WIRELESS IN TRAVEL

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 48, 15 June 1928, Page 5

WIRELESS IN TRAVEL

NOW AN ESSENTIAL. RECENT events in aviation and exploration show definitely that radio has now reached the standard of being an essential part of the equipment of explorers and _ travellers, whether in the air or on the land. The Bremen, in its memorable westward flight from Europe to America, did not carry wireless, but the peronal authentic accounts of the aviators themelves ‘stressed the confession that they realised they should have-that had they had radio, they would have been able, on nearing the American coast, to pick up the signals of the radio direction posts, and instead of landing in the wilds of Labrador, have made their destination, New York, with ease and eclat. The Italia, whose fate is still uncertain, was equipped with radio,, and for the period during which she cruised over the North Pole area, kept the world in touch with her movements by brief but informative dispatches, Captain Kingsford Smith, in his dramatic trans-Pacific flight made full use of radio ‘as an aid to successful naviga-tion-three transmitting sefs were carried, two dependendent for power upon the vessel's motor, and one supplementury, relying upon storage batteries, thus being sure of availability in any emergency. Apart from these three ventures in the air, and the lessons conveyed by --

them as to the essential utility of radio, it is-interesting to record that a unique motor-car trip now in progress from Cape Town to Cairo, and on to Stockholm, which is being conducted by a General Motors’ South African-built Chevrolet, is equipped with powerful receiving and transmitting equipment, so as to make it possible for the expedition to inform, and be informed, day by day. The travelling station has the eall sign ASM, and is operating on wavelengths of 20 and 40 metre. This expedition, in addition to the princicap, Mr. C. V. H. Lacy, carries a wireless expert in Mr. Wilson, a motion-pic-ture photographer, and a publicity man. Amongst other New Zealand shortwave enthusiasts who have been advised of this expedition’s progress is Mr. E. A. Shrimpton, who has successfully worked stations in North Africa. The expedition left Cape Town on March 7, and probably by now has traversed Africa, ‘So far we have no definite record of transmissions of A8M having been heard in New Zealand, but London and Turopean stations are on the watch for their signals.