JOYS OF DXING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 18 August 1934, Page 15

JOYS OF DXING

World-Wide Radio Sets THIS IS FAVOURABLE YEAR All things seem to move in cycles and radio is no exception. When broadcasting first became popular, there developed a great longing for DA or long distance reception. When people were first building sets, the favourite pastime was to listen on the one-valve to stations hundreds of miles away, sitting up all night to get these stations. Then they logged. From this DXer to the one appearing to-day is a long step, not only in sets but in stations. A few hundred miles now become several thousand miles —real DX. We in New Zealand now tune in America as a matter of course. If we cannot get Australia like New Zealand something is wrong. European reception here is fairly common.

We are now in the favourable position of the sunspot cycle—l 934 is its minimum. It will gradually increase, and then again decrease, and in about another eleven years will be again at its minimum. Of course not every set will bring in stations thousands of miles away. One must have a good location, must have a powerful set; and must know the best hours for listening. Just which is the best type of set is not clear, for sometimes a set with only- a few valves will work as well and better than a set of ten or twelve valves. An excellent aerial and earth are the first requisites, and the set must be sensitive. Generally it is found that the ordinary smaller com mercial set is not suitable. It seems that the better higher-priced ones — high class and specially built fr bringing long distance —big T.R.F. and supers —get the best results. Tho reason of course, is that all the circuits must be peaked to their resonant frequency, and the entire set must work with maximum efficiency. The least unbalancing will make a set unsuitable for great distance work. Some of the best made sets on the market will normally get stations from 1000 to 2000 miles without any trouble, but will not receive 5000 milea away. Then there are only about 100 broad cast channels and thousands of sta tions. Even if you get the carrier of a station say 5000 miles away, the chances are you will not be able to identify tho call letters, because half a dozen other stations may be on or near the same frequency at that time. The trick is to know tho time when those other stations are not on the air. Naturally one cannot do ’this in a single evening. It may take months of patient listening, and then one has to have a verification from the station itself to prove that he is right. DX interest by the public at the present time is evidenced by the number of DX clubs formed to compare notes, and the number who are buying better and better class sets; also, headphone listening is coming into vogue again not only for increased sensitivity purposes, but for quietness of operation. When listening the set is full out and brings in, as well as tho wanted stations, all the noise of the atmosphere. This perhaps annoys other members of the household, but with the phone this is cut out.

To sum up, it would seem that the set is not everything, though it plays a, very important part. Aerials are directional, that is, they receive better from one direction than from another, and many aerial changes should be tried for best results. One style wiil suit reception from one country, another style reception from* another country.

The earth wire and connection is also very important, definite good contact everywhere being essential. And it is only by patient listening through all weathers, through all the hours of the night and day, that one can ever hope to compile a list of stations. Patience and perseverance are more important than aerial, earth or set.