HISTORY_6: The early days of Amateur Radio-

This bulletin is about the Amateur vs TV back in 1936

From "RADIO", issue of July, 1936, page 67, we find the
caption "The Television Situation" heading a block of text
which reads as follows:
        "The amateur 5 meter band may be vitally affected by the
placement of the ultra-high-frequency "standardized" television
band. From present indications, it looks as though there is a
good chance of the band being located between 42 and 90 mega-
cycles. Naturally, in this event, a continuous band would be
desirable. What about the amateurs' pet ultra-high-frequency
band at 56-60?"

        The article mentions the F.C. C. hearing which started on
June 16, to discuss frequency allocations and standard picture
specifications. "Naturally it is desirable to standardize the
specifications of all broadcast pictures so that all receivers
may utilize all programs available."

        The Radio Manufacturers' Association suggests that the
television bands should start at about 42 megacycles and should
extend to about 90 megacycles. They also suggest that the
television band should be continuous, if possible.

        Remarks of Mr. James M. Skinner, President of Philco and
Chairman of the special committee on television of the R.M.A.
will be of interest to amateurs. The following is an excerpt
from Mr. Skinner's report to the Federal Communications Commission.

        ".... The most valuable part of the spectrum for television
starts at 42 megacycles. At this frequency, a given amount of
broadcasting power provides the greatest signal intensity in the
surrounding territory. The R.M.A. Television Committee report
will request, therefore, a television band extending from 42 to
90 megacycles.
        "From 56 to 60 megacycles, there is a band allocated to
amateurs. R.M.A. recognizes the service the amateurs have contri-
buted to radio development and their importance to the nation
in providing a reserve of trained radio operators in times of
emergency. R.M.A. will therefore not request these frequencies
for television unless it is found by the Commission that this
band is not urgently needed by the amateurs, or is not especially
well suited for amateur work. If so, another desirable television
channel could be provided from 54 to 60 megacycles and a highly
desirable continuous television band would result...."

        "RADIO" makes the comment that Mr. Skinner's remarks,
obviously, are pertinent and he is quite right in suggesting that
we have no right to the 5 meter band unless we can show that this
band is (italics used) urgently needed by the amateurs and also
is (italics again) better suited than any substitute band would be.
"Thus it is up to us to hurry up and put the band to all possible
use and to clean up the unneccessarily broad signals common in
this band."

(My note): Of course, we all know the outcome which kept the band
in roughly the same part of the spectrum; we gave up the 5-metre
band (CH.2 TV), and took over the 6-metre band (CH.1 TV). And it
gave a lot of people who use TV today a real problem of wondering
why the TV channel knob starts at 2!

----- end of HISTORY6 ----- de Gil, VE4AG