BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 73, 23 February 1938, Page 7

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

AMATEURS IN HOLLAND. THE TRANSMITTER OF PAOMQ. (By “Microphone.”) The vast improvement which has been experienced in the reception of signals on the short-wave band, and particularly the 20-metre amateur channel, has no doubt directed attention in the past week to this field of entertainment. There has., been no lack of variety in the amateur field, and calls ranging from Egypt to Japan, Cuba to Vancouver. and Mexico to Holland have been, heard with comparative ease, demonstrating the vast possibilities that the band offers for world-wide communication with relatively low 'power. One of more interesting of these transmitters was PAO(aerb)MQ. located at' Heemostede, Holland, which on Thursday evening . reached quite good volume though subjected to heavy interference. By a' coincidence- the last European mail .brought a,most, interesting letter from the operator of this transmitter, business' executive connected with a large manufacturing firm, m .which sidelights of amateur transmissions in the Netherlands are included- ... It, is apparent that m certain reflects conditions are not greatly different from those ruling in the .Dominion. There are in the Nether-

lands territory about 500 licensed amateurs, who pay an annual fee of £l. It is required of them that thev pass a rather severe Governmental examination, but they may work telephony and code traffic on all but the 100-metre band. As in.the Dominion, third party traffic is prohibited and operators may pass on only personal remarks of such small importance that the use of the public telephone or telegraph isi not jeopardised. It is of particular interest to learn that a limit of 50 watts is imposed, but the excellence with which Dutch signals are frequently heard suggests that it is a regulation honoured often as much in the breach as in the observance. In such a crowded country it is difficult not to create interference witli broadcast band listeners, but so long as the national broadcasts arc not interfered with “it does not matter.’ It is also required that the broadcast band receivers must bo of good and modern construction, UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT. PAOMQ must rank among-, the most up-to-date amateur transmitters in the Netherlands. Mr Vis states that the transmitter for 20 metres has three stages—6L6 oscillator, RCA 804 power amplifier, and push-pull RCA 800 in the final stage, running at about 180 watts input. The modulation is class B, using another pair of 800 tubes, which can deliver something like 100 watts from the audio amplifier. The second transmitter for 40 and 80 metres has two stages 6L6 link coupled to an Amperex HFIOO tube, running at anywhere between 30 and 200 watts input according to the conditions. The same modulator is used for this transmitter. A third transmitter, containing the new beam power RCA 814 tube in pusli-pull is under construction, especially for 10-metre work. The transmitters are all remote controlled, being upstairs while the receiver position is below. A modern receiver, electron-coupled frequency meter, and cathode ray oscillograph complete a very up-to-date outfit. The station, which has worked all countries on phone and code, has been on the air four years. Mr Vis commenced his amateur interest as a 9-year-old boy in 1918, when he heard tlie first transmitted music, and had his first transmitter in 1926. GRAND OPERA FROM NEW YORK. No listener who appreciates operatic music at its best can afford to miss the very fine transmissions from the United States early on Sunday mornings, on the 19-metre band. Emanating usually from the luxurious studios of R.C.A. Radio City, in New York, though sometimes relays are taken from the Metropolitan Opera, these transmissions aie apparently being conducted m accordance with a prearranged schedule and feature famous artists. On Sunday morning, for instance, a full broadcast was made over both networks of the N.B.C. and at least two short-wave transmitters— W2XAD and W2XE—of the opera “Lohengrin.” Conducted by M. Maurice D’Abravanel, who was formerly in Australian broadcasting, it featured Mine. Elsa Rethberg. the eminent soprano, who was quite recently in the Commonwealth; during the interval between the second and third acts Mine.- Rethberg gave a most interesting talk on her operatic experiences, the time then being about 9 a.m. Listeners will find . W2XAD Schnectady (which, at that time * is superior) on 19.56 metres, 15,330 k.c., and ■\Y2XE New York City on 19.65 metres, 15,270 k.c. Last week, too, the former was heard at the unusual hour (for it) at 4.30 p.m., closing after having relayed a concert by the N.B.C. Symphony Orchestra. On Sunday WIXAL Boston was heard on the announced (and apparently only temporary) frequency of 11,730 k.c.. in the late afternoon closing after broadcasting from Indianapolis a concert by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. WIXAL usually operates on 15.25 m.c. and reports were requested on the newer wave. A search of the 25-metre band, especially on a Sunday afternoon, is always wellrewarded, among the stations m Amen rica being WBXK Pittsburgh, 20.26 m., 11,870 k.c.; W2XE, 2o 36 m., 11,830 k.c.; WIXAL 25.45 m„ 11,/90 k.c; There' is-often more than jazz emanating'on the short-waves from the United States. , VK2MA ON THE AIR. - Though no intimation has been made from Australia of. the advent of a new short-wave transmitter, it would appear from- announcements .made on Sunday night through VK2ME, Sydney, that a new transmitter, working in conjunction with the “Voice of Australia” has commenced operating in the 60-metre band. 2ME operates on 31.38 metres, 9590 kilocycles, observing sessions late on Sunday afternoon, from 10 p.m., and again from an early hour on Monday morning. It would appear that 2MA is to act ;as a complementary transmitter, the announced frequency being 42-86 megacycles. No trace of'the station could be found at the time, but the frequency might be worth attention':; , •• THROUGH iTHE MICROPHONE. All the German transmitters operated to , their utmost in . carrying the speech off Herr Hitler in;,the Reichstag. The cabled- reports of interference by jambing appeared to be borne out on the 25-metre band, at least; Heterodyne trouble being so intense as to completely. spoil reception with a highpitched whistle. On Monday evening a full resume of the speech was given in English, the announcer -being most vehement at certain stages. On the 20-metre band one of the most powerful transmitters is VESACN Toronto, apparently a new station. Mr M. Tboreau, who operates VESOT. was heard to announce the power as only 250 watts, so one may readily judge the efficiency of such a transmitter, Listeners reporting to amateur stations need not be disappointed in not receiving a reply for some time ; the last mail brought acknowledgments of reports to K6OQE Honolulu (last June) and XE2.FC Mexico (August). The former is rated at 200 watts and the latter at 250 watts:; Astounding volume —though by no means perfectly clear signals—is beino- obtained each morning about 7 o’clock from ; CSAV Lisbon' on 27.17 metres. 11.040 k.c.. with music. It ivill be found that the Empire station is best received at the present time on the 19-metre band at night and on 31 metres in the early morning. Transmission 11, which begins at 10.45 p.m. is particularly fine; signals having lost the surge which still spoils then: on Transmission 1. commencing at 8.15. p.m. < ' RNE Moscow, the 25-metrb-trans-rnitter. is being beard at good strength again in the mid-aftenibon; announcements are made in English by a woman, with a “news” session.