The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-09-20
WIRELESS SYSTEM
CONTINUED IRON page nineJ

source OF trouble. This static causes
a continuous buzz i'm the receiver
which makes the feeble wireless sig.
nails iuaudible This trouble is over.
come to some extent by the use Of
high frequency transformers, the
pitch of which can be read above the
lowpitched static. The new govern.
ment station will have a jOO-cycie
transformer
Location Is Unexcelled.
| The location of the Arlington sta.
ton is superb. 1t is on a knoll high
above hte surrounding country, on a
government reservation about a half
mile south Of the aviation field at Fort
( Myer, Va. The navy is compelled to
locate all its shore stations on prop
erty already owned by the govern.
ment, as Congress will appropriate no
money for the purchase of land foT
the erection of wireless stations.
There are no surrounding buildings
and no nearby woods to obstruct
the wireless waves.
Three steel towers, one 500 feet high
and the other two 4jO feet high, are
being erected by the Baltimore Bridge
Company for the suspension of the
antenna. The highest tower has
concrete base $50 feet square, and the
other two have 12O-foot bases. The
foundations are now being laid, and
within a month the steel construction
will be started. The type of antenna
/ has not been definitely decided upon.
but it is thought that what is known
as the inclined fiat top aerial will be
employed The cost of the erection OF
the towers is approximately 100000.
The ground connection at the sta
ton will be made by burying copper
wire and common chicken netting
over large area. The ground at the
station, however, is very dry, and 1t
/ is somewhat doubtful if this arrange
ment will afford a good connection,
.
plan does not work, a counterpoise, as
it is called technically, will be CON
structed. This consists of a number
of wires stretched parallel with the
aerial near the ground, but well in
sulated from the towers. The waves
surge between the antenna and the
counterpoise, and are thus propelled
into space
Two buildings are being construct
ed on the site at a cost of $4,000. One
will contain the transmission instru
ments, and the other will be used fol
the reception of wireless messages
The structures have been carefully
designed with the idea of beauty a!
well as utility in mind, as it is expect
ed persons from all parts of the worlt
will visit the station. The building!
E will be constructed of tapestry bricl
on concrete foundations. The struc
lures are separated by a narrow area
way to prevent vibrations in the en-
CINE room from disturbing the deli
cate receiveing instruments.
The transmission building is to have
a large, high-ceiled engine room
which will contain the transformers
motOr-generatir sets, and other send
ing apparatus. A moving crane will
be constructed overhead for liftinj
q heavy machinery. One large room il
the building will be used as a ma
chine shop. The receiving station
will be a two-story structure In
l. corner of the building, near the are
r way, will be the room for receivin
messages. 1t will be as sound-proo
as modern constructive ability ca
: possibly make it, as absolute silenc
I is requisite in the reception of tn
faint wireless signals. The room wi
e be artifcially lighted, but in spite c
e its close construction, will be perfec
o ly ventilated.
Next to this will be record room
T. where the station log will be keI
and the clerical work of the static
s. conducted Records are to be keI
of all messages received and sent, a
u mospheric conditions, and the dali
u condition of instruments. A room ha
j also been designed for experiment.
purposes, A dining-room, kitcheI
Z and livingroom for the personnel {
'e the station will also be located on tn
u first floor. On the second floor will /
large reading room and the dorm
tories, Between twelve and twent
:" men will be required to operate IL
station. There will be six or eigl
operators, chief electrician, a nur
Der of assistants, and probably a fe
- wireless students. The station wi
be used to some extent as trainiI
\ school for wireless OF orators of IL