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on the Electronic Indusłry

By ELECTRONICS WORLD'5 WASHNIGTON EDITOR

STEREO-BROADCASTING-DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY MOUNTING—The past weeks have witnessed such surging enthusiasm for stereo among broadcasters—both AM and FM—as well as industry, that the Commission has extended the hearing deadline for stereo multiplexing until December llth. Latest broadcast entry—ABC—recently premiered a simplified stereo process, which featured a version of the Philco system, before FCC personnel. A number of others say they, too, have effective techniąues which meet the reąuirements set forth by the National Stereophonic Radio Committee. Basically, the NSRC charter calls for a compatible stereo sound method which can be used by AM, FM, and TV stations.

CITIZENS RADIO AUTHORIZATIONS PASS 50,000 MARK—The booming interest in Citizens Radio service is breaking all records for operating grants. 0ver 300 applications are now being processed daily and, at this writing, over 50,000 authorizations have been issued. The development of lightweight portables of the "walkie-talkie" type has opened the door to an endless variety of applications. Washington reports that the private two-way service is now being used to page doctors, nurses, and other professionals; also by department Stores, dairies, and laundries to contact delivery trucks. It is an aid to industrial plants, construction projects, farms, and ranches. On-the-air traffic is increasing at such a ratę that the FCC may decide to limit duration of any one transmission or exchange of Communications between stations— especially those using class D.

ELECTRONIC BRAIN TO C0NTR0L T0RPED0ES AFTER FIRING—An electronić brain—the Mark 112 Torpedo Fire-Control System—for the control of torpedoes after they are fired, will be installed on the first Polaris-launching submarine, the "George Washington." Developed and being produced under contracts totaling $12 million by Sperry, the system—basically a Computer—will be installed on nuclear-powered, attack, hunter, killer, and missile-launching submarines. Using one or a combination of several sensing devices, such as radar or sonar, the system can determine an enemy ship's position, direction, and speed. A means of activating torpedoes with acoustic heads is included. When the torpedo has traveled a safe enough distance from the sub, the torpedo is activated so that it will seek out the ship at which it is fired.

CL0SED-CIRCUIT TV TO HELP SELL SURPLUS DEFENSE PR0PERTY—An experimental large-screen television auction—using closed-circuit lines—will be conducted this Fali when government surplus property located at three widely separated military-supply installations will be offered for sale to over 9000 prospective bidders gathered in six major cities: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Columbus, Chicago, and St. Louis. Under this new approach, prospective buyers will be able to see and bid simul-taneously through a combination of TV and two-way radio circuits.

$25—MILLION TRACKING NET DESIGNED FOR MANNED 0RBITAL FLIGHT—A $25-million contract for a world-wide network of tracking and ground instrumentation stations to be used in "Project Mercury"—the U.S. effort to achieve orbital manned flight—will soon be awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Mercury tracking network—to be completed in 1960—will include both radar tracking and telemetry installations in Africa, South Pacific, Central America, Cape Canaveral, Hawaii, Southern California, on an island in the Atlantic, two on islands in the Pacific, and two on ships.

C0MMISSI0NER PR0P0SES USE 0F CHANNELS 2-13 FOR SAFETY SERVICES—A bold re-allocation plan involving use of channels 2-13 for Safety and Special Radio Services was offered by FCC Commissioner Robert W. Lee during the recent Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee hearings. If TV were shifted to u.h.f., he said, the 54- to 216-mc. channels would be ideał for Citizens Radio, model control, broadcast pickup, alarm devices (industrial), etc. The Commissioner presented an allocation chart spelling out channels selected for each service.    -30b

Ocłober. 1959    29