Byrd's Mission to the Antarctic

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 23, 21 December 1928, Page 25

Byrd's Mission to the Antarctic

To Investigate Blind Spot T heory

"THE Byrd Antarctic Expedition, now en route to the Bay of Whales, will study one of radio’s most puzzling "radio ‘blind’ spots." Commander Richard E. Byrd’s radio engineers will conduct extensive experiments in an effort to determine the origin of the phenomena which make it impossible for powerful wireless transumnitters to communicate with certain points, although they can easily reach surrounding and more distant areas. A. device known as the "osiso," with which time variations almost to the millionth of a second can be measured, will be the instrument with which these studies will be made. ‘This device was invented by an oscillograph engineer of the Westinghouse company. Heaviside Layer HILE it was found that some soealled "blind" spots are caused by peculiarities of land configuration, this cannot explain all of them. As the result of years of study, engineers developed the ‘Heaviside’ theory,’ which pictures the earth as girdled by a stratum through which radio waves cannot pass and by which they are reflected back to the earth. This stratum has become known as the "Heaviside layer,’ but its exact character is unknown to engineers. They believe, however, that "blind" spots are caused by the interference of radio waves reflected from the "Heaviside layer’ with radio waves passing direct from transmitter to receiver. Long-distanee radiocasts are accomplished, it is believed, not by the direct passage of waves from trans-

mitter to receiver, but by reflection from the "Heaviside layer." In numerous tests with the "osiso" it has been estimated by reckoning the speed of radio waves and the time it takes reflected waves to return to the earth, that the "Heaviside layer" en~ circles the earth at an average distance of about 350 miles. Because of the behaviour of radio waves under certain conditions, a theory has been advanced that at the north or south pole, or possibly both, the layer touches or approaches the earth. Definite confirmation. or refutation of this theory is one of the results hoped for from the experiments, The experiments, according to the announcement, carry the approval of the United States Navy, which is interested in eliminating the "blind" spots which exist at sea as well as on land. Radio Echoes. HE phenomena of radio echoes, static and fading, which may or may not have a relation to the "Heaviside layer," also will be studied minutely by the radio expert, Mr. Hanson, with the "osiso." It is thought that when the Byrd party returns home, Mr. Hanson will bring with him a comprehensive set of facts on these vexing mysteries of radio science. , The "osiso," with which potential values as small as. one-hundredth thousandth of a volt have been measured, also will record voltages as high as 2,000,000 volts. It is an oscillograph of a design which makes it readily portable, being only a fraction of the size of the conventional labora+ tory devices for measuring electrica) oscillations. Its portability, aceord. ing to Westinghouse engineers, makes it particularly adapted to use under the conditions which will be encountered in the Antarctic.