New-York tribune., 1902-08-20
WIRELESS TELEGR4PHY TESTS,
OPENING EXPERIMENTS MADE WITH
RoCHEFoRT APPARATUS
rBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE j.

rBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE-l
Washington. Aug. 19-The tests which the
navy has undertaken between Washington ana
Annapolis of four European systems-the Roche-
fort and Ducret. Of Paris, and the Slaby-Arco
and Browns -Siemens- -Halske. Of Berlin. have be-
Gun with the exchange of few signals with the
Rocbefort apDaratus. Octave RoChefort, who IS
the inventor of this system. is in Washington as
sisting the naval board and says he has found
the climatic conditions in this country so df-
ferent from those abroad that he had oeen
Obliged 10 make several changes in his lnstru-
ments which adjusted TO French conditions
were too delicate and too susceptible TO electric
influences for the more heavily charged atmos-
phere Of the United States,
These changes having been made, he had en-
countered no difficulty in securing satisfactory
results Referring to the possibility Of so attun-
ing his Instruments as to render it Impossible
for the stations of other systems which might
intervene to receive them, NJ. Rochefort regards
it as possible, but not advisable or practicable.
He said that when Marconi was experimenting
with his system between France and Corsica he
lost the tone and it required four days to re-
cover il. For the reason that such an accident
is liable 10 occur with all syntonic systems, he
does not believe 1t wise to so attune the instru-
rnents but expects to submit an attachment by
which they may be so attuned as 70 render mes
sages receivable only at stations where the same
tone Is used. Under ordinary circumstances the
instruments furnished by NJ. ROchefort would
receive messages sent by any other system.
NJ Rochefort believes he can demonstrate to
the naval board that his system Will be far more
economical Of electric energy than that OF his
competitors. alleging that he can in some in
stances accomplish the same results with $40
watts which would require 5000 watts by other
systems.
The chief feature in the Rochefort apparatus
is a one pole transformator of his own inven-
tion which takes the place of the Rhumkorf
coil. which has heretofore played an important
part in ali wireless telegraphy apparatus NJ.
Rochefort states that he is the inventor OF
every instrument which constitutes component
biography IN Europe, NJ. Rochefort said that
there had been established sixty stations in
which his system was installed. Twenty-Five OF
those in by the French navy and ten in
use by the French army are known as the
''Tissot system out Of compliment to the
French lieutenant Of that name. Three are in
use by the French Government in the Congo
region five belong to the Austrian Government
and three 70 Count Wilshek, Privy Counsellor TO
the Austrian Emperor. Two are installed on
yachts belonging 10 James Gordon Bennett, one
on & yacht belonging TO n. Menier. and the
others are in by private individuals on
ships and yachts
There is some question as to the amount OF
publicity which will be given by the Navy De-
partment to the results OF the tests now being
conducted. Speaking Of this. Admiral Brao-
ford, who is in charge Of communications IN tle
navy. says that while the department desires
TO avail itself of all possible Information on
the subject IL would be reluctant to make pun
lie any statement which would prove detrl-
mental to any company or which coulo De uSeu
pervert the work Of the department IiiIo an an
advertisement for any particular system FOR
this reason the work Of the board having tIle
experiment in charge will be TO a certain ex-
tent private