Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-11
WASHINGTON HEARS
byrd TALK FROM
DUNEDIN TO u. S.
Admiral and Publisher Carry
on TWo-Way Conversa-
ton in Rebroadcast.
INTERFERENCE SILENCES
HIS VOICE AT TIMES
Getting Along Fine" Admiral
Says-"Feels Good to Hear
From America"

Another epoch in transoceanic rebroad-
casting was written today when two
way conversation between Rear Admiral
Richard E. Byrd, in Dunedin, New
Zealand, and Adolph S. Ochs, pub
Usher of the New York Times, in the
studios of WGY, in Schenectady, was
distributed throughout the country over
a coast-to-coast network of National
Broadcasting Co. stations. Washington
listened-in through Station WRC.
Though static and magnetic dis
turbances chopped up and at times
drowned the conversation in mighty
sea-like roar the voice of Admiral Byrd
was quite distinct during brief lulls in
the interference.
Glad to Hear Voice From U. S.
Although fresh from his conquest
and hardship in the frozen Antarctic,
Admiral Byrd told Mr. OchS he felt
quite well" IT am getting along fine"
he added, land it certainly makes me
feel good to hear a voice from Amer
ica"
heard to laugh heartily. "Ha, ha, ha,'
he chuckled when Mr.. Ochs told him
he had made the "Dickey Byrd the
greatest flyer in the world"
The atmospherics apparently did not
interfere as seriously with reception in
New Zealand as it did in the United
States, as Admiral Byrd, in response to
question said he heard every word"
OF Mr.. Och's congratulatory message.
Once Out Completely.
The major portion of the interference
was believed to have been between
Wellington, New Zealand, and Sydney,
Australia. Once during the CONVERSE
ton, the Dunedin station faded out
completely, and Sydney cut in with an
announcement that was heard clearly.
Aside from the atmospheric dis
turbanceS music was heard family at
times during the conversation. and en-
gineerS of the National BroadcaSting
Co. expressed the belief that this was
picked up from an unknown Australian
radio station broadcaSting on a wave
band near that used to hurl Admiral
Byrd's voice across the Pacific.
UnderSea, oversee and overland, Adj
miral Byrd's voice travelled 10000 miles
to reach Schenectady, before 1t was
rebroadcaSt. The most elaborate hook
up of communication circuits ever at
tempted for rebroadcaSting purposes
brought 1t to the United States. Tele-
phone wires, submarine cable and long
and short waves played a part.
Land Wires Relay Voice.
Admiral Byrd spoke before micro
phone in the studio of Station AVA, at
Dunedin. From that point his voice
was relayed by land wires and cable
to Wellington, New Zealand. a dis
lance of about 500 miles. From We'll
lington the signals were transmitted
by Station 212YA on long waves to
Sydney, Australia, about 1900 miles
away. Station VX2NE, in Sydney,
flashed it across the Pacific on short
81 oh 0rf- gyn
transmitter, W2XAF, in Schenectady,
where the N. B. G. picked it up and
rebroadcast 1t over a transcontinental
network.
In Dunedin, it was 1926 am. We'd
neSday morning when Admiral Byrd
responded to Mr.. Ochs greeting. In
Washington it was 7:35 am. Tuesday.
The difference in time was one of the
fascinating features of the experiment,
which began at 7:30 o'clock with a
transpacific roll call. The announcer in
Schenectady first called Sydney and
after establishing communication with
the station there asked the operator the
time.
1T is 1898 pm. Tuesday," he re-
sponded.
what season of the year is it there"
the Schenectady operator queried.
Autumn" came the reply.
Wellington Station Called.
The station in Wellington was next
called, and when the operator there
answered, the Schenectady announcer
asked him the time.
ut is 1925 am, Wednesday morn
ing" the New Zealand operator replied.
The communication line was then
extended to Dunedin, and with an an
nouncement that Admiral Byrd was
there before a microphone, Mr.. Ochs
opened the conversation, which. contin-
ued until the N. B. C. cut out its re-
broadcast circuit at 8:13 am.
Russell Owen, newspaper correspond
ent with the Byrd expedition, also talk
ed with newspaper men and General
Electric Co. officials in the WGY studios.
Ochs COngratuIates Byrd.
Mr.. Ochs, speaking to Admiral Byrd,
said, in part:
How are you? I am glad to hear
your cheerful voice. We have this OPP
portunity, through the generosity and
enterprise of the General Electric
broadcasting station, WGY, to welcome
you back to civilization and express to
you our appreciation of what you have
done. We thank God that Richard Byrd
and his gallant crew are back safe and
sound. The people throughout the world
have watched with ever-increaSing In
terest your heroic epoch-making adven-
lures. We congratulate you on the COM
plete success of your enterprise. You
have made the world small by increas-
ing our knowledge of it. You have
added an empire to the territory of the
United States and have planted the
Stars and Stripes both at the North
and South Pole. You have won q place
among the immortals, and America
numbers you among the bravest of its
sons"
Admiral Byrd was able to hear all
that was said, he told Mr.. Ochs and
others, adding:
I'VE are tickled to death to speak to
Mr.. Ochs on his birthday"