ULTRA-SHORT WAVES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 256, 12 October 1932, Page 4

ULTRA-SHORT WAVES

DISCOVERY OF SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE. A discovery of great scientific importance and commercial promise has resulted from experiments by Senatore Marconi in ultra-short wave wireless transmission.

While it was previously believed that waves of about half a metre in length had an effective radius of only about a dozen miles, adequate results both in telegraphy and telephony have now been achieved over a distance of 170 miles.

Senatore Marconi has established clear communication between Cape Figari in Sardinia and the height known as Rocca di Papa, 15 miles south-east of Rome. The wave used was 57 centimetres, and the electrical energy consumed a few watts only—less than is required by a single electric light bulb. Senatore Marconi has for some years been experimenting with shortwave beam transmission. On the assumption that they travel iu a straight line, it was not believed that ultra-short waves could pass beyond the horizon. Senatore Marconi’s present discovery shows that the half-metre wave preserves more of the pure wireless wave characteristics than was believed. It has the same degree of flexibility and possibly a curved trajectory. The wave is a narrow beam focussed by special “mirrors’ ’so small that they are described as ‘ ‘portable. ’ ’ Besides consuming practically no energy waves of this order arc free from interference, and complete secrecy is thus ensured. The waves are equally free from fading or atmospherics; but the question whether they are suitable for broadcasting cannot be answered at present, since all tests hitherto made public have been conducted with waves concentrated into a pencil of invisible rays and 1 ‘ aimed ’ ’ at the receiver, thus ensuring the least possible loss of energy.