WIRELESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 995, 9 December 1910, Page 6

WIRELESS.

ON THE AORANGI. MESSAGES SENT 2276 MILES. As deaf and dumb as a coalhulk off the Thorndon Baths when she left port, the Union S.S. Company's ■ steamer Aorangi returned from San Francisco with a tongue to speak and ears to hear. Advantage was taken of her stay in the waters behind the Golden Gate to fit the vessel with a wireless plant of the most up-to-dato character. This was installed in the brief period of three days by the United Wireless Telegraph Company of America. Tho company, through its representative, Mr. A. A. Isbell (who is acting-wireless operator on tho Aorangi), claims that its plant is tho simplest in existence. As to the efficacy of the new simplified plant, there could be no doubt after the achievements of the voyage. "It worked just all right," said, Mr. Isbell. "We were able to talk to San Francisco for a distance of 2270 miles, which is pretty satisfactory for a two kilowatt outfit. Of course, this was' at night. In tho day-time the ether becomes muddy or opaque, and tho distance of communication is knocked Tight down to 400 miles. So you seo much greater distances can be spoken over at night, and similarly the cool weather is mora favourable to the wireless than tho hot. "On tho last steamer I was on we held on to San Francisco until wo reached Honolulu, and then hung on to Honolulu until wo picked up messages from the coast of Japan, which is stretching the wireless across tho biggest ocean in tho world. Only a few weeks ago I was coming down the coast of America on tho steamer Queen, when I picked up a message' from tho steam-schooner Falcon, stating that she was on fire, and giving her position, those on board were rescued by wireless."

. the wireless log of the Aorangi is interesting: On the first day out from . Insco, the Aorangi spoke the steamer .Siberia, bound from Japan to San Fran.Cisco The latter was 556 miles off the laciiic Coast, and fully 500 miles from the Aoraugi. All the next day and night, connection was maintained with San Francisco, bulletins of press news:being received, and posted by the operator in the saloon. On the third day, when 982 miles irom the California!! port, Mr Isbell distinctly, heard the Canadian Government station at Panchena Point, Vancouver Island, speaking with Victoria, British Columbia, as well as numerous other , stray messages darting over the Pacific from other stations. At 10 pm •on the third day out, when 1330 miles from' been. 1 rancisco, a message was picked up from the Japanese squadron bound from San Francisco to Honolulu, one ship—tho 'Asama—sending her name. Messages continued from San Francisco all m p, -,'•,, tlle &ttb - da y. connection was established with both Honolulu and San 1' rancisco. Messages could be heard bound from Sitka, in Alaska, to Honolulu, whence they are dispatched to San Francisco. This route-2400 miles to Honolulu and another 2100 to San Francisco—is adopted because of the great mountain barriers between Alaska and the United States. Messages continued from San Francisco through tho sixth night, the,Aorangi being 1965 miles'away. Then the 'static" became bad, owing to the approach- to the'tropics. The R.M.S China, bound from Japan to San Francisco, was spoken on the sixth night and. at 8 p.m., 2270 miles from San Francisco, m lat. 3.42 N.. news still came irom the Pacific coast. Messages could still be heard when . the Aorangi was about 2300. miles away, but that was About the last that could be distinctly 'interpreted. The steamer Army Transport Dix, from Honolulu to Manila, was spoken at 1 a.m. on the sixth day. There was a French cruiser at Tahiti, but as' tho company were all aslioro at some festivity no messages were received. J!rom.Tahiti to Rarotonga,. however; communication with the 'Frenchman was kept up the .whole wav, after arran"ements for speaking had. been made. After leaving Rarotonga attempts were made; every night, by Mr. Isbell to pick up messages- from New Zealand, but nono woro received up till about. 10.30 on AVcdnesday night, when a couple of messages came from the Powerful, lying at Lyttelton, and messages of a private nature' from' Sir Jamos Mills (who was among the passengers) were sent ashore. The Wellington Post Oflico station also picked, up a message at a late hour last evening advising tho time of the Aorangi's arrival. This message appeared in yesterday s Dominion-. Tho. power, of tho local plant has been increased sufficiently to enable, communication with Lyttelton ,to be established.

_Speakmg -about wireless performances, Mr. Isbell states that in/January last the steamer Korea, making across the Pacific, spoke San Francisco when 4700 miles away—a record for a 5-kilowatt plant. What a wonder is here! That nearly 5000 miles of the "empty, vast, and wandering air can bo traversed by the swift, silent language which is transforming sea travel, and is bringing the very centres of the ocean within'call.. The performance of the Korea—a notable one in tho wireless world—is attributed to very special atmospheric conditions, which are classified in tho business as "freak nights." .

Mr. Isbell is leaving the A'orangi here to represent tho United Wireless Telegraph Company in New Zealand and in Australia. His company may tender for the erection of the Innd stations to be provided by the New Zealand Govcr&ment. The Aorangi's wireless plant 'was inspected by Mr. Buckley and several other officers of the Telegraph Department yesterday. -