March 1967 Radio-Electronics
[Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Radio-Electronics,
published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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News Briefs
Big Brother Listens
The FCC has authorized police agencies to use low-power transmitters on undisclosed
frequencies for surveillance, "stake-outs," and raids.
Because normal police frequencies are known and may be monitored by anyone with
a suitable receiver, the Commission reasoned that police were hindered in their
attempts to capture criminal suspects. For instance, where citizens have been attacked
and robbed in a city park, normal police procedure would be to stake out plain-clothesmen
in the area, equipping them with walkie-talkies. But if they had to use assigned
frequencies, criminals might detect their presence and make the attempt useless.
The FCC rule change (Sec. 89.309) provides for the use of any frequency between
40 and 952 MHz which is available in the Police Radio Service, with a maximum of
2 watts' antenna input power. The Commission also emphasized that the rules " ...
in no sense authorize 'wiretapping' or 'bugging' activities by the police."
TV Service Pricing
In three surveys made last fall, TSA (Television Service Association) of Michigan
determined the average service charges their member shops were using.
Average fee for a home call was $5.92 for b-w and $8.05 for color. For servicing
a set in the customer's home for half an hour, the average charge was $3.03 (b-w)
or $4.56 (color). Thus the total price of a completed service call averaged $8.95
(b-w) or $12.61 (color).
In-shop service bills ran $15.40 (b-w) , $24.78 (color), and $13.51 (portables).
The average hourly shop rate was found to be $8.81 for b-w and $10.08 for color.
As reported in TSA News, the trend in Michigan seems to be toward dividing home-service
fees between the home call itself (time and travel expenses) and work actually performed
at the house (time only).
Some shops also reported making separate charges for pickup and delivery. The
average was around $8.00 for b-w (one man) and $13.00 for color (two men)
Airliner Lands Automatically
The big jet - a Pan American Boeing 727 - left its holding pattern and began
an approach run into New York's Kennedy Airport one night last February. The pilot
manipulated the controls as usual up to the point where he locked the plane's instruments
onto the airfield ILS (instrument landing system). Then he stopped flying the plane,
and a computer aboard the jet brought her smoothly in. It was the first time an
American-built airliner on a regular passenger flight had made a completely automatic
landing.
The automatic landing system promises true all-weather flying in the near future.
Aircraft will be able to land despite weather conditions. "Even though visibility
was not poor," the Pan Am pilot announced to his 98 passengers afterward, "the landing
would have been exactly the same with zero-zero visibility."
The system, developed by Boeing and Sperry-Phoenix, includes an auto-pilot, a
flight-director system, a flare computer, an auto-throttle, and a radio altimeter.
Complete redundancy is used; every unit has its twin to provide backup in case of
equipment failure. Furthermore, the system continuously monitors itself; if not
functioning properly, it won't permit activation. If it fails during operation,
it disconnects itself from the aircraft controls.
Using ALS, the pilot does not relinquish his command, for he can override the
computer at any time.
Pan American has two Boeing 727's equipped for automatic landings, and plans
to outfit more planes soon.
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