Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Should Widen Broadcast Band (Continued from page 11) persuaded to take frequencies above 1500 kc. With any such extension i t will be our stations which are the sufferers and will be moved out of the broadcast band into the uninhabited desert of the higher frequencies. Long Wave Advantages THERE ARE, on the other hand, certain advantages in the use of frequencies below 550 kc. by broadcasting stations. It is generally recognized that in the 150-550 kc. band the propagation characteristics are such that a much larger service area is achieved by a given amount of power than is possible in the present broadcast band, both at day and at night. Fading becomes less and less a factor as the frequency decreases, being of a slower period and occurring at a much greater distance from the transmitter. The only technical disadvantage is said to be an increase in static and electrical noise, but the experience of European stations and such information as the writer has been able to obtain in this country, indicate that this factor has been greatly exaggerated and in no way neutralizes the increase in service area. The factor is apparently more serious in the warmer climates, and it may be that in distributing such frequencies among North American countries Canada and the northern part of the United States would have to take the major portion of them. Still, the countries of southern Europe have not seemed to find any objection to the lower frequencies on this score and, in fact, seem to be demanding a larger share of them. It cannot be denied that from the point of view of current receiving set design there is a serious practical obstacle. The situation illustrates to what a great extent man's troubles are of his own making. If the treaty makers of 1927 had foreseen the necessities of 1932, receiving sets would have been built accordingly. The present problem is not unlike that of railroads wanting to equip themselves with larger engines and faced with the fact that the viaducts, bridges and train sheds have been built to permit the passage of smaller engines in vogue many years ago. New Receivers Necessary TO THE WRITER, however, it does not seem that the problem is essentially one of receiving-set design. In his opinion, it is almost certain that additional bands of frequencies will be allocated to broadcasting. Whether these frequencies are above 1500 kc. or below 550 kc, new receiving sets (or attachments to existing receiving sets) will alike be necessary. _ It is to the interests of American broadcasters that, if there is to be any widening, it be in the direction of freauencies better suited for this service. Space will not permit discussion JThi away from Home. Enjoy real comfort, genial social life, free use of gymnasium, beautiful swimming pool, comfortable lounges, library, open air roof garden, restaurant. Separate floors for men, women and couples. Within walking distance of business, shops and amusement centers. feDAILY*!50^0? WEfKlY /romfr Five minutes from Pennsylvania or Grand Central Stations NEW 23 STORY CLUB HOTEL of the difficulty created by the present use of frequencies below 550 kc. Any reasonable person will concede the necessity of meeting the. legitimate claims of maritime mobile services and of aids to both aeronautic and maritime navigation, such as radio beacons, meteorological information and the like. The maritime mobile services are, however, extremely vulnerable because of the obsolete character of the equipment of most ship stations which are still using spark transmitters and require guard bands totalling 30 kc. or more, to avoid interference. The use of such equipment is responsible for the wide band, 360-550 kc, for these services. The 160-224 kc. Band UNDER the Washington Convention, spark transmitters are, with minor exceptions, to be eliminated from use after 1940 and an effort will be made at Madrid to advance this date to January 1, 1938. The major _ portion of the 224-360 kc. band is occupied by stations furnishing aids to air navigation, consisting principally of those operated by the Airways Division of the Department of Commerce. The 150-160 kc. band is intensively used by the better class of ship stations employing modern apparatus, although it is being contended that thev could be accommodated below 150 kc. On the other hand, there seems to be no serious obstacle to the allocation of the 160-224 kc. band to broadcasting in the United States. In determining the needs of any of the other services it would seem that adherence should be had to the principle that these valuable frequencies should not be assigned to services which can be carried on satisfactorily by wire or by short waves and to the further principle that modern and efficient apparatus should be required of all services. U. S. Isolation Ended THE IDEAL extension of the broadcast band, at least so far as North America is concerned, would be immediately below 550 kc. to some such point as 450 kc. A great deal is to be said for shifting the international distress and call freauencies for mobile services from 500 kc. to 375 kc. (which is now used for the diminishing service of direction-finding). No specific proposal of this sort, however, has been submitted' for the Madrid Conference. Another consideration which must be kept in mind is that it is highly desirable, indeed, almost necessary, that the band assigned to maritime mobile services be the same in all parts of the world. Ship owners should not have to equip themselves to communicate on one band of frequencies in European ports and on another band in American ports. In any event, it would seem that the period of international isolation is over for the American broadcaster and that he must henceforth be eternally vigilant in protecting his interests, both in international conferences such as that to be held at Madrid and in diplomatic negotiations which may be undertaken in this country and other countries in the same interference area. Yankee Network Holds First Boston Convention MUTUAL problems of the 10 stations comprising the Yankee Network were discussed by officials of the network and the owners, managers and staff members of its member stations at the first "Yankee Network Convention" held in Boston, July 21 and 22. The principal address was delivered by Dudley Harmon, executive vicepresident of the New England Council, who discussed the brightening outlook for New England business and praised the progressive work of the Yankee Network. Round table discussions followed talks by John Shepard, III, president of the network; Linus Travers, commercial production manager; C. Gordon Jones, director of operations, and Charles Phelan, sales manager. The business sessions in the Hotel Buckminster studios were preceded by a dinner the evening of July 21 in the Copley Plaza Hotel, following which the group attended the world's championship wrestling match. NAB Committee Drafts Standard Order Blank A STANDARD order blank is being drafted by the NAB committee on standard forms in cooperation with the American Association of Advertising Agencies. R. L. Harlow, chairman of the NAB group, recently sent to all members of the commercial section a request for contract forms now in use by stations. He also requested copies of program sheets, rate cards and other forms. Broadcasters are urged by NAB to send in forms at once to Mr. Harlow, Shepard Broadcasting Service, 1 Winter Place, Boston, so that the new form may be put into use as soon as possible. KMT R is Reorganized After Stock Purchase L. W. PETERS, a new man in radio but experienced in business, will assume management of KMTR, Los Angeles, on Aug. 1 under a reorganization brought about through the sale of a large block of the KMTR Corporation stock for a consideration said to be about $150,000. Frank Bull, former manager, and Harry Geise, the Two Professors, will take their skit to KMPC, Beverly Hills. V. G. Freitag, lessee of all station time under the former management, will also withdraw7 his KMTR interests, it is reported, and will transfer many of his commercial accounts either to KMPC or to KRKD. Local Gets Boost KMJ, Fresno, Cal., operated by James McClatchy Co., was author J ized July 22 by the Radio Commis J1 sion to go from the local to regional class, with a change in frequency from 1210 to 580 kc. and an increase in power from 160 to 500 watts with unlimited time. The action sustained the recommendation of Examiner Hvde (Report No. 365). 145 E. 2 3 i;d STREET, NEW YORK CLTV Oramercti Park Phone: Oramercy 5-3840 Page 26 BROADCASTING • August 1, 1932