Evening star., 1927-09-11
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

Enterprising amateur receiving-set
builders and some few who have pur-
chased short-wave sets are finding
new fields for their ether explorations.
There is a lot of entertainment on the
air that many of us have been miss
ing. It is much worth while, for the
stations which transmit programs on
the short waves. below the broadcast
band, are unaffected by other pro-
grams, not being interfered with as
are the regular broadcasting stations
in the congested band lying between
200 and 545 meters or $50 and $500
kilocycles.
There are at least SO broadcasting
stations offering short-wave programs
today under experimental licenses.
Some Of them are well known, like
WIZ, which uses it's regular instead
of 2XAR, it's experimental designation;
also WGY, which operates under eight
experimental calls commencing with
the figure 2, indicative of the second
radio district; WBZ, the Springfield,
Mass, station using the experiment
ing call of 1xAE, and KDKA, which
has two short-wave tranSmitters, SAk
and SKIP.
Most of these stations are offering
the short.wave fans the same pro-
grams put out on their regular broad
cast transmitters, simultaneous
broadcast being effected for relay
purposes, but others are producing
special programs for listeners In the
United States and abroad. The chle1
reason for such transmission is to ex-
pertinent with new broadcast possi-
bilities and to increase the range OF
the stations, it having been found that
such transmission travels to far great
er distances, yet is received quite
as clearly and with less interference
than the programs on the regular
broadcast channels. If listeners can
pick up our programs in England,
France, Belgium, Germany, Africa,
South America and even New zealand
and Australia, it seems that most or
us are neglecting our opportunities,
when all that is required Is new re-
ceiver. Commercial built short-wave
sets covering 10 to 200 meters are
available in modern radio supply
stores, and so also are the parts for
assembling receivers to cover the
short waves which carry radiophone
entertainment.
Unfortunately the specific channels
used by each station for those broad
cast programs are not known TO the
Department of Commerce for they are
licensed to carry on radiophone eX'
periments on one of several channels
running from 26.3 to 1O9s meters
Most of the we'll known stations are
understood to be operating on the
five relay broadcast bands as follows
26.3 to 27.3 meters, 80 to 331 meters,
52.6 to 54.5 meters, 60 to 663 meters
and 105 to <109 meters.
Farmers Want Good Sets.
Farmers and rural residents are
broadcasting is concerned at least
and with the prospect Of good crops
and better prices they will no doubt
be in a position to purchase modern
and reliable receiving sets this Fall.
BroadcasterS have already found
out that their rural listeners are a
very reliable crowd, far more so than
the tickle urban fans, who usually
have more stations within range OF
their sets and have a dozen favorites
rather than just one or two standbys
which the farmers tune in every after
noon and evening. Many stations
catering to the agricultural districts
state that their audiences are faithful
to them, tuning in regularly like loyal
fans which they are. For this reason
a large number of broadcast stations
are today presenting programs of spe.
cial interest to the rural citizens and
the agriculturists. Among them are
some Is stations operated by agricul
tural colleges and schools and as
many more which cooperate with
such institutions.
Literally, many radio experts believe
that radio has now become regular
institution to the farmers, who being
little more serious perhaps than the
average crowd of listeners, want some
entertainment, but more instructive
and valuable information adaptable