Forgotten Broadcast History from World War II

[Ed Nielson]

Years (decades) ago, sometime in the mid 60's, I read a story in an electronics magazine involving Allied interference with Nazi propaganda broadcasts during World War II. It wasn't jamming, but instead involved setting up a transmitter synchronized with the Nazi channel, and then broadcasting sarcastic responses to the speaker, usually extolling the "virtues" of Hitler. The Allies would mock him as he spoke. Because the carriers were in sync, listeners heard both voices as if they were in the same room.

This would have appeared in either Radio-TV Experimenter, or possibly Electronics Illustrated or Popular Electronics. Time frame would be around 1967-1969. I have already researched (so far in vain) some of the issues of those magazines that David has on his site. Even recognized some of the covers!

Does anybody have any further info on this?

 

[PTBoardOp93]

Because the carriers were in sync, listeners heard both voices as if they were in the same room.

Was this even possible with the technology of 1942-45? Synchronizing the carriers, I mean.

I ask that question because it's not a trivial thing to do today, and being off frequency results in an annoying buzz. Which I suppose isn't a problem if you want to dissuade listeners to propaganda broadcasts...

 

[davideduardo]

Years (decades) ago, sometime in the mid 60's, I read a story in an electronics magazine involving Allied interference with Nazi propaganda broadcasts during World War II. It wasn't jamming, but instead involved setting up a transmitter synchronized with the Nazi channel, and then broadcasting sarcastic responses to the speaker, usually extolling the "virtues" of Hitler. The Allies would mock him as he spoke. Because the carriers were in sync, listeners heard both voices as if they were in the same room.

This would have appeared in either Radio-TV Experimenter, or possibly Electronics Illustrated or Popular Electronics. Time frame would be around 1967-1969. I have already researched (so far in vain) some of the issues of those magazines that David has on his site. Even recognized some of the covers!

Does anybody have any further info on this?

Both magazines are on WorldRadioHistory and searchable.

 

[davideduardo]

Was this even possible with the technology of 1942-45? Synchronizing the carriers, I mean.

Yes, adequately synchronizing the carrier frequency was possible with a simple crystal control.

I ask that question because it's not a trivial thing to do today,

Today we have up to nearly 200 stations on each of the old Class IV frequencies (12330, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450, 1490) that all stay within almost exactly the same frequency

and being off frequency results in an annoying buzz.

Staying within +/- 20 Hz has been easy going back to the 1920's.

Which I suppose isn't a problem if you want to dissuade listeners to propaganda broadcasts...

The real issue was having the "bogus" signal strong enough to be at the same level as the German station.

 

[KeithE4]

Was this even possible with the technology of 1942-45? Synchronizing the carriers, I mean.

In the 1930s, KFAB, then in Lincoln NE, and WBBM Chicago both occupied 770 kHz. They synchronized their programming via a telephone line. This allowed CBS to air their network programming almost coast-to-coast on the same frequency. I take it that it worked well enough to be functional.

Both stations moved to 780 with NARBA in 1941. KFAB moved to Omaha and to 1110 kHz in 1944.

 

[davideduardo]

In the 1930s, KFAB, then in Lincoln NE, and WBBM Chicago both occupied 770 kHz. They synchronized their programming via a telephone line. This allowed CBS to air their network programming almost coast-to-coast on the same frequency. I take it that it worked well enough to be functional.

While 25 kw back then definitely got listenership across most of the U.S., the 5 kw of KFAB did nothing except interfere with the night signal of WBBM (which back as far as 1930 was 25 kw and shared time with another Chicago station)

Both stations moved to 780 with NARBA in 1941. KFAB moved to Omaha and to 1110 kHz in 1944.

In the mid-30's KFAB had remained on 770, still with 5 kw, and then increased from 5 kw to 10 kw.

With NARBA, WBBM and KFAB moved t o 780. Right after WW II KFAB moved to 1110 and a low power Nebraskan daytimer went to 780.

You can look at these two more specifically with the logbooks at RADIO LOG BOOKS - Radio station logbooks and listings from 1923 to 2022.

 

[Ed Nielson]

I found the story! Scroll down to page 29 for the article entitled "The Strange Saga of Ivan the Terrible."

And a 2021 update can be found here.