Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

WINS PURCHASES RCA'S AMPLIPHASE TRANSMITTER Installation by Feb. 10 is set for new equipment which is said to cut operating costs 50% by using less power, fewer tubes and component parts. SALE to WINS New York of RCA's new type 50 kw am broadcast transmitter, said to be capable of reducing a station's operating costs by 50%, was announced last week. RCA disclosed the new transmitter's development a year ago [B*T, Jan. 10, 1955] at which time it was said by RCA to represent "the most significant advance in [transmitter] design in two decades." According to A. R. Hopkins, manager of RCA's broadcast and tv equipment department, who jointly announced the purchase with J. Elroy McCaw, president of Gotham Broadcasting Inc., the "Ampliphase" transmitter — as the new equipment is called — "matches the output of appreciably larger am transmitters with only a fraction of normally required audio power and with approximately 50% fewer power tubes, components and accessory equipment." WINS expects to have the new transmitter installed by Feb. 10 without interruption to the station's regular operation. WINS operates on 1010 kc with 50 kw. WINS bought the first production model of the transmitter which, unlike conventional am radio transmitters, uses phase modulation principles to produce standard broadcast amplitude modulation. A special electronic circuitry permits the "Ampliphase's" two phase-modulated amplifiers to produce a combined power equal to the output of conventional 50 kw transmitters, RCA explained. RCA also noted that while it takes only a few watts of audio power to produce 50 kw of modulated signal, conventional equipment requires 35 w audio power for the 50 kw modulated output. Mr. Hopkins said "phase-modulation circuitry will influence and stimulate American radio broadcasting as no single development has since the high-level modulation circuit for maximumpower transmitters, introduced by RCA nearly two decades ago." The 50% operating reductions are obtained mostly by the transmitter's design, which eliminates about half the normally required power tubes, bulky components and accessory equipment, Mr. Hopkins said. Among those "I'm so glad we ran out of gas, Charles— now we can listen to something romantic on KRIZ Phoenix." eliminated: modulator tubes, modulation transformers and reactors. Also claimed by RCA for its new transmitter is a saving in building space — only half the requirements of existing 50 kw transmitters is needed. A third saving is said to be the equipment's "simple installation." RCA Warranty Extended For Image Orthicon Tube THE warranty-adjustment policy covering the RCA-5820 image orthicon camera tube was liberalized substantially last week, according to D. Y. Smith, vice president and general manager, RCA Tube Div. Effective Jan. 16, Mr. Smith said, the widely used 5820 tv camera tube is covered by full adjustment up to 50 hours (compared to 15 hours in the past and pro rata adjustment up to 500 as compared to 350) hours of service. "In those cases where full adjustment is granted," he said, "the dollar savings under the new policy, as compared to the previous one, may be more than $170; for pro rata adjustments, the saving can be as much as $360." He attributed liberalization of the adjustment policy to increased dependability and longer service life of the RCA-5820 tube resulting from years of experience in its design and manufacture. General Precision Laboratory Announces Divisional Changes ORGANIZATIONAL changes in the Engineering Products Div. of General Precision Laboratory, Pleasantville, N. Y., were announced last week by Blair Foulds, General Precision vice president. In reassignment of duties, N. M. Marshall has been named to direct sales of television equipment to industrial and institutional markets in addition to his present broadcast sales responsibilities. J. W. Belcher has been named manager of the newly-created Application Engineering Dept., which will be concerned with the invention, creation and development of new and advanced uses of television equipment. S. T. Pardee, who has been added to the staff as publicity manager, will coordinate the company's publicity and public relations programs in the tv, motion picture and military fields. Zenith Unveils '56 Line At Distributors Meeting NEW LINE of 45 tv receivers and high fidelity phonographs was announced by Zenith Radio Corp. at its national distributors convention last week in Miami Beach, Fla. In the tv line, Zenith reported a newly-developed tube and accompanying circuitry designed to improve reception; table model sets with a triple speaker sound system, and portable receivers with 34% more viewing area claimed. The 1956 hi-fi line comprises two lightweight, three-speaker portable phonographs, two table models and two four-speaker consoles. All are equipped with a new circuit permitting improved high fidelity listening at low playing volume, according to L. C. Truesdell, Zenith vice president and sales director. MANUFACTURING SHORTS Magnavox Co., Ft. Wayne, Ind., reports 20% increase in sales for six-month period closed Dec. 31, 1955. Attributing increase to a reported 80% gain in tv set and high-fidelity Choose WHBF as a major aid to your Quad-City marketing plans in 1956 The American Story r99 :"The American Story" is another important BMI Program Series which joins such features as the Concert Music series, the Book Parade, Milestones and the I other continuities used by hunI dreds of broadcasters regularly. The staff of BMI can think of $ no more satisfying work, in the I midst of a troubled world, than j to play a part in the restatement, | in words and music, of the fasciI nating story of our country's I origin and growth. | Your Station Program Department should | be receiving this script package regularly. | If not, please write to BMI's Station Serv1 ice Department for "THE AMERICAN I STORY." BROADCAST MUSIC, INC. 589 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK 17, N.Y. NEW YORK • CHICAGO . HOLLYWOOD • TORONTO '• MONTREAL Broadcasting • Telecasting January 23, 1956 • Page 87