RADIO NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21852, 1 November 1932, Page 7

RADIO NOTES

(By

“Radio.”)

COUNTRIES WE LISTEN TO. No. 2. FRANCE. Broadcasting in France, as every where in the world, is marching onwards, striving to do justice to its great responsibilities. Relay lints, perfected as they are now-a-days, allow all French stations to exchange programmes. They have Eiffel Tower and others, on the long wave, a score, or over, on the broadcast band and several short wave stations, all high powered, and practically all international. After several years of broadcasting, to create something new in programmes is a difficult matter. They have their dance music, orchestra concerts, radio plays etc., but nevertheless, the companies are continually searching for new ideas and endeavouring to improve upon experiments already made. Radio Strasbourg, one of the most popular French stations heard in New Zealand, operates on a wave length of 345 metres, 869 k.c. with a power of 12,000 watts only. Accompanied by his station announcement is a deep sounding gong, and programmes usually transmitted in French and German. Post Parisien, the super powered station of France operates on a wave length of 328.2 metres and a frequency of 914 k.c., using 60,000 watts, and strange to say, this station, with its extra power is not heard as well as Strasbourg, or even Toulouse, on a length of 390 metres—77o k.c. This is probably another instance of what, that important factor, locality, means to radio. A clearer example can be illustrated nearer home. 3YA and 4YA. Fe Camp, working on a wave length of 220 metres, 1364 k.c. and a power of 10,000 watts is another French station heard in Invercargill. This station calls “Radio Normandie” and his programmes are invariably English, the reason, being no doubt, because he is controlled by the International Broadcasting Club of London. Arrangements have been in hand for some time to increase the power of Radio Lyons to between 60,000 and 80,000 watts. This station comes under an ambitious scheme to provide France with a regional system in the British model and no doubt this station should come in well next season.

Radio Snips. The Austrian Landlords’ Association have appealed to the leading broadcasting companies to suppress all gymnastic lessons from their programmes. They base their plea on the fact that “Physical Jerks” which require jumping and other violent exercises not only injures the gas and electric fittings in the big apartment houses but lessens the life of the walls, ceilings and floors. Are radio fans still writing letters: Apparently they are. The Columbia Broadcasting System, U.S.A., reports receiving 3,316,025 letters for the year ending July 31, 1932, against 2,836,083 for the preceding year. D.X. Topics. KSL Salt Lake City 1130 k.c. 50 k.w. can be heard at 12.30 a.m. Mondays on their early Sunday morning transmission. An Australian correspondent advises that there is a possibility of V.K’s. going off the broadcast band. VZ.F.I.W. Hopkinsville was heard at 5.30 p.m. on October 21, he and KOIN are the cause of the whistle about 6.30 p.m. on 940 k.c. According to the Radio Record the correct call of the Chinese station is XEOA Shanghai. 4MB Maryborough is sending out cards now. Extract from verification from France received by an Invercargill DXer. “Thank you very much for you letter July 23. It is unexpectedly gratifying to leam that our transmissions have been heard so far afield as N.Z. Up-to-date I think you must be our record long distance listener, the tvzo runners-up being respectively in Alabama, U.S.A, and St John’s Newfoundland. “You wil probably be interested in the following extract from the official log the station which will confirm the accuracy of your reception.” Then followed a detailed account of the programme heard. “This data may help you to recognize the station in the event of your repeating what is certainly entitled to be considered an unusual feat.—l am etc. J. H. Stamforth. Station Director. Radio Normandie. Fe Champ.” This station was heard fairly regularly in Invercargill during the spring. His power was 7,000 watts and wave length 220 metres 1365 k.c., call Radio Normandie, Fe Camp, France. Stations Identified and Queries. “Rodger” asks for identity of station on 930 k.c. similar music to Japanese or Chinese station, heard at 1.45 a.m. American on 940 k.c. at 8 p.m. and station on 1400 k.c. heard at 2.0 a.m.— Station on 930 k.c. will probably be HSP3 on 938 k.c. American on 940 k.c. will be K.0.1.N. though W.F.I.W. has been heard on that frequency earlier in the evening. Station on 1400 k.c. must be a VK. His carrier only has been heard by me.—“ Radio.”