BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 48, 25 January 1939, Page 7

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

NEW W6BXE TRANSMITTER. UNITED STATES DEVELOPMENTS (By “Microphone.”) The new transmitter to come on the air next month or in March at Treasure . Island, San Francisco, has been assigned a call. It will operate as \\6BXE and will, as, indicated previously, he essentially a companion station to the Schenectady stations W’s 2XAD and 2XAF. Its programmes will bo relayed on 31.48 metres, 9530 k.c., and 19.56 metres, 15,330 k.c., giving programmes at evening hours in the Dominion. Special antennae will direct programmes to the East and South America. It is likely that W6BXE will be on the air testing shortly, construction on the actual site having been proceeding lor several weeks. Announcements concerning the new station may be expected from the Schenectady transmitters. Excellent reception has been experienced in the Dominion during the mornings from W3XL, which has been mentioned in these notes but has not appeared in the usual station lists. Operating on 17.78 m.c., in the 10r.ietre band, it gives a splendid signal, which is explained by its .35 k.w. ot power. Located in New York, it is another N.B.G. transmitter. W3XAL Boundbrook, another excellently received station at present, has been assigned two additional frequencies—9.67 and 21.63 m.c., the former for use on South American programmes in the late afternoon Now Zealand ti me. TELEVISION PROGRESS. Although it is readily conceded by Americans that they have a good deal to learn from England in television developments, and recently experts paid a visit to London to investigate the position, it is apparent from American news sources that very definite progress lias been obtained in recent months; for years research has been conducted, though not with the success that has attended British and German efforts, if reports are to be followed. The Don Lee transmitter \Y6XAO has been on the air daily except Sundays and holidays, since 1931. Ton and one-half million feet of motion picture film have been televised. Now, on a power of one kilowatt, both live performer and film transmissions are done on regular schedule. A start has been made with the installation of a new television transmitter in the tower of the Chrysler Building, in New York, to be operated with the call VV2XAX under the control of the Columbia System. It is being shifted from Camden (New Jersey) and the big undertaking is expected to occupy several months. RECEPTION IN THE CITY. Following up the references to the good reception of 1.0-inotre signals last week, an interesting budget of items has been received from “J.T-, who on previous occasions has made helpful contributions. The advance in recent months on this band is illustrated by our correspondent's claim that reception is more satisiaetory than elsewhere because stations are more easily identified and reception _is K e ] ll< T 1 " ally better than on 19, 25, and 31 metres —a remarkable claim that may be easily substantiated. Using an aerial directed north-east by southwest. and averaging 31tt. m height, “J.T.” has received a number ot United States 10-metre stations, among them W9XUY (9.49 metres, 31.6 m.c.), W9XA Kansas City. W9XUT St. Paul, W9XAL and W6XKG on 11 metres. (A full list was published last week.) 1 hpse stations arc subject to severe lading and also arc spoilt by ignition interference which is must more severe than on 20 metres. All are received at good volume till after midday. Volume in respect ol certain amateurs has been “amazing,” but from the early afternoon the band goes dead.” ~ . , Listeners will have been disappointed with patchy reception on the 20motre amateur band recently, but “J.T.” appears to have experienced more than ordinarily good fortune, and believes than an intensive watch will be rewarded with reception ol some very interesting stations. Among stations listed by our correspondent are the following: Chileans CE3CH. Santiago and CE2BX Valparaiso; Egyptian SUIWM Alexandria; Mexican XEIAG Mexico City; Guatemalan TG9BA Guatemala City; Peruvian OA4AVV; Colombian HKSEE; Philippine Islands KAf MM ; Japanese J2CS; French F80C; and tl.o NcwGumea amateurs ’ VK9VG and VK9WL. No South African 20-mctre signals have been audible, but OA4AW gave a leport of R 8 Q 5 to one South African amateur, pointing to good reception in South America. . XM.HA China is being heard m the city from about 10 p.m. It will be found oil 12.25 m.c., just outside the 25-metre band, and can be heard when conditions ore favourable.

ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE. Reception in the city has for a considerable period been spoiled lor long periods of the day and night by electrical interference on all bands, millfating against pleasurable listening and certainly hampering any efforts to seek elusive transmitters. “J.T.” refers to the subject in his notes, stating that conditions in his locality have been _so severe as to render reception practically impossible at times, even down on 10 metres. Broadcast band reception in the evenings has become too tiresome

to bo persevered with, persistent interference spoiling signals. 11l the Opotiki district listeners have experienced similar difficulties owing to power line leakages blanketing out all reception except that of IYA. In the city last week the high wind found out weaknesses in electrical circuits and accentuated a trouble that is persistent even in normal times, the solution of which would be welcomed.

THROUGH THE MICROPHONE. From American sources it is learned that ZHP Singapore (30.96 m., 9.69 m.c.) operating with 400 watts has been taken off the air after operating for several months a.t good volume so far as reception in this Dominion was concerned, it has been replaced by ZHO operating on an announced frequency of 6.175 m.c., or 48 metres, replacing the 6.01 m.c. frequency. It announces as “This is Singapore calling —ZHO, 0 for ocean.” Singapore time is 4 hours 40 minutes slow on New Zealand summer schedule.

ZBVV3 Hong Kong is excellent at a moderately late hour on 31.49 metres, 9525 k.c. Chinese music is broadcast to a great extent, and it is a novelty to hear, say, “Tire Man on the Flying Trapeze” sung by a Chinese child in her own language, while adhering to the. essential tune.

Entertainment of a high order is available from KZRM Manila. Philippine Islands, in the late evening, when splendid orchestral and band programmes are radiated on 31.35 metres. 9570 k.c. Many announcements and items are in Spanish, and listeners are apt to be misled. It is reported that the station recently changed hands and that its power is to be increased to 10,000 watts. The parent broad cast band transmitter has for years used 50,000 watts.

The New South Wales police radio station is to be extended to give continuous communication both ways with other capital cities of AustraliaThe station is regarded as one ol the most invaluable branches lor crime detection, and will be extended by the installation of modern transmitting and receiving plant. This will enable the police wireless room at the Redfern Depot, Sydney, to keep in continuous communication with the capital cities, instead of only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. To ensure reception and transmission without electrical interference a new station will he installed about seven miles from the city—according to an official announcement “in a quiet residential location.”