September 13, 1936

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

An announcement of a new way of transmitting WWJ.

WWJ Advances

Pioneers in radio are much in the position of stout Cortez and his men, who, on staring for the first time at the Pacific Ocean, looked at each other with a wild surmise. They can only guess at the extent of the new fields that unfold before them. Their satisfaction and much of their reward has lain in seeing these speculations come true.

The new frontier in broadcasting lies along the ultra-high frequency border of the spectrum. This territory has been little explored and fewer than half a dozen settlers have staked out claims and are now regularly heard from. The possibilities that lie in the range are still largely matters of conjecture.

The News takes particular pride in its name as a pioneer in the broadcasting field, a reputation dating from that day in August 1920, when it put the country's first broadcast on the air.

Beginning in February, The News' station will offer, from its experimental station on top of the Penobscot Building, daily programs over a frequency of 31,600 kilocycles, out of the reach of static and interference. The programs will be those broadcast over the present wave length, and will be available not only where WWJ is now heard, but wherever, around the world, a proper receiver and conditions are suited to its reception.

We can only guess at developments in this field, and the course of our exploration depends on what is found. We shall have at least the explorer's satisfaction of entering a trackless country, and invite the public to participate in the experience. Incidentally, The News is happy to assist in the revival of a craft which has languished with the perfection of commerical radio sets - the building at home of receivers suited to the new frequencies. A few of these are now manufactured, and their names, or advice and plans for the home construction of sets of the same sort we shall put at the public's disposal.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.