Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-15
RADIO EXCHANGE

Wiscasset. Me-, Sept. 14-Com-
munication established by, Station
LIMO for the first time with the Bow
| dom. on which DIR. Donald +. Mac
MILAN and his seven companions are
returning from the Arctic regions.
solved early today the mystery of the
silence OF WNP, the radio station
aboard the little craft. during the
months of June. July and August.
At the same time 1-MO, which is
an American Amateur Radio Relay
League plant. learned from Operator
Donald Mix of Briston. Conn, in
charge of the Bowdoin's equipment.
that the Macmillan party will not
reach Wiscasset next Saturday, as
originally planned. because of being
driven back to Bonnie Bay, on the
western coast of New Foundland, by
storm. while coming down the Gulf
of St. Lawrence.
Previous to communicating with
the Bowdoin for n period of two
hours. LIMO picked up n French
amateur station. which sent DR.. Mac
MILAN the congratulations of French
amateur operators.
Desire to conserve oil aboard ship
was the reason given by Operator
Mix for the failure Of the Bowdoin
to respond to calls during the three
months mentioned. and In his mes
sages to the local station he de-
scribed interestingly the radio con-
ditions encountered during the stay
in the far north.
1t was some time after midnight,
when +. II. Schnell. the Wiscasset
operator, got in touch with Mix on
the Bowdoin. and just previous to
that he had picked up the French
station. S-BF, Louis Pierre, at New
Orleans. France, receiving the fol-
lowing message for transmission TO
DIR. Macmillan:
MANY congra tulations from French
amateurs and best wishes for a good
future"
Operator Mix said that owing to
being driven back to Bonnie Bay, the
Bowdoin would not reach Sydney I'M
til Monday. and DIR. Macmillan also
sent messages to friends here ad-
vising them of the delay, saying 1t
was doubtful If the ship would make
Wiscasset on the goth.
Describing the radio conditions in
the Arctic, in which a great deal of
interest Is being taken by scientific
men, Mix told of the necessity of
conserving the oil and thus shutting
off communication with the outside
world for three months, and he add
ed that the Aurora Borealis, which
1t was expected would shut off radio
signals, caused no trouble until the
Bowdoin had proceeded some dis
lance down the coast Of Greenland.
The chief source Of interference
during the winter SO Mix said, was
a noise like induction. 1t seemed
quite little like long arc waves.
The "QRN"-which in radio par
lance means natural kinds of inter-
ference-"was awful at the pole, he
said. referring to the magnetic pole.
Mix said that the broadcast sta
lions seldom were heard, and those
which were did not come through
very clear. The signals of the ANA
teur stations of the league which
have been in communication.with the
Bowdoin at times during the last
year, were heard best from the west
ern part Of the United States and
Europe. Those east Of the MISSISSIPPI
pi River were very faint. while those
from the west coast rolled in.
The code from MSS, one Of the
largest naval stations, near WASH
ington. and the time signals from
Arlington were heard at times, but
could not be depended upon regular
ly.
Asked II LIMO could communicate
with the Bowdoin on her way down
the coast, Mix replied probably not,
explaining that II was impossible to
use the transmitter while the craft
was on the starboard tack.
During the period that the local
station was talking with the Bowdoin
Mix sent the following reply to a
message Of congratulation from Gov
necticut:
Il very much appreciate your mess
age Of welcome" 81.