There wasn’t much to see on television in mid-1928, but that wasn’t the point. It was the hunt for a signal that was the main thing.
Television took a leap on May 11, 1928 when WGY, the General Electric Radio station in Pittsburgh, began a regular schedule of telecasts. The station switched from sound to picture broadcasts for a half hour, three times a week. You might see someone’s head and not much more. It transmitted at 24 scanning lines, 20 times a second, so the picture wouldn’t have been very clear even in the best conditions.
Others were experimenting, too, including C. Francis (Frank) Jenkins in Washington with his silhouette pictures, WCFL in Chicago, WLEX outside Boston, and Hugo Gernsback’s WRNY radio station with a transmitter in New Jersey. There was a huge to-do about a station in Yonkers but the idea never panned out; it doesn't appear the backers applied for a license from the Radio Commission, which was wrestling with finding appropriate frequencies for visual broadcasting. And Harold E. Smith's W2XBU was given permission by the Commission to go ahead.
This spot on the internet is going to devote its space for the next number of months on those formative years, from mid-1928 through to 1929 (1930 and onward is elsewhere on this blog).
Some stations experimented with sending pictures, but the transmissions were more like sending faxes. Still, at times it was being called “television” to the annoyance of purists. WMCA in New York and WTMJ in Milwaukee were in this category.
This post gives a roundup of highlights in television in June 1928, with a brief look at May.
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1928
Regular Television Broadcasts Announced
NEW YORK, May 10.—The General Electric Company tomorrow afternoon will start a regular schedule of television broadcasting for the benefit of experimenters and amateurs who have constructed television sets.. Between 1:30 and 2 o’clock tomorrow, Eastern daylight time, the General Electric will broadcast a television program over WGY from the laboratories at Schenectady. Hereafter on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons at the same time WGY will broadcast for television sets.
Faces of men talking, laughing or smoking will be broadcast tomorrow. No elaborate television effects will be attempted in the near future.
WGY broadcast a few moments of television tonight so that listeners might recognize the peculiar sounds of such action by radio. The signal is an intermittent, high-pitched whirring sound, the pitch varying with the action before the transmitter. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 11)
SUNDAY, MAY 13, 1928
A series of radio television demonstrations for the public is to begin about June 10 over the 326-meter wave length of WRNY, according to an announcement yesterday [13] by the inventor, Theodore H. Nakken, President of the Nakken Television Corporation of Brooklyn, a recently formed subsidiary of the Pilot Electric Manufacturing Company. The first tests of the televisor transmitter and receiver, designed for use on the channels of the speech and music broadcaster, are to begin late this week in Brooklyn. Laboratory tests will be followed immediately by tests over greater distances using WRNY, Mr. Nakken said. The first public exhibition is scheduled to be held in Hotel Roosevelt early next month.
The televisor transmitter will be linked with the WRNY control apparatus in the Roosevelt and electrical impulses corresponding to the object or face before the instrument will be sent, over a wire to the WRNY broadcaster at Coytesville, N. J. From that point the radio waves will carry the image back to the Roosevelt to operate the televisor receiver, said Mr. Nakken.
“My object is television which can be employed by every broadcasting station under present conditions, namely, the ten kilocycle variety of television, rather than television which requires a much wider channel,” he continued. “The wider or more perfect television might be better to look at, but there is no available radio band at present for its application because the channels are already crowded.”
Mr. Nakken said his machine is to work on the principle of more perfect individual images or “scannings” but only ten of them per second. The one drawback will be a slight flicker as one image passes off the screen and the next begins, but this must be accepted as one of the limitations due to the impossibility of obtaining a wider television band under the present overcrowded condition of the radio waves, he asserted. One of the limitations of “ten kilocycle” television is said to be the impossibility of transmitting very rapid motion. (New York Times, May 14)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1928
Within a month WRNY will begin a regular television service, Theodore Nakken, inventor, announced in a talk from that station last evening [16]. He warned enthusiasts, however, against the belief that public events, such as parades or baseball games, would be televisioned in the near future. This will not be possible unless some radical improvements are made in existing devices, he said. (Ben Gross, Daily News, May 17)
SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1928
IS TELEVISION HERE?
Present views of leaders in the radio industry on the subject of television are given in a symposium recently printed in the New York Times. The persons interviewed are eminently qualified to place television in its true light. Their statements are authoritative. Here are a few excerpts from their recently expressed views:
"We are not now manufacturing television apparatus for the home, because, frankly, we do not yet know how to make a simplified and low-priced television receiver practicable for home use. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that within the next few years such equipment and service will be developed and made available to the home.”—David Sarnoff, vice president and general manager, Radio Corporation of America.
"Radio vision of moving objects is already an achievement of several laboratories and eventually will be available for the home. But between the scientific accomplishment and the widespread commercial application of television the steps involved seem at present so complex that even the most rapid development of the art can hardly promise satisfactory television service before two or three years at least."—O. H. Caldwell, Federal radio commissioner. “The practicality of television by means of radio has been demonstrated, and it offers a field for future scientific and commercial development,”—M. P. Rice, General Electric Company. "There is no doubt that the development of television will go forward and that eventually television will be commercially used."—Dr. J. H. Dellinger, United States Bureau of Standards.
"While marvelous tests have been accomplished in television it should be understood that these are only experiments. I hold a considerable measure of doubt as to whether television will for many years to come be a matter of popular appeal in American homes.”—L. S. Baker, National Association of Broadcasters.
“Any reasonable-minded man is warranted in predicting that television will come, but let the public know the facts: It is not here now nor anywhere near it."—R. M. Klein, general manager Fada Radio. “I am willing to go on record to the effect that practical, commercial, reasonably priced television equipment for the home will not be on the market within five years, and very likely not within 25 years.”—Dr. Lee de Forest.
"In my opinion prospective radio buyers who postpone their purchases until such a time as television is a practical accomplishment will, unquestionably, deny themselves at least several years of splendid radio entertainment."—Sam Picard, Federal radio commissioner. (Boston Globe)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1928
Radio Pictures Broadcast, Picked Up by Amateurs
WMCA Puts On Co-ordination of Photographs and Talk
In the first co-ordination of radio entertainment and photographic transmission, pictures of Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, an episode in the last Tunney-Demsep [sic] fight and the group that gave the program, were broadcast by Station WMCA, New York, last night [23].
The pictures were transmitted by the Rayfoto system, developed by Austin G. Coley, and formed an integral part of a special radio program presented by a group of artists and speakers.
Several amateur operators, including Presley Astin, of 62 West Thirty-ninth Street, were successful in receiving the pictures. Future combinations of sound and picture broadcasting are to be presented by Station WMCA on a regular schedule for a number of weeks. (New York Herald Tribune, May 24)
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1928Shortage of Radio Channels Seen as Television Obstacle
WASHINGTON, May 27—(AP)— If radio vision is to be made available, like radio sound is today, allocation experts foresee a new problem in finding sufficient space for television channels in the dwindling broadcast spectrum.
For adequate television service of permanent interest to the public the allocation of bands 100 kilocycles wide is essential, Dr. Alfred Goldsmith, chief broadcast engineer of the Radio Corporation of America, told the federal radio commission [on May 14]. A 100-kilocycle band today will afford 10 telegraph or 10 telephone channel and with the perfection of transmitting apparatus soon will accommodate 20 channels. Capt. S. C. Hooper, naval radio engineer, says: “Dr. Goldsmith says that a band width of five kilocycles is required for a 24-line picture, 20 kilocycles for a 48-line picture and 80 kilocycles for a 96-line picture.
“When it is considered that even fairly crude newspaper halftone illustrations have from 150 to 300 lines it will be appreciated that pictures of continuing interest to ‘lookers-in’ will required at least 100 kilocycle bands,” he said.
“Even this will suffice merely for showing action of two or three figures clearly with a certain amount of background detail.”
Dr. Goldsmith has requested assignment of 20 channels, 100 cycles wide, in the frequencies ranging from 1525 to 17,150 kilocycles for experimental work in television broadcasting.
SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1928
WANT SHORT WAVES FOR TELEVISION
RCA Asks 20 Channels for Experiments
Recent bearings of the Federal Radio Commission on the a1location of trans-oceanic short wave channels indicate that television, although not here now, may be reasonably expected as a future development of broadcasting. This fact was brought out by Alfred N. Goldsmith, chief broadcast engineer of the Radio Corporation of America, who has applied for 20 television frequencies in the following wave band: Between 75 and 196.7 meters for urban service; 45.11 and 73.17 meters for suburban and rural service, and 17.49 and 35.39 metera for international service. Each frequency would be about 100 kilocycles wide, or some five times the width of the ordinary radio telegraph channel.
“Intensive development work of a experimental nature has already been carried on and transmission of television material is at hand through confidential experiments and transmissions carried on at Schenectady, Pittsburgh and New York. In other words, television is not a vague and remote project, but, while still experimental, is an imminent and plausible probability. Indeed, a fair parallel is to compare television in its present state of development with ordinary broadcasting in its condition in 1921. The wise policy of the Government which encouraged the development of broadcasting in 1921, if similarly applied to television at the present time, will lead to a tremendous and desirable growth of that art as a service to the public,” Dr Goldsmith declared.
Want Short Waves for Experiments
“The granting of experimental licenses on the various recommended television broadcasting channels will encourage a rapid development of this new art and its corresponding coordination with broadcasting, which will lead to the provision of a completely satisfactory and hitherto unobtainable radio sight-and-sound service to the peop1e of the United States and even of the entire world.
“To develop the three basic types of television broadcasting requires permission from the Federal Radio Commission to explore experimentally the television transmitting capabilities of a considerable number of 100-kilocycle bands between 1500 and approximately 17,000 kilocycles 199-9 and 17.7 meters). We know very little of the television transmission capability of these bands and we shall never determine how to utilize them effectively for the entertainment and instruct1on of the public by television unless encouragement is given those planning to develop the art, through authorization experimentally to transmit television material on such wavelengths and to determine conclusively the sort of service given in urban, suburban and rural and international television services, on eaoh of these bands.” (Boston Globe)
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1928
Improved Television Sought As Scientists Work Overtime
BY C. E. BUTTERFIELD
NEW YORK, June 2. (AP)—The world is moving toward television—how fast only time will determine.
Much must be learned and done before this newest form of radio art can be brought into step with sound broadcasting. Yet scientists are working long hours in an effort to perfect the radio moving picture, aided to a certain extent by amateur experimenters.
One of the latest forward steps was the announcement of actual television broadcasts by WGY, Schenectady, on a wavelength of 379.5 meters. These broadcasts are be made each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 12:30 Eastern time. Whether visual transmission will become as popular, almost overnight as did sound broadcasting depends largely upon the product delivered to the "seer." In the early days of radio the music that came from the receiver did not compare at all favorably with the output of modern apparatus.
A similar situation now prevails in television. The movies transmitted are crude, scientists admit.
Like other forms of radio, the amateur is taking an active interest in television. At every opportunity he is contributing his small part toward the ultimate result. Parts may be available within a short time for the home experimenter, and if he takes to moving picture transmission as he did to sound broadcast the day that television is as much of an actuality as music from the air may be much closer than present developments seem to indicate. The radio movie now is not much more than a silhouet. But subjects are recognizable, even where the pictures have been sent across the Atlantic. Improvements are expected by which it is hoped that the results will be more lifelike even than an ordinary photograph.
While the picture transmitting apparatus is somewhat complicated, the receiver comparatively simple. It generally is attached to an ordinary sound set. It contains receiving tubes and a light tube which changes the electrical impulses into light rather than sound.
Scientists are spending long hours in laboratories in attempting to overcome obstacles.
Prominent among them are three men who see great possibilities for the radio movies.
It is Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson's apparatus, which is being used in the WGY experiments. These broadcasts may be up on any television receiver, but are being made primarily to aid engineers in advancing the art. Dr. Alexanderson, whose contributions to radio date back several years, has developed a televisor that produces fairly legible pictures.
At Washington, C. Francis Jenkins, another radio picture pioneer, does not hesitate to predict that television will be available in some form by Christmas through an inexpensive receiver. Like other television sets, his reproducer takes the place of the loud speaker in the sound receiver.
Another investigator, John L. Baird, is the most active of the scientists abroad. Pictures from his transmitter have been sent from London and picked up on this side of the Atlantic, In connection with Baird's work, recent announcement was made that an American company had been formed to make television equipment available for amateur use. The backers said they hoped to broadcast pictures through a chain of stations.
Television should not be confused with telephoto, which deals only with photographs or "stills." The same problems do not enter into this method of light transmission. The time element there is not so important, although a single cabinet size photograph has been sent over the air in 90 seconds. In radio movies at least 16 complete pictures must be sent per second to give a recognizable result.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1928First Television State In U.S. To Be Built Here; Syndicate Asks City Permit
Two Huge Towers To Be Built Atop Proctor’s
America first large television station, capable of broadcasting and receiving across continents and oceans to and from far corners of the world, will be located in Yonkers if city authorities act favorably on an application for a building permit for two tall towers atop Proctor's Theatre Building.
With the revelation today, it also was disclosed that research work has been going on quietly on the Proctor roof for more than a year, and tests also have been made at the Water Tower atop Nodine Hill, and at a point along the Palisades opposite Dyckman Street.
Herbert Z. Fokress of 141 Caryl Avenue, representative of a syndicate of American millionaires, recently acquired the American rights for the English television invention for his company on a trip to London, and on his return admitted the possibility of location of the company's station in this city.
Tests Now Under Way
Today's revelation, however, show that the syndicate had a staff of three government licensed operators conducting research work in eight-hour shifts for a period of about six months, with an expensive sending and receiving apparatus housed on the roof of Proctor's which, as a result of the thorough tests, has been chosen as the best location of the proposed station. The Tahiti Island in the Pacific, Australia and other far-away point were communicated with in the tests, it was learned.
These operations were dlscontinued a month ago after negotiations had been started with Building Inspector James W. Armstrong.
The request to Mr. Armstrong for a permit discloses that two ornamental steel towers will shoot into the air to height of 100 feet, the cost of erecting the station being approximately $75,000.
While Mr. Armstrong has not made any decision on the project he has informed agents of the television syndicate that the plans are all right as far as the apparent sole restriction contained In the building code is concerned. That restriction concerns the area of the base of towers.
No Bar in City Laws
What apparently is keeping the the decision in abeyance is uncertainty as to whether the plan is in conflict with other building or zoning regulations, and it is said officials so far have been unable to find anything under the law governing erection of roof towers for such us a involved in the television station.
Under the company's plane, the Yonkers broadcasting towers would be a remote control station, operated from New York City, with all pictures and other transmissions passing through the station.
So far as is known, no tieup has yet been made or broached for use of television service in the theatre. More than a year ago, it was learned agents of the syndicate obtained, permission to use the Proctor roof for their experiment. The Water Tower had been disapproved because of expense involved in installing necessary electrical power, and the Palisades site also failed to meet the favor of the experts. At the conclusion of their tests, however, they reported the Proctor roof as ideal for the television station.
Tests Here Cover World
A network of wireless experts was thrown over the world for the tests, apparently, and communications were established in code. Atmospheric conditions, climate and other technical conditions were found favorable. Then tests were made to determine whether the station would cause interference with radio receiving sets in Yonkers, and the experts are said to have reported this had been eliminated after many adjustments. They also are said to have eliminated interference of the constant flashing and clicking in the penthouse stop the Proctor building, where the two 50-horsepower elevator motors are located.
Remote Control Necessary
The purpose of locating remote control station in Yonkers instead of the station itself in New York is of the interference in the latter city caused by the numerous radio stations.
One of the Proctor would extend 100 feet into the air from the front roof. The other would be on the lower rear roof, but would be taller, to reach the same height as its companion.
The theatre building itself Is 102 feet high, and the area of its site is 27,720 square feet. The plans for the towers are said to call for bases of 256 feet apiece, so that they would be well within the limit set the building code of 10 per cent of the lot area.
The company planning the station is to be known as the Baird American Television Company, Inc., Board being the name of the English inventor. According to Mr. Pokress, financing of the company involves “many millions” of dollars. In the syndicate he represents, he said, are, among others, Charles Izanstark of Chicago, Nathan Feldstern of Philadelphia, president of the American Radio Stores Corporation and Raymond Rosen of Philadelphia. A month ago Mr. Pokress said it was hoped to have the station erected and ready for operation in 60 days.
He said the company plans to retail television sets for use by amateurs, who, he said, will not require licenses. (Yonkers Statesmen)
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1928
WCFL Is First to Employ Television
Chicago, Ill., June 7 (U.P.).—The Chicago Federation of Labor radio station, WCFL, will blaze the trail in television broadcasting on Friday, June 15, according to Ed Nockels, secretary of the Chicago Federation. George Schoenberg, radio engineer, selected WCFL, located on a navy pier, as the only Chicago station adapted to this new form of broadcast. Equipment is being installed in preparation for the experiment.
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1928
GREEN BUILDING PERMIT ISSUEDPermit for a new building on Star island to house additional operators and other employes of Col. E. H. R. Green, who announced recently that be will make Miami Beach headquarters for his television experiments, has been issued to John B. Orr, Colonel Green’s contractor. The building will be erected immediately, at an estimated cost of $34,000.
The experiments which are expected to be started early next fall, will be made in conjunction with the work of Colonel Green's laboratories and radio broadcasting station at Round Hills, South Dartmouth, Mass., now being operated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
An attempt will be made to send north by radio special motion pictures of Miami Beach. (Miami News)
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1928
CHICAGO RADIO USED TO BROADCAST PHOTO
Chicago, June 12 (AP)—The first demonstration of Chicago-made television apparatus was given today at radio station WCFL.
The demonstration marked the successful development of a device which its inventors claim to be more readily adaptable to the average radio receiver than the equipment already in use. It was designed by M. L. Hayes and U. A. Sanabria of Chicago.
Application to transmit pictures over a 195-meter wave has been made to the federal radio commission.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1928
STATIC ELIMINATED. RADIO MEN BELIEVE
But Television Still Remote, Expert at Trade Conference Declares.
By OWEN L. SCOTT.
[Freelance newspaper writer]
CHICAGO, June 13.—Static is being licked, eliminating one of the biggest handicaps of radio, but television, regarded by many as the next step forward in the industry, is remote as a practical proposition.
This about sums up the situation confronting the radio trade gathered here for its annual show of advance models. Displays indicate that the industry has taken a big step forward within the past year from an engineering standpoint—with the trend toward all-electrical sets, simple to operate, compact in form and just about fool-proof.
Just one demonstration of television is to be seen. It is not particularly convincing in its practical aspects as a luxury for the home. H. B. Richmond, director of the engineering division of the Radio Manufacturers' association and for 20 years an expert in radio engineering, believes that the television development still is a long way off, except as an experimental move. [...]
"Television has received a good deal publicity than its practical aspects seem to warrant. The sending of individual pictures by wire or radio is entirely different. That is very practical, but television is much more complicated and, except from an experimental engineering standpoint, has little practical interest.
“The image you see now is only about one and one-half inches square and cannot even include an entire person. To enlarge is requires a great deal of equipment. The result is expensive and unsatisfactory from the standpoint of the average person."
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1928
Try Television on 40 Kilocycle Band
Experiments in Preparation for Establishing Television for Radio Audience Made
WASHINGTON, June 16.—(AP)—Successful experiments preparatory to the establishment of television service for its radio audience have been conducted by Station WLEX, Boston, John Stewart, manager, has informed the Federal Radio Commission.
The experiments have involved the use of 48 scanning lines repeated 18 times per second In transmitting pictures. This takes a band 40 kilocycles wide in the short wave spectrum. Mr. Stewart told the commission it was possible to transmit television on a 10 kilocycle band by using 24 scanning lines repeated 20 times per second. This method, however, necessitates the loss of the higher frequencies with a considerable loss of detail, he declares.
Mr. Alfred Goldsmith, chief engineer of the Radio Corporation of America, recently told the commission that channels 100 kilocycles wide are needed for adequate television service.
Forty or so meters are the logical wavelengths for television, Mr. Stewart said. The WLEX television transmitter is keyed for 40 meters. This can be changed but the short waves are necessary for successful picture transmission, he asserts. WLEX has not been on the air with its television signal but has conducted its tests through monitoring the signal.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928
Television Set Will Be Put in Here
WILBUR JERMAN, technical manager of radio station KWJJ, announced yesterday [16] that within two months the station will begin installation of television equipment for broadcast of small pictures on a wavelength of 54 meters.
Jerman's experimental license, 7XAO, for operation on 54 meters, will be used for the broadcast. This being the only experimental license of the kind in the Northwest, several requests have been made of the owner for television experiments.
In response, Jerman promises two broadcasts of one half hour each week. Musical accompaniments will be undertaken by KWJJ [W7XAO] on 250 meters.
Considerable revision and construction of equipment will be made within the construction period, the technician said.
In recent issues of the radio magazine, QST, designs have been shown of a comparatively simple television hookup. Recently an Eastern concern announced moderately priced television sets which are adaptable to ordinary broadcast receiving sets. The report indicated that the machines would be moderately priced.
“The system of transmitting and receiving the small pictures, not more than an inch square, is simple," Jerman says. “In short wave reception of pictures a three-tube regenerative short wave receiver is used, and in place of a loud speaker is used a neon tube, and in front of this tube is a screening disc in synchronism with the disc at the station. Just ahead of the disc is one-inch window in which the image appears.
"In a few weeks I will be able to give more details as to equipment and Installation." (Oregon Journal, June 17)
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1928
WCFL MAKES SUCCESSFUL BROADCAST OF TELEVISION
CHICAGO, June 19—(AP)—A successful broadcast of voice and television at the same time was made tonight over station WCFL, the Chicago Federation of Labor, in an experiment under a special permit issued by Samuel Pickard, the Federal Radio Commissioner.
A view of the head and shoulders of E. N. Nockels, secretary of the Chicago federation, was broadcast with his voice and received by the inventors of the process, M.J. Hayes and Ulysses Znarbria [sic], over their receiving apparatus located several miles away from Navy Pier, where WCFL maintains its station.
Officials of WCFL said they would seek permission now for a permanent license to broadcast television.
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1928
BROADCAST OF MOVIES HERE JULY 2
Prof. Jenkins Announces the Bginning [sic] of Regular Program in Capital.Washington, June 24.—A program of motion pictures will be broadcast from the Jenkins’ Laboratory, 1519 Connecticut avenue northwest, July 2, at 8 o'clock. The program will last for an hour and will be sent through television on a wavelength of 46.7 meters, which will enable amateurs in the United States and Canada to pick it up. The pictures will be broadcast at the rate of 15 a second and will contain 48 lines to the picture.
The performance will be repeated each Monday night with a different set of pictures. As the demand grows, the number of performances a week will be increased to three. For a time, the moving pictures will depict only simple action. Later, those with plots will be used.
During the past three weeks, the moving pictures to be shown July 2 have been broadcast a number of times between the laboratory and the home of Prof. C. Francis Jenkins, 5502 Sixteenth street northwest, where they were witnessed by private audiences. The reception was said to have been entirely satisfactory.
Gens [Jeanne] Marie Belote, 6-year-old daughter of Theodore Belote, 1612 Longfellow street, and Catherine and Constance Rounds, daughters of Lieut. Edward Rounds, engineer in the Navy Department, acted for the pictures to be shown July 2. They will be from 5 to 15 minutes long.
The amateur radio operator can equip his set with a picture receiver for $10 or $15, Dr. Jenkins stated. The laboratory, however, he stated, does not manufacture or sell them. It is broadcasting the pictures only in the interest of television. Yesterday [22] Dr. Jenkins gave an account of his work with television before the Washington Round Table luncheon held at University Club. (Washington Post)
CONFERENCE SOON ON TELEVISION AND RELAY ASSIGNMENTS
Washington, June 23—A conference is soon to be called by the Federal Radio Commission of applicants for high frequency assignments to be used for relay broadcasting and television.
The commission has received 40 applications for the 18 channels available, and the applicants will be called on to show the "public interest, convenience or necessity" they would serve if granted assignments.
Already the commission has conferred with engineers about the bands specified by the International Radio Convention for high frequency broadcasting, relay broadcasting and television.
Here are the frequency bands which may be assigned with the approximate distance range for each:
6,000 to 6,150 kilocycles—distance 500 miles at day, 4,000 miles at night.
9,500 to 9,600 kilocycles—distance 1,200 miles at day, 5,000 miles at night.
11,700 to 11,900 kilocycles—distance 2,500 miles at day, 5,000 miles at night.
15,100 to 15,350 kilocycles—distance 2,500 miles at day, 5,000 miles at night.
17,750 to 17,800 kilocycles—distance 3,000 miles at day, 6,000 miles at night.
21,450 to 21,550 kilocycles—distance 4,000 miles at day, 7,000 miles at night.
Television Assignments.
For television, the engineers suggested that experimental development stations be licensed between 4.500 and 5,000 kilocycles, on five 100 kilocycle channels, one channel to be assigned to each zone or night use, and all five channels to be assigned to each zone for day use.
In addition, one 100 kilocycle channel in the band, between 15,100 and 15,350, or the 11,700-11,900 band, and two 100 kilocycle channels above 23,000 kilocycles are recommended for television experimental work.
Channel Shortage.
The engineers suggested that due to the shortage of available channels, that only the most important applications should be considered on the following basis:
1. Overseas and international relay broadcasting.
2. Long Distance broadcasting beyond reliable range of national broadcast network between 550 and 1,300 kilocycles.
3. Television experimental and development work.
4. National relay broadcasting (within United States).
Another thing that the Commission may take into consideration is that the high frequencies are primarily valuable due to their great carrying range at low cost, and that they cause international interference. Therefore, it is suggested by the engineers, they should be assigned for long distance uses when low frequencies are not practical. (Brooklyn Eagle, June 24)
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1928
Policy of Encouragement Officially Evolved With Reference to Television
BY DEANE KINTNER
NEWS from Chicago that the television broadcast foretold last Sunday resulted in transmission of a speaker voice and likeness simultaneously over a distance of several miles invited attention to this new phase of radio from the viewpoint of the Federal Radio Commission.
In this connection, latest advices from Washington are that a policy of encouragement will be followed by the commission with respect to television, and every assistance possible given to those who are developing this new branch of the radio art, so far as it does not interfere with other established services.
To this end the commission has already granted one or two temporary licenses for television transmission. Among the stations engaged in this work are WOR at Newark, WFCL at Chicago, and C. Francis Jenkins, Washington inventor. The two stations have been working on wave lengths outside the broadcasting band, but Jenkins, who has not yet been assigned a channel, has been operating in the broadcast band while awaiting permission to use a specific wave length.
Cleveland? Not Yet.
So far as can be learned, no Cleveland station has yet made formal application for a license to transmit visual matter and, in fact, only a few persons have so far indicated their desire to go into this branch of the industry. The Radio Corporation of America, at the recent hearings on short waves, asked for a number of channels on which to transmit pictures, but the commission has not yet made any decision on such applications.
The various members of the commission have expressed interest in radio vision, and it has been indicated that no handicaps will be placed in the way of experimenters who are engaged in perfecting the transmission and reception of pictures. It is not anticipated that any permanent licenses will be granted for television until the commission is assured of its perfection, but temporary permits will be granted freely.
Away Up or Down
A report recommending that certain channels, some on long waves and some on short, be set aside for television has been submitted to the commission by its technical adviser, Capt. S. C. Hooper. It seems highly improbable that television will be permitted in the broadcasting band because it requires, in its present stage of development, a much wider channel for a picture than for voice or music. A band of at least 100 kilocycles is required for the transmission of a picture of moderate size; because of this necessity it is deemed impractical to permit transmission within the range of 10 kilocycle channels now assigned to voice transmission.
Statements made at the recent short wave hearing indicated that television was rapidly being perfected and that within a much shorter time than the public generally anticipated it would be possible to offer a complete picture service.
As soon as transmission of moving pictures, toward which a number of experimenters are working, is perfected, the newer art probably will be linked up with broadcasting as it is now known, so that listeners can see as well as hear artists as they perform. Probably the first such entertainments to be given will be from talking motion pictures.
Radio Movies, and Yet—
The WCFL broadcast of voice and image, using apparatus described in some detail last Sunday, was the most ambitious effort to date to provide listeners with "radio movies.”
However, as pointed out then, set owners should not be too greatly exercised, for the image transmitted was very small and somewhat indistinct, and it was, of course, subject to all such radio troubles as fading static and distortion at the transmitting and receiving end.
Part of this distortion of pictures through the air tends to be introduced by the fact that the receiver runs a little faster or a little slower than the transmitter. Perforated scanning discs at either end must be perfectly synchronized to give a clear reproduction.
At WCFL, in co-operation with the Carter Radio Co., this is being accomplished within close limits by using the 60-cycle pulsations of lighting current to control the speed of apparatus at both ends of the ethereal line. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1928
TELEVISION IN PLANE TESTED
Chicago, June 27. (AP)—Passengers in a tri-motored monoplane cruising over Chicago yesterday [26] listened to the voices and saw the faces of persons several miles away in a radio studio.
It was the first successful experiment in airplane reception of television. The broadcasting was from the studios of WCFL, the Chicago Federation of Labor station.
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1928
MAKES HOME-MADE SET
Bloomsburg, Pa., June 29. –(UP)—Louis W. Buckalew, 16, last night [28] received a television picture at the home of his parents. The picture comprised 40 lines and represented a man sending a message.
Buckalew is an amateur radio operator, and he has received word that his station has been heard in Holland. He has heard stations in New Zealand, Russia and England.
[Note: Buckalew was born Dec. 12, 1912 in Bloomsberg and died Dec. 29, 1974 in Orlando. He was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army and retired to Florida where he belonged to the Elks and the Masons. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.]
HAROLD C. SMITH GRANTED PERMIT
Bacon, June 28.—Harold C. Smith, of this city, has been granted a permit from the Federal Radio Commission, it was announced here today, to set up a television transmitting station [W2XBU] on Mount Beacon.
Smith has a staff of three men to aid him and his application stated that he has sufficient capital to finance the venture.
WTMJ TO GIVE DAILY PICTURE BROADCASTS
MILWAUKEE, Wis.—(AP)—A license to broadcast photographs has been obtained by WTMJ, transmission to begin about August 1.
Using the Cooley Rayfoto system, WTMJ expects to arrange to daily schedules of picture transmission, one during the day and the other about midnight. The pictures may be picked u on an ordinary receiver, provided it has photograph reproducer.
WTMJ is the first station wets of New York, where WMCA has been sending out “stills” for some time, to take up the new art, which some experiments see as the preliminary step toward television, or radio movies. (Greenfield Recorder)
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1928
RADIO CENTER IN NEW YORK PUTS TELEVISION ON MARKET
Cortlandt Street Shop Windows Already Have Tubes, Scanning Discs, Amplifiers and Other Apparatus on Display.
By C. E. BUTTERFIELD
Associates Press Radio Editor
NEW YORK, June 30—(AP)—Television may not just around the corner, but Cortlandt street, the Fifth avenue of radio, apparently thinks something is in the air.Cortlandt street, the radio center of downtown New York, has been tempting the never-satisfied experimenter with television apparatus for some time. What is to be expected of this equipment can be determined only after a trial. In the display windows are kits containing television tubes, scanning disks, rheostats and three-stage resistance amplifiers that build up the signal which actuates the light-receiving tube.
Except for the amplifiers, which are standard, the equipment is crude to a certain extent, particularly when compared with some of the sound apparatus. However, if it will bring in television signals, it has done its part toward opening radio’s eye.
What Diagram Reveals.
The diagram of a television amplifier and reproducer indicates that its construction is not so difficult after all. Reception largely is a question of finding such signals on the air. WGY, Schenectady, now is broadcasting "radio movies" each Sunday evening after the regular program, while WLEX, Boston, is planning experiments on 40 to 80 meters. WRNY, New York, also is preparing to send out television signals.
However, the "telemovie" now is at the stage where only the radio fan with wide experience and an inventive turn of mind is in a position to take up experimentation Much patience will be required to get the apparatus functioning properly.
One kit prospectus makes this statement:
“Now that television is being broadcast, it is possible to receive pictures with simple apparatus. Results will depend on the distance of the broadcaster and upon the efficiency of the tuning system of a sound receiver, which is used to tune into the picture broadcasts. Any good set that will receive television signals audibly will give satisfactory results.
New Form Amplifier Described.
"As transformers are unsuited for amplifying all frequencies, a resistance coupled amplifier plays an important part. The audio amplifier of the set is not used, the television intensifier being cut in at the detector output. If the set does not have a detector jack, one must be provided.
"The television tube is connected to the output of the last amplifier tube in place of the speaker. This tube is placed at the rear of the scanning disk, which is set on the shaft of a motor, and a small window is mounted in front or in the rear of the disk. The speed of the disk must be kept in step with that at the transmitter. Speed is regulated by a rheostat, cut into the line feeding the motor. For close adjustment two rheostats will be needed.
How to Get Best Volume.
“Before actually connecting the amplifier to the receiver, it is advisable to tune in to the television signals to get the best volume. Then the audio amplifier is disconnected and the resistance amplifier cut in at the detector jack. The switch controlling the motor is turned on and the disk speeds up slowly, the operator watching for signals through the window. As the disk approaches critical speed, flashes will be thrown across the window and figures will appear when the correct speed is reached. The picture will remain until the speed steps out of synchronization again, but by careful adjustment of the motor rheostat it can be brought back.
"The amount of illumination of the television lamp is governed by the output consumption of the tube and the strength of the signals. In the resistance amplifier two hi-mu tubes are preferable in the first two steps with a power tube in the last step."
