ALL-RED WIRELESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 5

ALL-RED WIRELESS.

MARCONI AND G.F.O. /•,

THE SEARCHLIGHT BEAM.

LONDON, May 14.

It is understood that fresh conversations are proceeding between the Cabinet and the Marconi Company, in which the company has made definite proposals for co-operation between the Government and the company either on the Australian principle or a pooling agreement. It is believed the company offered the Government the full use of its new beam system, 'by means of which, on the searchlight principle, the company claims to be able to transmit messages throughout the Empire at the greatest speed and with the utmost accuracy.

Stations established for this system will cost approximately £50,000, compared with £500,000 for the present high-power stations. It is contended that this comparative cheapness will enable all portions of the Empire to erect their own stations; whereas the cost of higher powered systems might foe prohibitive to lesser administrations.

Marconi's claims that under the new system Australia., South Africa, and India will 'be in direct communication with Britain for from seven to twelve hours daily, enabling the company to deal efficiently with all' commercial traffic likely to offer in the future.— (Reuter.)

Government officials have investigated the claims made on behalf of Signbr Marconi that wireless messages can be transmitted from England to Australia by the beam method, which is said to give secrecy, greater freedom from atmospherics, and requires less power. They discredit these claims. They state, for instance that the beam will not function during the hours of sunlight, and that it broadens in proportion 'to distance. Thus when it reached Australia from England the beam would embrace the continent.

The experts discredit the secrecy claim owing to the fact that the beam route would pass over foreign countries. It is believed in Government circles that the Marconi Company is using the beam merely as a bargaining basis, but there is no danger of the company dropping its experiments because of its association with foreign companies.

It is expected that the Rugby station will he completed by Christmas, and the second station a year later. The Rugby station will be able, immediately after completion, to devote a proportion of its time to Australia.