Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1945)

Armstrong Attacks FCC Data on FM Question of Engineering Integrity Raised By Inventor LACK of "engineering integrity" on the part of the FCC was charged last week by Maj. Edwin H. Armstrong, FM inventor, in criticizing the Commission for its attack on FM engineering tests conducted by Zenith Radio Corp. [Broadcasting, Nov. 12]. In a sharp reply to the FCC, Maj. Armstrong claimed (see adjoining column) that the Commission attempted "to refute the accuracy of measurements made at 75 miles by citing measurements made at 20 miles". Charges Results Withheld He further alleged that the Commission has refrained from publishing figures on its 75-mile tests made at Andalasia, Pa., which he insists confirm the results of the Zenith tests. These tests should be published without delay for the good of the radio art, he said. The feud was carried to the floor of the joint meeting held Nov. THOUGH FM has been definitely moved to the 88-108 mc band by the FCC, engineers still are arguing merits of old 40 mc band. Commission claims FM belongs upstairs; Maj. Armstrong and other FM pioneers say propagation is inferior there. Zenith Radio Corp. challenged FCC engineering basis for shift of band. FCC replied with attack on Zenith. Subject came up at IRE-RMA meeting last week, but FCC did not join battle. 12-13 at the Sheraton Hotel, Rochester, N. Y., by the Institute of Radio Engineers and Radio Mfrs. Assn. At the Monday meeting C. W. Carnahan, of Zenith Inventor's Letter to The Editor EDITOR Broadcasting: There has appeared in the public press under date of November 9 reports of propagation tests made by the Zenith Radio Corp., comparing the old and the new FM bands over distances of 75 miles. On the same day, the FCC released a report of similar comparisons made by its engineering laboratory, which it stated established the exact opposite of the Zenith tests. These tests were made over a distance of 20 miles at Laurel, Md. Every competent engineer knows that transmission over the two distances cannot be compared, for at distances of 20 miles the tropospheric difficulties experienced at 75 miles do not appear. The attempt to refute the accuracy of measurements made at 75 miles by citing measurements made at 20 miles shows a lack of engineering integrity that it is impossible to understand. It is the more inexplicable in view of the fact that the engineering department of the Commission has in its possession measurements made at Andalasia, Pa., over the same distance as the Zenith tests, namely, 75 miles, which confirm the result of the Zenith tests. What explanation may be offered for the publication of the Laurel tests over 20 miles, rather than the publication of the Andalasia tests over 75 miles, I do not know, but for the good of the radio art the Andalasia measurements should now be made public without delay. Edwin H. Armstrong Nov. 14 CLOSING up shop, Byron Price leaves his office at the Apex building where, for nearly four years, he directed the nation's censorship operations. Mr. Price recently returned from Germany where he investigated public relations under military occupation for a report to the President. Office of Censorship's existence officially ended last Thursday. Radio Corp., explained results of tests conducted over a period of several months from the regular transmitter of WMFM Milwaukee on 45.5 mc and an experimental transmitter radiating 10 kw on 91 mc from the same tower. Recordings at Deerfield, 111., converted to an equal basis of 35 kw showed the higher frequency was below a usable level over 30% of the time, he stated. The lower frequency was found usable over 99% of the time. The Zenith report claimed that the propagation curves used by the FCC are not correct beyond line-of-sight and the measurements show that the move to higher frequencies, designed to insure rural service, ac(Continued on page 89) Walker Sees Bright Prospect For U. S. In FM Development Drawn for Broadcasting by Sid Hi "Station WOOF brings you a series of on-the-spot interviews — Interesting People and their Jobs!" Page 16 • November 19, 1945 EXPECTED development of FM in the next few years should have important social and economic implications for the American people, FCC Commissioner Paul A. Walker told the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce last Friday. Referring to estimates that FM stations will approach 2,000 by 1947 and as many as 3,000 in the next few years, the Commissioner said this means fuller employment, more purchasing power, and availability of adequate radio service to an additional 10,000,000 people. Commissioner Walker saw "limitless possibilities" for FM in contributing to education. By systematic planning, he pointed out, the 20 channels allocated, for noncommercial educational FM broadcasting, could easily accommodate 1,000 new stations. A large number of schools and colleges are planning to apply for stations and most states are planning state-wide educational networks, he said. Progress in Other Fields Reviewing progress in other fields of radio, Mr. Walker said the use of the higher frequencies may provide as many as 29 channels for television in addition to the 13 now authorized. This means not only better black and white pictures, he predicted, but also that "we are likely to have the finest pictures in natural colors and perhaps in the third dimension." Developments in "pulse-time modulation", through which separate pulse-like signals are recom bined in the receiver as a continuous sound, make possible transmission simultaneously of as many as 24 messages on a single radio channel, the Commissioner said. Initial use of the system will be in point-to-point communication but it may eventually lead to broadcasting of multiple programs, he added. Mr. Walker predicted that facsimile will have many applications and may permit farmers far removed from cities to receive news directly recorded in their homes. He said Telefax apparatus may be placed in office buildings, hotels, railroad stations and other public places where messages can be inserted and transmitted to Western Union offices for relay to their destinations. The Commissioner said it would not be long before many walkietalkies are in use by farmers, doctors, milk drivers and others for communicating over short distances. Rules for the licensing of the service will be formulated by the Commission as soon as possible, he declared. Commissioner E. K. Jett forecast earlier in the week that 25,000 walkie-talkies would be in use by the summer of 1946 and that the figure would reach a quarter million a year later. He said the instruments would range in price from $50 to $100 a set. He added that the rules would be approved in two or three months and would permit anyone to obtain a license. BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising