LONG DISTANCE RADIO

Southland Times, Issue 19461, 28 January 1925, Page 7

LONG DISTANCE RADIO

PITTSBURG TALKS TO MELBOURNE. HEARD BY LEADING INVERCARGILL AMATEUR. Many records in the world of radio have to be put down to the credit of New Zealanders, and magazines from America, which may be described as the home of radio, frequently contain glowing eulogiums of the fine work of amateurs in this part of the world, and the excellent performances they put up from time to time. There are many very keen amateurs in Invercargill, ai.d while as yet no world records can be claimed by them, they, too, have done their bit towards helping the progress of raido in this Dominion. One of the most prominent of the local “hams” is Mr A. Jordan, who operates station 4AD in Biggar street, and an hour or two spent there never fails to be productive of something of interest. AN INTERESTING EVENING.

Last night a Times man called in, and after a few miutes was rewarded by hearing KDKA calling up the Melbourne Herald. KDKA is the big broadcasting station operated by the Westinghouse General Electric Co. at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. After a short wait a voice could be heard announcing—in an unmistakeably American accent —that KDKA wished to convey to the Melbourne Herald, on behalf of the newspapers of New York and other Eastern States their heartiest greetings. This was heard fairly clearly. Then followed some morse work, in which some items from one of the Pittsburgh dailies were sent out, notably a little story commencing with the approved sensational headlines, which detailed how the inmates of a certain penitentiary showed their resentment of the refusal of a visitor to carry notes to friends outside, by attacking hint with molasses and jelly—quite an interesting account in fact. Shortly later, after delivering once more fraternal greetings to the Herald, came the announcement that further teste would be conducted the following evening.

Local amateurs will read of this with considerable interest, as being something in the nature of a record in reception, as the distance is about 8000 miles, and KDKA was using a wave length of only approximately 50 metres. The reception of this low wave length was accomplished by the use of a low-loss tuner, which Mr Jordan states is the only type with which it could have been picked up. No doubt radio fans in Invercargill will repair to their “dens” tc-night and tune in in the hooe of being able to repeat Mr Jordan’s performance. MUSIC FOR AUSTRALIA.

When the Pittsburg station had closed down, Mr Jordan tuned in to 2BL, a station operated by the Daily Guardian news paper in Sydney, and the listeners heard some enjoyable music played by a very fine orchestra, quite probably playing in one of the theatres, as it gave the impression of being an overture to some musical play. Another station was picked up, but the call sign could not be distinguished. It appeared to be very far distant. Finally, just before 11.30 p.m. a banjo solo w;:s clearly heard from a Hobart station. KDKA will be eagerly listened for tonight by the hundreds of amateurs all over Southland, and it is possible that it may be heard well. Mr Jordan will not be a listener-in as he will be at local station 4AP superintending the broadcasting of the first local concert for 1925. have been very quiet of late as far as radio is concerned, and perhaps this latest achievement will bp the cause of re-stimulating interest in the ranks of the Invercargill radions.