Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-24
BY II. H. G. MATTHEW'S.
Chief En~fneer Zenith Radio Corpora
ton, which equipped the BOwdoin
with its radio apparatus.


When the Macmillan Arctic Elk
pedition sailed last spring equipped
with radio transmitting and receiv-
ing apparatus. 1t was predicted by
radio experts that this expedition
would develop many peculiar condi-
lions in connection with the radio
work and would perhaps solve some
OF the problems which have per-
picked radio engineers for years.
The most obvious question was. of
course, whether or not radio would
penetrate the auroral band. This
question has been answered satisfac
torily. The radio apparatus or the
Bowdoin which is of rather low
mower because Of limited space and
fuel on the ship, has had little diff
Guilty in reaching stations in Canada
and the United States and even
Hawaii during the worst auroral dis
plays
This, at least partially, explodes the
theory which has been prevalent for
the past several years that the pres
ence of all auroral display or discharge
effectively prevented radio communica-
ton, inasmuch as the aurora Is purely
the aurora does not comp etely Blanket
radio There Is no doubt but that the
operator OF the Bowdoin. whose radio
call is WNP, will have some interesting
tales to tell of his observations under
these conditions when he returns.
Changes in Pressure.
During the last few weeks an unusual
condition has arisen, which is giving
rise to much discussion. Weather con-
ditions all over the country have been
extremely unsettled. Storm has fol-
lowed storm with accompanying RAPID
changes in barometric pressure and tenn
perature. We have had all combinations
of snow, rain and thaw in rapid success
sion and apparently these extremely
rapid changes have affected communl-
cation with the Bowdoin.
Radiophone listeners all over the
country have reported extremely er,
ratio and unsatisfactory reception
during this storm period, 1t being
noted that even the most powerful
broadcasting stations, which ordinar-
lily are very regular in performance
The reception of stations at extreme
distances has been almost impossible.
On the shorter waves. however,
that is, the waves below 200 meters
communication has been very regular.
During the period or the storm when
Chicago was entirely cut off from
outside communication by wire. local
amateur stations handled the dis
patching of trains and the transmits
sion of personal messages without
difficulty to all parts of the country.
on 200 meter, however, which is the
wave length used by the Bowdoin,
communication seems to have been
very poor.
Have Poor Success.
The stations on which dependence
has been placed for consistent COM
rnunication with the Macmillan cxpe-
dition have reported poor success
since about the middle Of January
Canadian 9BP, located at Prince
Rupert, British Columbia, last heard
wNP on January "a. The station of
J. Z. Brickett at Moosejaw. Saskatche-
wan, Canadas last heard the Bowdoin
on the 18th of January and reports
that heavy atmospheric disturbances
have prevented communication since
The. stations of Maj. Laurence Mott
at Avalon, Catalina Is ands, and OF
L. II. Weeks at Minot. N. D., report
the same conditions, showing that the
disturbance is not local to any sta
ton in this country, but covers the
II has been noted by radio opera
tors for a long time that during the
period Of twenty-four hours immedi-
ateiy following a severe weather
change, either from cold to hot or
from hot to cold, radio communication
was very difficult because Of weak
signals, fading and heavy atmos-
pherics, but never before have we had
such a striking instance Of the effect
of rapid weather changes on radio
communication.
Reasons for Fading.
Just why barometric pressure or
temperature should affect radio
waves, which are not transmitted
through the air, but through the all
pervading medium known as the
"ether." is not definitely known. The