Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

THE STATUS OF TELEVISION Extension of Telerision into Hijilnr Frequencies, nlieu Atithorized by FCC, will not make Present Video Receivers Obsolete Until it is definitfly known which higher-freiiuency channels will be available for television it is imprac- tical to desi^'n a set and unjustified to assert that it will efficiently pick up all channels by the mere adjust- ment of the tuning turret. If. as, and when the Federal Com- munications Commission decides that the higher frequencies are to be utilized for television, then and only then can the proper sets be de- signed. But when that day comes, the simple converter can be used with present sets to extend their tuning range into the higher-fre- quency spectrum. Ten-Year Old Sets Still in Use It is interesting to note that RCA Victor television receivers first in- troduced to the public in 1939 are still in use, although more than ten years have passed. In that period television has made great and fun- damental advances. Similarly, there is no indication today that receiv- ers of 1949 design will be obsolete in 1959, or even later than that date. Naturally, the majority of manu- facturers in designing their televi- sion receivers have the public in- terest continually in mind, and they adhere to standards set by the in- dustry and by the FCC. Rut they cannot build receivers today for the future when it is not knowii what channels will be used. Engineers must know which higher frequency channels will be allocated to tele- vision and what the standards will be to supplement those already in use, before they can design the set of the future. Addptation rtould be Costly For any manufacturer to boast economic superiority for a televi- sion receiver that will not be obso- lete eventually because it is provided with a few components for receiv- ing higher frequency channels is un- justified and misleading. And to adapt such a set to receive higher frequencies would be an expensive job, probably more costly in total than the simple converter needed to keep present receivers in line with By J. G. Wilson Executive Vice President in Charge of RCA Victor Division PRKDICTIONS that a future shift of television broadcasting to higher frequencies will make present receiving sets obsolete are absolutely unfounded, and are not based upon scientific or economic facts. It is true that research scientists are exploring the higher frequen- cies in an effort to determine their possible usefulness in television. But these investigations have not reached the stage that will permit the establishment of commercial standards and the early opening of new channels for television, except for experimental purposes. If, even- tually, it is found that television can oi)erate successfully on the higher frequencies, then new equipment, new transmitters and new tubes must be developed on a commercial scale — and all that takes time. But even if the higher frequen- cies are found to l)e practical for television broadcasting, present sets will by no means be obsolete. It al- ready has been demonstrated that a suitable converter can readily be applied to sets now in use so that the sets will not only receive the twelve channels for which they are designed, but will time in broad- casts on the higher frequencies as well. Up to the present, neither the Federal Communications Commis- sion nor any other group, technical or otherwise, has made a concrete and authoritative proposal as to which particular high-frequency channels may some day be opened for television. l)rogress. With such a converter no modifications whatever are required inside the set. RCA Laboratories, one of the world's foremost centers of radio, television and electronic research, has led and continues to lead in the exploration of the high-frequency spectrum. As rapidly as discover- ies are made and can be applied commercially, the RCA Victor Divi- sion will bring the new imi)rove- ments to the public in the form of television receivers. Television will continue to advance, and every ef- fort will be made by RCA to in- crease the service to the public. Never in the history of wireless, radio broadcasting, or television have scientists and engineers been able to guarantee "positive built-in assurance" that a receiver «•(// not be made obsolescent by any contem- plated changes in channels. Such a statement is no more true in radio and television than in the automo- tive, aviation, or any other field which thrives upon science and con- tinually improves and advances in bringing new and added benefits to the public. Research Achieves Progress Every new art or business based upon the technical sciences must deal continuously with the factor of obsolescence. That is why Ameri- can industry continues research to achieve progress and to lift the American standards of living. Every new development in radio and tele- vision, whether it be a device or system, involves some obsolescence of former methods, but obsolescence is nothing to be feared—for the American people know that through the ingenuity and creativeness of scientists and engineers, every ef- fort will be made to keep pace with the new, while taking effective meas- ures to keep the old in useful service. The Federal Communications Commission has not proposed that the existing television channels be replaced by others. On the contrary. Chairman Coy stated on March 23, as reported by the Associated Press, that the twelve channels "will not be eliminated" and that "present tele- vision sets av.-iilable on the market will get service from these channels continuously." Service on these channels is constantly expanding. [6 RADIO AGE]