From: lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban,alt.folklore.science
Subject: Re: FCC Call letters
Date: 8 Apr 92 21:11:52 GMT
Reply-To: lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner)
Organization: Columbia University

In article <1992Apr6.222114.29249@e2big.mko.dec.com> moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com () writes:
>
>In article <SLAGLE.92Apr6103432@sgi417.msd.lmsc.lockheed.com>, slagle@lmsc.lockheed.com (Mark Slagle) writes:
>|>In article <1992Apr4.025604.11675@e2big.mko.dec.com> moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com writes:
>|>   ObUL:  Many ABC stations have Channel 7, because ABC upper management 
>|>   believed Channel 2-6 would be reassigned, and they wanted the lowest 
>|>   frequency (because lower frequencies were received more clearly on the 
>|>   more primitive equipment available).
>|>
>|>----
>|>Seems more likely that, since they were the new kid on the block,
>|>that they just took the lowest available UHF channel.  Either CBS 
>|>or NBC would likely have had the lower ones in most cities before 
>|>ABC was born.
>
>Well, maybe (except channel 7 isn't UHF).  But in some places they could have
>had a lower channel yet went for 7 instead.  Might be sour grapes.  Another
>explanation might be they wanted better recognition and to be on the same
>channel in as many places as possible.
>
>-Mike

Channel 7 is the lowest of the CONTIGUOUS VHF channels.  Channels below 7
aren't themselves contiguous but are split into two groups.  This is why
we have Channel 4 and Channel 5 in New York City, because they really aren't
adjacent.  We also have Channel 2 which has the space reserved for Channel 3
between it and 4.  Channel 3 is in Connecticut and 6 is in Philadelpha.  I
think that the current FCC rules regarding the physical spacing between
adjacent Channel transmitters was defined in terms of the distance between the
Empire State Building and the Phila. transmitter site.  When the NY antenna was
moved to the World Trade Center, they were in techical violation of the order, 
since the WTC is about 1.6 miles closer to Phila. :-).  (I assume this "the
king's nose" approach to measurement was amended recently :-).)

I haven't seen any good explanation about Channel 1 here, so I'll give what I
have about it and hope for correction:

Before WWII, radio amateurs had nicely-numbers allocations like 160,80,40,20,
10,5,2.5,1.25 Meters.  The 160m band wasn't used too much, and 10 was also
what was taken away later, namely the CB 11-meter portion.  During the war,
all operations were suspended.  After the war, the 5 and 2.5 meter were never
given back, since these wavelengths proved "useful" to some budding commercial
services like aircraft, mobile, FM, and TV, etc.

Due to lobbying by the ARRL and others, compromises were worked out whereby the
amateurs got replacements at 2 and 6 meters for the 2.5 and 5 meter bands.
The 6 meter band is a majority of what would have been Channel 1, although
there are other services there next to the 6-meter amateur band.

Also apparently during WWII, a broadcasting service was started for FM 
transmission, but not on the current 88-108 MHz, but rather on 44-54 MHz, which
would also lay claim to these frequencies.  Somewhere around 1949 the switch
was made to 88-108 where it is today.

Other than the "pruning" of 10-11 meters for CB, the other amateur bands are
largely where they were before WWII, including 1.25 Meters.  I believe there
may also be some limitations imposed on the SW bands as well, especially 40
and 20 meters.

Anyone out there that can straighten out any minor deviation/gap in this
explanation?

cjl (child of the '60's, not '40's)