BEAM WIRELESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 April 1927, Page 5

BEAM WIRELESS.

STATEMENT BY MAROONI,

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTALLATION

EXTENSION TO COUNTRY

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, April 9.

An interesting exposition of the progress made in beam wireless was given in the board room at Marconi House, in which was hung a page; of “The Times,” iii sections, recently transmitted ini facsimile three-quarters of a mile by wireless. Signor G. Marconi strolled in smoking a cigarette. He invited his guests to ' imitate- him. He explained that the Australian, beam system could deal with 150,000 words daily, which was treble the present cable traffic. He would shortly test the shorter wave lengths to Canada and Australia, in order to increase the working hours and carrying capacity and to overcome fading. The present experiments pointed to the probable abolition, or at any' rate the certain diminution, of this, and it was hoped to secure a 24 hours’ Anglo-Australian service by adding one or two wave lengths. Marconi said that already they were working double the number of hours spe ified in the contract. The present capacity was sufficient for the existing business.

It was possible to super-impose a telephone channel qn the telegraphic services, enabling two telegraphic and one telephonic service to work simultaneously, obviating separate stations, and separate apparatus. For this new development an apparatus is under construction. The privacy of an Australian telephonic communication would exceed that of the American, owing to the extra costliness or eavesdropping apparatus. Television and facsimile transmission were possible, the latter facilitating long messages, owing to it being unnecessary to- spell out each work, thi.s economising operational expenses. It is hoped shortly to establish a beam connection with the United .States Argentina, China, Japan, and other countries. The beam system, said Marconi, would not render obsolescent, as that station fulfilled a definite and different purpose, and broadcasting did not clash with directional wireless.

Mr. Ivellaway recalled that the success of the beam .system was pre-emin-ently due to the Hon. W. M. Hughes's and Mr. Fisk’s determination not to submit to the weight of technical evidence in 1921, in favour of .a relay system. Australia’s smallest townships would .soon be linked up with the main .beam, obviating outback isolation. This was also applicable to India and other countries. Marconi added that soon the beam wireless would enable concerts and speeches to be transmitted between Australia and England either way, and, being afterwards boadoasted, listenersin would be able to pick up with crystal sets anywhere in the world. Picture transmission (when reliably travelling waves were assured) would be as easy between England and Australia as between places half a mile apart.

FIRST DAY’S TRAFFIC. SYDNEY, April 9. The traffic for the first- day of beam wireless was about 3500 words from Australia and 1200 from Britain. It is stated that the service iis working in a highly satisfactory manner, although the traffic is heavier than anticipated.