Evening star., 1927-11-18
NEW RADIO BAND
TOPREVENT CLASH
"Non-Heterodyne" Channels
Set Up to Clear Air for
National BroadcaSting.

An ANALYSIS of the newly created
Snon.heterodyne band'' set up by the
Federal Radio Commission In ordef
TO eliminate interference in long-ols
tance reception reveals an eHoft 10
Mace on the same wave length TOT
simultaneous broadcasting no more
than two or three stations, widely
separated geographically and operat'
ing with such power that they cannot
clash with each other. Wherever
more stations have been assigned 10
the same wave length they nave neen
ordered to share time with each other,
TO establish the free band the com
mission set aside the frequencies from
600 TO ! 900 kilocycles t499.7 to 299.s
meters) and then proceeded to clear
the So available channels between
these limits of stations regarded as
extraneous. Under an order effective
December something like so stations
now in this favored band will be rele-
gated to different parts of the broad
cast spectrum, while stations remain.
ing within 1t should find their pro
grams almost wholly freed from
howls or whistles as far as their car
rying range extends.
The newest shake-up. perhaps the
most radical single ALLEGATION move
tain to evoke much unfavorable re-
action from stations adversely affect
ed. But in setting aside this band
of what may aptly he regarded as the
national" wave channels-although
1t is virtually impossible to hear any
single station in all parts of the
country-the commission says it is
interpreting sits responsibility, fixed
by law, for providing the great listen
ing public of America, with it's in
vestment of many millions in radio
receivers, an opportunity to enjoy
good reception
commission, must be martyrs to the
cause Of better radio" They have
recourse to an appeal for a hearing
of their cases if they think the COM
mission has erred in deciding the rela-
tive merits of broadcasting stations.
There are Al wave lengths in the
"non-heterodyne band" Five are eX-
clusively allotted Canada under a
''gentlemen's agreement" Six others
are shared by stations in the United
States with those in Canada. To all
intents and purposes the newest
changes should affect stations on 36
wave lengths, but as a matter of fact
no less than Is wave lengths remain
Operating conditions of WEAF,
New York, using SO kilowatt of power,
and KGW. Portland. Greg. with 1000
watts. remain unchanged, for exam
pie. They will continue exclusively
to use $40 kilocycles (491.5 meters). So
with WSB, Atlanta. 1000 watts. and
WSUI. Iowa City. 500, on the Cana.
dian shared frequency of $50 kilo-
cycles (475.9 metersl. So also with
WRC, Washington, 500 watts, operat-
ing only with KF'I. Los Angeles, 5000
watts. on $40 kilocycles 1855 metersl
On $50 kilocycles t454.3 meters)
WIZ, Bound Brook, n. j., remains
with 80 kilowatts of power, while
across the continent on the same wave
but with a three-hour separation of
time is KFRC. San Francisco. On
go kilocycles t477.5 meters) WMAQ
and WQJ. Chicago, dividing time, re.
main with KFOA, Seattle; on 790
kilocycles t379.5 meters) WGY, Sche-
nectady. will continue to. operate with
80 kilowatts, with only WCAJ at Lin.
colin. Nebr.. using the wave else.