Evening star., 1926-10-31
NEW RADIO BABEL
CONTINUES APACE
Fans Are Demanding Fewer
and Better Broadcasting
Stations as Solution.
RY CARL III. RCTNAN.

The present condition of the ether.
due to the great increase in broad
casting stations, mostly of mediocre
type. and the many shifts to new
channels by both old and new sta
tions. is described as terrible" by
some fans.
Several listeners in Chicago and the
North Central States agree that radio
chaos. although general. seems cen
tered there. due primarily to the un-
necessary and superfluous number of
radio transmitters in the Chicago dis
trict. Instead of about 40. 6 to
good stations would be sufficient in
one center, they say. They ask for
fewer and better broadcastE1g sta
tions, asserting that something must
be done, or the listeners will cease
10 listen.
ChicagOan Gives Slant.
V. A. Matteson of Chicago says he
Is so disgusted with the lack of ac-
ton by Congress that it will influence
his vote for Sepators and Representa-
ives from his district. Furthermore,
he asserts that the whole trouble
seems due to politics and pull" Local
stations broadCaSting on the same 1r
nearly the same wave lengths as dis
tant ones. make it impossible to re-
,eive several very desirable ont of town
stations. he says. adding that some
nf the more distant ones heterodyne
zach other. If local reception is all
that is possible. radio hroadcasting
might as we'll he done away with, he
observes. explaining that the local
telephone companies could furnish en-
Artainment over their wires, prob.
eAly with better results than can be
a4,ured now. He speaks from per
eenal experience. since he operates
feveral sets, including the best super.
heterodyne available.
A member of the gentler sex in
Chicago and man in Willamette re.
port that the Moody Bible Institute
station. WMBI, cuts WGN off the air,
while WHIT, a newcomer. clashes
with WA1AQ and WQJ. They ask that
the new stations and the pirates be
put back on lower wave lengths, where
they will not interfere with the other
stations.
Another Chicago fan, named II. r.
Jones. says he believes one should
start "knocking' at home. so he lists
the following stations in the order of
their trouble making: WSBC, VICES,
WJAZ, WMBI. WCRC and WCFL.
Although the list does not include all
the trouble makers, he says, those
mentioned interfere with several good
stations and should be taken from
the air. He is against the pirates"
and wishes some one would make
them walk the plank"
Wants Fewer Stations.
B. 7. Fullerton. also of Chicago,
thinks that the broadcaSting situa-
tion has been killed with kindness"
He urges fewer but better" broad
casting stations. indorsing the
thought expressed by Lee DeForest.
Mr.. Fullerton fails to see why the lis
teners have to put up with all the in
reference. pointing out that he used
to enjoy programs very much, but
now gets ''one grand and glorious
squeal." If it was not for the silent
night in Chicago ne would never get
any distant station. he states. In
closing. he asserts that the present
situation is rotten" and that If all
stations continue to carry on they will
spoil the listening-in entirely.
This is a thought worth the serious
consideration of the broadca sting in.
dustry. If the listeners cannot get
good service. II IS certain that thou
sands of them will cease to listen, and
when that happens broadcasting
reAses to he Of any value whatever.
Popularity and circulation are their
two assets-without them station is
wasting power and only creating ex-
nenses and enemies The last remark
is for many of the newcomers and
wave jumpers to ponder over, decid-
Ing from the reactions of the listen
ing public whether their efforts at
this late date or their seizure of new
channels are worth while.
If the number of stations cannot be
decrea sed, some fans demand that ad.
ditional channels be found, although
they do not want the amateurs to suf-
Ter. and are opposed 10 going below
900 nletnrS