New-York tribune., 1908-09-17
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WIRELESS TELEPHONY.
InUentor Cites Points of Superiority
Ouer Gable Telephone.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial on Wireless Telephony" (Au-
gust 25) cites very important factors in the
new art but cannot. TIE originator OF the long
distance telephone, quite agree with your conclu-
sons. First the feasibility of transatlantic wire
less telephony let say that in my opinion 1t
is not question of such an equipment falling to
pay dividends. but rather it Is matter of salts
flying certain technical conditions that now stand
in the way
A venture Of this kind, when the time comes for
its commercial exploitation will doubtless pay Its
investors handsomely, since it would be the only
medium for the transmission Of artieulate speech
between Europe and America. The reason cable
telephone system has not been provided is not be-
cause 1t would be improbable. but in virtue of the
fact that even with Pupin's improvements, 1t has
been impossible of accomplishment, since when he
adds enough inductance coils to counteract the
effects Of capacity. he also adds resistance more
than that of the cable itself
In my system of long distance wireless telephony
we have neither inductance, capacity nor resist
ance of wires to overcome and the only retarda-
ton Of our electric waves through space is the
minimum resistance offered by the noseless ether
itself Wires and cables are consequently, the az
tthctal medium while the ether is the natural
medium for the electrical transmission Of intellf-
gence.
Second. one who has observed that the head
telephone receiver by Marconi operator is
10 all intents the that worn by Bell girl
is far from right If he thinks the action or the
results have anything in unless 1t is that
both employed to receive electrical intelligence
They different as the and incandescent
lamps in their mode of operation and what may
be true of may not be taken as true of the
other.
I have pointed out during the last five more
years why selective wireless teegraphy is diff
cult Of accomplishment. and shall point out in
the future why selective wireless telephony s pos
sibe. Without entering into didaetc dissertation
the reasons may be stated in few words l. e.
the first system uses periodic oscillations, while
the second employs continuous oscillations and con
sequenty, while the former is incapable of produc-
ing sustained electrical resonance, the latter is
einently adapted to produce these desired results,
and by this mans only can selectivity become an
actuality in practice.
I may add here that secrecy and selectivity are
not synonymous terms, although the average man
seems TO believe The Bell phone and the Morse
telegraph selective: the Marconi telegraph is
entirely seleetive for reasons have mentioned.
but none of them proof against the legion OF
listeners in
What I claim is that my wireless telephone will
be highly seective, but do not claim secret. since
there means. electrical otherwise, in the
category Of the transmission of Intelligence that
cannot be tapped and the message, if desired
obtained by the unscrupuleus.
A. FREDERICK COLLINS.
Newark, N J.. Sept. ID. 1908.