BYRD’S RADIO WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 924, 18 March 1930, Page 16

BYRD’S RADIO WORK

SHORT WAVE PROBLEMS SOLVED j IDEAL WORKING CONDITIONS Special to THE SUN CHRISTCMURCPIt Today. A student of Canterbury College, Mr. G. Samson, who spent nine weeks on the Eleanor Boling as radio operator during two of the supply-ship’s trips to Little America, is convinced that Admiral Byrd’s expedition, by its researches into the science of radio, has solved many of the problems of shortwave transmission and reception. “My chief interest,” he said, “was centred in the Eleanor Boling’s radio room. It was rather small to accommodate two operators at a time, but quito roomy enough for one. The equipment is the most up-to-date to be found anywhere, and is ten times better than any installed on the big | cargo boats. After a week of practice I I was able to work any part of tne | world. My main job was to attend to ! the ship’s business messages with I New Zealand and other vessels, for all th© scientific radio experiments were carried out in Little America. “A great deal was discovered at Byrd’s base, and a good many problems were solved. The conditions for experiments were ideal in Little America, for the reason that there were seasons of perfect light and perfect darkness, and exhaustive research could be carried out under each condition, enabling an excellent comparison to be made. This work was also helped vastly by the complete absence of interference in the way of electrical installations, which work havoc with transmission and reception in populated lands.”