AN AMERICAN GIANT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1934, Page 19

AN AMERICAN GIANT

WLW, 500 KILOWATTS

Until a few weeks ago, the United States did not have the most powerful broadcast transmitter in the world. It has now. Several European stations run to 60,100, and 120 kilowatts (2YA is 5, the new IYA will be 10).- The maximum fixed for' American stations was 50,000 watts (50 kilowatts): The new one, WLW, Cincinatti, Ohio, is 500 kilowatts—ten times the old limit, and it was officially started by President Roosevelt from Whito House a few weeks ago.

According to the "Christian Science Monitor,'' this step represents the beginning of a movement towards higher power generally. The Federal Kadio Commission may allow other stations to increase their power in proportion. Developments in connection with the assumption of this new power were the building of a 100,0001b audio transformer, the largest ever built; power lines and a mammoth sub-station to supply electricity; three filament generators; and a water-cooling system with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons of water daily for cooling of the various tubes used in the transmitter.

The transmitter, costing, more than 4,000,000 dollars, is understood to bo the original 50,000-watt transmitter of WLW, used in conjunction with a new 500,000-watt amplifier.

According to the Crosley Corporation, the new power will extend the local "guaranteed" service area of "WTTVY more than twenty-fivo times, and its "reliable" service araa will include a circle 5000 miles in diameter. Translated into listeners' language, this means that the new WLW will be heard at any hour Of the day practically anywhere in the. North American continent.

Such a condition may alter the status quo of broadcasting in that the increased coverage obtained by these new powers may limit the number of stations using them, to decrease interference. There is also the consideration of what may ensue in the world's diplomatic channels should WLWs signal causo interference with foreign broadcasters.

With its transmitter and Tadiating mast complete, WLW has been testing on its new power experimentally for several weeks. There is a new halfwave mast 831 ft high at Mason, Ohio, 22 miles north of Cincinnati. Using this new mast with its old power of 50,000 watts the management of WLW reported an increased signal strength of from SQ-±<*-I<MJ-<g9g33gnj,