Evening star., 1939-07-16

tailed accounts OF the programs
heard and the conditions under
which they were received. In re-
turn the stations sent verification
cards or letters. This pastime-
from the dialing Of the stations to
the receiving Of the cards or letters
is known as 'DXing"
| Hearing Reeve and Hylton speak
so enthusiastically about their hobby.
Elwood decided to join the contest.
Now. although he did not start until
January, Elwood is second in Amer
ican veriflcations with lis, and is
leading in foreign ones, with %.
Reeve, with 1875, is leading in Amer
ican verif1cations, and Hylton is
trailing, with l05 Although both
Hylton and Reeve have only a few
foreign cards and letters-and these
from Canada, Cuba and Mexico
Hylton has been able to receive Al
countries on his radio, which he
bought about a month ago with
money earned by selling papers.
Three O'Clock in Morning.
Its interesting and fun" said
Reeve. But have you ever tried
taking notes on dry political speech
or spelling titles of operate selec-
tions when you're half asleep at
3 o'clock in the morning?
"Of course, that's the worst side
Of it, for distant stations come in
best late at night or in the early
morning The best side is listening
to ball games at such unusual hours,
and receiving mail from the different
stations. have been sent every
thing from leaflets on cancer from
Mexico to an invitation to visit a
Florida station. Now" he added,
laughing, "all I need is a round
trip ticket"
I'VE are sent all sort of things,
but the verification cards are the
most interesting" Hylton put in.
Almost every station has them, diff
fering, usually, in color. Some are,
Of course, just black and white, with
| the station identification printed
about an inch and a half high;
others. such as the short wave sta
tion W9XJL, are very colorful. This
card is in red, purple, green. yel-
low and white. Foreign cards are
much prettier and more colorful
than those from the United States.
"Colors aren't the only differences
found in the cards, for many have
pictures or cartoons on them," FL
wood pointed out. MY favorite,
that of the New York Fire Depart
ment Station WNYF, is just such a
one. 1t is a picture of New York
nreboat in action.
Programs Are Interesting.
"The cards." he continued, aren't
all of DXing, however, for the pro-
grams are the most interesting part
of it. Guatemala even has special
DXers program on the first and
third Sunday of every month. Re-
Gently, they had a contest, sending
a bag of Guatemala coffee for the
first seven letters received, and for
the seven letters sent the greatest
distance I haven't received any
coffee yet, but I still have hope
The boys, all 15-year -old students
Of Montgomery-Blair High School,
have entirely different ambitions
and plans for the future.
Hylton, who lives at 9410 Second
avenue, wants to study radio engi-
neering at Pennsylvania State Uni
versity.
BY selling papers, Reeve. whose
home is at HOS Ridge road, has
saved $500 for his college education,
which he plans to get at Maryland
; university.
Elwood, who resides at 9002 Mid
wood road, is interested in aeronau-
tics and hopes to attend the Naval
Academy. He has recently started
again his old hobby Of building
airplane models. This time, how
ever, he Is trying solid ones, instead
Of the flying models he used to
make.