Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-22
FAvORS K|LOCYCLE
TO REPLACE METER
Federal Radio Commission
for Change in Designa-
ton of Waves.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Upon the advice of its chief engi-
neer. DR.. j. H. Dellinger, the Federal
Radio Commission has placed its final
official stamp upon the use OF kilo-
cycles instead of meters as the proper
way to designate radio waves.
The word kilocycle need cause no
dismay among radio listeners. Re-
ceiying sets elaborated in meters are
scarce today, most of them being dialed
with arbitrary numbers or with kilo-
cycle figures. Nevertheless, the change
ordered by the Radio Commission
means a departure in radio practice
for many persons schooled IN the OBJ
solete meter Technology.
The difference between the two is
simple. "Kilo" means a thousand and
| "cycle" means one complete alterna-
ton. The number of kilocycles means
the number of thousand times that
the rapidly alternating current In the
antenna or the set repeats its floW In
| either direction-in one second The
meter is the measure of the lengtA of
the wave or the distance from the
| crest of wave to the crest of the next
| adjacent wave.
Two Declared Complimentary.
AS explained by DR.. Dellinger, who is
radio chief of the Bureau of Standards
and one of the foremost American radio
engineers, the two are Complementary
In his radio handbook, a standard
work, he points out that since all cleo
! trio waves travel at the same velocity
| (l86,0 miles per second, or $780, 900
| kilometerS per Second) the shorter the
length of the waves the larger the
number of them which will pass by a
given point during second. To de-
termine the kilocycle rating CORE
spending to the number of meters, or
vice versa, divide 100000 by the num-
ber
The passage Of the electric wave from
the radio transmitter to the receiving
sets antenna is practically instanta-
neouS.
Radio scientists look upon the meter
designation diSparagingly because me-
tiers are not exact enough. The fire.
quency of kilocycles can be measured
readily, but arriving at the same wave
length in meters is a devious process
Using 100000 as the number to be
divided is using a figure that is only
approximate The rule is based on the
velocity divided by frequency, and the
velocity of radio waves in space, &C.
cording to the best data, is really
299,820 kilometers per second.
Believed Used by Hertz.
DR.. Dellinger believes that meter.
came into such general use as a mere
matter of habit When Heinrich Hertz
in 1888, was following out Maxwell!
wave propagation theories in order Il
produce electric waves, he found i
easier to measure the wave length
approximately than the frequency O
emanations exactly. Marconi, tryinl
later to adapt radio to practical use
simply took over the idea and it be
came the usual measurement methoC
of the old school of wireless.
The use Of kilocycles was givel
standing as the authoritative Ameri
can practice when, on the recommen
dation of the Bureau of Standards tn
1928 national radio conference adopte,
a resolution that stations be rated il
kilocycles. The commission Sanctione
the idea shortly after it was organizes
early last year, but continued to us
both designations alternately.
Regarded Exact Rating.
The international radio-telegrapl
conference of last year decided to us
kilocycles to get exact ratings and t
regard meters as being only approx
mate. The American Radio Rela
League, the organization of the vas
army of amateurs, is instructing II
members to think in kilocycles rathe
than meters.
The commission has also agreed t