BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 2 June 1937, Page 3

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

NEW MANILA STATION. (By “Microphone.”) Observant short-wave listeners will have noted the appearance of vet another station on the 31-metre band in the evening to

I widen the field of entertainment, hut | also giving a- little difficulty in the operation of unselective receivers. The I newcomer represents the Philippine I Islands and is located in Manila, being operated by the same interests as control the famous broadcast band station KZRM (transmitting on 484 metres, 618.5 kilocycles with a power of 50,000 watts). While under test, the new short-wave transmitter is utilising the programme material of KZRM and at the half-hour (9.30, j 10.30 p.m., etc.) gives the call “KZRM I Radio Manila.” The Philippine time signal of 6 p.m. is given with a musical note at 9.30. The station operates on an announced frequency of 9570 kilocycles, or a wave-length ,of 31.35 metres—which is rather close for comfort on some sets to VK3LR Lyndlvurst, and a Dutch East Indies transmitter. The result is that, even on the most selective receivers, transmission is spoilt by a heavy beat note, so that although volume is comfortable speaker strength readability is poor and the music is distorted. The station may, as a result, seek a new frequency. Reports are requested, addressed to KZRM and these, of course, should be of an informative nature, with comments on speech quality, etc. Look for the station at about 9 p.m. CARTAGENA CALLING. The highlight of the Sunday afternoon variety programmes on shortwaves is without ctoubt the American Hour of Radio Cartagena, 11JIABP, located in Cartagena, Colombia, South America. Some months ago arrangements were made by “Microphone” lor a special programme for New Zealand, but owing to the time elapsing in mail carriage conditions were not favourable when it took place. However, they are now excellent and the average receiver should have no difficulty in obtaining excellent speaker volume. The American Hour is observed from 2.30 to 3.30 p.m. oil Sunday afternoon, when announcements are made in English, reports requested, and an assurance given that all letters will be acknowledged by the station card. The last mail brought a further request to the writer tor reports on HJIABP’s transmissions, and in addition to obtaining an unusually fine card those who report will render a service. The wave is 31.19 metres, 9620 kilocycles, the station being operated simultaneously with HJIABR on 214.28 metres, 1400 kilocycles; the power in the former case is 1000 watts and in the latter 500 watts. The postal address is Radio Cartagena, Box 37, Cartagena, Colombia. MOSCOW SCHEDULES.

Another feature of the 31-metre band is the schedule observed on Sunday afternoons in English by Radio Centre, Moscow, with series of addresses, usually at excellent volume. They are radiated on 31.25 metres, 9000 kilocycles, through station RAN, which leaves the air after making announcements at 1.45 p.m. It was. announced on Sunday that an additional wave is to l>e brought into regular use with the operation of ItKI on 19.95 metres; official lists give its wave as 39.88'metres and frequency as 15 090 kilocycles, but Moscow may have effected an alteration. Reports are sought and there is a promise of verification. Excellent English is spoken by the RAN announcer, who is followed after an interval of about an hour with sessions in other languages. SANTIAGO SCHEDULE.

The station for which 'identification was sought in these notes last week has been definitely cleared up as being “Radio Service,” Santiago, Chile. It operate.s'on a frequency of 12,300 kilocycles, and the address is given in an American periodical as Box 701. Until a few days ago it was heard at good speaker strength in (he city till 12.30 p.m., when it signed off with a hand march. It is quite a new transmitter and it is possible that a definite' schedule has not been arranged. On 9600 kilocycles CB9GO operates from Santiago. also. Not to be confused with “Radio Service” is “Radio Na-

I clonal,” operating on 12,300 kiloDUTGH INDIES ENTERTAIN. Very fine entertainment is being afforded late in the evening from the "network of the Dutch East Indies, where there are located six. powerful long-distance and 22 low-power stations to serve a population of forty millions. Announcements are all made in Dutch, but titles of records are given in English, so that the transmitters are easily identified and the programme is as eiijoyable as that emanating from Melbourne. YDC Bandoeng at present I yields the best volume on 19 metres, . but the complete list is as follows: ! YD A Tdj. Priok 3040 k.c., 98.68 metres, 'IO,OOO watts,* Also on 49.67 metres, ! 6040 kilocycles, till 6.30 p.m. I YDB Soiirabaya, 9610 kilocycles, 31.2 metres, 100 watts.* Also on 25.3 metres, 11,860 kilocycles, till 6.30 p.m. | PMN Bandoelig, 10.200 kilocycles, 129.24 metres, 1500 watts.* | PLP Bandoeng. 11.000 kilocycles, .27.27 metres, 1500 watts.* | YDC Bandoeng, 15.150 kilocycles, i 19.8 metres, 1500 w-atts.* PMII Bandoeng, 6720 kilocycles, 44.6 metres, native programme. *Tndieates that the station is heard from 10 p.m. till 3 a.m. THROUGH THE MICROPHONE. The old-time favourite KFI Los Angeles has been at good strength before closing at 7.30 p.m. It operates with 50 Kilowatts on 640 kilocycles, 468.5 metres, and uses half a dozen languages when signing off. On Saturday evening it concluded its 5520th transmission.

Reception is reported on 16 metres of an unusual transmitter, and one which will not be in operation lor very long. It is WEEM, located oil Canton Island, in the Pacific, and operated by the National Geographic Society and American Navy Scientific Expedition observing the eclipse. It- is reported that the following DX programmes are being broadcast by overseas transmitA.'rs (New Zealand time is quoted): —KGI\V Alamosa, Colorado. 1420 kilocycles, 100 watts, each Tuesday, Thursday, and Satur-. day. from 6.30 p.m.; KTSA San Antonio, Texas, 550 kilocycles, 1000 watts, on the fifth of each month fron 5.30 to 5.45 p.m.; KTEM Temple 'j exits, 1370 kilocycles, 100 watts, oi the fifth day of each month from 7.lit to 8 p.m. ; KFVD Los Ajigeles, California, 1000 kilocycles, 250 watts, each Friday front 9.30 p.m.; TGW Guatemala, 3 210 kilocycles, 10,000 watts, eaclt Sunday from . 4.30 to 9.30 p.m.; P RE3 Rio <le Janeiro, Brazil, 1220 kilocycles, 10,000 watts, closing 7.50 p.m.; WEOY St. Augustine, Florida, 1210 kilocycles, 100 watts, each Friday from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m.