Use of Portable Wireless set on Out Skerries Shetland Aug. 1914

[JohnH]

I have been reviewing the ships logs for the scout cruiser HMS FORWARD around the time she was sent to Shetland in Aug. 1914 with four torpedo boat destroyers H.M.S. BAT, FAIRY, FLYING FISH and STAR. They were sent North to prevent a suspected landing on the Shetland Islands. 

On her way north FORWARD drew two Wireless Telegraph sets from the depot ship H.M.S. CYCLOPS at Scapa Flow on 3 Aug. 1914.  FORWARD landed one of these Wireless Sets on the Out Skerries off the East coast of Shetland on 6 Aug. 1914.

Extract from FORWARD log book on 6 Aug. 1914 TNA ref ADM 53/42059. 

Can someone decipher the last part of final sentence, looks like and rigged it? 

Can someone provide details/photo of the type of Naval Wireless Set that could have been used here. What sort of range would it have?

Later FORWARD returned to Lerwick and picked up 2 RNVR wireless ratings which they landed on Out Skerries on 7 Aug. 1914.  They exchanged Wireless operators on 9 Aug. 1914 and picked them up from Out Skerries on 12 Aug. 1914.

Edited 15 March by JohnH

[museumtom]

Landed wireless set and rigged it?

[KizmeRD]

To the best of my understanding, the only naval ‘portable’ wireless sets existing at the time were the so called ‘Type 5’ spark sets and these were likely to have a range somewhere in the order of fifty miles (depending on circumstances).

A 1.5 H.P. engine drove a 0.5 Kw alternator to make 7 amps at 70 volts and 70 cycles, stepped up to 5,000 volts, transmitting on a wavelength of 300 metres/freq. 1,000 KHz("P" tune).

MB

Edited 15 March by KizmeRD

[JohnH]

1 hour ago, KizmeRD said:

‘Type 5’ spark sets

Thanks @KizmeRD did these W/T sets have two-way communication. 

[KizmeRD]

Indeed, yes - transmit and receive.

Capable of communicating between Skerries and Lerwick, or ships inshore.

Range better at night and over water.

MB

Edit - The low power output of the mobile transmitter set was the main limiting factor with regard to range. Reception of signals from ships, or shore stations (with far higher-powered transmitters) would have been fairly easy.

I also presume that they would have set-up their aerials on high ground inland, and not stayed at the water’s edge.

Edited 15 March by KizmeRD