THROUGH THE AIR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16510, 22 August 1921, Page 6

THROUGH THE AIR.

A WIRELESS CONCERT. A wireless concert was enjoyed by Mr R. J. Orbell and some friends at Merivale on Saturday night. The concert originated aboard the United States steamer Eastern Planet, and was reproduced in JMr Orbell’s wireless receiving room by means of a loud-talk-ing telephone receiver attached to his wireless receiving set. Mr Orbell’s apparatus is interesting evidence of the possibilities of amateur wireless telephony and telegraphy. To listen to the world’s gossip, Mr Orbell has merely to open the doors of a cupboard, put in a plug, turn a dial, and listen. The cupboard contains several handsome instruments, made by Mr Orbell himself, who is an engineering student at Canterbury University College. Actual speech is reproduced through the telephone receiver, and messages from practically all over the world can be received in Morse code over the ordinary wireless apparatus. For instance, a reporter listened to messages screamed in Morse from Bordeaux (France) and Honolulu in the high pitch which denotes the continuous wave station. Then came a jerky stutter from a spark station on some vessel far away on the ocean. Among the many other stations from which Mr Orbell receives messages are Nauen (Berlin), New Brunswick (U.S.A), Hawaii and Rome. Truly a universal entertainment. The first wireless telephone apparatus fitted to a vessel’s wireless installation was that of the Eastern Planet, which left Lyttelton on Saturday evening for Timaru. A chat on the wireless telephone system with Mr Ralph Lawrence, one of the wireless operators, p roved highly interesting. Mr Lawrence, who is a keen student of all problems in connection with wireless telegraphy and wireless telephony, was found on Saturday morning busily engaged i n a wireless room of a vessel demonstrating (his wireless telephone for the benefit of Mr Orbell. It was through the means of the wireless telephone that Mr Orbell became acquainted with Mr Lawrence. The latter, on the previous night, had given Mr Davis, wireless operator on the Wairuna, a concert by means of a gramaphone and the wireless telephone, to which Mr Davis listened when some fifty miles off Lyttelton. Mr Lawrence played two records on the gramohpone one a jazz and the other a march by Sousa, -which were heard quite distinctly by Mr Davis. It is possible for any wireless operator to hear the voice spoken into the telephone through the wireless receivers, but, of course, if he wishes to reply he has to send a Morse signal.

“ I have made an appointment with Mr Orbell for 7 o’clock to-night,” said Mr Lawrence, “ at which hour he will be at his telephone set in Merivale with a party of friends. I shall give him a phonograph concert whilst on our way to Timaru. The telephone set is the property of Mr Ralph Wright, tho senior operator, and myself. We purchased .it at New York for some 200 dollars. We bought the outfit for experimental purposes, and a little social amusement when at sea. Have we used it at sea ? Yes, we spoke to the wireless operator of the oil tanker w. C. Teagle. which also has a wireless telephone installation, when about 100 miles away in the Atlantic. These telephones are becoming fairly - numerous in the States, round forests and out of the way stations.” Speaking of the Eastern Planet’s wireless installation it was stated that the vessel carries an exceedingly powerful long distance set. Mr Orbell’s apparatus is subject to a Government permit for amateur operators, which imposes a pledge of secrecy concerning certain matters, and lays down certain rules to be observed. The apparatus is comparatively cheap, and it is easy to realise that its use is a fascinating hobby. The Government’s regulations forbid the sending out of messages from the set.