San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-16
NO line BUSY
WOE ON PHONE
IN ARG TIC
E. F. Mcdonald Jr., Tells
Ease Of Radio Con- SSA
versation. y =

More simple and direct, even, than
the everyday method of calling a per-
son on the modern telephone is the
system of radio communication be-
tween the ships Bowdoin and Peary,
which are carrying the Macmillan Arc
tic expedition to the North Pole, ac-
cording TO message just received by
III. III. Roemer of the Zenith Radio
Corporation from Commander T.. y.
Mcdonald Jr., Chicago, second in
command Of the expedition.
And they never get the busy sig
mall nor the wrong number!
They never get the reply, 1Your
party does not answer"
They are never told, That line is
out of order"
They admit they are making radio
history, and have given proof that
they are.
SPEAKER is CENTRAL.
But they may be making telephone
history as well.
The sending station simply tunes to
the wave length agreed upon for in
accommodation and announces that
II ms SoutlulIlB 10 say.
The loud speaker at the receiving
end acts as telephone operator-"and
there you are.
IL the talk is intended for the whole
crew, the loud speaker is left in con-
nection, and If the message is personal.
a headset can be connected in place OF
the speaker.
They have no trouble, day or night,
in visiting with each other. though
they may be miles and mile apart.
Read the message.
HOW EASY 1T is.
"Radio working great on Short
waves. We are sure making history.
We receive our daily newspaper, not
only from the states but from Nauen.
Germany. We can send a message to
the states at any time, day or night.
I'VE are using phones exclusively be-
tween the BowdOin and the Peary. We
have constant communication and can
reach each other at will without pre-
arranged schedules. This is the first
time this has been done by radio be-
tween ships.
For instance, the Bowdoin may be
miles and miles away from us, yet
have only TO go to the radio room,
pick up my transmitter, which is built
like a telephone, tune to the wave
length we use exclusively for intercOm-
munication, start the generators going
and say This is WAP calling WNP.'
"Reinartz hears me calling, over a
loud speaker connected in their fore
castle, and comes to his transmitter.
then ask for Commander Macmillan,
tell him the speed we're are making,
ask him what port he would like to
have us make that night, and imme.
diately, by voice, get my answer.
ESKIMOS AMAZED.
"This evening we entertained the
Eskimos at Hopedale by letting them
talk to their friends across the harbor
on the Bowdoin. They're all like chill
dren and can't comprehend what it's
all about. / honestly believe they
think We have a wire stretched between
the two ships.
"We are beginning to hear west
ern stations more distinctly every day.
indicating that we are going TO meet
somewhat the same conditions that
Macmillan met on the last expedition.
Namely, that western stations will be
able to work us better than eastern sta
tons, as we pass north.
sport Hermann left US at Battle
Harbor. We miss him.
Comparatively warm where we are,
As degrees. Everybody anxious to get
north out Of this heat.
(Signed) "M'DONALD."
The expedition is equipped with both
long and short wave radio receiving
and transmitting apparatus sufficient
to equip all planes and both ships. The
short wave sets are of the newly de-
veloped Zenith-Reinartz circuit recent
ly released to amateurs Of the Ameri.
can Radio Relay League who have
built sets in exact accord with those
used by the expedition and who are al
ready eyidencing their very great help
on this expedition as was the expert
ence Of Macmillan on his last cruise
to the Arctice and upon whom he de-
pended almost exclusively for commun'
ication,