San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-06
INVESTMENT IS.
BUT PART OFF,
EXPENSE
Modern Wireless Broad
caster Costs Big Sum
Hourly.
By JUNIUS CALDER


It is seldom that the listener to an
entertainment, whether it be sport
ing, musical, motion picture or merely
a pageant. counts the costs. The effect
is the thing. The satisfaction Of the
human senses and the Imagination Is
all that counts.
The weeks of effort TO achieve per-
lection Of action, the humdrum Of toll
so necessary to harmonious accom-
plishment and. lastly, the vast sums OF
money expended TO provide the me-
dunn through which the entertainment
may be brought to the populace, all
are accepted as a matter Of course.
No sporting event may be a success
without proper setting in field, and
track and accoutrements. No picture
entertainment may be a success with
out vast expense for setting and film
and actors and directors, to say moth
ing of cameras and chemists, studios
and sets. No pageant is likely to sue
coed without brilliance of costume,
cosmic splendor and the cooperative
effort Of innumerable individuals.
DON'T COUNT COST.
The same thing applies to a musical
entertainment, whether il be sym
phonic, all stringed or all brass. Years
of effort go into the training of the
individual players and then weeks
more into the training of those players
for mass production. Add TO this the
cost of instruments and the staging
of the productions and the monetary
outlay grows to sizeable proportions.
All of which brings US back to the
original thought that the listener sell
dom counts the cost. This is particu-
larly true of the radio listener, costly
ensconsed in an easy chair at home,
lolling lazily as entertainment drifts
enchantingly out of the air.
Back of the several hundred broad
cast concerts, lectures, plays, dances
and what-not that are available to
suit the choice through the adjust
ment of a few indicators on the face
of the receiving equipment, is ire
mendous investment in human effort,
in time and in money.
BURNING MONEY.
There are already close to half a
hundred stations in the United States
today with a "super-power" rating.
This means that those stations, in
the mere matter of electricity, are
burning literally thousands Of dollars
an hour.
1t costs, for instance, about 81 an
hour TO burn the filament of one Of
the 5000-watt tubes now used by
super" stations. One tube is Of lit
tie value to such a station. Two are
required TO produce the power neces-
sary TO cover the distance reached.
And many Of the stations use four,
instead of two. That 81 is but one
element Of the cost. Another is the
plate" voltage, which must run close
TO 10000 volts TO be effective. Large
investment in the way of machinery
is necessary to develop this 10000
volts Of electric current. Then there
is the item Of care takers. There
must be several Of Observations in
the mechanical room, where the gen
orators and other electrical ma
chinery is located, usually far distant
from the broadcast studio and tubes,
as well as licensed telegraphers and
other electricians, annOuncers, direct
ors and the like.
TALENT COMES HIGH.
Experts no longer work for the mere
love Of adventure. That is left 10 the
experimenters and the inventors. Ra-
do has become q definite profession
and professional services always come
high because they require the skill
that is acquired with much study and
hard work. Lack Of skill in radio
spells ruin. The changing Of the volt
age, for instance, on a broadcast tube
while IL is in operation may mean
the leaping Of 10000 volts across the
wee gap between the plate and the
filament-a distance Of about half an
inch-and the blowing out Of a tube
that cost $500 TO begin with and in
which the mere replacing Of the fila
ment, IL nothing more serious has hap
pened, will cost $50.
Wherefore additional thousands Of
dollars per month must be spent for
operating talent that is attentive, eK-
perienced and reliable.
TUBES COST MORE.
Two years Of brosdcasting was done
With radio tubes that cost $35 apiece.
These were rated at 80 watts and sew
eral Of them were used in banks in
the sets TO produce the necessary vol
ume. Then came go watt tubes. with
but little addition 10 the cost. Within
the two-year period, however, has been
developed the super tube. This ranges
from 5000 watts 20 10000 and even
100000 watts, although none Of the
latter yet has been used in broadcast
ing the human voice or music. These
latter are purely for long-distance tele.
graphic operation.
To operate 5000-Watt tubes it is nee.
essary 10 dissipste the heat generated
within the glass bulb. This is accom-
plished BY passing a stream of water
around the glass which insulates th,
high-tension currents, much the same
AZ i done with automobile cylinders
The difference, however, is 60 proven
the currents from jumping over 70 tht
water pipes and multiplying the effect
Of the broadcast
In order that sufficient "water re
sistancep may be put In the path o.
the electrical current, the water is LEI
10 the vacuum tubes through long line
~ rubber hose. At least twenty fee
81 purc rubber hose-hose without cot
ION lnyers-must be used at the in
take and outgo Of the tubes, and sew
sral gallons IT water a minute mus
nov IN order 10 earry off the sIees