BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 101, 29 March 1939, Page 3

BITS ABOUT BROADCASTS.

GERMANY TO THE FORE. HISTORIC TRANSMISSIONS. (By “Microphone.”) Much current history has been closely connected with short-wave radio, and none to a greater extent than that at present being unfolded. Germany, by virtue of the superlative transmitting equipment she possesses, is in a unique position to give a world audience a front seat at the events in which she has played so large a part, and users of short-wave sets have been able to participate in the journey by Herr Hitler to Memelland. Both morning and evening signals from Berlin arc splendid, and no difficulty is experienced in receiving programmes. In the evening particularly volume is excellent on 16 and 19 metres, surpassing that of the Empire Station. It is, incidentally, interesting to note a definite interference of a heterodyne nature with London’s signals on one of the lower wavelengths, spoiling the beet channel at the time. “J.T.,” who from time to time has contributed interesting items to this column, states that many interesting features have recently been heard from Berlin. During the usual hours of reception (not late at night) Hitter’s arrival at Brno and Memcl was heard, the commentary being against a background of church bells, aeroplanes, etc., constituting a vivid sound picture. Berlin may usually be relied upon to provide an interesting broadcast in times of stress. A not unexpected sequel to the virtual disappearance of Czechoslovakia has been the change in control of Radio Praha (Prague), one of the first concomitants of the Nazis’ arrival being the seizure of the transmitter. Formerly Radiojournal, who supplied the programme for this British-built, State-owned station, posted to all parts ' of the world their comprehensive pro- ( gramme schedule headed by a lion f eouchant. These have not been arriving in recent months; it appears that ( another chapter has been closed as a 1 new one has opened. We shall miss ] the friendly and courteous communi- 1 cations from Prague, and the prompt 1 and informative replies to correspond- : ence. Each Christmas Prague would . send out a delightful souvenir card with greetings It was typical of a 1 small State playing its part in a dif- ' ferent Europe from that of to-day.

ULTRA-SHORT-WAVE RECEPTION. At tho turn of the year conditions are apparently very satisfactory for the propagation of ultra-short-wave signals, reception at present being most pleasing. The 10 and 20-metre bands have been most active, tho conduct of a test among amateur operators adding interest. “J.T.” reports that one or two New Zealand stations have been audible on 10 metres, although, of course, at weak strength as compared with overseas signals. Occasionally ZL2BE Hastings is heard, but this is probably due to freak conditions, as under normal conditions skip distance would make these signals inaudible. Local amateurs are available at maximum volume owing to the operation of tho ground wave. Further afield signals have been heard of XE2BJ and XEIA Mexico, also VESAGI British Columbia and COT VP Cuba, besides Hawaiians and Americans. The' overcrowded nature of the 20metro band is obvious during the early evening, when American (W) and Australian (YK) calls wage battle, but apart from these the careful listener is aide to distinguish other signals of more interest. Our correspondent lists the following more unusual signals heard recently: Rumania, YRSIC. Italy, JITKM. Alaska, K7AOC Juneau. Canada, VE’s, ICIH, 4WJ, SACN, and SVO. Mexico, XE’s TBJ and 2FC Mexico City. The latter verifies with a splendid card illustrating the business area of his city. Cuba, 002JJ. Peru, OA4AI Lima. Brazil, PY’s 2AG, 2LN and 21T, Chile,

CEIAH. Argentine, LU9BV, operI ated by a British resident, Mr Colin Grattan, who courteously verifies reports with a fine card, and perhaps a letter. This is fine logging, and illustrates the possibilities of reception at the present time. A DIFFICULT QUESTION. Incidentally, “J.T.” touches on a subject that has remained unanswered since it ea-ino into being with radio I —the superiority of amateur stations to regular short-wave transmitters • in j ! respect of volume, with the posyiblo exception of .European and. Asiatic, | stations. “One wonders, in view of the j ! superiority in power of the regular i ' short-wave stations, why such is the case,” adds our correspondent. The j , answer probably lies in the theorem I | that the secret of good signals does j i not lie altogether in the realm of high! power, rather in the use of efficient, radiating systems. This is the opinion of not a fow United States amateurs, including Mrs Dorothy Hall (W2IXY). Just as amateurs were forced to use their ingenuity when they were relegated to the apparently useless lower wave-lengths, and startled the experts by radiating signals of superlative strength over immense difjtances, and with much less than nor-1 mal power, so to-day they are teaching j engineers that attention to antenna ar-j rangement brings its reward. There is j perhaps no better example in the regular field of transmissions than that of the 8.8. C., which has for years experimented with arrays and directional aerials till to-day it has fairly satisfactorily solved the coverage problem. Amateurs to-day less and less transmit an omnidirectional signal; directional antennae (usually variable at short notice) have enabled powerful signals to bo received along certain well-defined paths. An example is that of FA3HC Algeria, whose 50-watt signals have been heard excellently by the writer. A little attention to W, G and K 6 stations shows they are using! directional antennae with amazing sue-;; cess; W2IXY has reaped astoundingsuccess. In the broadcast field the; United States stations have used the] principle with profit in their transmissions for South America. By eon- ' centrating the beam at an angle of 30 j degrees, the maximum signal from the new Treasure Island (WGBXE) sin- ' tiori is expected to lie increased in el- ;; fectiveness to the extent of ten times, j, which is an immense costless gain. 1 Point-to-point transmissions are on the < same basis; travelling on the Awatea ] a few days ago, “Microphone” was in-if forested to observe the maze of aerials, < besides the normal antenna, for use U on different waves and under varying j circumstances. But the secret does not ‘ appear to lie only in the realm of ” antenna design. It lias l>een suggested f that, harassed as lie is by conditions _ v of crowded frequencies, the amateur ] pays greater attention to bis equip- U inent than does the engineer of and average commercial transmitter; the 1 opinion is not original, but is passed ' on unproven, though it is not without j interest. In large part “J.T.’s” question is still unanswered. Ultra-short- , waves were supposed to be of no value ■ • —till the amateur proved the contrary; f 20-metre telephony was impracticable. c till the majority of America’s 50,000 ( amateurs and those of the world proved ] otherwise. It is a not unhappy j anomaly.