Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-10
RADIO FORECAST|NG.
TRIED BY AMATEUR
Newspaper Man in Mil
waukee Trying to Fill Need
Felt All Over u. S.

Despite the efforts of many radio
writer's and listeners to persuade the
Weather Bureau to make radio re-
ception forecasts, no official predic-
tons advising whether or not they
could pull in distant stations have
appeared. This Government bureau
is kept pretty busy with the estab-
lished forecasts and has no special
funds for more personnel.
r. G. Lynch, radio editor of Mil
waukee paper, however, IS making
the forecasts himself with some aid
from the Weather Bureau of that
city. He follows the style of the
weather reports, which after all are
not always accurate. His idea seems
to be a fine one and of some value
TO fans. Many other editors are re-
lating the next day of their own &C
complishments of the preceding night,
what stations they picked up, how
they came in and the state of receiv-
ing conditions. All of which, while
interesting. does little except to make
the fans wish they had tried their
sets on favorable nights and agree
with the observers if they lsIened in.
What the listeners really want is
some idea of how the situation will
be tonight" and whether it will be
worth while to invite some one in for
radio cruise or a dance to broad
cast music.
So it is obvious that Mr.. Lynch is
filling a long-felt need, which it seems
should be done by an agency more
capable of doing 1.-THE Weather
Bureau. Even if Mr.. Lynch is wrong
occasionally, he sometimes makes an
accurate forecast and that helps
listeners to decide whether to listen
in or not OF course. he cannot tell
what stations have shifted their chan
nels during the day nor whether new
station interference will be noted: all
he tries to do is to base his forecast
on natural conditions.
Here is how he does it: Good vol
ume and distance to the East Monday
night. Poor distance, probably fading
to the South; probably poor distance
West and Southwest. Reception Tues
day uncertain; probably poor distance
and fading"
Another contest week starts tonight
for fans participating in The Stars
novel station identification contest. In
an effort to simplify the contest the
contest editor will do his dialing at a
stipulated time, so that all contestants
may sit down at their sets with him.
For the second contest week the edi
tor will listen each night between 7:30
and o'clock.
The winner for the first contest
week will be announced Wednesday.
The seven stations selected for identi-
fication during the week also will be
published. A cash prize of IS will be
awarded the successful fan. A similar
ic, Of OF a
week.
Radio reception conditions returned
to Midwinter normally last night and
gave the DIX hunters an opportunity
TO log some of the new broadcaSterS.
Except for sporadic crashes of static
which came too infrequently to mar
reception, the night was ideal for
bringing in the out-oftown broadcast
ers. Signals came in with clarity and
fair volume from all sections. Sta
tons to the South. however, seemed
to be affected more by atmospherics
than those in other parts of the coun-
try.
WCAU's transmission of selections
from the operetta 1.-The Student
Prince" was especially good for this
station, whose signals heretofore have
been weak in comparison with It's sis
ter broadcasters in Philadelphia.
WCAE, Pittsburgh, must have in
creased it's power for the Atwater
Kent hour. judging from the strength
behind its signals. Other stations
heard with good volume were WIKI,
Cleveland: WPG. Atlantic City;
WHAP, New York; CKCX, Toronto;
WAT, Jersey City, and WKBW,
| Buffalo.
Gounod's famous opera Faust, y
which has been overworked by the
! broadcasting stations Of the country,
| will be sung by the WEAF Grand
| Opera Company tonight as one Of the
! features of the program of WRC
| There has been no change in the cast
! An attraction of local origin will be
the Star Radio Twins whose identity
/ has at last been revealed by their
sponsors. These artists are none
other than Emma Calvert and kin
| Carroll pioneer radio entertainers OF
| Washington.
The Emerson hour, another WRC
| feature, will introduce the Temple
Quartet. Hires Harvesters also have
a prominent place on the program.
| Announcement was made today that
the A. & p. Gypsies would return tc
the program of WRC next Monday
night as a result of the persistent re
quests of Washington radio listeners
This weekly radio attraction was elm
mated from WRC's schedule severa