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New Paths for the Short Waves
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THE U. S. S. " SEATTLE " Where Mr. Schnell will make his headquarters during his short wave tests. The Navy has shown great interest in the possibilities of short wave communication and is cooperating with the American radio amateurs who have contributed a great deal to the development of this transmission. At present, Naval communication is carried on chiefly by long wave high power radio transmitters, which are not only expensive, but subject to the familiar effects of daylight fading
waves could cover great distances at night, but were unable to travel very far under daylight conditions. Until then, it was thought the ionization of the atmosphere caused by the sun's rays had practically the same unfortunate effect on all waves and that daylight might be always a big hindrance to radio transmission.
THE EFFICIENCY OF SHORT WAVES
IN ADDITION to making the bare discovery, Mr. Reinartz developed a theory which appears to explain the phenomenon satisfactorily. It is based on the well known fact that radio waves are reflected by the atmosphere in the same manner that light rays are reflected with the aid of a polished surface. The distance that radio waves will travel in daylight is determined by the length of the wave, for it appears it is this factor which controls the height at which the reflection takes place.
There is a definite relationship which connects the position and effect of the sun with the length of the radio wave and the distance that it will be reflected. The depth of the reflecting layer varies with the time of day and season. The shorter waves seemingly have the peculiar faculty of penetrating farther into the ionization layer and they are therefore capable of being reflected to a much greater distance.
"The fact that the shorter wave penetrates the ionization layer to a greater height," declares Mr. Reinartz, "causes the reflection to take place at a higher altitude than would be the case for the longer; therefore, the diameter of the circle at which the short wave again appears on the earth's surface -is larger. Inside of this circle there is no evidence of the radio wave until one gets very close to the transmitting station. The reason for this is that the waves which travel along the earth's surface have been subjected to all the absorbing influence which that surface carries, while those which went up to the ionized layer and were reflected back have traveled through a considerable space and very little energy has been lost. This makes it possible to cover tremendous distances with but a fraction of the energy needed for some of the longer waves.
"It is possible to use this information in such a way as to obtain reliable daylight ranges considerably in excess of reliable night ranges obtainable with the same power."
Mr. Reinartz makes the prediction that this year will see communication established between amateurs of the United States and Australasia on a wavelength of about 20 meters in broad daylight. Mr. Reinartz will have an intensely interesting opportunity to test his