Evening star., 1926-05-09
PHON|NG TO EUROPE
. STILL IN INFANCY
Differences in Time, Static
and Other Obstacles Must
Be Overcome.
BY CARL III. BUTMAN.


radio telenhony has been accom-
plished from telephone office In New
York to another in London, many op'
stacles must be overcome oeiore
telephone subscribers in American
cities can speak directly with individ'
uals in England. Static ana a on
ference in time of five hours hlnoer
this new public service development.
Commenting upon the first two-Way
radio talk across the Atlantic recently.
Gen. John j. Carly of the American n
Telephone and Telegraph Co SAID
that while this opened up great posi-
biities. we had a long way 10 go oe-
fore practical radio telephony Oh
commercial scale to England and the
rest of the world could be accom-
pliShed.
One of the chief difficulties Is the
fve-hour difference in time. whlch
makes the overlapping periods of day
light in the two continents very nm
tied. Another handicap is the static
prevalent over the Atlantic, especially
during the daytime, when most OF US
would prefer to talk This static is
emphasized enormously by the amph-
tication necessary to carry the long
distance. Furthermore, it is worse in
Summer than in Winter. which woulo
interfere with a year-round schedule
Night Transmission Best.
Transmission, disregarding static, is
better at night than in day, and worst
during the twilight periods. Addl-
tional developments depend, SO zen.
Carty SAYS, upon the expense of such
radio.teIenhonic operation, whether it
would be used sufficiently ana at Whal
time Of day it was required. There
is still an unsolved problenl-the re
lation between what the cost would
be and the amount clients would De
willing to pay.
Engineers of the Bell system who
have been working on some or the
problems affecting a regular trans
atlantic radio-telephone service make
The following points: The recent four
hour test was conducted under favor.
able conditions as to time of year and
hours of daylight, although not the
most favorable. The speakers in each
country were ideally located at the
ends Of the direct circuit, and We're
not subjected to the conditions lnde-
pendent phone subscribers would nave
10 bear. Present independent operat-
ing practices and tariff structures
would have to be standardized to
properly cosprdinate an international
radio-telephone system. The time OF
day in all countries varies and usual
" does not coincide. New wire cir
cults for interconnecting outlying
subscribers or stations would have to
be built before national telephone
systems could be hooked up satlsfac-
torily. improvements in radlo-tele-
phonic transmission approaching the
stability and reliability of modern
commercial wire services must be un-
dertaken.
Progress Is Evident.
In view Of these facts. the radio
telephone engineers refuse to predict
when uninterrupted, all-year CONNER
cial service will be practical. but they
do point to the important progres
made since the first radio telephone
conversation was transmitted from
New York to London for two hours
on January IA, 1923. At that time
England had no suitable transmltter
and acknowledged the vocal messages
by cable.
Discussing the best time of day for
utilizine- a commercial transatlantic
radiophone service. the telephone en-
Eineers say that there are only two
periods available. These lie between the
hours of noon and pm, or the
afternoon for London, corresponding
TO the forenoon in New York, or be-
tween the hours of am. and pm;
the other period is during the eve
ming in London and the afternoon IN
New York. Unfortunately, the hrst
period is termed an intermediate
condition as far as transmission goes,
being neither the best nor worst,
while the second period, in respect to
suitability of time, is the poorest for
transmitting.
The hest transmission facilities be-
tween these two cities are. found be-
tween 6 am. and noon in London or
and am. in New York, but this
neriod is believed of the least impor-
tant commercially. Obviously 1t
would necessitate very early rising for
the New Workers.. The only remain
ing period-early morning in London
and late evening over here-Would
he equally awkward for the British
interests and at that time transmits
sion is only fair, being rated Inter
mediate"
Six Hours Radio Period.
SO it appears that the only prac-
tical radio period is one of SIX hours
duration, corresponding to afternoon
in London and forenoon in New York.
This would be the most convenient
time of the four periods studied. 1t
was during these overlapping busi-
ness hours that the recent tests were
SO successfully conducted.
The objective of transoceanic work
now is to bring about sufficient i'm
provements in conditions to insure
radiophone transmission during this
period throughout the year. Such
improvements would also benefit
transmission in two other periods, but
10 insure summertime radio conver-
sation during the fourth period, the
worst from the transmission point of
view, designated as evening in Lon
don and afternoon in New York,
would require very radical develop
ments, the engineers point out.