WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144086, 3 May 1913, Page 3

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY

RIVAL SYSTEMS COMPARED. REPORT OF BRITISH COMMITTEE. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON., May 2. The Postmaster’s Committee report that the Poulsen system of wireless telegraphy is practicable for short distances, but 1 :e Marconi system is at present the only system ■which it can bo said with any certainty is capable of fulfilling the requirements of the Imperial chain. This must not be regarded as implying that the Marconi Company must necessarily be employed as contractors for all the work of the Imperial chain of wireless telegraphy. In the construction and equipment of stations it is undesirable that the Post Office should bo pledged to the continued use of any apparatus or any so-called system. It is iinjicrative to reserve complete liberty of action. The committee’s report slate® that despite invitations, no demonstrations on a commercial scale for a distance of even a thousand milfs were obtained except from Marconi, the latter working 2300 miles on the Clifden-Glace Cay commercial scale. The committee say that the Cliidcn transmission is sixty ’words a minute, which, if necessary, might bo considerably exceeded. Communication was practically continuous, but there wore occasional periods when the signals were weak or suspended. Owing to the natural condi tions more extended communication was only obtainable by greater power in the aerial, lienee, and owing to the increased power required for high speed transmission, Marconi proposed to apply to Imperial stations double the power employed by tbo Gulden. Even then the committee anticipate periods of .steppage, especially in tropical regions. The Tcloi'unkcn system was i;i practical use on a commercial scale for da Unices of over two thousand miles The improved results of prer rite ix-’ pcrinicnti! over four theusaiul miles, between Nation, Prussia, and Tugohuid,

liouth \\\,si Africa, indicate that communication is possible at night. IF tho Poulsen {system is to be mack commercially practicable over two thounaml miles and upwards the arc must bo so constructed as to supply tho aeriel with higher power, or a more sensitive receiver must bo user], Tho Goldschmidt system at .Hanover similarly only required a powerful machine to make it practicable for long distance. Tho Pouisen and'Goldschmidt systems wore admirably adapted to high speed transmission. The Post Office should, whatever system is adopted, insist on high powers for tho Imperial chain. Perhaps in some rrspocte it would bo desirable for the Government themselves to construct and equip stations. Tho development of wireless telegraphy would probably involve t-he ultimate substitution of high frequency generators producing continuous oscillations for those dependent on spark discharges, which produce group oscillations. Tho Post Office should bo free to employ or experiment with any development of wireless systems. Thera was no reason why, under a highlyskilled engineer and an export staff, tho Post Office stations sltould not ultimately be equipped with apparatus far more efficient than was now used in any so-called system.