Wireless for Spanish Colonies

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 3, 2 August 1929, Page 32

Wireless for Spanish Colonies

Fernando Po Linked Up SoME time ago the Spanish Goverment made the decision to establish a- direct wireless service between Madrid and the Spanish colony ‘Fernando Po, in Equatorial Africa. The principal Spanish and foreign wireless companies competed for the supply of the apparatus and the specification of Marconi’s Wireless. Telegraph Company for the supply of a short-wave transmitting and receiving station was approved and its tender accepted. — \ In addition, an order was given to the Marconi Company for the supply of a modern medium-wave valve transmitter and receiver, to replace the existing medium-wave spark station installed in the Spanish colony, which is used for working to ships and neighbouring colonies, and which can no longer’ be regarded as sufficiently up to date for-the purpose for which it was intended, , Preliminary investigations at Fernando Po had revealed the fact that the geographical positioh of the. Spanish colony is not an ideal one for the reception of long-wave signals from Europe, owing to the codlony’s closé proximity to the Equator. Short-wave signals from Europe, on the other hand, were receiyed with regularity and accuracy. Based on its unrivalled

experience of short-wave working, the Marconi Company put forward the use of this method of tranmission for a service between Fernando Po and Madrid. The transmitter which is required to work to ships and to the neighbouring countries, on the other hand, uses medium-wave lengths, beeause the new International Washington Regulations. provide that ships shall work on wave lengths between 600 and 800 metres, or between 2000 and 2400 metres, and provision had therefore to be made for working on these wave lengths. The short-wave transmitting and receiving gear has now been installed at Fernando Po, and it is anticipated that, shortly, ‘the new station will be in regular operation with Madrid. The tests which have recently been earried out with Madrid have given excellent results and signals .were received with great strength and clarity.