WIRELESS YEAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1931, Page 7

WIRELESS YEAR

MARKED PROGRESS MADE * WORLD-WIDE ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND LISTENERS Wireless in all its forms, ordinary telegraphic from ship to ship, and to shore, beam and broadcast, is such a commonplace these days that its absence rather than its presence in any given situation becomes a matter for comment, comments the “New Zealand Herald.” And vet it is only 30 years ago that the Atlantic was bridged by wireless and what was probably the first avoidance of shipwreck through the new medium occurred. Marconi had made such advances with his experiments that in 1900 there were a few vessels equipped with wireless installations. On Ist January, 1901, the steamer Princess Clementine saw the barque Medora, of Stockholm, stranded on the Rat el Bank, and her wireless messages resulted in help being sent from Ostcnd. A few hours’ delay, or the absence of wireless, would have, meant the loss of the Medora.

It was in December, 1901, 30 years ago, that Marconi received signals from Poldliu at St. John’s, Newfoundland, only the letter “s” being transmitted. Few believed it possible, so much so that one newspaper correspondent was warned by his office, “Your message about Marconi simply incredible. Please be extremely careful what you wire.” When so much has been accomplished in the brief span of three decades is there anyone hold enough to say that to-day’s difficulties with wireless, static, fading, and the reflection of waves by the Heaviside Layer, for example, will not be overcome. Marconi himself said recently that the science is still in its infancy. WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICES The outstanding feature of the 1930 radio year has been the introduction of the wireless telephone, which lias revolutionised communication by speech. The greater part of the civilised world is already linked by radiophone and the end of 1931 should see the few remaining countries connected. The majority of the commercial services were installed after 30th April, when the Australia-England line was opened. The New Zealand-Aus-tralia link was completed on 23rd November, while a service to London is expected to be available within the next few days. This will he the longest service in the world, and the voices will travel over three oceans and many farflung lands spanning a total distance of over 13,000 miles. 'Wide application is being made of the radiophone. In Canada the latest developments of the services are operated on the fast Canadian national trains. Communication from aviation stations with aircraft is made possible by radio telephony in the United States. A new era in marine communication hag been opened by the installation of wireless telephones on ocean liners. The rapid extension of telephone facilities at sea, both in the number of ships fitted with the system and the number of countries with which they are linked, is a certainty of the future. Passengers on the principal liners will he able later t<? ring up any telephone subscriber in practically any* country ■in the world while the ship is on the high seas. An important development has been the utilising of the science of wireless overseas in connection with aviation. The value of direction finding apparatus to aircraft was demonstrated during AirCommodore Kingsford Smith’s epic flight across the Atlantic when the airman lost his bearings near Newfoundland. Radio beacons play a large part in aviation in America and the Continent. Experiments With the facsimile transmission of meteorological maps for reception at airports are being extensively conducted throughout the United States. The Fultograph system is the method generally used. Reports of weather conditions and warnings of storms are transmitted from the short-w,ave aviation stations. Australia is realising the value of wireless in this respect, but New Zea land is lagging behind.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS Marked progress has been made in two-way wireless communication. An outstanding example was when RearAdmiral Byrd spoke from station 4YA, Dunedin, via 2YA, Wellington, and 2ME, Sydney, to speakers at W2XAF, Schenectady, New York State, on 12th March. The short-wave feat of hearing a fraction of a section after speaking, the echo of his voice after it had traversed the globe, was accomplished by the announcer at W2XAF on 30th June. The voice was heard in Auckland after it had spanned a total distance of 29j000 miles, the reception being a triumph for short-wave work. A world record in long-distance communication on ten metres was established by Mr C. N. Edwards, of Point Chevalier, when lie conversed with an amateur in France' in March. The most notable broadcast of the year was the opening by the King of the Five Powers Naval Conference on 21st January, when the largest audience that had listened to a single broadcast was reached. In the scientific field television and noctovision, in spite of strenuous experimenting, still remain in the laboratory stage, and the transmissions of television in England and America have not been greeted with enthusiasm. The claims of Dr. James Robinson’s Stenode Radiostat, which sought to give an ultra selectivity incompatible with the side-band theory, has not yet been fulfilled. There have been no radical changes in the design of sets. Radio problems continue to exist in many countries. In England the regional scheme, which has sounded the death knell of London and provincial relay stations, is causing a certain amount of dissatisfaction. The congestion of channels in America and the Continent, in spile of the clearances effected, is still a serious problem. In Canada and South Africa a change from private control, to Government administration is contemplated. The Australian Broadcasting Company lias now taken over all the A stations in the Commonwealth and is giving an excellent service. The project of all-Empire broadcast programmes from England, which was discussed at the Colonial Conference and the Imperial Conference, has proved immature owing to the Dominions not being prepared to provide their shares of the cost. PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND Interest in New Zealand centres on the Government’s proposal to assume control of tlio technical side of the service in 1932. It is proposed to increase the power of the three 500-watt stations to 2000 watts, Wellington to remain unchanged. It is also contemplated to erect eight 500-walt relay stations throughout the Dominion. The Government intends to frame regulations for B stations, the number of which is rapidly increasing, Licenses in New Zealand arc steadily mounting in number. Receiving licenses, which comprised 51,000 in January, rose to 53,000 by the renewal date, Ist April, and the seasonal decline reduced this number a month later to 38,000. A sat-

isfactory recovery brought the number by August to 55,000 and by October to 57,000, This year has been closed with about 60,000. ‘A high standard of entertainment has been provided, although the copyright restrictions on plays has been a slight setback. Many successful relays, such as the description of the Melbourne Cup race, and the opening of the Indian Round Table Conference have helped to stimulate broadcasting. The committee appointed by the Department of Scientific and Imperial Research early in the year to study wireless problems and communications in New Zealand has done useful work. Until the Dominion iias her own short-wave station for experimental purposes, however, the desired amount of progress cannot be made.