Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

HQGAH perfects I-IULTIPLEX FM-FX: Another major problem in facsimile has been licked. Veteran radio inventor John V. L. Hogan has perfected system of transmitting FX and V'.A simultaneously without degrading quality of either. Demonstration Wednesday to FCC (Sterling, Webster, Hyde, staff) and press over WFIL-FM, Philadelphia, v;as extremely satisfactory. In past, FCC has frowned on multiplexing because FM signal suffered (Vol. 4:24). Hogan used GE-made equipment, says recorders can be built into any FM set (no filter needed) at $20-$45, depending on quantity. He admits he doesn’t know what FX's future is, so far as popular use is concerned. For beginning, he sees recorders in public places (successful so far in Miami, Philadelphia), also in trains, ships, planes, etc. As for home use, he feels it has definite place — for permanent material such as recipes, pictures, illustrations of broadcasts. 638 FH STATIONS ON THE AIR: Despite the "talking down" to which FM has been sub jected, despite fact it hasn't caught hold commercially as hoped, these statistical facts remain: As of this week, there were 638 FM stations in operation (20 non-commercial educational). Of commercial stations, 192 are licensed, 425 are STAs. Then there are 589 grants not yet on air, 80 applications pending. These figures are compiled from our new Directory of FM Licensees, Grantees & Applicants (FM Directory No. 2), which went into the mails this week to subscribers. They compare with status a year ago (Vol. 3:40); 300 on air (60 licensed, 240 STAs, 676 grants not on air, 132 applications). In face of its vicissitudes, intensified by voliintary dropping of some 80 grants since October, 1947, FM still has hard core of enthusiasts who meet in FMiA convention at Chicago's Sheraton Hotel next week (Sept. 27-29). They'll hear talks by leaders in FM's various fields, including another message of encouragement from FCC via Chairman Coy. FCC is still throughly "sold" on FM as a better system. Fact is FM can't simply be laughed off by more successful AM operators, or by those venturing their chips on TV — for, urged by FCC and encouraged by responsible trade leaders, many millions of dollars have been invested in its admittedly superior transmission and reception services. FMA reckons average of $100,000 to build each station, which means $60-65 million spent by broadcasters. FMA estimates average of $100 in each set sold, so that public's investment is around $250 million. Add sums spent by stations not yet on air, by manufacturers, etc., and FMJl's Bill Bailey estimates nearly half billion invested in American FM. Note : Newly revised edition of our FM Directory of Oct. 1, 1948 has 2 new wrinkles; (1) It shows the AM network affiliation of every FM-AM combination; (2) It includes up-to-date FM channel allocation table by cities. FM Directory No. 2 requires new series of Addenda, so we omit pink addenda sheet this week, will incorporate this week's data with next week's FM Addenda 2-A. Extra copies of FM Directory No . 2 are available to subscribers at $2.50 each; non-subscribers, $5. SIGHT AND SOUND:— = Add GE to transit FM receiver makers (Vol. 4:5 et seq). Its ujiit is all-metal, 10-tube, crystal-controlled, employs double limiters, is used with 6M*-in. speakers. Company says Syracuse tests satisfactory up to 20 miles. First showing is at American Transit Assn Sept. 26-30 convention in Atlantic City. F.M Executive Committee of NAB, due to meet Oct. 12-13, includes one new member, again is headed by Leonard Asch, WBCA, Schenectady. Other members: Matthew Bonebrake, KOCY-F.M, Oklahoma City; Martin Leich, WMLL, Evansville; Cecil Mastin, WNBF-FM, Binghamton; Lester Nafzger, WELD, Columbus; Ernest Spencer, KVOE, Santa Ana, Cal. (vice Everett L. Dillard, now on liaison board) ; Edward A. Wheeler, WE.\W, Evanston, 111. Board liaison: Willard D. Egolf, WBCC-FM, and Everett L. Dillard, W'ASII, Washington, who takes place Yankee’s John Shepard. Harry Wilder, WSYR-FM, Syracuse, was omitted from this year's committee. New FM broadcasting development, the “serrasoid” modulator, described by its inventor, -James R. Day, REL, at Radio Club of America meeting in New York this week, has been heralded as very significant by FM inventor E. H. Armstrong. Modulator is a 11-tube FM signal generator so simple in construction and reliable in operation that it requires negligible attention, may make remote operation of transmitter possible. Alone, device is size of small radio set; with amplifier to adequate power, it’s still very compact. F.M radiation of 319 kw, now emanating from WTM.JFM, Milwaukee, is highest in the land but won’t be long, since Birmingham’s WBRC-FM is due on any day. Both have 50 kw RCA transmitters. Latter will put out 546 kw, highest power yet authorized. Highest-powered AM in the hemisphere is XEX, Mexico City, just jumped from 250 to 500 kw (see .AM Addenda 2-M.M).