History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1948 01

3 P.01 - Front Cover The Australasian Radio World Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical. 1/- Vol. 12 - No. 8; JANUARY 15, 1948 P.01 - Rola Ad P.02 - Crown Radio Products Ad P.03 - Contents Banner THE AUSTRALASIAN RADIO WORLD Devoted entirely to Technical Radio and incorporating ALL-WAVE ALL-WORLD DX NEWS VOL. 12. - JANUARY, 1948. - No. 8. P.03 - Publication Notes Editor, Publisher, Proprietor — A. G. HULL, Balcombe St., Mornington, Vic. Short-wave Editor — L. J. KEAST, 6 Fitzgerald Road, Ermington, N.S.W. 'Phone: WL1101 Ham Notes By — D. B. KNOCK (VK2NO), 43 Yanko Av., Waverley, N.S.W. Advertising Representative for N.S.W. - Amalgamated Publications Pty. Ltd., 83 Pitt St., Sydney, Phone: B1077 Representative in Queensland - John Bristoe, Box 82, Maryborough, Q. Representative in England - Anglo Overseas Press Ltd., 168 Regent St., London, W1. Subscription Rates: 6 issues - 5/3; 12 issues - 10/6; 24 issues - £1; Post free to any address in the world. Address for all correspondence - Australasian Radio World, Balcombe St., Mornington, Victoria Printed by Bridge Printery Pty. Ltd., 117 Reservoir Street, Sydney, N.S.W., for the proprietor of the "Australasian Radio World," Balcombe St., Mornington, Vic. (Footnote P.51) P.03 - Contents CONTENTS TECHNICAL — Splendid Contest . . . . 5 The Champion Amplifier . . . . 7 Amateur Personalities . . . . 14 Convert to High Fidelity . . . . 18 "Mantelette Three" . . . . 20 Operation Annie . . . . 22 Recent Valve Developments . . . . 29 Among Our Readers . . . . 31 Performance with Economy . . . . 35 Ham Notes . . . . 39 SHORTWAVE REVIEW — Notes From My Diary . . . . 46 THE SERVICE PAGES — Speedy Query Service . . . . 50 P.03 - Editorial EDITORIAL It is just twelve months since I published a rather unconventional editorial in which I readily admitted that the issue was a weak one. Such a frank admission brought forth quite a lot of criticism and comment from those who were rather surprised at it. Since then I have published twelve issues, all of them better, I hope, but some a lot better than others. Not so clearly in evidence in the issues, however, is a vast improvement in the background organisation. Back numbers are forwarded within a day or two, most letters are answered within 24 hours, complaints of non-delivery of subscribers copies are down to one-twentieth part of a per cent., and even queries get answered from time to time. So the ground has been cleared for the start of the big job, getting real improvement into the editorial side. The shortage of paper is still critical, and it is mighty hard to find new and startling components, but I feel sure that quite a bit can be done and it is down on the programme. Adequate advertising support has been assured to carry considerable expansion. Several component manufacturers have promised to have new lines ready for release in the near future, and quite a few interesting lines are coming in from England, especially in communications receivers, high fidelity pick-ups and speakers, and laboratory test equipment. The prospects for 1948 are excellent. — A. G. HULL. P.05 - Technical - Splendid Contest P.07 - Technical - The Champion Amplifier P.14 - Technical - Amateur Personalities AMATEUR PERSONALITIES A Few Words About Individual Hams as the Writer Sees and Knows Them VK2AT . . . Lew A ltm an of Lakemba, N.S.W. . . . a bit of a wizard with QRP rigs; adapts little jobs like the A Mk 3 for modulation without too much diving inside the innards. Is heard at times on 40 phone and is a shrewd purchaser where Disposals bits and pieces are concerned . . . is a fam iliar figure around the counte rs of well-known Sydney dealers. * * VK2BA, Bruce Chapman of Balgowlah, N.S.W., is strictly a CW m an and steadfastly refuses to be talked into a microphone. Has been 2BA ever since there has been CW and a t one stage was active for a year or two as VR4BA in the Solomons . . . holds an executive position in the shipping world and was Lieut. R.A.N. during the recent war. * * VK2BM . . . Fred (Pop) Treharne, fath er of Ross (VK2IQ) and E lgar (G3CSJ) and active mostly in early morns on 14 m C/s phone looking fo r and contacting G3CSJ. Located a t Burwood, N.S.W., and is Director of Musical Education, N.S.W. Government. Recently passed his AOCP exam and secured his “ticket” in fine style, no small achievement at the age of 60 years plus . . . * * VK2IN . . . Jack Kebblewhite, W ahroonga, N.S.W. . . . also a newcomer to the ranks a t an age past the half-century . . . is active on 14 m C /s CW . . . and will not use phone until he has had, in his personal opinion, sufficient experience with the key. Is getting in am ong the DX with a new wellengineered zepp antenna. . . . » * * VK2BV, W averley Ra'dio Club . . . heard a t intervals on 14 and 7 m C /s phone with club transm itte r operated by club members. This is reputed to be the oldest A ustralian Radio Club and still functions in the original location, McPherson St., W averley, N.S.W. * * VK2BZ “Dave” Davies of Newcastle is m aking a fair-sized hole in the 50 m C /s band these days and nights with a nice signal from an 813 final. Reaches Sydney on th a t band m ost tim es and has been figuring in the in terstate DX. * * VK2CE A If Barnes of Bondi is active m ainly on 28 m C /s but heard a t intervals on 14 and 7 m C /s. Is plagued by restricted space for antennas but gets out nicely. Is using a n atty double conversion RX of his own concoction th a t covers all bands, including “Six.” * * VK2CL Les Taylor, Ashfield, is active mainly on 14 m C /s CW but occasionally uses phone. Is an accomplished designer of attractive QSL cards. Served during the war in Signals and Army Inspection as Staff Sgt. Known to lots of A WAS as “Uncle Les.” . . . * » VK2CP, Orme Cooper, K ingsford. Functions m ainly on 14 m C /s phone but puts in an occasional appearance on 50 m C /s . . . does very nicely in the DX tally despite restricted antenna space . . - misses his pre-w ar 8JK beams as at the old location. . . . * * VK2DF, Jack Cocks, Arncliffe . . . a seriously-minded experimenter with a flair for S meters, noise lim iters and VHF receivers. Is engineer with the M aster In ­ strum ent Co. of Sydney and heard m ainly on 50 m C /s phone. Sometim es appears on 7 mC/s . . . but prefers the quietude of “Six.” . . . * * VK2DQ . . . Dudley Nourse of Broken Hill . . . a first-rate keypuncher with not much affinity for the microphone. Heard at intervals on 14 m C /s and is slowly recovering from a bad crack-up in Libya where he was a RAAF N avigator/W ’Op. . . . * * VK2EH, E m Hodgkins . . . in between teaching the youth of W agga finds time to have a y am with the lads on 7 m C /s. W as noted in pre-war days for meticu- (Continued on next page) lous workm anship in his exhibits a t am ateur radio exhibitions. . . . * * * VK2EM, A rthur Sutton, K illara . . . is a dental surgeon who finds relaxation on the 50 m C /s band where he is often to be found a t week-ends. A nother hobby is th at of audio am plifiers and good reproduction of recordings. Was active pre-w ar on the old 56 mC/'s band and used alm ost every kind of beam array extant on th a t band. Reaches out in fine style with a ground-plane aerial and a single 809 in the final. * * VK2FA . . . Don French, Strathfield . . . the VK2 with the American accent . . . the reason being that he is an ex-W8 from New York. Is an executive of the Goodyear Co. Gets a lot of pleasure and makes many friends by the use of amateur radio. His VK2 callsign was once that of the Aero Club of N.S.W. in the days when radio in the vicinity of airports and aircraft was almost frowned upon. . . . * * * VK2FO . . . Tom Griffiths, Strathfield . . . has a powerful signal over Sydney on the Sixm etre band from a ground-plane aerial and is often to be heard in learned confab with VK2MQ on various .technicalities. PERSONALITIES (Continued) VK2MQ, “Bill” McGowan, Cohcord W est . . . is another station using “Six” to the exclusion of all other bands. Has a hefty wallop from either a G-P or a new 5-element horizontal array with PP 834’s in the final. H as been in the 6-metre DX picture, which isn’t surprising. * * VK2FJ, Jack Ferguson, Bronte . . . one of the old hands a t the gam e who is as much of a DX man as ever. Is using one of the W9- N LP version “inductive dipoles” w ith a director aimed on U.S.A. and has no trouble in “raising” W ’s on a com paratively dead 14 m C /s band. * * VK2GQ, Ted Barlow, Mosman . . . makes the m ost on 14 m C/s phone of com paratively low power phone and gets out in fine style. Is fired with the urge f o r .“antennitis,” and although he hooks plenty of DX, is never quite satisfied th a t he has the best possible antenna (who is? ). An old soldier who flew with the AFC in the K aiser’s w ar, and had a bit to do with Signals in the last show. . . VK2HC, Ray Carter, Quirindi . . . is to be found enjoying his pre-w ar liking fo r 80-metre phone and so fa r hasn’t ventured to the other bands. Keeps a sked every Sunday evening with Chas. Maclurcan, and has a distinct aversion to being asked fo r his “handle.” W as RA A F officer i/c an im porta n t Sigs set-up a t M adang not so very long ago. * * VK2HF . . . Alan Furze, Beecroft . . . has had flying in the blood fo r m any years and combines th a t with the hobby of radio very effectively. W as F /in stru cto r and saw combat service with RAAF during the w ar, and now handles Constellations fo r Qantas. Is ju st as likely as not to put in a little spare tim e as an “airborne portable” station and is heard one day in San Francisco . . . three or four days la ter in Sydney . . . and a week later in London. # * VK2HL . . . Horrie Lapthorne, Chatswood . . . a staunch supporter of the 6-m etre band, where he is to be found exclusively on 51 m C /s. W as very active on the pre-w ar 5-m etre band. * * VK2HO . . . Roy H art, Roseville . . . is an old hand a t the VHF gam e and is now active on Six, but is in difficulties owing to a badly-screened location. Uses both vertical and horizontal radiators. Did quite a bit of Coastal Patrol communication on Five in the p rew ar days. * * VK2HP . . . Harold Peterson, Coogee . . . erstw hile president of W.I.A. N.S.W. Division in prew ar 1940 days . . . has been heai-d a t very rare intervals on 14 m C /s phone with the usual good quality transm ission but is com paratively inactive. The neat 28 Mc/s rotary Beam array used at the station of H. G. Wohlers, VK3YV, Wangaratta, Vie. Inside the station of Howard Wohlers, VK3YV, Wangaratta, Victoria. Looks like one of the Hallicrafter's range of receivers on the table OM. VK2JP . . . Jack Pike, Greenwich . . . needs no introduction as Australian amateur radio’s oldest amateur . . . in years and experience. Was one of the original seven signatories to the W.I.A. charter in 1912 or thereabouts, and is active again after a few years off, on 14 mC/s phone. Figured in rescue traffic in 1930 on 14 mC/s CW with VK6NK (Wyndham ), handling 20,000 words of “copy” . . . wore phones for about 40 hours non-stop. Is getting in among the phone DX. P.14 - Technical - Vale VK2ALD VALE VK2ALD It is with the deepest sorrow and regret that we refer to the sudden passing, on the night of Dece-mber 16, 1947, of the Rev. R. B. Dransfield, of Canberra, A.C.T., known to his many amateur radio friends simply as “Reg . . . VK2ALD.” His familiar cheery voice will no longer be heard on the 7 m C/s band, and his passing leaves a gap in the ranks of Australian radio amateurs. Reg Dransfield was of the type that the hobby in this part of the globe can ill afford to lose. He was the friend of all and vastly liked by all who knew him, and they are legion. To this writer he had been known for 20 years . . . from the time when earlier-day technique attracted him, through the years when the inevitable occurred and he became an active transmitter, to the post-war years when he again became actively engaged in communing with his fellow man through the medium of amateur radio. The war years no doubt took their toll . . . Reg went through the Libyan campaigns and saw continual front-line service in his calling . . . and as a man amongst men. With the war clouds rolling back in 1945, he was one of the first to take part in discussions and negotiations for the re-opening of amateur radio in this country, and there are those of us who know that he played an influential part in that process. His memory will live long among his old and new friends . . . those recentlylicensed amateur transmitters whom Reg helped towards the goal of the A.O.C.P., and our sincere sympathy is expressed to his family. — Don B. Knock. P.18 - Technical - Convert to High Fidelity P.20 - Technical - Mantelette Three P.22 - Technical - Operation Annie P.29 - Technical - Recent Valve Developments P.31 - Technical - Among Our Readers P.35 - Technical - Performance with Economy P.39 - Technical - Ham Notes P.46 - Shortwave Review - Notes From My Diary Shortwave Review conducted by L. J. Keast NOTES FROM MY DIARY T h a n k s A M i l l i o n Space will not permit of me listing the names of all who sent cards this Xmas but I want to take this opportunity of thanking them all. * * H o p e F o r B o b Every week more than 5,000 letters from all over the world are sent to Bob Hope. Some are addressed to Hollywood Paramount Studios, some to Chicago, and thousands just to Bob Hope without an address—the writers evidently believing that only Uncle Sam can keep track of the comedian who may be in Los Angeles one day, New York the next and Atlanta the next. The letters come from all kinds of people, from big towns, little towns and the rural areas. They come from ex-GI’s, from wounded veterans, from school teachers, older folks and teen-agers. A peek at Bob Hope’s mailbag reveals much of interest. There was, for instance, the Indiana mother who wrote "I am working in a dime store to help put my boys through college, so there isn’t much money for entertainment, but there is always Tuesday, so we have fun. You’re wonderful, so keep on just being you. Long quip the king!” And that goes for me . . . Bob is certainly one of my favourites too. * * 1948 Despite the thunderstorm that spoilt the opening day of the New Year, reception of overseas stations was splendid after dinner, and, as usual, the BBC were at their best. Heard a very fine transmission, "Harry Lauder’s New Year Programme.” It took me back to the days of the old Palace Theatre in Sydney when I heard Lauder sing most of the songs he gave over the air that night. Maybe I could find the exact date if I troubled to rumble through the old papers in my den, but I think it must be nearly 30 years ago. * * St o p P r e ss Thanks to "Universalite” I am able to mention ZJM3 is call-sign of the Jaffa station shown under "New Stations.” The information was supplied to them by "Radio News,” Chicago. And from the same source I learn call-sign of Jaffa on 6.135mc, 48.90m (reported by Arthur Cushen 1 7 /8 /4 5 ), is ZJM-4. And there are three more frequencies allotted to Jaffa: 6.17mc ZJM-5; 6.79mc, ZJM-6; and 11.72mc, ZJM-7. The 6.79-mc frequency was reported by Mr. Edel in August, 1945. SAYS WHO? Rex Gillett of Adelaide reports: Luxembourg. Radio Luxembourg heard on 15.36mc at good level till signing off at 11 p.m. This seems to be a regular schedule now. Madagascar. Radio Tananarive heard till sign off at 6.45 a.m. on three frequencies: 10.615, 9.59 and 6.065mc. Last two are fine volume. Programme concludes with playing of "Marseillaise.” Philippines. KZFM has made its third frequency change and is now on 11.90mc instead of 11.80 as previously. Earlier frequency was 9.515mc. Very fine signals are being heard from about 7 p.m. till sign off at 1 a.m. Slogan used is "The People’s Station.” Iran. EPB, Teheran, has been excellent in its English session at 10.15 p.m. on 15.10mc. EQC has been followed at the same time on 9.68mc, but signals are spoilt by interfering stations. Malaya. The British Far Eastern Broadcasting Service, Singapore, is another station on the 13-metre band; frequency is 21.72mc and English is used from 7 till 7.30 p.m. Ceylon. Radio SEAC now operates on 17.82mc instead of 17.77 me; signals have been quite good at 8.30 p.m. Japan. Tokyo has been heard to opdn at 6.30 a.m. in the Jap Home Service using the BCB call, JOAK. Frequency is 9.655mc and listed call is JK Fl. Trinidad. VP4RD, identifies with "This is Radio Trinidad, Port of-Spain, British West Indies, at the crossroads of the Caribbean.” Signals have been logged at reasonably good strength at 6.30 a.m. on 9.6.45mc. U.S.A. "This is the Armed Forces Radio Service New York Shortwave Station” is the announcement from a station using transmitters WRCA, 15.15mc; WBOS, 15.21mc; WGEX, 17.88 me; and W NRX, 21.73mc. Announced sechedule is 5 a.m.-7.45 a.m. India. Delhi has been heard till sign off at 11.35 p.m. on 6.11mc. News in English is read by an Indian on 15.13mc at 10.30 p.m. And here is a newcomer from the Shaky Isles, Mr. William S. Milne of Invercargill. Have an idek I know someone in that very southern town of the South Island. Seem to connect him in some way with radio loggings. Anyway, Mr. Milne is using a well-known 7- valve commercial dual-waver and, with the help of an inverted L aerial, 100 ft. in length and only 20 ft. high, running south-east to north-west, he has 343 verified stations on shortwave. Here are some recent loggings: EPB, Teheran, 15.10mc, 19.86 m; at 10 p.m. news in English. KZPI, Manila, 9.50mc; good at 9.30 p.m. Manila, 11.84mc, 25.34 m; heard at 8 p.m. Jaffa, 3.32mc, 90.36m; all Arabic at 5 a.m. XGOA, Chungking, 11.835mc, 25.36m; good at 7.30 p.m. Radio Saigon, 6.l65mc, 48.66m; news in English at 8 p.m. WLKS, Japan, 6.065mc, 49.46m; at 7.15 p.m. SEAC, Ceylon, 9.52mc, 31.51m; at 2 a.m. VUC, Calcutta, 7.21mc, 4 l.6 lm ; BBC news at 10.30 p.m.; VUM-2, Madras, 4.92mc; news in English at 10.30 p.m. Macassar, 5.03mc, 59.64m; 9.23 p.m. (And that is a very fine list and incidentally some new stations.— L.J.K.) P.47 - Shortwave Review - New Stations NEW STATIONS VP4RD, Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), 9.645mc, 31.06m: Rex Gillett reports this new British West Indies station and says they can be identified by "This is Radio Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, British West Indies, at the cross-roads of the Caribbean.” Signals have been reasonably good at 6.30 a.m. SHARQ AL ADNA, Jaffa, 9.645mc, 31.06m: This new one is reported by "Universalite” as being heard in U.S.A. The times to listen are from 12.30 a.m. till after I.45 a.m. It is also in parallel with II.72mc, 25.60m. ZJA-6, Georgetown (British G uiana), 15.085mc, 19.89m: I am indebted to Ray Simpson for this one. He was fortunate in picking it up when broadcasting a cricket match. It is one of the many stations controlled by Cable and Wireless Ltd. They are always pleased to have reports. I picked up their station in Bridgetown, Barbados, British West Indies, in March, 1944, and the thanks by letter from the Engineer made one very pleased to have sent a report. JAFFA, 3.32mc, 90.36m: This looks like a new one to me. It is briefly reported by Mr. Milne of Invercargill. He is hearing it at 5 a.m. our time and as that is 7 o’clock in New Zealand it gives some idea of what an ideal spot the South Island of New Zealand is for DX work. I think it would be impossible to log them here at 5 a.m. RADIO LUXEMBOURG, 9.527 me, 31.49m: Mr. William Milne also reports hearing Luxembourg testing on this frequency at 2.35 a.m. This is evidently a new time, as they were listed to be testing from 8.40-9 p.m. and from 3.40-4 a.m. Elsewhere I have shown their schedule for the various frequencies employed by this 5 kW station. MACASSAR, 5.0301mc, 59.64 m: Reported being heard at 9.23 p.m. Am sorry but noise in this area at present prevents me from picking it up. FORCES BROADCASTING STATION, Benghazi, Libya, 11.82 me, 25.39m: "Radio Australia” gives information on this one. They commenced broadcasting on November 8 and schedule is: 3- 4.15 p.m.; 7-9 p.m.; 11 p.m.- midnight and 4.15 a.m.-8 a.m. P o r t u g a l Here is a complete list of new call-signs of Emissora Nacional at Lisbon: CS2MA, CS2MB, CS2MC, CS2MD CS2ME, CS2MF CS2MH, CS2MI, 6.374mc 47.07m 7.26 me 41.32m 9.635mc 31.14m 9.67 me 31.03m 9.68 me 30.99m 9.727mc 30.84m 9.74 me 30.80m 9.94 me 30.18m CS2MK, 11.027mc 27.19m CS2ML, 11.04 me 27.17m CS2MM, 11.84 me 25.34m CS2MO, 11.995mc 25.01m CS2MP, 12.749mc 23.53m CS2MQ, 15.10 me 19.86m CS2MR, 15.11 me 19.85m CS2MS, 15.12 me 19.84m CS2MT, 15.32 me 19.58m And that’s a very nice list and was supplied by Roger Legge through "Universalite.” Regular listeners will note that CS2ML is on the frequency of our old-timer CSW-6. * * HELP W ANTED They are hard if Rex Gillett is puzzled, but he sends along a couple of mysteries as he calls them in the hope that someone may be able to solve them. He says: "A station is now being heard on about 6.085mc at 6.30 a.m. Programme seems to be similar to those of Radio Tetuan on 6.065mc. Signals are only fair.” (Could it be "Radio Tabriz” on 6.087mc?— L.J.K.) "Is it Lausanne on 6.345mc, heard till 7 a.m. ? Languages used are French and German?” Baden Baden is possibly the German-speaking station about 6.32mc at 7 a.m. Jjs * * RADIO LUXEMBOURG (Experimental) 2.10-3.10 3.10-3.30 8.00-8.40 8.40-9.00 3.00-3.40 3.40-4.00 5.00-7.30 5kW. Daily, p.m. 15.35mc p.m. p.m. p.m. a.m: a.m. a.m. 6.09mc 15.35mc 9.527mc 15.35mc 9.527mc 6.09mc 19.54m 49.30 19.54 31.49 19.54 31.49 49.30 VERIFICATIONS Here is Rex Gillett’s list: Johannesburg, 4.895mc, 6.007 me; ZNB; LRR; LRX l, 6.12mc; OZH-2, 15.32mc; XEBR; Ran- •goon, 6.04mc; Vienna, 11.785mc, new coloured verie card showing Viennese entrance gate with building set back in' spacious grounds. Verification details on back. HER6, 15.31mc; HER-5, 11.87mc; HER-3, 6.l65mc; WLKS, 6.065, for report on opening night of this frequency, viz., Sept. 12; ZBW, 9.515mc, verified at last after sending nine reports; this made my 91st verified country. I count a verie from Radio Eireann, Eire, one of my best to date. The letter verie was for 9.595mc, heard on June 27, during English session. News in English is broadcast daily at 3.30 a.m. on 17.84mc and 7.10 a.m. on 9.595 me. States the letter, "Your report is most helpful and we shall be glad at all times to hear how the Irish transmissions are received in Australia.” Letter signed by John O ’Keefe of the Engineer-inChief’s Department. Address is Office of the Engineer-in-Chief, Department of Post and Telegraphs, The Castle, Dublin, Eire. "Apparently LRR is now verifying, as a report in May 'Universalite’ quoted a listener having no success over a 3-years’ period. Verie I received was in form of a letter in Spanish.” The Danish verie is a very plain card showing calls as OZH-2 and OZF. (W ell, Rex, as usual you have a nice bunch of veries.— L.J.K.) William Milne of Invercargill says his latest veries are: CBLX, CFVP, CR7BV, CFRX, CBRX, KGEX (17.88), KRHO (15.25), Hamburg (6.115), HEI-7, HER-6, Brazzaville, CNR-3, VLG, VLG-8, WCRC (17.83) and XLRA. SHORTS Norway LLG, Oslo, 9.6lmc, 31.32m, heard well 5-8 a.m. with Home Service; may be the new 100 kW transmitter that has been under construction.—Legge. LLN, Fredrikstad, 17.825mc, 16.84m, was heard testing in the evenings but seems to be off now. — Legge. French Equatorial Africa Brazzaville is expected to use 21.00mc, 14.285m shortly.—W. Howe. (W ell, that’s quite likely, as their neighbours over the . river, Radio Congo Beige, have been heard on 21.4mc and also have an allotted frequency of 20.04mc.— L.J.K.) U.S.S.R. According to DX Bulletin, N.Z., Moscow is now verifying by a card printed in English, with a photo of Moscow. If you would like to try your luck, address is: Radio Moscow, Overseas Service, English Programmes, Moscow, U.S.S.R. (This information, I think, came from Ken Boord, S.W. Editor of "Radio News,” and it looks like a start. I remember when they were most prompt in acknowledging reports and if you did not send another within a reasonable time you received a veritable "please explain.” They were most generous with photos and schedules arrived regularly.—L.J.K.) U.S.A. KCBA, San Francisco, is being heard again on 6.17mc, 48.62m, from 7 p.m.-l a.m. It is just about two years since I first found this station on 6.17mc.—L.J.K. Philippines "The Voice of America,” Manila, 11.48mc, 25.35m, operates daily from 7 p.m .-l.05 a.m. The address for reports is: The Department of State, Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs, International Broadcasting Section, c/- American Embassy, Manila, Philippine Islands.—Radio Australia. (And that is as big an address as I remember.— L.J.K.) Turkey TAP, Ankara, 9-465mc, 31.70m, has Listeners’ Mail Bag session on Mondays at 7.30 a.m. BCOF station, WLKS, at Kure, Japan, has moved back to 6.105mc. RADIO NACIONAL DE ESPANIA, Madrid, 9.368mc, 32.02m, is sending out verification cards signed by Jose R. Boeta, Director of Programmes and Broadcasts.— DX (N .Z .). Armed Forces Radio Service programmes can be heard over: WROA, 15.15mc; WBOS, 15.21 me; WGEX, 17.88mc; and W NRX, 11.83mc, from 5-7.45 a.m. sK * * A.B.C. N a t io n a l S h o r t w a v e P r o g r a m m e VLH Call signs W /L Freq. Sundays VLH4 0645-0900 25.25 11.88 VLH5 0815-1815 19.69 15.23 VLH3 1828-2400 31.32 9.58 Weekdays VLH4 0600-0900 25.25 11.88 VLH5 0915-1815 19.69 15.23 VLH 3 1828-2400 31.32 9.58 Power of the above stations is 10 kW. VLR Call signs Sundays W /L Freq. VLR2 0645-0815 48.78 6.15 VLR 0830-1715 31.45 9.54 VLR 2 1730-2400 48.78 6.15 Weekdays VLR2 0600-0815 48.78 6.15 VLR 0830-1830 31.45 9.54 VLR 2 1845-2400 48.78 6.15 Power for the above stations is 2 kW. VLG Call sign W /L Freq. VLG7 0600-0800 19.79 15.16 Power for the above station is 10 kW. BBC Pacific Regional Service Listeners to the BBC Pacific Service will doubtless have noted that as from December 28 the schedule of this service does not continue till 8 p.m. but ends at 5.45. From 4 till 5.45 it is known as BBC Pacific Regional Service and then the programme is taken up by General Overseas Service. The news is given as usual at 4 p.m., followed at 4.10 by 'This Evening’s Programmes” and Radio Newsreel is still featured at 4.30. "From Today’s London Newspapers” is listed for 5.30 and at 5.35 "Tomorrow’s Programmes.” T h e H a p p y St a t i o n B r o a d c a s t s H a p p y N e w Y e a r P r o g r a m m e PCJ. Hilversum, on 15.22mc, 19.74m, was in great form on Tuesday, January 6, when they put over a special New Year programme for "Our Friends in Australia.” Opening at 7 o’clock, it ran for 90 minutes non stop. Some excellent items were given and the singing by the little Dutch children was certainly fine. At 8.30 the international service of PCJ brought the News of the Netherlands, followed at 8.40 by "Review of the Press,” the first for 1948. Reports on reception were invited. " W y a t t Ea r p ” T o R e t u r n * T o Australia It is quite probable many DX-ers settled down in the hope of hearing some transmissions from the Polar Exploration ship "Wyatt Earp” as call-signs and frequencies allotted to maintain contact with Sydney were announced by "Radio Australia,” as follows: VJH, 9.94 me; VJH-2, 12.255mc; VJH-3, 15.845mc; VJH-4, 19.255mc. The above were to be the calls from Heard Island, whilst from Macquarie Island the same frequencies would obtain but the calls changed to: VJM, VJM-2, VJM-3 and VJM-4. However, just as we go to Press it looks as though the vessel will return to Melbourne, she having been found unsuitable for the work expected. T h e y C o m e a n d G o FIA6, Doula (Cameroons), 8.00 me, 37.50m, which seems to have been inactive for a long time, is now being heard in Sydney. Ray Simpson tells me that "around 4.45 a.m. strength is quite good.” All announcements are in French and news in this language is given at 4.45. From 5 o’clock many American records are put over. According to my list, slogan is "Radio Cameroun” and power 800 watts. V e r ie H u n t e r s N o t e ! If you log those Finnish stations, address of O lX stations according to Bill Howe in "Universalite” is Oy Yleisradio Ab: Lahden Vleis Radiosema, Lahti, Finland. V n V .V .’.V .V .V .V A V .W .V W GENERAL We have several orders for back numbers on hand which have been received without any name or address on them. As a result we are unable to send the issues. If you have ordered back numbers and failed to' receive them within a week or so, try to remember whether you put your name to the list. Orders on hand at present are with postal notes issued at the following post offices: Auburn South, Westgarth, Rocklea, Adelaide, Bairnsdale, Newcastle, Sydney Money Orders, Strathfield and Broken Hill. WOLLONGONG (N.S.W.) RADIO CLUB This recently-form ed radio club held the inaugural meeting in November last year. Twelve enthusiasts attended and the chair was taken pro tern by Bob Thorburn, VK2AIP, of Woonona. Active amateurs interested in this club include VK’s 2MT, 2MU, 2AGZ and 2WP, the latter being an old hand a t the gam e with m any years of experience in brass-pounding on 7 m C /s and DX bands. It is anticipated that club accommodation m ay be made available a t Wollongong Tech. and it is intended to affiliate with the W.I.A. Information about club progress, etc., may be obtained from George Dennys, c/- Lavis Radio, Crown St., Wollongong. P.50 - The Service Pages - Speedy Query Service