NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

mission wants all the data we can get. We must change our engineering principles or rather our empirical data from time to time as we get more facts. But I want to impress again that we must be shown on the basis of adequate data, ade¬ quately analyzed and adequately presented. I just want to use an illustration. During the past few months there has been considerable talk against the selectivity curves used by the Commission in connection with the empirical standards. The selectivity which we took from good data has been ob¬ tained for a period of a year. It was subjected to an attack at a meeting of this group and some others at a meeting in New York a few weeks ago and it was presented originally at that meeting to show that this selectivity curve is related to receivers which are several years old. We had the data prepared in a form which we can analyze and I am sorry I do not have it with me here. We drew on what selectivity curves were submitted and those which we use in our empirical standards. Our curves lie between the tuned and the super¬ heterodyne receivers from 1931 to 1933 and I submit that there is where it should lie. That is simply given as illustra¬ tion of attacks of statements which are made without ade¬ quate data. If the men, and they were good engineers, had analyzed the curves and compared them they would have found that out, but it isn’t until you get down to an analysis that you get definite facts. Referring to the statement I made that we want all the data any of you have and if our empirical standards are wrong, we will change them, — we will be the first to change them, but we ask that in presenting to the Commission any data or any request for change that it be based on a sound study such as was proposed in the first resolution and that the study consist of adequate data, ade¬ quately analyzed and properly presented.” CHAIRMAN: “You have heard some of the facts concern¬ ing the Federal Radio Commission. Dr. Jolliffe pointed out that the Commission would be glad to accept a review of facts that we, as a body, can present. I can assure you that rep¬ resented in this room are the engineers who can present moxe facts than any other group in the country. “Is there any further discussion? The subject is still open for discussion.” MR. GILLIN: “Following Dr. Jolliffe’s remarks, if the Davis Amendment is unsound, your remarks and the need for. facts being brought to the attention of the F.R.C., I think it would be only fitting and proper that the resolution that has already been passed should be a portion of the general resolution to the end that the Engineering Section would get the data, and, if necessary, show that the Davis Amendment is wrong, and also to present an amendment to supplant the Davis Amendment. Because, after all, you are going to have to get something just as good or better as Dr. Jolliffe said or you cannot take the Davis Amendment out.” MR. COHAN : “I would like to take about two minutes to leave a thing or two with the membership of the N.A.B. I think that perhaps there are one or two facts generally overlooked in the functions of the Engineering Division of the N.A.B. This is not a group that gathers every day or every week; it is not a body group of the Association; it is not a group that has a lot of funds available for making in¬ tensive surveys or employing people to make them. Mr. McNary, who is now devoting his time to matters for the Association, cannot take under consideration every problem that is brought out and carry it through in a very complete engineering state. I think that if the Engineering Division of the N.A.B. is to get anywhere there should be proposed a better method of operation. The thing I have in mind is that all the stations which are members of the N.A.B. should elect or appoint, or automatically have appointed the chief engineers of every station to assist in whatever engineering work is of importance to the association, the Federal Radio Commission, and the listeners, and, as a method of function¬ ing, allow the chief engineers of all the stations in each zone to select one of their number for direct contact with the En¬ gineering Division of the N.A.B. and in that way there would be five men representing the entire gathering and each man would be the choice of the engineers in his zone. Anyone in any one of the zones having a matter for the engineering operations of the station could submit that to the man in charge of his zone and in turn would clear it through the . Page division and the headquarters in Washington could refer it to the other four members. Then these five members as a group could decide both the importance of the subject and the extent to which the engineering division of the Associa¬ tion should go in following it through. “I think that would assist materially in doing just what Dr. Jolliffe has suggested and that is to give him all the engineering information or data we feel is of importance for his consideration and investigation, and not just on the spur of the moment. I would like some discussion as to how the Association feels with regard to such a group of engineers. We all come to the meetings and somebody resolves that we do this, and that the Engineering Division do that, and then the members of that group find that they cannot all get to¬ gether in one city until four months hence and a year rolls around pretty rapidly. If the members of the Association would take some of this responsibility and cooperate, we would probably get something accomplished.” CHAIRMAN : “We seem to have started out for some discussion.” DR. JOLLIFFE: “I want to say that if this Engineering Section of the N.A.B. is going to make a study, I wish to offer all the data which we have accumulated as being avail¬ able to the committee for such use as it may desire.” CHAIRMAN: “We certainly appreciate that. Dr. Jolliffe. I think most of us recognize that the Commission you have is certainly most complete as it stands. Mr. Cohan’s remarks were quite correct in that for relatively small matters it is almost impossible to get everybody together.” MR. HOFFMAN : “I think that perhaps the best thing would be to withdraw the resolution.” CHAIRMAN: “Would you care to make a modified reso¬ lution?” MR. HOFFMAN : “I assume someone else could make a suitable one.” MR. FOSS : “It does not seem to me that our Committee, as a committee of engineers, should try to suggest to any¬ body an amendment to take the place of the Davis Amend¬ ment. It is a case of not having anything better and I for one, as a member of the committee, would hesitate to voice my views thoroughly on the subject.” CHAIRMAN : “The Engineering Committee could do some work with regard to a revision in so far as we could collect technical and engineering data. I believe that perhaps we could collect enough to point out its many weak spots and we could get a change as a local matter. I think it is within the scope of this section.” MR. FOSS: “Is there a Legislative Committee? I do not know how it would apply. If this information could be re¬ ferred to them we could revise the resolution that has been passed.” MR. COHAN : “I would like to offer a resolution that the stations in each zone carry out my suggestion and elect one of their number to act in a cooperative manner with the pres¬ ent Engineering Committee of the N.A.B. and that these five men in this group of individuals be a fact-finding committee and that the Engineering Committee take such matters which are referred to it and work them out in cooperation with the Broadcast Committee of the Institute of Radio Engineers.” MR. FOSS : “I second the motion.” CHAIRMAN : “The resolution has been made and sec¬ onded. We will put it to a vote. All in favor, raise hands. All opposed? Motion carried.” MR. CAMPBELL: “I have been very much interested in hearing ways and means of spending money. I am interested in saving some money in tube costs. We have at Dallas made some rather extensive studies in costs of tubes and other equipment and have found that tubes have been the only de¬ pression proof part of our transmitters. Some way or other should be devised to cut the cost of operation down and I think the Engineering Committee should look into that with a view to obtaining a reduction in transmitter tube costs. Re¬ ceiving tubes are down to about twenty-five cents a dozen. While the transmitter1 tubes are about $1650 each.” CHAIRMAN: “Although this is a little out of line with 171 .