History WHA (AM)

1 history

1.1 pre-world war (9xm)
1.2 world war (wartime authorization)
1.3 post world war (9xm , wha)

history

randall davidson, while researching history of wha 2007 book, 9xm talking, found breathtaking amount of material has been preserved station s decades. however, research notes , personal papers of wha founder earle m. terry not available. disposed of widow after death.

pre-world war (9xm)

wha first licensed broadcasting station on january 13, 1922, department of physics @ university of wisconsin in madison. however, prior university had extensive experience in radio experimentation , broadcasting, initial transmissions using morse code, followed pioneering audio broadcasts.

radio (then known wireless telegraphy) experimentation began @ university in first decade of 1900s. in 1914, electrical engineering department professor edward bennett constructed spark gap transmitter, capable of transmitting dots-and-dashes of morse code. following year equipment transferred physics professor earle m. terry, , terry worked group of physics , engineering students construct additional radio apparatus in basement of science hall, including stringing antenna between building , mining , metallurgy laboratory.

in june 1915 u.s. department of commerce, regulated radio @ time, issued university experimental radio station license, call sign 9xm. 9xm used point-to-point communication other stations. additional activities included sending game reports wisconsin-ohio state basketball game on february 17, 1917, and, beginning following april, telegraphic news exchange other universities.

starting in 1914 radio stations located @ university of north dakota, nebraska wesleyan university, , university of nebraska established radiotelegraphic broadcasts of weather forecasts on regular schedule, service local farmers. beginning in 1915, eric r. miller, former student of professor terry s meteorologist in charge of u.s weather bureau s madison office, worked terry make arrangements 9xm provide similar service state of wisconsin. on december 1, 1916 announced 9xm begin transmit daily (except sundays) weather forecasts, using morse code. these transmissions made @ 11:00 a.m. central time on wavelength of 1,700 meters (176 khz), , scheduled follow time signals transmitted 10:55 11:00 a.m. naa, u.s. navy station in arlington, virginia.

the use of morse code limited usability of these broadcasts, required farmers learn how translate telegraphic dots-and-dashes. vacuum tube transmitters, capable of audio transmissions, had been developed, , in 1917 terry began making test transmissions using new technology. 1 of these tests hosted gathering @ home listen transmission of phonograph records, although @ time guests unimpressed hearing music played on nearby record player. because vacuum tube technology still in experimental stage, 9xm did not introduce regular audio broadcasts @ time.

world war (wartime authorization)

with entrance of united states world war in april 1917, u.s. government assumed control of entire radio industry, , became illegal civilians possess working radio receiver. @ same time civilian radio transmitters, including 9xm, shut down, ending radiotelegraphic weather reports duration of war.

although 9xm had been silenced, in may, @ recommendation of a. hoyt taylor, district communication superintendent @ great lakes naval station in illinois, university permitted reactivate radio operations, under supervision of u.s. navy. (during war, navy issued new call signs stations under control, there no information call signs used university transmitters during period.) station facilities relocated science hall sterling hall, studios remained until 1934.

the research took place during war done in secret. after war, revealed university staff had tested radio communication submarines, in addition working army signal corps develop radiotelephones aviation use. university provided radio technology training classes signal corps recruits. additionally, weather information transmitted ships operating on great lakes.

professor terry continued work on developing vacuum-tube transmitters, , in march 1919 announced audio transmissions had been made madison great lakes station, using vacuum power tube said better commercial bulb .

post world war (9xm , wha)

after world war i, u.s. government relinquished control of radio, , in october 1919 lifted ban on civilian radio stations. in fall of 1919, university authorized operate war department training , rehabilitation school station call sign wx3, , on february 11, 1920 received experimental station license revived 9xm call sign.

work began re-establish daily weather forecast broadcasts. in january 1920, reports both weather bureau s eric r. miller , university s physics department stated transmissions restart, time radiotelephone. however, when service reintroduced in february, forecasts still being sent in morse code. during university s summer break weather forecast broadcasts temporarily suspended, restarted in september.

a key problem delaying upgrade audio transmissions lack of vacuum tubes. produced physics department, in process required glass-blowing skills. finally, on january 3, 1921, radiotelephone equipment ready, , first time spoken word weather broadcasts made. (because telegraphic sounds can heard greater distances spoken word, until 1923 audio broadcasts repeated in morse code.) weekly friday night musical concerts introduced later same month.

prof. alfred b. haake delivering talk on economics @ wha (1922)

initially there no formal standards stations providing broadcast service, there no problem 9xm broadcasting under experimental license. however, effective december 1, 1921, department of commerce adopted regulations defining broadcast service. new regulations specified 2 transmitting wavelengths — 360 meters (833 khz) entertainment , , 485 meters (619 khz) market , weather reports — , required stations making broadcasts intended general public hold limited commercial license. professor terry filed application new license, , on january 13, 1922 university issued first broadcasting station authorization, randomly assigned call letters of wha. in addition 2 broadcasting wavelengths, station authorized use 410 meters (731 khz) intercommunication between college stations .

for few more years university continued renew 9xm experimental license, used conducting investigative work, until late 1926, when license permanently deleted. wisconsin public radio commemorates 9xm in fund-raising efforts, recognizing network donors give more $1,200 annually members of 9xm leadership circle .

as struggled establish itself, issues funding, available staff, , technical problems limited wha s schedule. station suspended operations during university s 1922 summer break, then, because of technical difficulties, unable restart regular broadcasting until january 8, 1923. after again suspending operations 1924 summer break, station formally deleted government on september 8, although relicensed, again call letters wha, on october 14.

although great depression caused many college radio stations go silent because of financial pressures, in 1930 state of wisconsin began providing both wha , wlbl in stevens point funding further educational offerings. in fall of 1931, wisconsin school of air provided 10 weekly programs designed supplement grade school curricula. other programs addressed government, agricultural, , homemaker audiences.

in 1927, federal radio commission created regulate u.s. radio stations, , new agency implemented series of frequency reassignments. effective april 26, 1929, wha assigned transmit on 940 khz, limited broadcasting during daytime hours. on march 29, 1941, part of implementation of north american regional broadcasting agreement, wha, along other stations on 940, moved current dial position of 970 khz. however, station had sign off @ sundown. lack of nighttime hours limited wha s potential programming after creation of wisconsin public radio in 1948. station made several unsuccessful attempts on years assigned clear-channel frequency, or @ least better dial location have enabled remain on air @ night.

in summer of 1932, wha relocated transmitter couple of miles (3 kilometers) south current site @ silver spring farm. site had been used wisconsin state journal station, wisj, no longer needed after station merged operations capital times station, wiba.

in 1934, wha studios relocated sterling hall radio hall, 1880s vintage heating plant building. in 1972 studios moved again, vilas communication hall.

in 1936, wha installed custom-built transmitter. in 1951, station retired transmitter , purchased 5,000-watt westinghouse transmitter. custom-built transmitter had operated on 52,000 hours.

the canadian series children, friendly giant, created in 1953 on wha. show, starring bob homme, later moved local sister station wha-tv before making way canadian television on cbc television network. long-running dramatic radio series earplay created wha in fall of 1971.

in december 1987, wha authorized commence nighttime operations, had reduce power 51 watts @ sundown.