Evening star., 1935-03-10

interference to good recep-
II tion-is about to be subjected
l. Y to a co-ordinated attack hav-
ing as its goal banishment
from the ether waves of all man
made howls and squeals.
Maintaining that millions of listen
ers fail to get full benefit of the high
quality programs now broadcast, be-
cause of these :mpediments, leaders in
radio science have gotten together on
a campaign which they believe will
attain the desired result. Sponsored
by the Radio Manufacturers Associa-
ton, this committee, representing
Uncle Sam along with private indus
try, met in New York last week to
launch the project 1t is the Joint
Committee on Radio Interference
Abatement.
At least one-half of the noises that
mar home reception, engineers main
tain, can be traced to electrical cir
cults and appliances within few hun
dred feet of the listeners set. Prime
offenders are electric heating pads, oil
burners, vacuum cleaners, diSh-WaSh-
ers, direct-current refrigeration, loose
bulbs in floor lamps, defective sockets
and switches, and variety OF ether
household appliances. The listener
himself, therefore, is responsible for
much of the annoyance, while proper
shielding of the electrical household
devices by the manufacturers would
eliminate the balance.
The popularity of all-wave recep-
y,
during the last two years has made the
man-made interference problem more
acute. Moreover, with facsimile and
televiSion looming as new radio con-
tributions curtailment of these spuri-
GUS electrical disturbances becomes in
creasingly necessary, for picture trans
mission IS far more susceptible to such
interferences than sound. Any undue
interferences picked up by picture
reproducer, whether facsimile or tele-
vision, results in distortion of the
image received. The greater the in
reference, the more violent is the
distortion.
At the New York meeting definite
plans were formulated for the cam
piagn. All known sources of radio
WCIC Sl1dI CCA' klOAl
these eminent scientists agreed upon
methods of measuring the suScepti-
bility of radio receivers to interfer-
ence of every character. How to
harness and shield electrical appli-
ances, which actually function as
miniature radio transmitters in send
ing out their spurious emissions, is
another problem that was tackled.
Detailed methods of eliminating or
reducing interference will be assem-
bled and tabulated and plans to util-
ize them will be evolved. The CO.
operation of the electrical industry
in devising means for eliminating the
future manufacture and sale of de-
vices which may cause radio inter-
ference will be sought.
Certain phases of the extensive pro-
gram were assigned to subcommit-
tees who will be able to give intensive
study to the problems. The work of
the committee of scientists is pri-
marily along educational lines and is
based largely upon the theory of CO.
operative effort of all groups and in
dividuals involved.
A MEXICAN BROADCASTING CO.,
"A newest aspirant in the field of
network broadcaSting, has COL
lided with more difficulties in its quest
for radio fame. Reorganized early
this year after shaky start the pre-
ceding Fall, A. B. c. now has curtailed
its operation to include only nine sta
tions along the Eastern seaboard, in
stead of the two dozen it has served,
stretching to the West and the South.
Coupled with this was the disclos-
ure that George B. Storer, young De-
troit broadcaster and industrialist,
who founded American Broadcasting
System, predecessor of A. B. c., had
resigned as general manager. but will
remain as president. He will return
to Detroit, where he operates Sta
ton CKLW, as well as steel-manu-
featuring plant.
Last January, when American
Broadcasting System became en-
broiled in financial difficulties with
its key station, WMCA, which it op-
Grated under lease, there were indica-
tions that the project might collapge,
unable to stand the gaff of rigorous
competition. 1t was promptly reor-