Evening star., 1927-10-08
SCIENTISTS PROBE
CAUSES OF FADING
Find Fluctuations at Their
Worst so to 125 Miles From
Broadcasting Stations.

Fluctuations of radio waves, known
as fading" are at their worst in the
area so to 1875 miles from a broadcast
ing station. This means that listeners
eaning in on stations located that lar
awav are the most likely to hear pro-
grams fade into inaudibility for brief
moments. then recur, then die out
again. throughout the period OF the
broadcast.
Radio scientists Of the Bureau OF
Standards have drawn this conclusion
as a result of measurements or ap'
proximately $50 graphic fading RECORDS
made by observers in laboratories a.
various points in Northeastern ohiteu
States and Canada.
they sought to find out the reasons
for fading at frequencies within the
broadcast band, and their conclusions
have Just been published in scientific
paper that bears the names of DIR. d.
H. Dellinger, senior physicist OF the
h,,eea,i. and one of the most widely
known figures in the field OF radlo
science: c. B. Jolliffe, physicist, and 1.
Parkinson, research assistant.
Obtain Good Results.
Ry arranging for special transmiS-
sions during specified periods from
stations WGY and KDkA, 1t was pos
sible for these observers, situateo IN
cooperating laboratories to obtain
results which led to the scientific con.
cIusions respecting fading. Besides
determining the areas of worst fading,
they discovered generally that fading
diminishes and increases at greater
distances in fairly slow and relatively
ra mid fluctuations.
weather Is not the ruling factor IN
fading, as commonly supposed. Ine
experiments indicate that the fading
that lasts for several minutes at
time Is due to absorption of the wave
In the upper atmosphere of the earth.
That is, the transmitted wave has
Travelled to the so-called ceiling
above the earth, known as the Ken
y-Heaviside layer, and undergone
variable changes Of intensity, phase
and polarization.
Studies like the present Indicate the
type of research being pursued by
Government and private experts IN
the hope Of charting the scientific
causes and effects of radio so as to
improve broadcasting and reception
conditions. The time will come, it Is
confidently believed, when the static
phenomenon will be so well diagnosed
that q method Of eliminating 1t will
be found. Static, OF course, Is an
even greater defect in radio than is
fading.
Colleges Aid Work.
Besides the two stations OF the Bu.
reau of Standards which conducted
the fading check.ups. 13 colleges and
universities co-operated In the work,
namely, Clark, Cornell, Dartmouth,
Massachusetts Institute OF Technology,
Michigan State College, Nebraska,
Oberlin, Pennsylvania. Union. To.
ronto, West Virginia, Yale and United
States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
In addition. these private individ-
uals or groups took part in the tests:
A. r. & T. Co., Hohokus. N. j.; Do.
minion Observatory, Ottawa; General
Electric Co.. Glenville. N. Y: F.
G.. w. Pickard and III. s. Shaw. New
ton Center, Mass: r. C.. A., New
York; Western Union Telegraph Co.,
water Mill. n. Y.
The PhiIco hour, one Of tho older
chain station RADIO features, with be
introduced in Warrington tonight by
WRC. The sponsors Of this hour have
arranged to present for the occasion a
GPcClaly QIcQdIc0 tcISkOH VI A<CAtuk 2
world famous operetta, "The Merry
Widow" In which Donald Briap, lead
ing man Of the original American pro.
duction, will play his former role Of
Prince DaniIo.
The radio premier Of this piece is
designed to commemorate the twen-
teth anniversary of the original Amer.
lean production. Other outstanding
successful operettas and musical COM
edies of former years will be presented
during this hour until about January
/. at least.
The Philco hour is the only attrac.
ton that WRC will draw from New
York tonight. as the Army Band Or
chestra and the Mayhower and St.
Marks Orchestras are scheduled to
provide the remainder Of the program.
Dorothy Sherman Pierson, soprano:
Sophocles T. Papas, who plays various
fretted instruments, and the Chateau.
Thierry Ramblers will give the musi-
cal portion Of WMAL's program to.
night. In addition there will be a talk
by Dorsey w. Hyde, jr., secretary of
the Washington Chamber of Commerce
on what Makes Cities Grow"