VERY REMOTE RECEPTION OF TELEVISION TRANSMISSIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700150397-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2011
• Sequence Number: 397
• Publication Date: December 14, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/13: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700150397-4
SUBJECT Scientific - Electronics, radio wave propagation
HOW DATE DIST. ~ ~f Dec 1953
PUBLISHED Monthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Moscox NO. OF PAGES 2
DATE
PUBLISHED Sep 1953
LANGUAGE Russian SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT N0.
...,~. ,.. ..~~,,.,.~ ...,~.~~~,'?~,~ .',~o,..~o? ,..
~.~.,.
VERY REhDTE RECEPTION OF TELEVISION TRANSMISSIONS
The following is a review of aii article by P. Chechik appearing
in Radio, No 9, pp 50, 51~
Chechik briefly lists some cases of anomalous reception in the radio amateur
bands and then proceeds to a more detailed discussion of similar instances in
television reception. The latter instances include the reception of t:~e Moscow
Television Center in Holland and Belgiwn in play and June 1951 and reception of
the Moscow, Lopik (Holland), and Paris television stations in Germany during June
1952.
Letters from Soviet amateurs tp tl;e editors of Radio, according to the author,
indicate that irregular reception of soae remote television station xas observed
on the frequency of the first televi-sion channel in Vladimir in the spring of
1953 and that several telecenters are received sporadically in many regions of
the Ukrainian SSR.
Chechik then discusses the US experiments with the Collins 23-kx transmitter,
in which fairly stable reception was obtained at a distance of 1,250 km on 6-m
waves. .One conclusion from the study was that the height of the receiving
antenna was immaterial, and the author states ghat this has been confirmed by
the observations of Gernnn radio amateurs on the reception of the Moscow Tele-
vision Center. Chechik observes that it is too early to draw any conclusions
from these experiments as to the feasibi'.~.ty of using similar techniques for
relaying television programs, and he notes that transmitters of very considerable
power would undoubtedly be required for this purpose.
From the data accumtil.ated thus far on cases of remote and very remote
reception of ~celevisi.on transmissions, Chechik arrives at the following conclusions:
DISTRIF J'.ION
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/13: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700150397-4
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED
CENTRAL S; r~EL[RYEtvt,'~~t~A~TV~?-r
INFORMATInN FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
REPORT
CD N0.
DATE OF
STAT
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/13: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700150397-4
STAT
wave propagation in Which a relatively constant fieldJintensit~ cansbeoptical
with comparatively low transmitter power; depending on the heights of theotrans-
mitting and receiving antennas, the range is about 60-70 km.
.^.. Remote reception, due to tropospheric propagation of meter eaves,
depends on temperatures pressure, and humidity. A weak but steady signal can
be received at distance? up to 150-200 knt. Under these conditions, the height
of the antenna and its directivity is of vital importance to the quality of
reception. During chance inversions of temperature and relative humidity, the
ran8e ~y reach 400.500 km; in this rase, reception depends on transmitter power.
3? Very remote reception. according to the assertions of B. A. Vvedenskiy,
A. G. Arenberg, an3 M. P. Dolu:awnov, is du= to ionospheric reflection from the
F2 or E-sporadic layers. The condl.tSens for ionization of these layers is
especially favorahle in years of high solar arrivity, which accounts for the
cases of very remotes reception in 19 s7 and 1947. As for similar cases from
1950 to 1953, i.e., in years of decreasing solar activity, they may be caused
by isolated intense solar eruptions with the accompanying increased ionization,
or by ionization of meteor origin. Rowever, this is strictly guesswork and
requires confirmation. Further observations will permit more definite and accur-
ate conclusions.
Chechik concludes that progress In the further study of "remote" and very
remote reception of television will be poss[ble if more radio amateurs partici-
pate in cbservations. He urges Dosaaf radio clubs to organize such systematic
observations.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/13: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700150397-4