7 a.m. tune to 49.4 metres and you will hear OER2, Vienna, Austria, which is one of the best aifc this hour. The announcements are in Rnglish. 2RO, Rome (30.6 metres),, used the usual morning session from 7 to 9.30, has been testing about 11 o’clock, calling New York at R 6. GSL, Daventry (49.10 metres), used together with GSC on transmission No 6 four days a week, has been at medium strength, QSAS, towards the close of the session, but cannot compare with the 31.3 metre station. Above the 31 metre band as 11 p.m. a stranger was picked up on approximately 35 metres, playing an English recording, while at 11.30 p.m. (N.Z.S.T.) a short news letter and. a weather forecast was given, when the -time was given as 8 o’clock. This station proved to be ZEK, Hongkong (34.96 metres). Volume was fair to good, R 5-7 and QSA4, and'readers should have no difficulty in logging the station. The 20 metre amateurs are very active, all tho American districts having been heard during two hours this week. VKs 2EP and 2YW have been in daily contact with Hawaii and the States, when a 10 metre phone was relayed to Australia. Another interesting “ rebroadcast ” was when K6KKP, Honolulu, held conversation with 5 metre and 10 metre stations in San Francisco, contact being established through a 20 metre station in that city.