 [Table
of Contents] People old and young enjoy waxing nostalgic about and learning some of the history of early electronics.
Popular Electronics was published from October 1954 through April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged. See
all articles from
Popular Electronics. |
When Popular Electronics began publication in October of
1954, its editors included both radio control modeling and amateur
radio as regular features. The magazine's target audience was made
up of professional, student, and hobbyist electronics aficionados
who often mixed their interest in electronics with another hobby;
e.g., the aforementioned R/C and Ham radio, but also counted amongst
readers were audiophiles looking for top-notch systems, do-it-yourselfer
(DIY) domestic gadget makers, and automotive enthusiasts. It might
seem like today there is not as much interest in such endeavors
as in times past, but the plethora of hobby type magazines still
being published in hard copy, electronically, or both, suggests
otherwise.
R/C Notes
Those of you who have hesitated to get into radio control work,
saying that it's too complicated, or that "I don't know anything
about radio," please look at the photo at the right. It shows E.
L. Friend of Las Cruces, New Mexico, who won the single-channel
radio control event at the National Championships held at the Los
Alamitos Air Station in California. The plane shown here is Ed's
first radio-controlled model!
Credit for the reliable radio equipment should go to Babcock
Radio Engineering, Inc., of Van Nuys, Calif., for it was their BCR-3
receiver and BCT-2 transmitter that enabled a novice in the field
to snatch first place away from the experts.
Recently we received a mimeographed letter from Mr. Irving Megeff
of Electronic Specialty Supply Co. (ESSCO), of New York City, which
has an urgent message for the R/C modeler's fraternity. The letter
points out that at the time of writing the FCC had on file a total
of only 12,500 licenses for R/C and other equipment in the Citizen's
band of 27.255 mc. When it is realized that upwards of 60,000 modelers
are actively engaged in the use of this band, the neglect of many
to register with the FCC gives a black eye to our hobby. But even
more important than that, the FCC at present has a totally incorrect
view of the use of the Citizen's band by R/C hobbyists. How does
this affect us?
Well, for one thing, the demand for channels by other services
is so great that the FCC seems to feel that the small occupancy
of the Citizen's band by model control enthusiasts does not warrant
an exclusive channel. Consequently, the FCC has issued licenses
for mobile services, traffic control services, and others to use
this channel despite the fact that it has created a source of interference
for the R/C modeler.
At this point, there is one thing that can be done by all you
R/C modelers to impress the FCC with your claim to the 27.255-mc.
band, i.e., send to the FCC a completed Form 505 for the R/C transmitter
you use. And ask your friends to do the same.
Shown below are some scenes from the recent meet of the R/C3
(Radio Control Club of Chicago). More data on this club will be
given in the next issue.
Posted April 18, 2015
|
