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completely neutralise and there is considerable lateral dissipation. The energy of the primary system diminishes with the square of their distance, and this being also true of the secondary, the useful waves from the latter will suffer diminution of energy in propor- tion to the fourth power of their length. This means that only a very short wave can be used which, moreover, is unchangeable and difficult to regulate. One must be shortsighted not to perceive that better results will be obtained if the capital is all invested in a single directional sys- tem of proper design for the power available increases much more rapidly than the cost of the plant. Assuming even that the beam arrangement works with ideal perfection, it must still be inferior, since the requisite radiant energy is producible at smaller expense with the single system, which has the further advantages that it can be adapted to any wavelength, is greatly effective in two directions and therefore of greater earning capacity. So palpably unsound is this scheme that I am at a loss to understand how it could pass the scrutiny of competent experts such as Dr W. L. Austin and John Stone. completely neutralise and there is considerable lateral dissipation. perfection. The foundation to their use was laid by Sir William The energy of the primary system diminishes with the square of | Crookes, who discovered in 1876 that a highly heated conductor their distance, and this being also true of the secondary, the useful emits electrified particles. In 1882 a young French electrician, waves from the latter will suffer diminution of energy in propor- _Vissitre by name, observed that a current issues from the filament tion to the fourth power of their length. This means that only a of an incandescent lamp, and made careful measurements with very short wave can be used which, moreover, is unchangeable _ specially prepared bulbs, some of which I had opportunity to wit- and difficult to regulate. ness in Ivry-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris, at the time. But these One must be shortsighted not to perceive that better results will | phenomena found no application in the art until, in 1892, I pro- be obtained if the capital is all invested in a single directional sys- duced a vacuum tube detector superior in sensitiveness to any tem of proper design for the power available increases much more _ other form of which I have knowledge. Amazing progress has rapidly than the cost of the plant. Assuming even that the beam __ been since then achieved, but the employment of the modem vac- arrangement works with ideal perfection, it must still be inferior, uum detectors and amplifiers is an impediment to advance in the since the requisite radiant energy is producible at smaller expense _right direction and most of the troubles experienced in broadcast-. with the single system, which has ing are due to this cause. Until the further advantages that it can quite recently the transmitted be adapted to any wavelength, is waves were lacking in uniformi- greatly effective in two directions ty of length, rendering, accurate and therefore of greater earning attunement impossible. This capacity. So palpably unsound is defect has been in a measure this scheme that I am at a loss to remedied by control through understand how it could pass the quartz crystals, and now, for the scrutiny of competent experts such first time, it is practicable to as Dr W. L. Austin and John carry out important refinements Stone. for bettering the service. The electromechanical process of producing isochro- nous oscillations is one of my earliest inventions and I have applied it in many ways with great success. Its application to the operation of existing plants secures important advantages, but in spite of this and other improvements, a change in the present apparatus and method of broadcasting is becoming daily more imperative, and for this reason I am anxious to resume the introduction of my "World System" with novel transmitters of great effectiveness and receivers of elementary simplic- ity. In my apparatus the isochronism is so perfect and attunement sharp to such a degree that in the transmission of speech, pictures or similar THE "WORLD SYSTEM" Since | began the construction of the first power plant in 1899, I have expressed myself repeatedly in regard to it and the plans I had previously formed through the medium of The Electrical Review, Electrical World, Electrical Experimenter, Science and Invention and other periodicals, notable The Century Magazine of June 1900, to which I contributed a lengthy article on the "Problem of Increasing Human Energy"; but certain facts must still be told. In the first place, the fundamental dif- ference between the broadcasting system as now produced and the one I expect to inaugurate, is that at present the transmitter emits energy in all directions which, in the system I have devised, only force is conveyed to all points of operations, the frequency or the Earth, the energy itself travel- St A wavelength is varied only ling in definite paths determined through a minute range which beforehand. Perhaps the most wonderful feature is that the energy _ need not be more than one hundredth of one per cent if desired. travels chiefly along an orthodromic line, that is, the shortest dis- Statics and all other interferences are completely eliminated and tance between two points at the surface of the globe, and reaches __ the service is unaffected by weather, seasonal or diurnal changes the receiver without the slightest dispersion, so that an incompara- of any kind. The system lends itself particularly to World bly greater amount is collected than is possible by radiations. I Wireless Telephony and Telegraphy, as the current from the trans- have thus provided a perfect means for transmitting power in any _mitter can be kept virmally constant and the control effected by a desired direction far more economically and without any such simple microphone without the elaborate means now employed. qualitative and quantitative limitations as the use of reflectors | Any reasonable number of simultaneous and non-interfering mes- would necessarily involve. sages is practicable and a speed of many thousands of words per Another distinction is that my system is based entirely on reso- minute can be attained in telegraphic transmission. The same nance, while in present practice reliance is placed chiefly on _ principles are also applicable to operation through wires and amplification by auxiliary devices generally consisting of various cables. In 1903 I proposed to the Western Union and Postal forms of vacuum tubes which have been brought to remarkable Telegraph companies such multiplex transmission for their lines NEXUS¢49 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1994