THE MARCONI ENQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 293, 3 May 1913, Page 5

THE MARCONI ENQUIRY.

COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Ry Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 2, 5.5 p.m. London, May 1. The Postmaster's Committee report that the Poulsen system of wireless telegraphy is practicable for short distances, but the Marconi system is at present the only system which it can be 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 be pledged to the continued use of any apparatus or any so-called system. It is imperative to reserve complete liberty of action.

THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. THE POULSEN" SYSTEM. Received 2, 10.10 p.m. London, May 2. The Committee's report states that despite invitations, no demonstrations on a commercial scale for a distance of even a thousand miles were obtained except from Marconi, the latter working 2300 miles on the Clifden-Glace Bay commercial scale. The Committee say that the Clifden transmission is sixty words a minute, which, if necessary, might be considerably exceeded. Communication was practically continuous, but there were occasional periods when the signals were weak or suspended. Owing to the natural conditions, communication was only obtainable by greater power in the aerial, hence* and owing to the increased power required for high speed transmission, Marconi proposed to apply to Imperial stations double the power employed by the Clifden. Even then the committee anticipate periods of stoppage, especially in tropical regions. The practical Telefunken commercial scale over two thousand miles has been improved. The results of present experiments over four thousand miles, between Naun and Togo, indicate that communication is possible at night. If the Poulsen system is to be made commercially practicable over two thousand miles and upwards the arc must be so constructed as to supply the aerial with higher power, or a more sensitive receiver must be used. The Goldsclimidt system at Hanover similarly only required a powerful machine to make it practicable for long distance. The Poulsen and Goldsclimidt systems were admirably adopted to high speed transmission. The Post Office should, whatever system is adopted, insist on high powers for tlie Imperial ' chain. Perhaps in some respects it would be desirable for the Government themselves to construct and equip stations. The development of wireless telegraphy would probably involve the ultimate substitution of liigh frequency generators producing continuous oscillations for those dependent on spark discharges, which produce group oscillations. The Post Office should be free to employ or experiment with any development of wireless systems. There was no reason why, under a highly-skilled engineer and an expert staff, the Post Office stations should not ultimately be equipped with ' apparatus far more efficient than was J now used in any so-called system. ■