Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
more traveling
I'll be on the road Thursday 4/26 and Friday 4/27. Probably no posts. Click some links in the side bar, there's interesting reading all around. See you Monday.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Transistor Radio (part 2)
The transistor radio was the first hand-held audio device. As a concept, it preceeds the walkman, the discman and the I-pod. 
Before the transistor radio music was stationary. Radios were furniture and often marketed and sold as such. The transistor radio could go anywhere, and they did. It sees strange to see them reduced to a kitchy almost ironic promotional tchotchke. I still want one though.
Prior to the transistor, Vacuum tubes were the only way to amplify signals or function as switching devices. The problem with tubes is that they were expensive, energy inefficient, hot, and burned out. In the 1940’s Bell Labs set a a team of scientists to work to replace the vacuum tube. They worked out of an office in Murray Hill, NJ.
By 1947 they had it. Their original patent name for the transistor was: “Semiconductor amplifier; Three-electrode circuit element utilizing semiconductive materials.” But they decided that transistor was more catchy.
The scientists that were responsible for the 1947 invention of the transistor were: John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley. Bardeen, with a Ph.D. in mathematics and physics from Princeton University, was a specialist in the electron conducting properties of semiconductors. Brattain, Ph.D., was an expert in the nature of the atomic structure of solids at their surface level and solid-state physics. Shockley, Ph.D., was the director of transistor research for Bell Labs. As a group they invented the point-junction transistor.
Before the transistor radio music was stationary. Radios were furniture and often marketed and sold as such. The transistor radio could go anywhere, and they did. It sees strange to see them reduced to a kitchy almost ironic promotional tchotchke. I still want one though.Prior to the transistor, Vacuum tubes were the only way to amplify signals or function as switching devices. The problem with tubes is that they were expensive, energy inefficient, hot, and burned out. In the 1940’s Bell Labs set a a team of scientists to work to replace the vacuum tube. They worked out of an office in Murray Hill, NJ.
By 1947 they had it. Their original patent name for the transistor was: “Semiconductor amplifier; Three-electrode circuit element utilizing semiconductive materials.” But they decided that transistor was more catchy.The scientists that were responsible for the 1947 invention of the transistor were: John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley. Bardeen, with a Ph.D. in mathematics and physics from Princeton University, was a specialist in the electron conducting properties of semiconductors. Brattain, Ph.D., was an expert in the nature of the atomic structure of solids at their surface level and solid-state physics. Shockley, Ph.D., was the director of transistor research for Bell Labs. As a group they invented the point-junction transistor.
Shockley thought his name should be on the patent. The Bell Labs attorneys didn't agree. But they were notorious assholes. They refused to put his name on the patent -at all! Shockley gave them the finger and decided to take the rest of his ideas elsewhere. So while his old co-workers were improving on the point-junction transistor he was in the garage playing mad scientist.
In early 1948, Shockley was alone on New years eve in a Chicago Hotel room. History does not say if he was invited to the party in the hotel lobby, but it's clear that his idea of fun was writing 30 pages of notes on this idea he had. He'd read about Bardeen and Brattain's semiconductor ideas. His idea was to pile three layers of semiconductors together, thinking it may work like a vacuum tube-with the middle layer turning current on and off.
The physics behind this transistor was different from the one developed with Bardeen. This one had current flowing directly through the semiconductors, not along the surface. He wasn't even sure if it was possible. But it was a new idea. And it was one that nobody else could lay legal claim to. This puppy was going to have his name on thepatent. So he tested it before he discussed it with anyone. His co-workers Joseph Becker and John Shivewere pretty impressed, but also peeved to have been left out of the loop. More here.
Interesting side note, Bardeen was the first person to win two Nobel prizes in the same field. He shared the physics prize for the first time in 1956 for the transistor. Then he won it again (shared again) in 1972 for the development of the BCS theory of superconductivity.
Within ten years, Motorola debuted a germanium transistor that widened the possibilities of what transistors could do. It was the world's first commercial high-power transistor. It was also Motorola's first mass-produced semiconductor. Things got cheaper, faster, smaller and easier. Ain't life grand.
Within ten years, Motorola debuted a germanium transistor that widened the possibilities of what transistors could do. It was the world's first commercial high-power transistor. It was also Motorola's first mass-produced semiconductor. Things got cheaper, faster, smaller and easier. Ain't life grand.
The Transistor Radio and Google
Google just started using a branded transistor radio at a nice peice of schwag for their Audio Ads service. it's been off to a rocky start but the removal of the ill-suited dMarc founders I think has gotten things moving. The Clear Channel deal pretty much has proved that out. Anyway I dont know whose idea it is... but I want one.
It's got a sleek design reminiscent more of the later Sonys and less of the early Regency TR1 Transitor radios. I thought immediately it looked like a Beach boy radio (on left), a modern "retro" looking radio. But the Beachboy itself was very influenced by Realtone TR-1088 Comet, and the Sony TR-610. Now that I think of it the Valiant, (a Realtone variant) looks a lot like it...
Note the cool almost Rockabilly coffin shape, the art deco lines.. it's well done, and not over done. Like a later model Motorola, or mid-era Regency. That pic on the right there is from the most recent issue of Radio World for the record. Yes, you all should be reading it.
The dial looks a lot like the Sparton model 506 Blue Bird, a design I think was by or influenced by Walter Dorwin Teague at Brownie. This dial design predates the transistor radios by about two decades debuting in 1934. Regardless I think it's a nice homage. You can see it here. Just scroll down past all the box cameras.
The Regency was not the first transistor radio. It definitely was the first commercially successful transistorised radio, using junction transistors. But that's two caveats. There was one before them that was a commercial dud. More here. In 1954 in Wireless World magazine ads ran for a transistorized receiver by General Electric Co., Ltd, of England. It was more of a kit, but the complexity of the circuit design shows that GEC had been developing the designs for a while. But little evidence of these previous circuit designs survive.
I'll cover more Transistor Radio lore tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Third Adjacent Protection
When the FCC originally approved Low Power Radio (LPFM) they in one way were just rehasing the D-license. In another way it was a very controversial to not address the third adjacent protection of full power stations. You could say it was in ignorance. You could also say it was a set up. It's hard to say at this remove. 
This "decision" was made based on studies done by NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) and a second study conducted by the FCC's own Office of Engineering and Technology. The FCC opened up some filing windows and allowed applications without the third adjacent channel protection. The protection is so bogus even the EMF agrees, letter here.
It's safe to say NAB opposes LPFM service in general. And also that it used it's mighty lobbying power to get Congress to pass a bill that imposed third adjacent channel protections to both full power and FM translators. It also banned former pirate broadcasters from geting an LPFM license. Hundreds of LPFM applications were voided. They also ran adverts to buttress their cause and muddy the water. Thankfully their href="http://www.beatworld.com/images/adlie101500.gif">propaganda was retarded and transparent.
The Radio Broadcast Protection Act was passed and eventually
codified in the FCC rules. The FCC then had a short remedial filing window where those impacted by the RBPA could file a major change application to move their station to a different location and/or channel. Some stations filed applications while others were deadlocked. Those who were deadlocked were dismissed on March 17, 2003, a day we call the "St. Patty's Day Massacre".
RELATED READING: The infamous Mitre report that exposed the bogus protection.
the http://www.recnet.com/mitre/2.pdf
It's safe to say NAB opposes LPFM service in general. And also that it used it's mighty lobbying power to get Congress to pass a bill that imposed third adjacent channel protections to both full power and FM translators. It also banned former pirate broadcasters from geting an LPFM license. Hundreds of LPFM applications were voided. They also ran adverts to buttress their cause and muddy the water. Thankfully their href="http://www.beatworld.com/images/adlie101500.gif">propaganda was retarded and transparent.
The Radio Broadcast Protection Act was passed and eventually
codified in the FCC rules. The FCC then had a short remedial filing window where those impacted by the RBPA could file a major change application to move their station to a different location and/or channel. Some stations filed applications while others were deadlocked. Those who were deadlocked were dismissed on March 17, 2003, a day we call the "St. Patty's Day Massacre".RELATED READING: The infamous Mitre report that exposed the bogus protection.
the http://www.recnet.com/mitre/2.pdf
Friday, April 20, 2007
DONATIONS
As long as blogging is free this site will be free. Donations are not compulsory, but they will go toward more research and hopefully better posting herein. Donation Button in the sidebar. Gracias,
-Josefritz
-Josefritz
Radio Tracks Animals!
Hell yes it does. Radio tracks all sorts of things. It tracks your cousin who needs a GPS in his damn rent-a-car and it tracks grizzly bears, birds and even fish.
Radio collars broadcast radio waves of a specific frequency at a variabel rate. A directional antenna and receiver are used to pick up the signal. This equipment depending on make and model can either be hand held even mounted on a plane. A very accurate location of the collared animal can then be determined a field triangulation method which requires the use of GPS locates, compass directions and maps. It's the same way the FCC finds pirates!
There are three ways to track a tagged animal:
1. Radio collars are the least expensive, but are the most laborous to use as manual scanning is needed to finnd the missing animal. This may require a place to narrow area and then on foot to be precise. Radio tracking also requires telemetry equipment to pick up the radio waves emitted by the collar. but for only $900 you too can track your own household pets by radio!
2. Satellite collars are the most expensive, but require no monitoring in the field. The collar sends out a transmission which bounces off a satellite and back to a ground station. The location coordinates are then E-mailed to the research biologist.
3. GPS collars collect data continually. This data is stored in the collar itself. At the end of the tracking project, the collar disengages and drops off. the collar is colelcted and it's data uploaded to a computer. Both satellite and GPS collars have the advantage of being able to track animals over large distances, but not all locations. See map. Only $300 and a monthy service fee to track your pets by GPS!
Radio collars broadcast radio waves of a specific frequency at a variabel rate. A directional antenna and receiver are used to pick up the signal. This equipment depending on make and model can either be hand held even mounted on a plane. A very accurate location of the collared animal can then be determined a field triangulation method which requires the use of GPS locates, compass directions and maps. It's the same way the FCC finds pirates!
There are three ways to track a tagged animal:
1. Radio collars are the least expensive, but are the most laborous to use as manual scanning is needed to finnd the missing animal. This may require a place to narrow area and then on foot to be precise. Radio tracking also requires telemetry equipment to pick up the radio waves emitted by the collar. but for only $900 you too can track your own household pets by radio!
2. Satellite collars are the most expensive, but require no monitoring in the field. The collar sends out a transmission which bounces off a satellite and back to a ground station. The location coordinates are then E-mailed to the research biologist.
3. GPS collars collect data continually. This data is stored in the collar itself. At the end of the tracking project, the collar disengages and drops off. the collar is colelcted and it's data uploaded to a computer. Both satellite and GPS collars have the advantage of being able to track animals over large distances, but not all locations. See map. Only $300 and a monthy service fee to track your pets by GPS!
What I'm not telling you so far is that the same technology is in your cell phone and you too are being tracked everwhere you go.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The Political Propaganda of Radio
I found this fascinating article. they make some bald assertions, but the content is interesting. take care in reading, for it is certainly propaganda.... but there is some signifigance to it.
"American liberals are largely unexposed to the barrage of AM commercial radio programming. This is a tragedy of epic proportions because AM is a territory where they can find some of their nearest and dearest ideals systematically destroyed and replaced by a new anti-democratic ideology. Right-wing, liberal-bashing talk radio is one of the most popular kinds of entertainment available today, and Liberals tune it out at their own expense. Maybe out of preference for balanced, documentary programming, live talk radio is unfairly ignored by the liberal media menu altogether. Could it be that this has, in part, permitted the New Right to claim some vast propagandistic territory won by opportunistic political positioning-and-maneuvering? Perhaps, from the liberal perspective, AM operates secretly and behind the back of level-headed, well-educated professional elites."
Read on: http://bad.eserver.org/issues/1995/23/burkart.html
"American liberals are largely unexposed to the barrage of AM commercial radio programming. This is a tragedy of epic proportions because AM is a territory where they can find some of their nearest and dearest ideals systematically destroyed and replaced by a new anti-democratic ideology. Right-wing, liberal-bashing talk radio is one of the most popular kinds of entertainment available today, and Liberals tune it out at their own expense. Maybe out of preference for balanced, documentary programming, live talk radio is unfairly ignored by the liberal media menu altogether. Could it be that this has, in part, permitted the New Right to claim some vast propagandistic territory won by opportunistic political positioning-and-maneuvering? Perhaps, from the liberal perspective, AM operates secretly and behind the back of level-headed, well-educated professional elites."
Read on: http://bad.eserver.org/issues/1995/23/burkart.html
Trees are the enemy of Radio
I was asked why radio reception varies over the course of a year. Solar radiation varies, weather varies, but what really varies (especially in the North East) is foliage.
Yes trees obstruct radio reception. In general, FM waves travel lines of sight, very similar to the transmission of light waves. Open terrain has different reception than wooded terrain. This is due to the conductivity of leaves and branches of different trees as well as conductivity of their sap. This paper on radio wave propagation in potato fields addresses the propagation loss to foliage. Yeah it's z sleeper, but interesting to us radio geeks.
Thankfully there are solutions that mitigate if not eliminate the problem. But the frequency matters. If a vertical 28 MHz antenna is surrounded by trees that are taller than the top of the antenna, it's signals will be attenuated by an average of 2 to 3 dB. Tree attenuation with horizontal polarization under the same conditions usually will be
negligible. But at 144 MHz the same tree scenario will cause 6 to 12 dB of attenuation on that vertically polarized signal and 3 to 4 dB with horizontal polarization.
Interestingly enough, cell phones get the worst of the foliage attenuation. Pine needles are nearly the same length as 800 MHz antennas. Because of this twist of fate, 800 MHz systems are rarely constructed in forested areas.
Yes trees obstruct radio reception. In general, FM waves travel lines of sight, very similar to the transmission of light waves. Open terrain has different reception than wooded terrain. This is due to the conductivity of leaves and branches of different trees as well as conductivity of their sap. This paper on radio wave propagation in potato fields addresses the propagation loss to foliage. Yeah it's z sleeper, but interesting to us radio geeks.Thankfully there are solutions that mitigate if not eliminate the problem. But the frequency matters. If a vertical 28 MHz antenna is surrounded by trees that are taller than the top of the antenna, it's signals will be attenuated by an average of 2 to 3 dB. Tree attenuation with horizontal polarization under the same conditions usually will be
negligible. But at 144 MHz the same tree scenario will cause 6 to 12 dB of attenuation on that vertically polarized signal and 3 to 4 dB with horizontal polarization.Interestingly enough, cell phones get the worst of the foliage attenuation. Pine needles are nearly the same length as 800 MHz antennas. Because of this twist of fate, 800 MHz systems are rarely constructed in forested areas.
The cell phone picture is stolen from Howstuffworks.com. I will admit I've used that site. there are infact people who know more than me about certain topics.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Free Speech, Racism and Radio
Hal Turner isn't a run-of-the-mill bigot. He's really a flaming 
shitheel of racist redneck throwback to previous century. I was surprised how human he looked in his head shot. I expected the slouched posture, pronounced forehead, and hairy palms. But try as I may to write-off all racists as neanderthals... I can't. Some are perfectly intelligent, they were just indoctrinated as children and never became worldly enough, well read enough or educated enough to realize that mom dad or that weird uncle might have been wrong about a few things. i.e. moonshine, black people and Jews.
But this isn't a blog about idiots I disagree with. It's a blog about radio. God help us, but Hal has a radio show. Most stations won't carry it because he encourages violence against minorities regularly, but he's got a few. I'm told he has been carried on 60 stations, but nobody can furnish me a list. I have verified that shortwave station WBCQ in Maine has in the past carried The Hal Turner Show.
There are only 16 privately owned shortwave radio stations in the United States and most of them sell airtime. And that's what it took to get Hal on the air. He has to pay for it. The radio equivalent of a John.
WBCQ is willing to do this because of the big loop hole in the center of liberal reasoning. Allan Weiner, it's owner is a free speech advocate. In the spirit of the 60s the airwaves he really believes that the airwaves should be open to all who want to use them, and the world is a better place because of it. In 1997 his book Access to the Airwaves, was touted as a brilliant memoir, of both pirate radio, free speech and free thinking. But how could Allan Get along with a man who said
Here's a little clip of Hal spouting off:
shitheel of racist redneck throwback to previous century. I was surprised how human he looked in his head shot. I expected the slouched posture, pronounced forehead, and hairy palms. But try as I may to write-off all racists as neanderthals... I can't. Some are perfectly intelligent, they were just indoctrinated as children and never became worldly enough, well read enough or educated enough to realize that mom dad or that weird uncle might have been wrong about a few things. i.e. moonshine, black people and Jews.But this isn't a blog about idiots I disagree with. It's a blog about radio. God help us, but Hal has a radio show. Most stations won't carry it because he encourages violence against minorities regularly, but he's got a few. I'm told he has been carried on 60 stations, but nobody can furnish me a list. I have verified that shortwave station WBCQ in Maine has in the past carried The Hal Turner Show.
There are only 16 privately owned shortwave radio stations in the United States and most of them sell airtime. And that's what it took to get Hal on the air. He has to pay for it. The radio equivalent of a John.WBCQ is willing to do this because of the big loop hole in the center of liberal reasoning. Allan Weiner, it's owner is a free speech advocate. In the spirit of the 60s the airwaves he really believes that the airwaves should be open to all who want to use them, and the world is a better place because of it. In 1997 his book Access to the Airwaves, was touted as a brilliant memoir, of both pirate radio, free speech and free thinking. But how could Allan Get along with a man who said
"Imagine there's no homos. I hate those little fudge-packin' nancy-boy pricks; Manolo, every time I see one, I wanna beat him in the friggin' head..."Well he doesn't. Allan is pretty blunt that he doesn't like Hal's show. And that Hal has been on probation a few times for trying to incite violence among other transgressions. He said himself "Hal does know that I am upset with his program." I don't know why Hal is gone... but I expect that it has something to do with another house rule... "WBCQ Radio shall not broadcast any speech which incites hatred" ... or likely to lead to physical harm.
Here's a little clip of Hal spouting off:
Sunday, April 15, 2007
UPDATING HISTORY
You may or may not have noticed, but I am in the process of "freshening" old posts. The reasons are legion. My spelling and grammar errors are rampant. Some information (gasp) is wrong, incomplete or out-of-date. My links change, die or become irrelevant. My source referencing is sometimes inadequate, and as Blogger adds services I'd like to exploit them.
So, I am in the process of editing, adding audio where relevenat, and adding tags to all back posts. New posts may be late while this process is rolling, but I will do my best not to skip out entirely.
So, I am in the process of editing, adding audio where relevenat, and adding tags to all back posts. New posts may be late while this process is rolling, but I will do my best not to skip out entirely.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
The first stations in each state
I didn't do the research on this, but I did check their list twice. I also re-sorted it into chronological order. This is a list of the first licensed radio stations in each U.S. state. Well all know KDKA, and WQAM, and WBZ but the rest are surprises. Also surprising is how long some states took to get it together. It's very interesting, and the rest of the National Radio Club website is also well worth the browsing. http://www.nrcdxas.org/
I've tried to space it out to be more readable in Blogger but I've been thwarted by it's "smart corrections" at each attempt. I recommend you click the header to see their work in it's original and more readable glory.
I've tried to space it out to be more readable in Blogger but I've been thwarted by it's "smart corrections" at each attempt. I recommend you click the header to see their work in it's original and more readable glory.
- KDKA Pittsburgh, PA Oct 27, 1920
- KQL Los Angeles, CA Oct 13, 1921
- WCJ New Haven, CT Sep 29, 1921
- WQAM Miami, FL Feb 1921
- WDZ Tuscola, IL Mar 17, 1921
- WGAZ South Bend, IN Sep 25, 1921
- WBZ Springfield, MO Sep 15, 1921
- WWJ Detroit, MI Oct 13, 1921
- WEW St. Louis, MO Apr 26, 1921
- WOU Omaha, NE Dec 29, 1921
- WJZ Newark, NJ Jun 1, 1921
- WJX New York, NY Oct 13, 1921
- WLW Cincinnati, OH Mar 3, 1921
- WKY Oklahoma, OK City Apr 21, 1921
- WRR Dallas, TX Feb, 1921
- KFC Seattle, WA Dec 8 1921
- KFXZ Logan, UT 1922, (moved to ID)
- WGH Montgomery, AL Feb 3, 1922
- KFAD Phoenix, AZ Jun 21, 1922
- WOK Pine Bluff, AR Feb 10, 1922
- KLZ Denver, CO Mar 10, 1922
- WHAV Wilmington, DE Jul 30, 1922
- WSB Atlanta, GA Mar 15, 1922
- KGU Honolulu, HI May, 1922
- KFXD Logan, UT 1922
- WOC Davenport, IA Feb 18, 1922
- WEY Wichita, KS Mar 23, 1922
- WHAS Louisville, KY Jul 18, 1922
- WWL New Orleans, LA Mar 31, 1922
- WKC Baltimore, MD Mar 23, 1922
- WLB Minneapolis, MN Jan 13, 1922
- KFBB Great Falls, MT Jul 11, 1922
- WKAV Laconia, NH Aug, 1922
- KOB Albuquerque, NM May, 1922
- WBT Charlotte, NC Apr 10, 1922
- WDAY Fargo, ND May 23, 1922
- KGG Portland, OR Mar 15, 1922
- WEAN Providence, RI Jun 5, 1922
- WCAT Rapid City, SD May 9, 1922
- WKN Memphis, TN Mar 23, 1922
- WCAX Burlington, VT June, 1922
- WHD Morgantown, WV Mar 16, 1922
- WHA Madison, WI Jan 13, 1922
- WTAR Norfolk, VA Sep 21, 1923
- KFQD Anchorage, AK Apr, 1924
- WCSH Portland, OR Jul 24, 1925
- WDBT Hattiesburg, MS May 1, 1925
- KOH Reno, NV Oct 25, 1928
- WSPA Spartanburg, SC Nov, 1929
- KDFN Casper, WY Jan 2, 1930
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Coca-Cola Top-Notchers
The golden age of radio also had a golden age of advertising. Most ads were 
live, most were part of program sponsorship and many were downright artful. Popular products funded and branded variety shows, barbershop quartets, and childrens shows. This was a first for coke, but not a first for radio. More here.
Coca-Cola made their entry into Network Radio programming in 1930. The Coca-Cola Top Notchers was a weekly variety show. It ran live for 30 minutes Wednesday nights. This was carried by the NBC Red Network at 10:30pm.
live, most were part of program sponsorship and many were downright artful. Popular products funded and branded variety shows, barbershop quartets, and childrens shows. This was a first for coke, but not a first for radio. More here.Coca-Cola made their entry into Network Radio programming in 1930. The Coca-Cola Top Notchers was a weekly variety show. It ran live for 30 minutes Wednesday nights. This was carried by the NBC Red Network at 10:30pm.
Popular New York Herald Tribune sportswriter and commentator Grantland Rice hosted the program. The top Notchers were a studio Orchestra that played big band standards. They are unrelated to the "Top-Notchers" that Edison recorded oin cylinsder 51234 to the best of my information. Great Podcast here.
Rice interviewd sports greats on the program, even Ty Cob made an appearance. Even then,
Rice was a famous sportscaster. His fame grew to legend in his own lifetime. By 1954, College football's National Champion would be awarded a trophy that carried his name; the Grantland Rice Trophy.
But the program only lasted four months. Two recordings survive today: their 1st and 2nd episodes from March 19th & 25th of 1930. We know where at least the second program comes from as it contains a station ID break, for WEEI in Boston complete with an old version of the NBC chimes.
Rice interviewd sports greats on the program, even Ty Cob made an appearance. Even then,
Rice was a famous sportscaster. His fame grew to legend in his own lifetime. By 1954, College football's National Champion would be awarded a trophy that carried his name; the Grantland Rice Trophy.But the program only lasted four months. Two recordings survive today: their 1st and 2nd episodes from March 19th & 25th of 1930. We know where at least the second program comes from as it contains a station ID break, for WEEI in Boston complete with an old version of the NBC chimes.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Millitary Academy Radio
There are two that I know of. The typical Millitary Academy 
does not have a radio station, at least not an FM. There might be a few shortwave relays out there; to be honest I didn't look.
It's like college radio, but with a General Manager like the seargant from movie Platoon. 89.3 WLJP West Point Millitary Academy has a radio station, it's format is Christian Contemporary. http://www.soundoflife.org/ Now, we all know that a millitary academy is not a branch of government. However, seeing as we don't have any rogue militias circulating our cities (except the Guardian Angels) It's very clear the graduates here that move on to work in the military usually opt to work for the U.S. military.
I was going to get into a whole liberal speil here about the weird connection between evangelical Christianity and the military but it's been pretty hashed out elsewhere. So we'll cut right to the arcanity...
Since there has only been only one other radio station based at a millitary academy, WHWE 88.7 Howe Military School Sturgis, MI. I don't have a big powr point presentation to prove conspiracy. In fact Howe Millitary school is defunct. The station still exists, still running an upsold Class A from D license at a mere 100 watts. They operate as a pseudo-community station mostly running syndicated christian programming like Mary K. Shanahan.
West Point does have a great Amateur Radio Club. Its current call sign, W2KGY. It began in 1926 having been founded by LT William Holmes Wenstrom with the call letters 2CX. But before that club was even started They also ran another station WUAH as early as 1922.
does not have a radio station, at least not an FM. There might be a few shortwave relays out there; to be honest I didn't look.It's like college radio, but with a General Manager like the seargant from movie Platoon. 89.3 WLJP West Point Millitary Academy has a radio station, it's format is Christian Contemporary. http://www.soundoflife.org/ Now, we all know that a millitary academy is not a branch of government. However, seeing as we don't have any rogue militias circulating our cities (except the Guardian Angels) It's very clear the graduates here that move on to work in the military usually opt to work for the U.S. military.
I was going to get into a whole liberal speil here about the weird connection between evangelical Christianity and the military but it's been pretty hashed out elsewhere. So we'll cut right to the arcanity...
Since there has only been only one other radio station based at a millitary academy, WHWE 88.7 Howe Military School Sturgis, MI. I don't have a big powr point presentation to prove conspiracy. In fact Howe Millitary school is defunct. The station still exists, still running an upsold Class A from D license at a mere 100 watts. They operate as a pseudo-community station mostly running syndicated christian programming like Mary K. Shanahan.
West Point does have a great Amateur Radio Club. Its current call sign, W2KGY. It began in 1926 having been founded by LT William Holmes Wenstrom with the call letters 2CX. But before that club was even started They also ran another station WUAH as early as 1922.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Fayetteville, Arkansas gets radio
Arkansas had a long road to radio, but that's only because they 
started early. As early as 1897 William N. Gladson was conducting experiments with the wireless. By 1900 they had a wireless station. But it took another 14 years for even the navigational beacon 9YM to go up. And then from the darkness college radio came upon Fayettville, The U. or Arkansas went live with 5YM as a technical and training school" station. http://www.uark.edu/studorg/w5ym/history.html
Harvey C. Couch Sr., an industrialist and founder of Arkansas Light and Power had visited pioneer radio station KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1921. He got all giddy abotu the blinky lights as many of those in management are known to do. He wanted one of his very own to play with.
Harvey arranged for a radio demonstration in Pine Bluff in November of 1921 to the local Rotary Club. they were also suitably impressed. Radio was brand new, music from thin air was almost magical. [Not like now, when 10 year olds are annoyed to have to actually make sound with actual instruments.] By February Couch had built himself an antenna and named his new baby
WOK-AM This was to stand for "Worker Of Kilowatts" The station was fully supported by the utility company and ran no advertisements. It was to be short lived. At that time radio licenses had to be renewed every 3 months.
So then POOF it was gone. Harvey lost interest. WOK was Licensed 02/16/1922, and deleted 06/--/1924. By 1924 WCBZ in Chicago launched and the deleted calls reappeared there.
In January of 1924 KFMQ, the University's broadcast station went live, so for 6 months they had two local radio outlets. WSV in Little Rock, and KTHS, Hot springs started rolling about the same time. Harvey went on to donate heavily to the political campaigns of Huey Long another radio aficionado...
started early. As early as 1897 William N. Gladson was conducting experiments with the wireless. By 1900 they had a wireless station. But it took another 14 years for even the navigational beacon 9YM to go up. And then from the darkness college radio came upon Fayettville, The U. or Arkansas went live with 5YM as a technical and training school" station. http://www.uark.edu/studorg/w5ym/history.htmlHarvey C. Couch Sr., an industrialist and founder of Arkansas Light and Power had visited pioneer radio station KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1921. He got all giddy abotu the blinky lights as many of those in management are known to do. He wanted one of his very own to play with.
Harvey arranged for a radio demonstration in Pine Bluff in November of 1921 to the local Rotary Club. they were also suitably impressed. Radio was brand new, music from thin air was almost magical. [Not like now, when 10 year olds are annoyed to have to actually make sound with actual instruments.] By February Couch had built himself an antenna and named his new baby
WOK-AM This was to stand for "Worker Of Kilowatts" The station was fully supported by the utility company and ran no advertisements. It was to be short lived. At that time radio licenses had to be renewed every 3 months.So then POOF it was gone. Harvey lost interest. WOK was Licensed 02/16/1922, and deleted 06/--/1924. By 1924 WCBZ in Chicago launched and the deleted calls reappeared there.
In January of 1924 KFMQ, the University's broadcast station went live, so for 6 months they had two local radio outlets. WSV in Little Rock, and KTHS, Hot springs started rolling about the same time. Harvey went on to donate heavily to the political campaigns of Huey Long another radio aficionado...
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
More about the wires
Radio has two kinds of weirdos. Those lone 
weirdos that end up in a shack on the edge of town, and those other weirdos that choose to work in teams. How did George and Henry know each other? Henry Edward Highton was George E. Dering's Rugby coach... His autobiography here.
Highton and Dering were British inventors working on the problems of wireless telegraphy. Dering had no less than eleven patents one of which was for a very respectable Needle telegraph that was used by such respectable institutions as the Bank of England. More importantly in terms of modern radio were his three patents on three seperate methods of "carrying off atmospheric electricity" from the line wires.
These all regard the very earliest forays into grounding, sheilding, and insulation.
They are as follows:
1. "Two roughened or grooved metallic surfaces separated by fine linen, one of which is included in the line-wire circuit, and the other is in connection with the earth." (repatented by William Siemens as the Serrated-Plate Lightning-Guard)
2. "The attraction or repulsion occurring between dissimilarly or similarly electrified bodies respectively. Thus metal balls may be suspended from the line-wire by wires, which on separating under the influence of the lightning-discharge make contact with plates connected with the earth; or the separation may simply break connection between the line-wire and the instrument."
3. "Introducing a strip of metallic leaf into the circuit, this being fused by the passage of the atmospheric electricity." More here.
Dering won an award at the Great Exhibition of 1851 for his innovations. A few years later, at the Paris International Exhibition of 1855, he was awarded a medal for general excellence. It were these kind of endorsements that made the people with money listen to these two rugby players. Dering's proposed a transmarine telegraph. It was a pretty big idea that would require eithe rprogerss or luck in wire quality and the effectiveness of insulation.
"The metal composing the wires may be iron or copper or any other suitable kind, and it may be coated with varnish, by which means the amount of exposed surface will be diminished, and the metal preserved from corrosion. " He was betting on varnish. It was optimistic. He even began fantasizing about a wireless cable to America. "...take the case of a longer line, say from England to America, I should select two points, as the Land's End in Cornwall and the Giant's Causeway in Ireland or some suitable place on the west coast of Scotland, and corresponding points on the American shore." His tests were destroyed by bad welds in the bare wire. He managed to run about 12 miles of cable into the sea before ist snapped under it's own weight at a weak weld.
It was nto the first time this kind of idea went kablooey. Previously two other attempts were
made to connect Great Britain to Ireland by cable. Both failures were by Newall & Co. In the years prior to that multiple terrestrial runs of cabel failed due to defective insulation. Point being that wires sucked, and insulation was terrible. This created the mood in which engineers wanted to do away with wire entirely... i.e. broadcasting.
In 1913 just after George Edward Dering's death Theodore N. Vail purchased his personal library from his estate. The eccentric inventor had kept virtually every publication he ever encountered on the subject of electricity. This collection numbered approximately 35,000 books, articles and pamphlets dating to 1508! Vail had the entire collection sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology along with a generous fund for cataloging and housing it. Forming the core of the Vail Library at M.I.T. it represented the most complete and historically significant collection of documents related to the development of electrical engineering in the World at the time.
weirdos that end up in a shack on the edge of town, and those other weirdos that choose to work in teams. How did George and Henry know each other? Henry Edward Highton was George E. Dering's Rugby coach... His autobiography here.Highton and Dering were British inventors working on the problems of wireless telegraphy. Dering had no less than eleven patents one of which was for a very respectable Needle telegraph that was used by such respectable institutions as the Bank of England. More importantly in terms of modern radio were his three patents on three seperate methods of "carrying off atmospheric electricity" from the line wires.
These all regard the very earliest forays into grounding, sheilding, and insulation.
They are as follows:
1. "Two roughened or grooved metallic surfaces separated by fine linen, one of which is included in the line-wire circuit, and the other is in connection with the earth." (repatented by William Siemens as the Serrated-Plate Lightning-Guard)
2. "The attraction or repulsion occurring between dissimilarly or similarly electrified bodies respectively. Thus metal balls may be suspended from the line-wire by wires, which on separating under the influence of the lightning-discharge make contact with plates connected with the earth; or the separation may simply break connection between the line-wire and the instrument."
3. "Introducing a strip of metallic leaf into the circuit, this being fused by the passage of the atmospheric electricity." More here.
Dering won an award at the Great Exhibition of 1851 for his innovations. A few years later, at the Paris International Exhibition of 1855, he was awarded a medal for general excellence. It were these kind of endorsements that made the people with money listen to these two rugby players. Dering's proposed a transmarine telegraph. It was a pretty big idea that would require eithe rprogerss or luck in wire quality and the effectiveness of insulation."The metal composing the wires may be iron or copper or any other suitable kind, and it may be coated with varnish, by which means the amount of exposed surface will be diminished, and the metal preserved from corrosion. " He was betting on varnish. It was optimistic. He even began fantasizing about a wireless cable to America. "...take the case of a longer line, say from England to America, I should select two points, as the Land's End in Cornwall and the Giant's Causeway in Ireland or some suitable place on the west coast of Scotland, and corresponding points on the American shore." His tests were destroyed by bad welds in the bare wire. He managed to run about 12 miles of cable into the sea before ist snapped under it's own weight at a weak weld.
It was nto the first time this kind of idea went kablooey. Previously two other attempts were
made to connect Great Britain to Ireland by cable. Both failures were by Newall & Co. In the years prior to that multiple terrestrial runs of cabel failed due to defective insulation. Point being that wires sucked, and insulation was terrible. This created the mood in which engineers wanted to do away with wire entirely... i.e. broadcasting.In 1913 just after George Edward Dering's death Theodore N. Vail purchased his personal library from his estate. The eccentric inventor had kept virtually every publication he ever encountered on the subject of electricity. This collection numbered approximately 35,000 books, articles and pamphlets dating to 1508! Vail had the entire collection sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology along with a generous fund for cataloging and housing it. Forming the core of the Vail Library at M.I.T. it represented the most complete and historically significant collection of documents related to the development of electrical engineering in the World at the time.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Does Adsense make sense?
I decided to try adsense. It seems unobtrusive. If anyone feels otherwise, say so. I am hoping to get a little cash for more radio research to write better posts.
This may be shortlived however. In the Adsense rules it clearly states: Sites displaying Google ads may not include "Excessive profanity." It's in the rules. Yeah, no shit.
So we'll see soon if my profanity is "excessive" or just pedestrian.
This may be shortlived however. In the Adsense rules it clearly states: Sites displaying Google ads may not include "Excessive profanity." It's in the rules. Yeah, no shit.
So we'll see soon if my profanity is "excessive" or just pedestrian.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Mope-itty mope mope de mope mope
It was utterly senseless. Stunts are absurd at times, some completely obtuse. But this is one for the annals of the great book of radio strangeness.
For three days XETRA-AM the Mighty 690 of Tijuana (but serving greater San Diego and far far beyond) played a 3-second sample of the chorus of a single song non-stop. The lyric was "Mope-itty Mope de mope mope mope" Yes, it was utter gibberish.
The song was by the Boss-Tones a Philadelphia-baseed Doo-wop troupe. The song was released on the Boss label in two years prior to the stunt.
The year was 1961. The Mighty 690, being licensed in Mexico was running at a truly tremendous wattage for it's day: 100,000 watts ERP. They covered the Western half of the United States and ran a popular rock format. In those days before the dominance of FM they were a big deal. They maintained a downtown LA studio,and ruled the waves in a way in which no US transmitter could hope to compete.
They run News/Talk these days and bore me to tears: http://www.wradiousa.com/
Thursday, April 05, 2007
5 NEW REVIEWS
These are some of the rudest things my editor has ever let me write. Hooray for freedom of the press and ballsey editors. More impending of course...Carbomb – Centralia
Les Breastfeeders - Les Matins de Grands Soirs
The Sunshine Underground- Raise the Alarm
Seafood - Paper Crown King
Battleship - Hearts Addendum
Gene Autry's radio station
Gene Autry, western star and recording legend was a good capitalist. He didn't just put his 
money in the bank to gather dust. He bought stuff. Since satellite radio, PCs and ipods had not yet been invented be started companies. He owned Golden West Broadcasting which in turn owned KMPC-AM, KOOI-AM, KOWL-AM, KPHO-AM, KOPO-AM, KSFO-AM, KTLA-TV and the California Angels baseball team. Let's focus on KMPC since I care less about baseball than TV.
Today KMPC-1540 is known in LA as 1540 The Ticket. It's owned and operated by the radio division of the Sporting News magazine under the company Rose City Radio. They compete directly with KSPN-AM, (ESPN outlet obviously) How the station got from the bedazzled hangs of Mr. Autry to a sporting magazine is kind of interesting. Go here, click the pic.
Let's move backwards. In September of last year KMPC's parent company was sold to American City Business Journals (ACBJ) with a block of other stations. ACBJ bought Sporting News at the same time. They used the brand to develop what they thought would be a competitor to the dominant ESPN brand. Before that it was on 710, and that was the stick that Gene owned. The irony is that today 710 is KSPN-AM, that aforementioned ESPN competitor.
The station first went on air in 1927 with the call letters KRLO and the frequency of 1170. it was started by a real Estate Developer and a Stock Broker. A year later the money men bailed, selling the station to engineer Ernest J. Krause who renames the station for himself with the calls KEJK. He offloads the hot potato the same year to R.S. MacMillan Petroleum Company. they start a dayshare with KFSG the station airing insane drug-addled mumbling from Aimee McPherson. In 1929 the gasman moves the stick to 710 to get away from Aimees death cult. http://www.710kmpc.com/kmpc61.rm
MacMillan tried to change the KEJK call letters to KMP the same year, but the call were already assigned to the Omaha-based Boeing Air Transportation Co. They retry in 1930 and settle naming it after themselves, MacMillan Petroleum Company. In 1932 they accept an offer from the Beverly Hills Broadcasting Co. It's major stockholders were all stars and starlets, including Bing Crosby, Paul Whiteman, “Amos & Andy” (Freeman Gosden & Charles Corell) and others.
money in the bank to gather dust. He bought stuff. Since satellite radio, PCs and ipods had not yet been invented be started companies. He owned Golden West Broadcasting which in turn owned KMPC-AM, KOOI-AM, KOWL-AM, KPHO-AM, KOPO-AM, KSFO-AM, KTLA-TV and the California Angels baseball team. Let's focus on KMPC since I care less about baseball than TV.Today KMPC-1540 is known in LA as 1540 The Ticket. It's owned and operated by the radio division of the Sporting News magazine under the company Rose City Radio. They compete directly with KSPN-AM, (ESPN outlet obviously) How the station got from the bedazzled hangs of Mr. Autry to a sporting magazine is kind of interesting. Go here, click the pic.
Let's move backwards. In September of last year KMPC's parent company was sold to American City Business Journals (ACBJ) with a block of other stations. ACBJ bought Sporting News at the same time. They used the brand to develop what they thought would be a competitor to the dominant ESPN brand. Before that it was on 710, and that was the stick that Gene owned. The irony is that today 710 is KSPN-AM, that aforementioned ESPN competitor.
The station first went on air in 1927 with the call letters KRLO and the frequency of 1170. it was started by a real Estate Developer and a Stock Broker. A year later the money men bailed, selling the station to engineer Ernest J. Krause who renames the station for himself with the calls KEJK. He offloads the hot potato the same year to R.S. MacMillan Petroleum Company. they start a dayshare with KFSG the station airing insane drug-addled mumbling from Aimee McPherson. In 1929 the gasman moves the stick to 710 to get away from Aimees death cult. http://www.710kmpc.com/kmpc61.rmMacMillan tried to change the KEJK call letters to KMP the same year, but the call were already assigned to the Omaha-based Boeing Air Transportation Co. They retry in 1930 and settle naming it after themselves, MacMillan Petroleum Company. In 1932 they accept an offer from the Beverly Hills Broadcasting Co. It's major stockholders were all stars and starlets, including Bing Crosby, Paul Whiteman, “Amos & Andy” (Freeman Gosden & Charles Corell) and others.
The movie stars ran the station into the ground and by June of 
1934, the Beverly Hills Broadcasting Co was in receivership. It was acquired by Pacific Southwest Discount Corporation and in turn purchased by Detroit businessman George Richards for $125,000. Things are profitable and stable until Dick kicks the bucket in 1952. It was only then, that the widowed Mrs. Richard offloads the station and Gene Autry became the principal owner. His real first name is Orvon just so you know. Gene is his middle name.
1934, the Beverly Hills Broadcasting Co was in receivership. It was acquired by Pacific Southwest Discount Corporation and in turn purchased by Detroit businessman George Richards for $125,000. Things are profitable and stable until Dick kicks the bucket in 1952. It was only then, that the widowed Mrs. Richard offloads the station and Gene Autry became the principal owner. His real first name is Orvon just so you know. Gene is his middle name.So what happened between then and the call change in 1998? Orvon died in 1998. his personal office was inside KMPC, it's bigger-than-a-football-field building was his as well. His own radio show had ended it's run in 1956. Gene’s Melody Ranch radio show aired for an unprecedented 16 years. Autry of course first found fame in radio, beginning his career as “Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy” at KVOO in Tulsa, OK. Autry is the only entertainer to have all five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one each for Radio, Recording, Motion Pictures, Television, and Live Theatre/performance. More here.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The right calls in the wrong place
WDIZ.. (as in Disney) should not be on a satcaster in Panama City. 
They should be running Radio Disney, or just be in Orlando. That's all there is to it. There are other examples of miss-branded and miss-used calls. This ones too good not to be made an example of.
They should be running Radio Disney, or just be in Orlando. That's all there is to it. There are other examples of miss-branded and miss-used calls. This ones too good not to be made an example of. WDLP was founded by John H. Perry, who named the station for his wife, Dorothea Lindstrom Perry. Perry owned the local paper; The Panama City News-Herald. Given Panama City's reputation as a white trash haven, many of the locals joked that the calls stood for We Drink Liquor Publicly. Calls were changed to WGNE when this became too embarassinng to bear in 1987. [The WGNE calls now live on 99.9 in Jacksonville.]
The calls became WDIZ in 1996, borrowing the calls from the Former WDIZ-FM 100.7 in Orlando. It was an original Drake/Chenault "Solid Gold Oldies" outlet back in the 1970s. The WDIZ calls probably would be worth more in branding today in Orlando but for whatever 
reason they've kept them parked in Panama City. At least it's in AM stereo.
It's less of an oddity toda. Two years ago they ran as Tourist Info Radio, still with Clear Channel as owner. They aired some obscure low-cost programs like "Canada Calling" and FRN News, and some soft Nostalgia. Yeah, I dont see the angle. It's not even listed in the stations they'd off load in the big sell off they're been trying for. I think they've added a little more N/T to the mix in the last year but they're still airing Dial Global's canned Adult Standards.
Red Cross Radio
The Red Cross has always been a media machine. In the 1920s they published a magazine. They 
run radio, TV and print advertisements everywhere. They were virtually the inventors of viral advertising trying experiments brand propagation such as sponsoring parade floats. All this and the organization is still largely non-profit and mostly focused on social services. Their work is on an international scale and strangely despite their century of media savvy they only started a radio channel last year.
Largely they'd left the dissemination of emergency service information to NOAA and the shortwave crowd. Somtimes local Red Cross outfits even host relays for shortwave stations. This includes KB1FLH, KC7ZUH, KC2ESD and many others.
Grundig now makes a Red Cross branded Emergency Radio, the FR400. It sports a turn crank for power and tunes all seven NOAA weather alert channels, and TV channels 2-13. It also, in a modern twist also has a cell phone charger with adapters for most common brands.
The new Red Cross information channel is not on terrestrial radio. It's a Satellite channel. (XM Channel 248), is an XM satellite radio channel. It started to provide 24-hour news and information for Hurricane Katrina victims, Red Cross workers along the Gulf Coast and across the country.
XM is donated radios to the Red Cross for relief workers, shelters and aid stations. The Red Cross is not only using the XM Radio channel to deliver news and info directly to workers but is also using the channel to send mass messages to staff across the country. Red Cross Radio is airing continuous updates on the relief efforts in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas devastated by Katrina, as well as the sites where victims have been relocated to receive Red Cross assistance.
run radio, TV and print advertisements everywhere. They were virtually the inventors of viral advertising trying experiments brand propagation such as sponsoring parade floats. All this and the organization is still largely non-profit and mostly focused on social services. Their work is on an international scale and strangely despite their century of media savvy they only started a radio channel last year.Largely they'd left the dissemination of emergency service information to NOAA and the shortwave crowd. Somtimes local Red Cross outfits even host relays for shortwave stations. This includes KB1FLH, KC7ZUH, KC2ESD and many others.
Grundig now makes a Red Cross branded Emergency Radio, the FR400. It sports a turn crank for power and tunes all seven NOAA weather alert channels, and TV channels 2-13. It also, in a modern twist also has a cell phone charger with adapters for most common brands.
The new Red Cross information channel is not on terrestrial radio. It's a Satellite channel. (XM Channel 248), is an XM satellite radio channel. It started to provide 24-hour news and information for Hurricane Katrina victims, Red Cross workers along the Gulf Coast and across the country.XM is donated radios to the Red Cross for relief workers, shelters and aid stations. The Red Cross is not only using the XM Radio channel to deliver news and info directly to workers but is also using the channel to send mass messages to staff across the country. Red Cross Radio is airing continuous updates on the relief efforts in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas devastated by Katrina, as well as the sites where victims have been relocated to receive Red Cross assistance.
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