WIRELESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3593, 23 January 1923, Page 43

WIRELESS.

TIME AND SPACE CONQUERED. NEW 7 YORK, January 15. The officials of the American Telegraph and Telephone Company to-night sent messages and speeches by wireless telephone to Southgate (England), where Signor Marconi and others listened, and cabled back that the words, with few exceptions, were distinctly heard. Thousands of words weTe transmitted perfectly. The listeners cabled that they recognised the accent of the speakers as being American, and when Britishers spoke they immediately detected the difference. The conversations continued for more than two hours. signor Marconi sent a congratulatory cable to the company, and stated that he had been experimenting with wireless telephony in Hopatcong days, and since 1915 had spent more than 1,000,000 dollars to perfect the necessary, inventions. CONTINUOUS SERVICE THE OBJECT. WASHINGTON, January 15. The American Telegraph and Telephone Company has announced that sending apparatus for trans-Atlantic wireless telephone messages will be installed in England within a few weeks. It will make possible complete conversations, and while months of research and development work must yet be done before such communication can be put to commercial uses, it is felt that success will be achieved in the not far distant future. The company’s experts are wrestling with the problem of communication in the daytime, since the sun proves a serious interference. They hope to achieve a 24-hour day wireless telephone service between London and New York. One of the most important developments in making possible high-power radio telephony is the production by Engineer Irving Langmuir, of Special vacuum tubes, developing high frequency, alternating currents. - BRITAIN LAGGING BEHIND. LONDON, January 19. The Federation of British Industries adopted a resolution urging the Government immediately to grant facilities for the rapid development of long-distance wireless, the federation being strongly of opinion that this can best be accomplished by private enterprise. The federation noints out that the dominions favour private enterprise. Wireless experts call attention to the fact that the Post Office’s schemes include the erection of only one station of considerably less power than those proposed in the dominions for traffic with the whole Empire. The facilities for transmission from Britain would thus be totally inadequate, and the station would not be sufficiently strong to counter the atmospheric difficulties. The wireless industry is prepared to undertake the whole work and to provide the large capital necessary, while the Post Office will be able to. possess the stations in an emergency. Thus the State would have all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of a nationalised service. The federation insists upon an immediate and definite decision regarding the future of wireless in Britain, and points out that other countries have developed wireless facilities far in advance of Britain. They consider that it would be a disaster if the wireless industry were compelled to go abroad owing to official inertia. WIRELESS TO OBVIATE DUPLICATION. LONDON, January 10. There is dissension among th’ e Australian members on the Pacific Cable Board regarding the advisability of erecting an experimental wireless station at Fiji, in lieu of the duplication of the cable from T* iji to Vancouver. Sir James Allen, w’ith a majority of the board, favours the erection of the station, being of opinion that it will be invaluable insurance against a complete interruption of the service in the event of the breaking of the cable. He thinks that it is preferable to duplication or to relaying, which must be undertaken sooner or later, besides facilitating the despatch of messages. Sir Joseph Cook and Sir Timothy Coghlan (Agent-General for New South" Wales) strongly oppose the proposal, believing that the station, if made permanent, is opposed to economy, and would involve

the stationing of a costly staff at the islands and a repetition of messages to Sydney, thereby causing delay and a substantial increase in cost. Sir Joseph Cook and Sir Timothy Coghlan prefer direct wireless with Australia and New Zealand, thus obviating the objections raised. The matter was discussed at the last meeting of the board, which did not alter the substance of its previous decision, and proceeded with the Fiji scheme, which is purely experimental.