SUCCESS!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19992, 8 November 1927, Page 10

SUCCESS!

ENGLAND DIRECT AMATEURS’ ACHIEVEMENT Another step in the advancement of radio was achieved on Sunday evening when Mr Elgar Owen and Mr H. Jarrett, of Pipiriki, successfully logged the English broadcasting station SFW direct. While in conversation with “Detector” yesterday Mr Owen said that he first picked up the wave about 11.20 p.m. Music and announcements came through fairly strong. “I was able to get the call sign SFW, ” said Mr Owen, “ but eould not distinguish the town or country. At 11.33 announcement of the Columbia record ‘I dan’t mind being all alone’ was heard. Then I—broadcasting 1 —broadcasting from England to all parts of the Empire on 24 metres’ which was followed by more Columbia records, the numbers of which were 9219, 4402 and 5105. The next record, 4460, featured George Robey singing ‘lt’s Quite all Right.’ A short lecturette was then put over, dealing with the work of the 8.8. C. since taking over the broadcasting in England, and giving a list of the main stations.

“By this time,” stated Mr Owen, “the announcements were coming through very clearly and the full call sign was heard —SFW, Chelmsford, England, broadcasting on 24 metres. There was hardly any distortion, very little static, and fading was hardly recognisable.”

The set used is owned by Mr H. Jarrett, Pipiriki, and was built and operated by him. Two pairs of phones were used. The circuit is the same as the New Zealand All-Wave Receiver —three valves.

A local amateur, Mr H. G. West, of Wilson Street, was also successful in logging the English station SFW on Sunday evening. Mr West stated that he tuned in first at 10.45 and held it continually until 1.15 a.m. There was very little interference and reception was at good phone strength, and just audible on the loud speaker. Mr West was using a plug-in short wave outfit in conjunction with a Stewart-Warner during reception of SFW.