Radio Rapidly Developing in Mexico

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 12, 2 October 1931, Page 31

Radio Rapidly Developing in Mexico

Serious Interference Problem

RA40r0, and particularly broadcasting, has begun to assume the aspect of an important industry in Mexico (states the "New York Herald Tribune’). With more than thirty stations operating south of the Rio Grande, Mexican programmes are beginning to be interspersed with programmes transmitted by United States and Canadian stations, thus ~iving rise to a problem of interference not contemplated at the time wavelengths for broadcasting were distributed among countries of North America. Considerable complaint already has reached radio officials in both the United States and Canada, and there is some likelihood that within the’ next year there will be called a North American radio conference to discuss allocation of frequencies on the continent. Most of the stations in Mexico are operating on either American or Canudian wavelengths, resulting in considerable interference. The country has not in the past participated in the conferences at which distribution of channels was made, and therefore is not bound by compact to the use of certain wavelengths. Mexican Radio ¥nterest. N the past Mexico has not been recognised as a country interested in radio broadcasting. While there have been several stations there, dating as far back as 1924, they were seldom heard in the United States.

Listening in the country has been confined to a few who are able to afford American-built receiving sets. The principal cause of the increased interference from Mexican stations is the new transmitter recently constructed several miles from Mexico City. The station is popularly known by its call letters XHW, and is being heard nightly by a large number of listeners. The station operates on a wavelength of 384.7 metres, which is slightly below the channel utilised by WJZ. While signals from the station are not distinguished while WJZ is transmitting, they may be heard distinectly with the average receiving set after the latter station signs off for the evening. The station, which designates itself as "The Voice of Latin America," is owned and operated by the Mexico Music Company, and is located within a few miles of Mexico City. Reports indicate that the company which erected the station has hopes of establishing a network of stations in Mexico along the same lines as the networks now operating in the United States.

If plans materialise, it is expected that an exchange of programmes between the United States and Mexico will eventually. take place. ‘The company which operates the new trans mitter also operates station XET; a 500-watt station. Transmitting with a power of 5000 watts, station XHW is readily audible in the United States and Canada. The station is the most powerful in Mexico, and is believed by officials to mark the beginning of a new era of broadcasting in the country. The transmitter itself is located about eight miles out of Mexico City, and is linked by line wire to studios within the heart of the city. Aerial towers are 300 feet high and may be seen for miles around the adjacent country. ce , Studios are designed similar to those used by American stations, having walls of sound-absorbing material to prevent reverberation. Equipment is of a type found in the modern American studio, and includes control apparatus and condenser-type microphones. As a result of the new station, «fort is being made to develop native talent, and a major portion of the programmes is being presented by local artists. Effort also is being made to secure comnercially sponsored programmes, and already a number of the features broadcast by the station are presented by Mexican merchants.