WIRELESS TELEPHONY

Otago Witness, Issue 3584, 21 November 1922, Page 61

WIRELESS TELEPHONY

MR F. J. O’NEILL’S LECTURE, A GENEROUS OFFER. The Assembly Hall at the Y.M.C.A. was crowded on the 14£h, when Mr F. J. O'Neill gave an instructive address on “The Theory and Practical Illustrations and Demonstrations of Wireless Telephony.” Mr Y. T. Drew (general secretary) briefly introduced the speaker. The popularity which wireless has gained was evidenced by the large number of young men who listened to the lecture with appreciative attention in spite of its technicalities. A number of ladies were also present. Mr O’Neill had a large amount of electrical gear, and he explained the various uses of the different parts of a midget De Forrest instrument. The speaker said that he had intended to give a demonstration of broadcasting, but during the past few days there had been trouble with the Government owing to the abuse of the privi'e-ge in the north. It was expected that the new regulations would be gazetted, and the restrictions removed, in a few days. He would be pleased to give a first-class broadcasting demonstration as soon as the restrictions were removed. In Dunedin the amateur was restricted to 570 metres and 500 watts, while in other countries high voltage was in common use. Thus,, the New Zealand amateurs could not go far with their experimenting, and were unfortunately harmless in that respect. Mr O’Neill quoted “Hawkins’s Electrical Guide,” which says with regard to wireless telephony that:—“Various experiments have been made from time to time t-o make wireless telephony a practical success, and for distances of about 100 miles articulate speech has been transmitted by several different experimenters, but so far it has not come into commercial use. Much more experimenting is necessary before it will lie possible to use the wireless telephone to any great extent. De Forest was perhaps the first experimenter to develop a complete wireless telephone transmitting and receiv ing system, but, “previous to that, A. F. Collins had worked- out an ‘are’ telephone which permitted communication for some miles without- wire connections. The Marconi Company has combined the various schemes of wireless talking, and developed a commercially practical wireless telephone system which may be used by the public in the near future.” The lecturer continued by saying that there are three types of instruments in use—the De Forrest, or the ordinary “hook-up” instrument; the “re-generative” system, invented by a Mr Armstrong, an American; and the “super-regenerative”' system. Unfortunately, monopolies had control of one or two of these instruments; and, if the “re-generative” system was used bv amateurs in New Zealand they might possibly find themselves in trouble with the New Zealand representatives of the Marconi Company. At the present time there <"was a big case in England in which tlie Marconi Company was involved, and, he understood, that things were not looking too promising for the company. A great many young men, who were interested in wireless, were endeavouring to -set- up instruments with the aid of books on wireless instruction, but such books were useless as they catered for countries whore amateurs were allowed to use high voltage, and as restrictions prevailed in New Zealand at present, it was useless to expect any assistance from them.

Many amateurs experienced difficulty with their instruments as they used the wrong kind of ware in their aerials. A switch should always be plabfed on the “leadingin wire” in order to prevent any accident owing to lightning. Fortunately, lightning was not very prevalent in the dominion, and, it was but seldom that fatal accidents resulted. Six hundred Meghom wire should always be used in leading from the aerials to the instruments. In America many 'fatalities had occurred as young men bad their “leading-in” wires running straight to their instruments, and, during thunderstorms, were in da-nger of death while “listening in.” He had heard of an instance in America where three brothers were “listening in” and they ha-cl their “leading-in” wires running direct from their aerials to the instrument. A thunderstorm broke out, and during a. period of lightning flashes, two of the boys were killed. In conclusion Mr O’Neill stated that he greatly appreciated seeing so many radio experts and amateurs present. He had done a great deal to further the wireless hobby and he had had a hard struggle. He had come into contact with several hundred young men, who wished to lake up wireless, but unfortunately they did not possess the necessary monejn He had assisted a number of boys who were in earnest and was pleased that, they had got on very well. He had suggested to Mr Drew that if any of the young men at- the Y.M.C.A. wished to form a radio club he would do everything possible to assist them. If they showed the proper enthusiasm be would present them with a first-class radio set. and would instruct them in its use. (Applause.) Mr O’Neil] also handed over to the secretary a set of diagrams, the only one of its kind in Dunedin, which would be. of much use to the boys. - (Applause.)