Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-11-25
40 STATIONS USE
RADIO BEACONS
Placed to Guide Ships Off
East and West Coasts
and Great Lakes.

The radio beacon, latest and most
successful contribution by science to
mariners and airmen enyelopcd in fog
ana thlck weather. now is in practical
use on 40 scattered stations on the
eastern and western shores of the
United States and also on the Great
Lakes, according to an announcement
from the lighthouse service of the De.
partment of Commerce, which is op-
Grating this effective navigational aid.
The heacons have been located at
strategic points on the coasts and on
the lakes. those on the outer coasts
having been placed on liGhtShips or
prominent capeS, in positions that
would afford the best leading marks,
guiding vessels to harbor entrances or
past outlying capes. Some have been
located so as to afford effective cross
bearings and some are now being
placed for the benefit of inside navi-
cation on important routes.
At specific intervals throughout the
day and night they transmit radio sig
mails. each with a distinguishing char.
acterIStlc, whereby ships or airplane
pilots may accurately obtain their
bearings. Virtually no difficulties
have been reported in accuracy of
bearings, and with proper precautions
AS to the equipment on board ship. it
is practicable to depend on obtaining
radio bearings from considerable dis
1ances with accuracy sufficient for the
needs of navigation.
Fog Greatest Menace.
Fog is the greatest menace to the
safety of sea navigation, and the
most pressing need of the navigator
has long been some reliable means for
locating and guiding his vessel in fog
The radio beacon. in conjunction with
the rladiocompass or direction finder
on Shipboard. for the first time in
navigation provides such a means and
enables the navigator to take ac
curate bearings regardless of weather
conditions. This method is available
at distances up to several hundred
miles, far beyond the usefulness Of
other aids TO navication.
This is the only general system.
the Bureau of Lighthouses says, of
using radio bearings in navigation, as
1t is the only one by which a naviga-
tor may get radio bearings anywhere
IN the world where there are radio
transmitting stations, including bear
lngs on any vessel equipped with
radio. 1t conforms to the standard
practice of the sea in retaining the
location of the navigating instru.
ments on shipboard and the response.
navigating officers. ANY number of
vessels properly equipped may take
hearings simultaneously on a radio
beacon, just as they car on a light
house
OF course the radio compass has
other important uses on board shin
such as the taking of bearings on
other ships to avoid collision in fog
and storm, and the taking of bear
1nSs of vessels in distress, so they NAV
be correctly located and speedily ap-
preached. Many notable rescues at
sea have been made possible by use
of the radiocompass.
Cost $4,000 TO $4,000.
The cost of establishing a radio
beacon station at an existing light
house or lightship station ranges from
$4,000 to $4,000. including power units
and with all apparatus in duplicate |
Operating costs are small. as the in |
stallation requires no additional per |
sonnet for operating purposes.
More than thousand commercial, |
vessels. in addition to large numbers |
of naval vessels. are now equipped
with radiocompasses. or direction
finders. for taking radio beacons. So
well established has the system he.
come on the Great Lakes that since
establishment of the first beacon two
years ago there have been construct.
ed IL more, while several hundred
shlps, including number of the i'm
portant vessels on the lakes. are
equipped for taking bearings and
now use this method in navigation