Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-06
WIRELESS men
UNDERTAKE BIG
EXPERIMENT
Would Determine Whether
"StrayS' Are Due to Sun
Spots-Whl Take Year
IBy Latest Mail

10y Latest Mali ..
The wireless stations Of the United
States government along the Pacific
coast have entered upon their share
| Of experimental work to be conduct
ed In all parts of the world that is
expected to result in revolution In
interchangeable communication. With
the greatest scientists OF Great Brit
ain in charge of the experiments,
which will last over period of at
least one year, 1t is planned to obtain
a basis for improvements that will
bring about vast increase in range.
One of the vital questions frequent,
ly under debate by sayants that may
be settled once and for all by the
worldwide investigation is that Of the
relation of sun spots to radio COM
munication. For some time the con-
viction has been growing among sci
entific men that the sun is the source
of the electromagnetic waves that
prevent the highest efficiency in aerial
telegraphy. =ce-~~:
Seek Cause Of Trouble.
The practical working out of the
scheme on this coast to find out just
what causes all the trouble was plac-
ed under the supervision of r. B.
Woolverton, United States radio in
spector, by William Henry Eccles, an
International authority on wireless.
Eccles is honorary secretary of the
British Association for the Advance /
ment of Science, by which the tremen-
dous scientific task has been under 4
taken. Sir Oliver Lodge, the noted
physicist and speculative writer, Is
chairman of the British Association.
Similar work to that of the associa-
ton is under way by the British gov
eminent, with a fund of $500, 900 to
draw upon. .@....< j.. !:
Difficult Problem. ~
To the lay mind the problem that
has been taken UP might be charac,
terized as one of Quitting in" Every
night wireless operators in every part
of the globe have the same dlscon-
certing experience Just as one OF
the clan is congratulating himself on
having a good night" with every
dash and dot of the sending man be-
ing recorded in fine shape, there's a
loud report at thereceiying machine
and something that doesn't hardly |
seem to be part of the message Is rec
orded.
These sparks from electromagnetic
waves other than from the oscilla.
tons set up by the sender are known
to the operators as static discharges.
In England they are called "strays.
Whatever they are, it has been real
Ized from the infancy of wireless that
they are the principal drawbacks to
sending over very long distance. 4,
yheories Differ.
A few nights ago from 10 o'clock :
70 10 minutes past I, records were I
Kept at stations all along the coast h
Is to the interferences with waves
sent from the Mare Island station.
In other parts of the world the same
process was going on and at the end
If the experimental period Expert &c
lies will collate all the records and
lraw his scientific conclusions.
At the beginning of the inyestiga'
ion it is the opinion among wireless
people that in all likelihood it will
)e demonstrated that the "strays
,cme from the sun; that in some way
iun spots account for the greater por.
ion of the interferences. Opposed to
he theory Of sun spots is that of 10.
al atmospheric conditions. The rec
,rds are expected to show whether at
particular times interferences were
ocal or general. II general, other
hings being equal, it will be conclnd.
d that the offending electromagnetic
waves come from Old Sol.
With the facts assembled, 1t is said
hat methods to overcome the inter.
erences can be devised and in that
ray the efficiency of the wireless
realty increased.