The talking machine world (Jan-June 1925)

106 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD May 15, 1925 Discussion of Trend of the Broadcasting Art and Who Is to Pay for the Programs Fear of Obsolescence of Present Radio Sets Because of Change in Wave Length and Cessation of Broadcasting Groundless, Says Charles Henry, Radio Engineer of Sonora Phonograph Co. "The music trades are vitally concerned in radio broadcasting, particularly since they are marketing radio and are keenly interested in the future trends of the art. There has been much speculation recently on the future of this now all-important factor in the American everyday life," says Charles Henry, radio engineer of the Sonora Phonograph Co., Inc. "Two questions have become subjects of daily conversation — who is going to pay for broadcasting— what are broadcasters going to do about wave lengths? "Our investigations into these subjects indicate clearly that no one need fear the obsolescence of present radio sets, because of a change in wave length or because of a cessation of broadcasting. "The United States Department of Commerce is not willing to grant further licenses for broadcast stations in Greater New York. They are besieged with demands from radio corporations, department stores, newspapers and public service companies for licenses for more broadcasting stations. Far from being unwilling to finance further broadcasting, more people are desiring to broadcast than can be accommodated. "It is important that one large communication company wishes to establish ten huge broadcasting stations, placed at intervals across the continent. But it now appears that it will be necessary for a large future broadcast operator to purchase or lease the rights of broadcast stations already established. The same situation is 'true in practically every metropolitan area in the United States. The Department of Commerce recognizes that there are already too many broadcast stations for the present wave length band. "On the other hand, broadcasters are investing huge sums of capital in the expansion and perfection of their equipment and particularly in the increase of power' which involves a much heavier expenditure than the radio public appreciates. In the past, the average so-called high power station was rated at ^ kilowatt. Superpower stations are now under way which have ratings of between 10 and 20 . kilowatts. "The fact of the matter is that a Department of Commerce license has become an asset. Unfortunately, there is a portion of the broadcast band which is very little used, namely, that part of the band between 225 and 270 meters. In this area there are seventeen Sonora Speaker of New York Broadcasting Studio of WOR broadcast channels, but it seems that nearly every one prizes wave lengths above 300 meters. Perhaps one reason for this is that so many broadcast stations are located on the top of high city buildings which tend to absorb the output of stations which operate below, say, 400 meters. Radio waves, in passing over the buildings of a large city, seem to be dimin ished in amplitude to a greater extent as the wave length becomes shorter. "Speaking of radio channels, there are in reality only forty main channels in the American broadcast allocation, which, as is well known, takes in only the wave lengths between 225 and 550 meters. Of course this band contains forty more channels which are not considered so desirable and which are separated from other stations by the least minimum of margin. Since the wave lengths between 225 and 270 meters have not proven popular, it is to be said that there are only forty-six channels in active use by important stations. "Any one readily appreciates the problem of the Department of Commerce in finding space for some 500 broadcasters; at the same time attention must be paid to the rapidly growing Canadian and Mexican activities. Many eminent minds have been seeking for another band of wave lengths to turn over to broadcasting, but the radio atmosphere is so crowded to-day with communication of all sorts that the only remaining possibilities are in wave lengths below 225 meters. "Even in this area there is a great deal of new-born activity. Commercial trans-oceanic radio telegraph service companies have been employing channels between 6,000 and 16,000 meters, and it has long been recognized that this wave length area has been overcrowded and that it has been only possible to make consistent use of it through the use of very specialized equipment for the purpose of eliminating interference. "Fortunately, as the lower wave lengths are explored for broadcast-, ing and radio telegraphy, new radio channels are opened up. It is hoped that whatever low wave length CUo 1571 BROADWAY New York band might be selected the daylight communication would be almost as favorable as that at night time. Present experiments seem to indicate that this might be possible. The daylight range of transmission seems to be as great as that during the hours of the darkness. This would be a great advantage, and from the radio dealers' standpoint it should excite no worry, since whatever is done will call for entirely new sets and will not cause his present stock to become obsolete. It will simply increase his sales, since it will be possible to sell a second set to people who already possess equipment capable of receiving the present band, since there is no indication that the present band will ever be removed." L. G. LeVoie Opens Branch Pittsburgh, Pa., May 9. — Lawrence C. LeVoie on May 1 became general manager of the Franklin Electric Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., and is now opening a branch of the organization in this city in which he is financially interested. The lines handled will include the Day-Fan, exclusive in Pittsburgh; the Jewett superspeakers; Crosley musicone speakers; Dictogrand speakers; Supertron tubes; Eveready batteries; chargers, etc. New Quarters in Salina Salina, Kan., May 7. — A new location for the piano department of the Chappell Music Co.'s store here has been chosen recently and will be over the Wiegner Shop. J. F. Chappell, of the company, stated that it is planned to operate the phonograph and radio department separate from the piano division in the future.