Far-reaching Effects of Two-way Telephony

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 11, 9 November 1928, Page 29

Far-reaching Effects of Two-way

Telephony

One by one the great stretches of con_tinent and ocean are being conquered and regular reliable services on telephony are being established. Only a short while ago regular two-way communication was established between England and America. Now another expanse of ocean has been traversed and Australia talks to America. and Java. Recent Experiments.

OCAt listeners have for some time been reporting the increasing: perfection of the tests between 2MH (Amalgamated Wireless, Sydney) and W2XARF (Schenectady, New York). Remarkable tests have been carried ouf. About a week ago the officials of the Sydney station carried on a conversation with the announcer at Schenectady, nearly 10,000 miles away. The signals remained perfectly steady for an hour, and the men spoke to one another as over a telephone line connecting two neighbours. , This was one of the first successful sustained conversations held over that vast expanse of water-the Pacific. "TTULLO, Mr. Farmer," called the American. "This is station W2XAF of the General Electric Company, Schenectady, U.S.A., testing with 2ME, Sydney, Australia." "Hullo, W2XAF. Hullo, Mr. Hitt. This is 2ME here. Just give me a few moments until I tune you in," was Sydney's reply. ' "T gay," called the announcer in New York, "it certainly is a thrill to talk to another country like this. Your signals are coming in here beautifully now. You seem to stay consistent. Your wave does not go up and down at all."

‘é ‘Hullo, Mr. Hitt. You are coming in Here in tremendous strength; so loud that I will give you a reading on the micro-voltmeter," Sydney replied. "That’s good. I must be giving you enough juice to charge your A batteries with," was the American’s humorous reply. Greetings from various other people in Sydney followed, and then a long technical discussion between the operators. After an hour the signals began to waver, and finally became indistinct and faded out. This, it is suggested, was due to the heavy rain that fell in Sydney at the time. Successful Conversations. OLLOWING this, a further series of conversations has taken place. To create general interest, for those conversing have a huge unseen, unheard audience, the talk has to be carefully chosen. The American elections proved quite popular, and enlightening. The conversations are creating general attention and excitement. Folk are travelling hundreds of miles to talk across the Pacific. In America the conversations are being rebroadcast on long wave by WGY. OR the purposes of a check-up, the following are the names of the speakers heard from 2XAF:-Hitt, | wireless operator; Rowland, General Hlectric Company; Dow, Australian Trade Office; South, of the Associated Press; Geber, of the United Press;

Stokes, of the "New York Times"; Rochester, manager, of Vancouver; Shaw, of the Keene, New Hampshire "Sentinel" ; Hawkins, "New York Tribune," and Rothman, Australian Press Association. The 10-Meter Band. "THE ultra-short waves, which are receiving more and more attention, are to be called into operation in the near future, and tests on 10 meters are being conducted. The principal difficulties on this wavelength are the direction of the beam and the time. However, 2 new transmitter is being erect: i in Chicago by which experiments are to be conducted. 9 New Zealander Takes Interest. As in every other aspect, New Zea- ~ Jand was. not for long "left out of the picture," for a Gisborne man, Mr. Ivan M. O’Meara, carried. out tests on 10 metres and succeeded in establishing two-way code communication with :. Californian station. This amateur is conducting a series of important tests on this low wave and their result is keenly awaited. For some considerable time ten meters has been considered too low to be of any commercial value, but in Mr. O’Meara’s opinion the time is not far remote before there will be a regular ten-meter wave service. Mr. O’Meara has maintained a twoway communication with an Adelaide amateur, which is a feat by no means common among amateurs in these two countries.

Communication with Java. WO-WAY communication has not been confined to the States, and the latest cable message states that Sydney people have been enabled to talk to Schenectady and Java. The reception, it is stated, was clear, and items of news exchanged as if talking from one town to another near-by town. Great Results to be Expected. (THERE is no doubt that these experiments have a definite bearing on the future. Now in the experimental stage, they will, ere long, be placed on a commercial footing which will mean a great deal to the relationship of the countries concerned. For long Australia and New Zealand have been considered as important islands only, but now that we can talk with our great neighbours. it will be realised that we have, as well as they, a live existence-a nationality. Items of every day occurrence of which the interest is mainly dependent on the factor of recent occurrence will be passed over the sea as though from one backyard to another. [t is a common saying of people meeting for the first time someone whom they have heard much about and perhaps had dealings with to say, "How different from what I pictured." On conversing an entirely new opinion is received. One sees and appreciates the other’s point of view. So it is with this new communication. Through talking with our cousins we are going to learn much that we had not dreamed of before. American history, geography, civics and ideals will hold a charm for us. Likewise, it is to be hoped, ours for them!