Evening star., 1923-08-05
Features of WCAP,

Connection with d New York studio
gives station WCAP an unusual va
riety of program which could not be
obtained if it dep, nded on its studio
in Washington fer its entire program
One of the outstanding features of
radio b.oadcastinE b is the Sunday eve
ming program of the Capitol Theater.
New York. The evidence contained
in thousands of letters proves that
this feature is one of the most popu-
lar to be found on any broadcasting
program.
The microphones and special equip
ment employed to pick up the Can't
toll Theater program have been de-
Veloped as result of many months
of work by the Bell System engineers
Although few broadcasting stations
are able to transmit successfully the
music of more than twenty-five or
thirty pieces. the Capitol Symphony
Orchestra consists of no less than
eighty Instruments. The program is
sent bySWire line to WEAF's studios
at 195 Broadway, New York. and from
that point. through special circuits, to
station WCAP in Washington Other
event" also are picked up from points
outside WEAF's studio and through
wire lines are sent to Washington.
Notable among these was the VIII
lard -Firpo bout, described from the
ringside at Boyles' Thirty Acres, Jer-
sey City, n j.. July r.
WCAP'S wire connection with
"EAF's studio provides something
more than excellent program matter,
il gives WCAP the benefit of more
than year of experience and study in
the correct balance of program mat
ter which has been carried on by
WEAF's staff, Every suggestion.
criticism and approval of the radio
audience is carefully noted and tabu-
lated in statistics. which are used for
the guidance of the program depart
ho1 -
tional matter. humor. popular music.
dance music and special entertain
'ment. features are maintained and
follow closely the wishes of the radio
audience.
The public has little conception of
the magnitude of the task of pre-
pairing and operating the long dis
tancc line from New York to wash
inSton. which carried the radio pro-
grams from WEAF to WCAP The
general idea is that an ordinary long
distance circuit is set up in the usual
manner. the broadcast picked up by
means of microphone and sent to
the radio station by wire telephony
in the same manner as an ordinary
long distance conversation. AS mat
ter of fact, the requirements of radio
broadcasting are very different from
those of ordinary commercial speech
communication.
The telephone circuits required for
broadcast must be especially pre-
pared and balanced. 1t is necessary
to amplify the currents which pass
over such lines to an enormous de-
gree before they can be transmitted
by radio telephone through a broad
casting station. Consequently, every
line noise must be eliminated, lest
it be amplifed and radiated
The ordinary long distance tele-
phone circuit is not simply a pair of
telephone wires-it is q channel of
communication involving telephone
repeaters Especial vacuum tube am
rlifiers), loading coils, accurate
transpositions OF the line. test boards
signaling equipment and many other
items. Frequently two pairs of wires
afford the channel for three telephone
conversations and eight telegraph cir
cults. When used for radio broad
casting each of these channels must
be re-routed through other circuits
so that a pair carrying only q single
channel of communication is avail
able for use in connection with broad
casting. In addition an emergency
circuit of the same grade is provided
for use in case of any trouble from
unusual induction or accident. A tele-
graphic circuit also connects all points
involved in the broadcast SO that con.