Radio doings (Dec 1930-Jun1932)

Part of the new television apparatus o f W6XA0, t h e Don See Station, ft employs the cathode tube, o r electrical ■scanning system, and is on the air daily. Don Lee Starts the Television Ball Rolling in the West with the Establishment of Station W6XA0 at the KHJ Studios— the First and Only Cathode Tube Transmitter on the Pacific Coast to Broadcast Regularly— Closely followed by W6X AH of Bakers field. SIGHT and SOUNE) ff IN order to understand television, and appreciate the significance of frequent references made to its development by the press, it must be understood that there are two distinct systems of television. Many are already wondering why, since the news of Don Lee's establishment of a television station in the studios of KHJ, the public isn't let in on it and given a chance to get television receivers — especially when we read that television has progressed far enough in other parts of the country for amateurs to get fair reception. In the first place, the Don Lee television system employs the electrical scanning, or cathode tube, system. Unlike the scanning disc system, which experts say is probably as highly developed as it ever will be. the cathode tube system is the one engineers are basing their hopes on for future perfection of television. When KHJ received its license, it was required by the Federal Radio Commission to go into television only for experimental purposes. Don Lee engineers chose the ca'hode tube system as the one with the most promise, even though its development was such that the public, temporarily, would be more or less excluded from receiving its images. The standard commercial television receivers, now on the market for scanning disc reception, will not receive signals from the Don Lee station. W6XAO. which ooerates on the ultra-high frequency of 44.500 kilocvcles. and uses an image of 80 lines per inch, as compared with the 60 lines of the scanning disc system. The other system, employing a mechanical "scanning disc," is the oldest and most widely-used. Baird of England, Jenkins of Washington, D. C, and Sanabria of Chicago, are perhaps the leading exponents. While their discs, or drums, as the case may be, differ in the number of holes, the spiral arrangements and speed of rotation, the principles involved are the same. Many vears of experimentation in this method have brought it close to perfection. But little more progress can be made. The question then arises. "Is this system, in its highly developed state, acceptable to the public?" In England, regular television broadcasts by the Baird company in conjunction with the British Broadcasting Company, have interested many experimenters in television kits for home construction of sets. In the West. W6XAH. Bakersfield. Calif., is scheduled to go on the air shortly with a scanning disc system, broadcasting on 2100 kilocvcles. ' W6XAO. KHJ. uses the newest band of television waves. The ultra-high frequency, or "quasi-optical" waves employed, behave somewhat like lieht, traveling in nearly straight lines. The strongest signal is received when a direct and unobstructed line of sight exists between transmitter and receiver. At a distance of 40 miles or more, the curvature of the earth makes this impossible. It is difficult, in presenting the subject of television to the public, to give any information that would answer the readers' inevitable question, "Well, when will we have good television broadcasting?" When we are told that comparativelyclear and distinct images are being received, that a face can be televised successfully and picked up several miles away distinctly, coupled with the fact that at least one svstem of television is sufficiently well developed for manufacturers to place reasonablv priced receivers on the market, and the other system is rapidlv overtaking its predecessor, then it begins to look as if it "wont' be long now." Under the federal law. there can be no commercialization of television programs at present. Whoever takes the responsibility of a broadcaster must do so at his own expense. The ball is rolling. With Don Lee and the Pioneer Mercantile Company of Bakersfield entering television broadcasting, it is safe to say that before long television will be available to those who are willing to join in its experimental development, and assemble the necessary reception apparatus. From hints dropped at interview's with officials of these organizations, it can safely be expected that television, in a fairly acceptable form, will be made available to the western public within six months. RADIO DOINGS Page Twenty-seven