Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
MINIATURE HOTEL
STATIONS PROBLEM
ntercommunication Without
Wires Offers Status Cues
ton to Commission.

The innovation Of miniature radio
stations for hotels IN distributing radio
programs picked from the air to every
guest room, and for ONCE buildings
as REORGANIZATION systems-both
without the use Of connecting wires
Is offering a complex problem for the
Federal Radio Commission.
These novel developments, which
have just come to light, portend large
savings by eliminating the expensive
and involved process of connecting
louoSpeakers in guest rooms by wire
with master receiving set, In the case
OF hotel radio. The same holds true
for the intercommunicstion systems.
Both actually are complete radio units.
Dummy Aerial.
One method which has come before
the commission for consideration uses
the steel framework of the edifice itself
as the dummy aerial in lieu Of wir-
ing, so grounded as to avoid radiation
OF the signals and interference with
other radio communications. The
other, designed particularly for hotels,
employs the electric light wiring rs
the dummy aerial" system. In both
cases, low-powered transmitting sta
tons OF 10 watts or 50 are necessary.
On the commission, however, there
is divergence Of opinion as to whether
these systems constitute actual radio
within the meaning of the law, and
require the issuance Of Federal licenses
for the tranSmitters, or whether thew
simply are wired. radio" which Is not
radio at all. A specific, request has
been made Of the commission to settle
the issue.
The legal division is seeking to de-
termine whether the law requires the
issuance of licenses for such systems.
The engineering division must settle
the technical question Of whether the
methods are radio or wire communities
ton. and whether there Is danger Of
interference with other modes of radio,
even If the dummy circuits are
grounded.
The De Forest Radio Co. Of New Jer-
sey Is understood to have developed the
intercommunication system using the
steel beams as the transmission me-
dunn. The commission is informed
that in two of New York's hotels this
system Is employed for radio program
distribution. The conventional method
OF radio program distribution works
from central receiving set, with direct
wires to loudspeakers or headphones In
every room.
May Cause Trouble.
The matter Is of importance, it was
said officially. because Of the possible
widespread application. Radio waves,
say the engineers. know no barriers.
and are capable of causing interference
at great distances, even with low
power. The law calls radio interstate
commerce and requires all users of
facilities to procure licenses from the
commission if interference conceivably
can be caused with interstate commerce.
The contention is made, on the other
hand. that the systems are q unique
form OF communication, with the inn
pulses transmitted not into space, but
fed into carrying media like the steel
beams and the electric wiring, such
as wired radio.
Determination Of the question was
thrust squarely before the commission
in communication from MONTAGUE
Lyon, jr., st. Louis attorney, who said
a client had devised the electric light
wiring method, on which patents are
pending. He said he was convinced
that the system was not practical radio
and that licenses therefore are not
necessary for installations, but he
wanted an Interpretation from the
commission before appreciate expendi-
lures were made
Copyright, 1879