Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-04-05
j. S. NOT TO CHANGE
WAVE ALLEGATION
.Ten-KiIocycle Separation to
Remain-Fear Results OF
Any Shifting.
BY CARL IL. BUTMA\.

Secretary Hoover is not contemplat-
ing another general reallocation oil
broadcast wave lengths, or frequen-
cies. Unless a large majority OF
radiodom DEGREES otherwise, or an
other conference recommends
change, he is disposed TO leave the
situation as il is today with 10
kilocycle separation between the
radiophone channels.
Judge s. b. Davis. Acting Secretary
of the Department of Commerce, who
ids the Secretary III the admins
ton of radio, explained TO the
writer that the department would
not change the broadcasttng chan
nels again, despite recent reports and
rumors TO the contrary. Although II
is realized that the present system
may not he perfect, ii is also recog-
nized that it could readily be made
worse.
Plan Not Feasible.
If the slate were clean, so to speak,
or there were no broadcasters on the
air today, and the department was
about to inaugurate broadcastinE, 1t
would undoubtedly assign all class
3 stations wave lengths separated by
5 kilocyCles, limiting the number of
stations which might broadcast and
insuring better reception for all, but
unfortunately this is not the case.
there are 563 stations on the air, and
more clamoring to open. During its
recent experiments, the department
experts tried to create additional
wave lengths by decreasing the sepa-
rations to Z klocycles, only TO find
that the spaces were too narrow be-
tween the wave channels to insure
good reception and minimum inter-
ference So the plaO was given I'D.
A certain amount of experimental
changes were necessary in carrying
out the reallocating scheme follow
ing the recent radio conference, but
now the department and its field
representatives are through Fans
may sit back and st TT their logs
again, with assurance hat the sta
tions will remain on the official wave
assignments issued to 500 stations.
Would Increase Congestion.
The departmental officials realize
that transmission and reception
would be better if the wave channels
were Is kilocycles apart instead of
only 10. but if greater separation be-
tween the stations was made, conges
ton and consequently interference
would soon be worse. That is the one
thing these radio experts wish to
avoid If the SO class B stations were
assigned new wave lengths with a
separation of 10 meters, there would
be fewer broadcasting routes; some
stations would have to get off the
air, or divide time further with each
othar. There are only AZ channels
available for the SO B broadcasters
which requires that they double up
Actually 6S are now splitting time,
and there are still applications for
class B privileges on file. Fans would
soon raise cry of protest If some of
the nationally known efficient sta
tions which put out high-class pro-
grams We're made to share their wave
lengths or time with inferior or new
broadcasters.
The broadcast wave band from 545
to 205 meters cannot well be extended
upward else II would interfere with
the SOS" marine distress call on 500
meters: if pushed further downward
IL would encroach upon the band as
signed to the amateurs, who have al
ready been ousted from their original
channels used before broadcasting
came into existence
But there is another reason why the
broadcast band cannot be wiedned; it
is on account of the limits of average
radio receiving sets. many of which,
although rated as capable of receiving
on any wave between 500 and 200
meters, are not efficient at both ex-
tremeS
Better operation by listeners and
more selective sets will improve con-
ditions, it is felt, but the department
itself can do. little more except see
to it that each broadcaster keeps on
its assigned frequency and does not
devate.