18-08-2019, 06:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 18-08-2019, 06:08 PM by Mike Watterson.)
USA FM late 1930s Band1, switched to 88 - 108MHz in 1945. Though they never did valve portable FM sets except one novelty super-rengen model as it was sold as HiFi.
Germany 1949 due to allies taking many German MW & LW allocations, so unlike UK where VHF-FM was really only for better Third Program/Radio 3 from 1955 to early 1970s, there were many German VHF-FM stations NOT on AM. So battery FM sets from 1953 (DC90) and then DF97 triodised mixer osc in same circuit from 1955. From 1955 to 1959 there were quite a few near HiFi battery Portable AM/FM German sets. Most had rechargeable LT (also acted as regulator). Some had a mains valve for Audio when not on battery. Some were push pull.
Also UK roll-out was slow as the main aim was interference free Third Program in South East. Also simple UK duplication of the main 3 UK BBC and poor signal levels meant even in 1960s the VHF transistor portable was almost a waste of money in the UK.
No VHF FM in Ireland till 1962 (except for UK reception in some places) and then only a copy of "Athlone". The UK had regional radio till 1939 and it wasn't revived by BBC till late 1960s or early 1970s, just before UK Commercial FM.
Germany 1949 due to allies taking many German MW & LW allocations, so unlike UK where VHF-FM was really only for better Third Program/Radio 3 from 1955 to early 1970s, there were many German VHF-FM stations NOT on AM. So battery FM sets from 1953 (DC90) and then DF97 triodised mixer osc in same circuit from 1955. From 1955 to 1959 there were quite a few near HiFi battery Portable AM/FM German sets. Most had rechargeable LT (also acted as regulator). Some had a mains valve for Audio when not on battery. Some were push pull.
Also UK roll-out was slow as the main aim was interference free Third Program in South East. Also simple UK duplication of the main 3 UK BBC and poor signal levels meant even in 1960s the VHF transistor portable was almost a waste of money in the UK.
No VHF FM in Ireland till 1962 (except for UK reception in some places) and then only a copy of "Athlone". The UK had regional radio till 1939 and it wasn't revived by BBC till late 1960s or early 1970s, just before UK Commercial FM.
