Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-13

parable to: the nssent. status of the
automobile and. monograph, there
will be in the neighborhood Of $4,000
receiving sets in the state It Is esti-
mated, according to Mr.. Lamb. There
are four broadcasting stations. al, IL
censed as limited commercial stations,
lin h state, two at-Fargo. one ct
Wahpeton nd the one, operated Nv the
tiations r now under way for the
establishment Of another station in
Bismarck and six Grand Forks man
are interested in putting up 2 large
amateur station here which would be
a member Of the American Radio Re
lay league.
Easily Heard.
With good receiving. sets The four
broadcasting stations now in opera.
ton In the state may be heard aelail
points within the state. said Mr..
Lamb. Because Of the rather remote
location OF North Dakota with refers.
tons IN the east, however, It is necss-
sary that the long range type OF re-
ceiving apparatus be Installed here, IN
order to hear with ease the eastern
stations. This factor has retarded the
growth of radio in this part of the
country to some extent, it was stated.
All of the broadcasting stations in
North Dakota have regular hours for
sending out messages. I'll Valley Ra-
dioehere ,b~roadcasts the opening and
closing market quotations at 10 a. II.
and 2 p. m, each day. Prominent
events are also broadcasted. The lo-
cal station has a daylight range Of
100 miles and has been heard as far
as $50 miles at times. 1t was in
stalled primarily for use only in the
territory surrounding Grand Forks
md messages are not sent out at
night unless Of special Importance. so
that there will be no interference with
stations receiving b~roadcasts from the
large stations in the evening.
North Dakota Ideal.
As ar "a radio is concerned, said
MIR, Lamb, North Dakota is an ideal
state. practically perfect for opera
ton. The state is level, without
mountains, which are a disturbing.
%factaor:. the fact that there are no
large manufacturing centers in the
state eliminates smoke. anothe rdis-
turhing factor; there Is little fog in.
the state; and lastlys there is a long
cold weather season which particular
~ favors broadcasting.
Another interesting fact in
ton with the development Of radio is
that it was not arisen to meet,a popu-
lar demand as We're all Of the other
modern c~onveniences. such as the tel
egraph, the telephone and automobile.
Radio. was developed as q military
/ utility. not for popular use, and has
become popularized only since the
war. Since 1t was perfected before
It's popularixation no radical develop
ments in Its allure are to be expected
IN the near future, 1t was said. :
Several Difficulties.
detract from the efficiency of radio
yot, stated Mr.. Lamb. In the first
place. what Is known as fading" ID
Of the greatest difficulties to be
overcome. When a broadcasting sta
ton Is heard distinctly at first, then
gets fainter and fainter until the
sound dies, the phen0msnoa Is known
as fading" Experiments are being
conducted constantly to determine
is apparently due to atmospheric con-
ditions. 1t is only a matter Of time
until the difficulty will be surmound-
ed. it Is believed. Undoubtedly the
relative conductivity Of the medium
which carries the electric energy
broadcasted has q lot to do with lad
ing" The presence Of smoke, steam,
and fog in the atmosphers lessons the
4 c~onduotiyity and makes, 1t more difi-
Fading" has no effect on receiving
sets within 10 per cent Of the total
broadcasting distance OF. the sending
Station
At other times there are experience.
ed What are known as dead nights
when no radio OF telegraph messages
can be transmitted whatever. The
|, n n,sn 49, 49, -, kL~--k a.
absorbed by some factor before reach
Ing the receiving sets. There nights
occur only at %infrequent intervals,
stated Mr.. Lamb. In this COM ectton
It Is Interesting to note that there Is &
marked directiopal effect up and
down the Mississippi valley, that Is,
1t frequently happens that message.
can be- received here from as far
south as Texas from small statiens
from stations nearby. either east OF
vest of-this section. 80
4 d.. Classify Stations.
The difficulty which arises when g
large. number Of stations broadcas,
using the same wave lengths can bl
entirely eliminated by classifying
lengths sed. Receiving sets can b,
tuned to hear messages hroadcastsi
in any wave length. The federal: gov
eminent is rapidly classifying station
at the present time. :
Two other factors act to interfera
with radio operation. The creates
IS the p%ressnofce of static, (slectricit,
in the atmosphere) in tho air. Staff.
frequently charges the aerials used II
radio work and is the hardest ole
ment Of trouble to eliminate Thu
other disturbing element is known a
an Induction noise and occurs whes
9 broadcasting station is located neal
9 running motor, telegraph wire AM
similar electrical appliance.
Amateur radio operators are con
stantly asked why Pacific coast sta
tieRs cannot be heard here, stated MI
Lamb. The reason is two-fold: ther,
are no large br6adeastins stations OF
the Pacific coast such as there are Ii
the east; and the mountains have
strong effect in absorbing the eners,
transmitted
Bis Aronnt crj&ictauu. oil <hd ~,ipdoue Z,