DIRECTION FINDING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 August 1924, Page 7

DIRECTION FINDING.

LEADS TO BATTLE OF JUTLAND. In the course of a lecture in Auckland Mr. Munro, At. Sc., dealt with the principles and application of radio direction finding. In a most interesting address, illustrated by apparatus and by lantern slides,'Air' Atunro explained how, by means of rotating a frame aerial the strength of signals varied from a minimum when the aerial was at right angles to the sending station, to a maximum when the aerial was parallel to the direction «f emanation. By swinging the fYwme on either side of the minimum position til! sounds of equal intensity were procured, it was possible to fix very accurately the minimum position which gave a right angle with the sending station. So accurate had direction finding now become that accuracy to within half a degree could now be relied upon. There were, however, conditions not yet fully investigated which made direction finding over long distances at night less reliable. During the lecture, a ship's wireless was picked up, and the rotation of the frame aerial showed in a pronounced manner the principle of variation of signal strength, on which radio direction finding depends. Touching on the use of this branch of radio in warfare, the lecturer quoted from an official report of Sir H. B. Jackson. Admiral of the Fleet, dealing with the warning of the movements of the German battle squadrons iust prior to the battle of Jutland. The British wireless stations kept a very keen oar for all messages emanating from the (German roast, ami on Alby JO, 1910, they reported an unusual amount of wireless activity was located as coming from an enemy vessel at A\ i!helm.shaven. Later reports showed that the sending ship had shifted further northward, and it was plain that she and other men-of-war were ready to put to sea. These re ports were a deriding factor in orders for our Grand Fleet to put to sea for the subsequent greatest naval engagement m history. Admiral Jackson stated that the famous battle was indirectly brought about by the careful work o! the dirotion-finding staff of the British Admiralty.—Auckland Star