Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-11-05
Pri1sy Morning -....Kovenber 5. 1925.
Experts To Use Special laboratory
For Tests

LooEied o. The fsrT1 q Co J. O Bsrrol. [
CosSs Artilisry. retired. shoat oae mile
fron kenxnsioa. the experimental station
IS aoosted that il s free from msn-msde
interference Of al kinds
AmOne the tests ~in Re the effect Of
weather on reception. the difference in
volume Of reception during the day and
night, causes and effects Of static, fadi z.
etc IL is hoped that increased knowledge
OF these conditions may suggest methods
Of combating these bueaboos.
The location of the Kensington station
was chosen primarily because Of its free
dom from non-radio interference. and ii
would make an ideal radio den for any fan.
Surrounded by scrub pines. the station is
nearly half mile from the nearest build
ing and is far removed from electric pow .r
or telephone lines and reradiatine receiv-
ers. Even the sixty-foot antenna towers
are OF wood SO as to avoid capacity effects.
The antennas are so arranged that they
can be heightened or shortened at will.
The kensington station is equipped only
with receiving apparatus. Inside Of the
smell. one-story building are apparatus for
almost any kind of broadcast siefai meas
urements. An eight-tube receiver, con-
structed by laboratory experts, gives a
range over the entire broadcast band and
brings in stations upon which measure
ments are made.
Only certain kinds of tests are made at
Kensington, and whenever work is to be
done there men leave from the Bureau of
Standards. five miles away. for their homes.
Most Of the tests are made at night and
during the day the building is under lock
and key. The four experts who use it
most frequently are DIR. C. B. Jolliff, DR.. 7.
Parkinson, DR.. S. S. Kirby and DR.. M. S.
Strock.
Although neither of these men will brae
about the distance they get, they admit
they can pick up most Of the higher power
stations OF the country. Free from inter-
ference as il is, the only problem is station
interference
Power for the receiver and lights is pro-
vided by storage batteries II is expected
within short time that equipment will
be installed for measurements ON the
higher frequencies.
Strangely enough the experimental sta
ton is seldom visited except by the Bureau
OF Standard physicists. To date no one
has attempted to steal anything from the
place.
Most important of the tests to be made
at kensington this winter will be studies
OF conditions affecting distance range Of
stations, sunset fading and sun spots
DR.. Jolliff believes that the most salts
factory method OF studying these conditions
is to analyze large number OF observa-
tions.
The fact that great variations in trans
hitting and receiving conditions are met
with in radio communion is well known"
says he. While conditions, such as sun
light, temperature. barometrc pressure,
humidity. etc.. as well as factors due to
human agencies, are of great importance
in causing variations of conditions from
season to season. day TO day and even hour
TO hour, the relationships are too complex
TO permit a single analysis.
Owing TO this completely, probably the
most satisfactory method of obtaining
practical information concerning the dis
lance range of stations and the relative
magnitude of the limiting factors con-
cerned is by the analysis of a large num-
Der Of observers over considerable period
Of time"
Previous tests made in this connection
have shown that other broadcasting sta
tons produce 25.7 per cent of interference.
atmospherics are responsible for 1871 per
cent. fading causes 1872 per cent, while all
other kinds of interference are guilty of IA
per cent IL was found that 32.4 per cent
Of the time there was no interference.
1t is hoped 10 definitely establish the
connection between sun spots and fading
at the kensington station. DR.. Jolliff is
convinced that poor reception last winter
was due TO sun spots. II such is the case,
conditions may be even worse this winter
because the belief is that sun spots will
be worse.
The history OF radio in our day." says
Dr. Jolliff, turns on three major problems
The first was the problem Of five years
ago when broadcasting began. and il had
TO do with apparatus and circuits. Every
one felt the crying need Of improving the
apparatus for receiving the broadcast pro-
srammes. The ideal and goal of those
who devoted themselves to radios prob
lens was the development of receiving
sets with which programmes could be re-
ceived with the full volume and quality
Of the original by the mere touching Of
single control without unsghtly antennas
or batteries, dials. wires. complications,
static and interference Of all kinds. Ap-
paratus which meets all these conditions
is now available.
THE second great problem Of radio is
today's problem of how to control or cir
cumvent the vagaries Of radio waves.
THE third great problem is the one that
waits for tomorrow for the solution, and
that is the problem of the control and ad-
ministration Of broadcasting
The first problem. that Of yesterday,
was q problem solved by the engineers.
Today's problem of the radio wave vaearies
is one for whose investigation we must
look to the scientist; and am sure don't
know who is going to solve the great
human problem which have indicated as
belonging essentially TO tomorrow"
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