Evening star., 1928-12-02

bring about a decided change in
radio reception conditions, de-
spite optimistic reports from the
Federal Radio Commission of con-
tinued improvement generally
throughout the country.
SnarlS and heterodyneS are still
observed in the broadcaSting band,
but the commission holds they
are due largely to the wobbling
OF many stations from assigned
frequencieS, and not to flaws in
the basic plan. In fact, Commits
Sioner o. H. Caldwell, who has
supervision over the first radio
district, which embraces Wash
ington, is quoted by a New York
newspaper as expressing the be-
lief that the difficulties remaining
to be cleared up are psychological
more than technical.
Federal radio inspectors, how
ever, are reporting many cases of
f1agrant off-frequency operation.
More than 20 already have been
turned over to the commission,
which has threatened to make
horrible examples of the most
serious of these offenders. One
of the penalties proposed is CO.
day suspension of the broadcast
ing license of those stations which
have deviated more than 1000
cycleS-tWice the allowable Off
course operation-with the pos
Sibility of summary removal from
the air for consistent or more
fagrant violations.
DeviationS of this magnitude
ruin not only the particular sta
TONS p~o,- m as far as the listen
eTS are concerned, but also the
programs of innocent stations on
the two adjoining wave channels
through which they swing. Proper
equipment would enable the sta
tionS to keep their alignments
accurately and eliminate per-
hapS much of the present criti-
ciSm of the new broadcaSting set
up.
In an effort to determine to
some extent reception conditions
in several of the large broadcast
ing centerS within a radivs of ap-
proXimately 500 miles of Wash
ington, The Star radio department
last week telegraphed the radio
editors of newspapers in these
localities for concise summaries of
the effect of the wave length
Shake-up. The replies, while
varied, were intensely interesting
and gave support substantially to
reports received by the commits
sion from listeners.
The concensuS of these radio
editors is that the slight improve
ment in local reception has been
Offset by increased interference
from cross talk and heterodynlng
of the distant stations.
The situation in New York as
found by Lloyd Jacquet, who di-
rects the radio department of the
New York Herald Tribune, fol-
lows:
Although the new allocations
opened up distance and better
local reception for New York fans,
conditions here are not ideal. Poor
atmospheric conditions have made
it difficult to judge the real dis
tance range. Tuesday night was
the best since the reallocationS
and disclosed the great reception
possibilities on cleared channels
throughout the country with prac-
tically no interference, particularly
from Canada and the Middle
West.
"Heterodyning is most notice
Sble between 800 and 335 meters,
and all below the 250-watt small
power locals particularly are sub
ject to this interference. This
probably is due to inaccurate
frequency adjustments on the
transmitters.
"The general situation, how
ever, is changed but little for the
Metropolitan fans, who limit
themselves listening to the super
broadcasterS and key stations of
the networks.
Baltimore expects considerable
improvement. as a result of the
commissions recent order in
changing temporarily the fire.
quency of WFBR, according to a
message from the radio depart
ment of the Sun, which wired the
following.
With the exception of cross
talk, interference of WFBR with
WBAL, and the inability to get
WRC distinctly at times, condi-
tionS since the reallocations ap-
pear to be the same as formerly.
An experimental operation of
WFBR on a frequency of 1,270
kilocycleS for 10 days beginning
last Wednesday is expected to
improve the cross talk situation"
Jack Rogers, who writes radio
news for the Cincinnati Enquirer,
has this to say about conditions
in his section: Reception has i'm
proved 10 per cent. The service
loss, however, is so per cent. Con-
Sistent volume and satisfactory
clarity still impossible except
from locals.
"Heterodyning persists on most
of the shared channels and some
cleared bands. The loss in local
service is in no way compensated
by the ability to hear few more
out-of-town stations. The real
location plan is unpopular in this
locality"
X X
Down in Atlanta, Ca, the home
of WSB, radio listeners think a
good deal more of the commits
sion'S new plan than those in
Cincinnati. Lambdin Kay, radio
director of the Atlanta Journal
and probably the best known an
nouncer in the South, sent the
following wire in reply to The
Stars r1InrU.