The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-04
TREES WIRELESS ANTENNAE
Continuance Of Major Squier's Expert
ments VIII Likely Be Of Value.


A correspondent of the Electrical
World and Engineer writing on the
recent experiments by Major G. o.
Squier, U. S. A., in using trees for
wireless telegraph antennae, bears
out the theory and practice of Major
Squier, saying that some experiments
he has made show that a tree can
be made to give excellent results. He
says, further, that he cannot report
upon the use of tree as transmit.
ting station 81 started first" he
says, with the intention of using a
tree to elevate a wire that should
be well insulated, AS an alternative
| measure II seemed that an insulated
wire resting on the treetop would at
least give some results as receiver,
since the incoming impulses would not
be of high potential. Copper double
coated paraflin-insulated bell wire was
first used, and four wires were carried
over the treetop in different directions
and both ends of each wire were con-
nected to wire leading to suitable
receiving apparatus, 100 feet away
The result was that on one occasion.
with favorable conditions, a distant
station, presumably New York, was so
distinctly heard that an expert could
have readily read the message. At
one time both the New Haven De
Forest station and the distant station
were sending at the same time. The
Sn1lnn nj OF a
completely overpowered. The New
Haven station (three miles Off stop
ped, and then the distant station con-
tinued sounding and came out clear
ly.
"As 1t will probably be of general
interest to know that station eigthv
miles away has been heard by using
an elm tree two feet in diameter md
sixty or seventy feet high as an amen
nea, the ground for belief that the
distant station was New York will
therefore, be stated. A day or two be-
fore the time alluded to, the New
Haven station announced that after
some time spent in tuning they had
succeeded in calling up New York,
and few days later a number Of
messages were exchanged between
the stations, which were published
and the statement was added that
New York was the only station avail
able at present from the New Haven
station.
ut was now suspected that the COW
er on the wire was practically poor
insulator, and that therefore the sue.
cess did not depend upon the insula-
tion. Later two large trees have
been tried with bare galvanized wire,
used In the SAME way, as was the in.
sulated wire on the first tree. The
result indicates that the bare wire
, works fully as well, il not better, than
the insulated wire, as far as receiving
in concerned. We have now arrived
at what appears to be an extension
OF the reported method of Major
Squier The connection is made with
the top of the tree instead of the I'D
per part of the trunk, and instead of
a ground at the bottom of the tree.
another is provided at a distance. A
tin roof was used at times.
"One more point will be mentioned.
as it has a bearing on the use of
trees as antennae. One large maple
tree some 600 feet away gave good
results over an iron telephone wire
utilized for this connection. The dis
tant call mentioned came out clearly
on this wire. This opens up the
possibility of combining the effect OF
large number of isolated trees. each
tuned by itself and all connected to
one receiver, to increase the effect.
| will mention that this distant tree
gave strong effects with little regard
to tuning when tested on the nearer
New Haven station, while the nearer
tree responded with more readiness
to change in the tuning apparatus.
Although trees may not be able to
displace artificial antennae for the
best long-distance work, it may turn
out that the wide-spreading, many
branched top of a tree will furnish a
model for the artificial antennae and
guy wires, with additional attachment
to contribute to the result. The "act
that trees can be so readily prepared
for use as antennae will doubtless
greatly populariZe the use of wire' ess
telegraphy. Iron wire answers a
good purpose at considerable say.
ing OF expense. Wires can be pulled
over tree by cord which has been
drawn up by thread. The thread
Is first thrown over attached to
weight which is projected by rub.
ber sling"