BEAM WIRELESS

Southland Times, Issue 20256, 15 August 1927, Page 8

BEAM WIRELESS

AUSTRALIAN SERVICE FADING PUZZLES RESEARCH WORKERS SUN SPOTS CONTRIBUTING FACTOR (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, August 13. The vagaries of the Australian Beam wireless continue to exercise the minds of those engaged in research work, who express the opinion that the irregular and unexpected fading out is due to the present year’s maximum incidence of sun spots. Beyond that they admit that the thing is in its infancy and it is unwise to prophesy what the next two years will bring forth. It is understood that South Africa is getting a seven hours daily service as the result of alternative wave lengths. There are similar expectations regarding India, but the Australian Beam is not yet fulfilling the British stipulation for seven hours daily at one hundred words per minute, though getting more than the .stipulation at a lower speed. It Is at present hopeless to expect alternate wave lengths to be applied remedially to Australia, chiefly on account of the heavy cost attendant upon alterations and intricate aerials and reflectors, which the contractors at present are not prepared to entertain. There is hope that the Indian experiments will be sufficiently successful to impel the Australian alterations. There is already encouraging proof that the two minor outside variants of the main carrier wave never fade simultaneously. Meanwhile there is not the slightest hope of wireless telephony to Australia for at least twelve months. The plant is not yet prepared, and nothing achieved as regards Canada to Australia. This will be the last attempted because owing to the disparity in time, telephony will have less commercial appeal than elsewhere. It will be the end of the year before the British Broadcasting Corporation experiments with the short wave for Empire broadcasting, and there is yet much to be done to improve overseas experiments.—A. and N.Z.