TELECOMMUNICATIONS
General
387
Information
RADIOTELEGRAM SERVICE.
The radiotelegram service provides a speedy and reliable method of sending communications by wireless to or from ships at sea. It is particularly suitable for
sending messages of greeting, congratulation,
or farewell
arranging appointments, hotel accommodation,
and travelling facilities;
transmitting instructions and conveying informa- tion to business representatives, ship owners and masters; and
market and stock exchange transactions.
Radiotelegrams may be written in plain language, code or cypher or any combination of these three. There are preferential rates for code messages.
When a ship is in port, its wireless station is closed and the ordinary telegraph service should be used.
WIRELESS EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS.
Over 15,000 ships, including more than 4,000 British ships, are fitted with wireless equipment for sending and
receiving messages.
messages. The equipment installed on British ships falls into three classes:
1. Apparatus capable of exchanging messages up
to ranges of 250-300 miles;
2.
3.
Long wave apparatus capable of exchanging messages at ranges up to 2,000 miles; and
Short wave apparatus capable of exchanging messages at world wide range.
All ships equipped with wireless have apparatus of type (1). Many have, in addition, type (2) or type (3) or both. All British merchant ships of 1,600 tons gross and over carry wireless receiving apparatus capable of receiving messages from the Rugby wire- less station at world wide range.