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Time Signals by Wireless Telegraphy.-The antennæ and earth wires for a wireless receiving set were completed early in the year. It soon became evident however that with the crystal supplied with the receiving set satisfactory signals would not be obtained from Shanghai or Manila. Two audion valves were therefore obtained in June through the courtesy of the wireless officer of the Pacific Mail S.S. Colombia. With these valves Mr. Henke, the wireless officer of H.M.S. Tamar, kindly lent by the naval authorities to superintend the installation, reported that he had obtained satisfactory time-signals from Manila; but not from Shanghai, owing to its low power and the intervening hills.
As the signals heard by the Director were not sufficiently reliable for clock comparisons, Mr. Henke continued to make experiments with different apparatus and circuits, in order to obtain the best possible result. He is not yet satisfied owing to the want of a reliable potentiometer for the high tension battery and rheostat for the low tension battery. It is hoped that these will soon be obtained.
It is disconcerting to learn that signals from Shanghai cannot be obtained until the sending power of that station is increased. It is also disconcerting to find that § 3 of article 45 of the Service Regulations of the International Radiotelegraph Convention is disregarded. On any night wireless signals may be heard between 8.50 and 9.0 p.m., and 9.50 and 10.0 p.m.; whereas by the above regulation all radiotelegraph stations which, by sending signals, might disturb the reception of wireless time signals, should remain silent at these times.
A service of wireless time-signals from the Royal Observatory, Hongkong, was commenced on September 1, in accordance with the programme given in the following circular.
Radiotelegraphic Time Signals.
Radiotelegraphic land and ship-stations within range of Cape d'Aguilar, Hongkong, are hereby notified that, beginning with 1st September, 1918, Time Signals from the Royal Observatory, Hongkong, will be transmitted by the Cape d'Aguilar Radio Station between 11.56 a.m. and noon, and between 8.56 p.m. and 9.0 p.m. (120th meridian Time) at the even seconds. The 2nd, 28th, 50th, 52nd, and 54th second of each of the above minutes will be omitted, for the purpose of identifying the signals.
The Time Signals will be preceded by the following warning-signals from Cape d'Aguilar between 11.54 and 11.55 a.m., and between 8.54 and 8.55 p.m.:—
CQ
DE VPS HK TIME WAIT
Both Warning- and Time Signals will be sent out on a wave length of 1,000 metres from a 5 kw. spark set. The Time Signals will be dots of about 0.2 second duration.
Radiotelegraphic land- and ship-stations within range of Cape d'Aguilar are required to keep silent between 11.54 a.m. and noon, and 8.54 p.m. and 9.0 p.m. (120th meridian Time) in accordance...
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