Evening Star Newspaper, October 24, 1926, Page 39

- NEW RADID STATION - TAKES $05 BAND. WOBB Jumps to 555.2 Me- < ters, Reserved for Ships in Distress. The seizure for broadcasting pur- DOSEs of a length in the “‘safety zone” bands reserved by the Govern- ment for SOS signals, is the latest problem to develop in the United States ether tangle. The seized wave leugth, which is outside the normal broadeast bands, was taken by WOBB, A new plant constructed and operated by the Longacre Engineering and Construction Co. of Chicago, and Jicensed by the Department of Com- merce last week. The length chosen for the s 2 meters. | partment has no over the wave lengths to be used by broadcasting stations there had formerly been set aside the bands between 545 and 650 meters for the exclusive use of ships that were compelleg to transmit distress signals. The channel for these calls is 600 meters, but sufficient adjacent wave lengths on either side of that wave, were reserved to prevent any possible interference with the recep- tion of SOS signals. Until station WOBB went outside of the nopmal broadcasting bands, it was learffed, no other United States ster had taken advantage of nt radio-lawless conditions Chicago, it was pointed out, is such that there are absolutely no additional wave lengths available in the broad- casting bands for new stations. In addition to the licensing of sta- tion WOBB, the Department of Com- merce has licensed three other sta- tions as follows: WKBR, Charles J. Heiser, Auburn, N. Y., 225 meters; WKBS, Permil N. Nelson, Galesburg, IlL, 361.2 meters, and WOCB, the Or- lando Broadcasting Co., Orlando, Fla., 293.7 meters, Four new cases of wave jumping also are reported by the department. Station WLWL, New York, has an- nounced officially a change from 288.3 meters to 384.4 meters; KFWM, Oak- land, Calif.. has jumped from 206.8 to 315.6 meters; KFWI. South San Francisco has jumped from 226 meters to 249.9 meters and has chang- ed its location to San Francisco, and WCSH, Portland. Me., has jumped from 256 to 499.7 meters. RADIO’S BEST OFFERINGS TONIGHT. Musical program from Capi- tol_Theater, New York City, WRC, WEAF and other sta- tions, 7:20 to 9:15 o'clock. “Wagnerian program,” WLW, 8:30 o'clock. Vaudeville program, KMOX, 10 to 11:30 o'clock. Charlés Hackett, tenor, and Paul Kochanski, violinist, WRC, WEAF and other sta- tions, 9:15 to 10:15 o'clock. Sophie Braslau, contralto, WRC, WJZ and other stations, 10:15 to 11:15 o'clock. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS Four new stations were licensed to broadcast during the past week by the Department of Commerce, and four changes in wave lengths were an- nounced. The four new broadcasters are in Chicago, and Galesburg, Ill.; Auburn, N. Y., and Orlando, Fla. They bring the total stations to 588, only three less than the largest number ever on the air. Changes made in channels now num- ber 58, most of them having been re- quested by old stations. All but two of the changes were to higher wave lengths. The jam is becoming worse in the channels above 300 meters than it was sometime ago on the lower wave lengths. The move of WLWL in New York to 384.4 meters is questionable, since his wave length is already used by ve statlons in the States and two in Winnipeg, Canada. The 384.4-meter wave was originally assigned to KJR. at Seattle, and WMBF, Miami, but is now also used by WWAE at Plainfleld, I, and WLWL, a 780-watter. An- other station using it is WAAW, at Omaha, a 500-watt transmitter, plan- ning to increase its power. Recep- tion of any ot these stations will be difficult everywhere and impossible in many places. Another jump in wave length, con- templated by WJIBT of Chicago, owned by John S. Boyd, will cause considerable interference it is feared. WJBT is now trying out and has applied for the use of the 468.5 meter channel, the one used by WRC, and practically the same as that of KFI at Los Angeles, one of the few Pacific stations picked up reliably in the East. It is a_question whether fans searching for WJBT will be able to get it and it is -certain that in Washington at least, KFI is out now until WIBT signs off late at night. WJIBT interferes with WMAQ and WTJ. Output of Sets Increase. Radio manufacturers probably. will more than double last year's tube- set production, whieh, according to the 1925 census, was 2,292,672, Officlal census figures as to total radio production last year reveal that the value, at manufacturers' prices. increased more than 215 per cent of the 1923 value, and that there were manufactured 2,180,622 tube and 112,656 crystal receivers. The new data show that the manufacture of tube sets increased by more than 1,000 per cent and that crystal sets dropped almost 50 per cent from 1928, A gain in loud-speaker produc- tion and a loss in head-phone output indicate the increase in tube-set pop- ularity. These figures are confirmed by the industry f{tself, which reports con- tinued increases in business this year, especially in vacuum-tube sets and speakers. One of the largest manufacturers found that his production, although double that of last year, was insuf- ficlent to keep up with orders. It was necessary to increase production still further, and he is now operating at 5200 sets a day, or at the rate of about a million and a half sets a year. If the industry in general keeps up to the present pace, this year's | production should be more ~than 4,000,000 sets. The production of crystal sets and head phones prob- ably will be reduced, since the trend of the purchasers is very evidently toward multitube sets equipped for loud-speaker reproduction. Reception Getting Worse. ment of Commerce by fans in several localities, although it is still early in the radio season. In New England they complain that since WBZ and ‘WBZA began broadcasting simultane- ously on 333.1 meters, they can no longer get WBZ, and that the trans- mission from WBZA is poor, due chiefly to noises on the land line con- necting Boston and Springfield. In Albany, N. Y., listeners say they cannot get WEAF and WBZ for some reason, although they pick up and hold both WGY and WJZ: KDKA also comes in fairly well. Most stations are heard poorly in upper New York, having little volume and clarity. Practically all letters received recent- 1y point out the great interference be- tween stations, many of them new ones, or, those which have changed their channels. A letter from Tulsa, Okla., states that reception for the fan with an or- dinary receiver is getting steadily worse; there is 50 much whistling and distortion that audible reception is practically impossible. The situation between 217 and 400 meters is re- ported very bad, with so many sta- tions located in that band. Except for considerable station in- terference, reception in Washington is generally reflorted as fair, with little static and good volume from distant stations. Western stations and some in Canada and Mexico are heard, in some instances, through the local station, but coast stations do not come in well until late at night. Interference Reduced. Six American broadcasting stations are so steady in their transmission that the Bureau of Standards has | designated them as standard fre- quency stations. WEAF leads the half-dozen, followed by WJZ, WGY, WBZ, KDKA and WRC. The navai Arlington station, NAA, also is listed as constant frequency transmitter, but some fans claim it is too con- stant and too frequently on the air, OCTOBER 24, 1926—PART 1. and no real entertainment. These six stations are so rellable they can be used to calibrate or test apparatus. Thirty-five other broadcasters keep on their channels with such regu- larity that they are classified as “con- stant frequency stations.” They are equipped with some form of fre- quency or wave estabilators, such as the plezo-electric oscillator. These stations also tend to reduce inter- ference, in that they do not vary. In an effort to ald stations in keeping on their assigned or chossn wave lengths, the Bureau of Stand- ards offers to instruct the operators how to install, test and operate these regulating devices. If every broadcaster was so equip- ped, it is believed, considerable of the disconcerting station interference would be eliminated and that the whole broadcasting situation would Improve materially. This would help everywhere, except in those chan- nels where a large number of sta- tions are operating now, or where non-standard frequencies. too close to regular channels are being used. CALLS PEACE CONFEREES ‘UNAMENABLE TO REASON’ Nicaragua Executive Threatens ‘Withdrawal From Conference With Liberal Revolutionists at Corinto. By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, NICARAGUA, October 23.—President Chamorro, de facto Chief Executive of Nicaragua, has threatened to withdraw the govern- ment delegates at the peace confer- ence, now being held at Corinto, if the delegation of liberal revolutionists re- mains ‘“‘unamenable to reason.” The President has received a mes- sage from the vice consul in Honduras saying that a Mexican-manned, gun- running vessel fired on Honduran guards, killing two, near Guanaja Bay Island, Honduras. The guards re- turned the fire and killed four sail- ors. After this encounter the vessel sailed toward Bluefields, scene of re- cent fighting between the revolution- ists and government troops. President Chamotro said that he was disgusted with the “wrangling of the liberal delegation™ at the peace conference whom, he sald, have the moral support of’ Mexico, Guatemala and Salvador. ——— STUDENTS END STRIKE. TIFFIN, Ohlo, October 23 (@).—- Pending negotiations between the stu. dent body and faculty, 150 students at Heldelberg University returned to their places at dinner last nig! porarily ending a *“food strike, Thursday. The strike was called in sympathy with Chester Badescher, Lima, Ohio. editor of the college weekly, who was suspended from classes after he re fused to apologize to the faculty for an editorial protesting against food served at the school. A college rule requires all non-resi dent students to dine at the campus commons. WE CAN MAKE ANY RADIO SET WORK! N 79 816 F STREET N.W. WASHINGTON’S MOST RELIABLE HOUSE Open Evenings "““If It’s Not Right—Bring It Back” Open Evenings Broadgast regeption Is getting worse WHN, according to feports to the Depart- $15.00 “The Playground,” 11:30 o’clock. bove Ahe wave length of 545 | Reports from Chicago -state that carrying only governmental matter The ation at present in 1 —THE SERVICE YOU MAY NEED AFTER | YOU PURCHASE THE SET. WE DON'T | * HAVE TO SEND THEM BACK TO THE | FACTORY TO BE REPAIRED—CAPABLE MEN AWAIT YOUR CALL. SMITH’S BATTERY AND RADIO SERVICE Newh 9228 2119 18¢h St. N.W. North 4896 ATWATER KENT AND POOLEY CABINETS ALL MODELS IN STOCK 2-Tube Set $3.95 Guaranteed—Packed in Original Cartons $2.95 | $750 Federal Vario- 1 $298 $249| $7.95 Browning Drake . ..$2.95 Bremer Tully L. W. $2.98 Set of 3 Tuned R. F. Coils .. .§149 Federal Audio Trans- formers meters; If Your Radio Is at Its Best Your Tubes MUST be at their best. Are yours? If not, why not let us pep them up in the wonderful Post Reacti- T We Tese Thew Frost g P ARECTICUR 1 Tube 3 Tubes A 35¢ $1 BATTERY If_your tubes fail to respond ELIMINATOR| Storage Post You risk nothing. We e Special. . . Battery :l."!:::;.f.“ “y - $9 095 Pt L AT L SIS0N&K Imported Victrola Units $1.95 Silver Marshal, Silver Shielded Six, Victoreen Super-Karas Equamatic, Diamond of the Air and Acme B Eliminator Kits IN STOCK Natural, Rounded Tones . . .. HEY cannot come out of even the finest loud speaker unlessthe“B” current that produces them comes from a power,unit that has low internal resistance. Ray-0-Vac batteries have only one-sixth to one-third as much internal resistance as other types of “B” power units. That is why they give better reception. At the same time they have longer life. A new type of con- struction—exclusive with Ray-0-Vac batteries —gives them from 10% to 15% more staying power than ever before, and Ray-O- Vacs have always been famous for their staying power. Now no hot pitch is poured over the unit (4 IHIS Radiola 20 is one of the tried, tested and perfected RCA Radiolas that are far in advance of their day. It has five tubes—dry bat- tery tubes that take very little current from the batteries—cost little to buy and little to run. But the last tube is a power tube that gives you wolume with true reproduction. And for distance, when the number of tubes counts, it has a spe- cial sensitizing control that makes the five tubes as seasitive as much bigger sets. hour in the samé size Slase case | For musical quality—and for fine performance U W ashington, D, ¢. | —Radiola 20 has no competitor anywhere near | "/ G | § it in price. ; ' E S I A 1 DL b comdinc RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA i [ New Yol Chicago ‘rancisco ! AUTO“RADIO PRODUCTS CA-Radi E e Ly AT A of your radio power GLANCE "No ‘more Siripping hy= drometers. No more disconnecti the battery and lifting it out into the light to find the liquid level Nomoreneglectful damage to. battery because of the in ience of testing it. In one compact radio “A" battery er and a built-in hydro: you less than the three articles would tely. Here,atlast,is theradio power that you have so often wished for. RADIO OR BATTERY DEALERS ‘CAN SUPPLY YOU cells. So its excessive heat does not devitalize the elec- trolyte . . . and there are no bulging tops ... no cracked seals or broken connections . . . no internal short circuits . . . no needless weight. You can buy Ray-O-Vac bat- teries at the better radio and electrical dealers, hardware and music stores, department stores and auto supply shops everywhere. FRENCH BATTERY COMPANY MADISON, WISCONSIN Also makers of flashlights and batteries -25and 50amp. . and §27.50 Wholesale Distributors ~~Pesta for Vitality == ola Maters of Vesta Automobile Batteries= Quality Products for 29 Years ADIOTRON Dabitier Ducon— Price $1.50. Radiola 20, Radiola 30 and Superheterodyne . On Sale at HARRY C. GROVE, Inc. 1210 G St. N.W. Main 207 IF IT’S RADIOLA Get It At GIBSON’S Radiotrons “Aerials have gone out of style N THE old days, when radio was new, the “fan’” was known by crazy festoons of wire that decorated his housetopor yard. These were the old-fashioned aerials, and no one has forgotten all the grief they caused. N.W. Accessories 917 G St. Sets WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS RCA—Radiola MADE BY THE MAKERS OF RADIOTRONS National Electrical Supply Co. 1328-1330 N. Y. Ave. Phone ‘Main 6800 This is the master Ray-O-Vac “B” 45-volt battery, with the - new construction, recommended for all multiple-tube sets, espe- cially sets requiring more than 16 hi of current. It has 30 extra large size cells giv- ing 45 wolts, with one inter- mediate tap at 2234 volts. ’5°° Price S— e All other sises of “B” batteries, together with “A" and “‘C"* bat- teries, are also available in the Ray-O-Vac line. Modern radio may use the hidden loop, or the short in- door aerial. But there is a better way. The Dubilier Ducon enables you to use the complete wiring system of your house without risk, and with better results than most out-door aerials give. You simply screw a Dubilier Ducon into any lamp socket, and connect it with the antenna binding post of your set. You will find that it increases selectivity—especially in crowded neighborhoods, and will reduce “static” in the summertime. ‘Try a Dubilier Ducon on your set tonight. They are sold by afl good dealers on five days’ trial for $1.50. Dubilier 4331 Bronx Bivd, New York, N. Y. Washington, D. C. Radiolas and Radiotrons may be bought budget here—with monthly payments conve:z ently arranged on light bills. THE POTOMAC ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO0. This Company Stands Behind Every Appliance It Sells. 14th and C Sts. NW. Main Ten Thousand Get Your Ray-O-Vac.Batteries at Washington’s Largest Radio Store STAR % RADIO 409 11th ST. N.W.