History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Lists/Wireless Systems

The following is a list (likely incomplete) of the systems of wireless telegraphy transmission that were considered for use in the Australian Coastal Wireless Network or saw use in Australian shipping of the era

Australian System

Invented by Australian engineer John Graeme Balsillie ca 1911, or rather reverse engineered by Balsillie from the Marconi System with sufficient modifications to be successfully awarded an Australian Patent. Often referred to as the Commonwealth System as Balsillie gifted his patent to the Commonwealth of Australia. Excepting for the two high power stations at Sydney and Perth (which used the Telefunken System), exclusively utilised for the deployment of Australia's Coastal Wireless Network. Do not confuse with his original Balsillie System.

Balsillie System

Invented by Australian John Graeme Balsillie and marketed by his Radio-Telegraph Co., considered to infringe the Marconi Patents in the famous Parker Judgement. Do not confuse with the Australian System, also invented by Balsillie and deployed by the Commonwealth from 1911 for its Coastal Wireless Network

Commonwealth System

Alternative name for the Australian System

De Forrest System

Invented by American Lee de Forest, self-described "Father of Radio", widely used by the USA Navy

Lodge-Muirhead System

Invented by the Englishmen Oliver Joseph Lodge and Alexander Muirhead

Marconi System

Invented by Italian Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi, and developed mainly in England with the support of the British Government. Drew heavily upon the work of several earlier experimenters. Many other wireless systems were essentially variants of this system.

Massie System

Invented by American Walter W. Massie and utilised by the Mutual Telephone Company, an American firm carrying on business at Honolulu ca 1910

Poulsen System

Invented by the Danish engineer Valdemar Poulsen in 1903, and generally known as the Poulsen arc transmitter. It was one of the first transmitters that could generate continuous sinusoidal waves and one of the first technologies used to transmit sound by amplitude modulation.

Telefunken System

Invented by engineers of the German Telefunken Company, a joint venture between Siemens & Halske AG and Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft AG, distinctive "singing" sound when received, much loved by wireless telegraphists. Utilised solely for the two high power coastal wireless stations POS-VIS Sydney (Pennant Hills) and MNS-POP-VIP Perth (Fremantle). Widely deployed by the Australasian Wireless Co (effectively a subsidary of Telefunken) for ship wireless in coastal Australia in competition to the Marconi System. Also for the two wireless stations of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914 at Macquarie Island (MQI) and Adelie Land (MAL).

Shaw System

Claimed invented by Father Archibald Shaw (but almost certainly invented by business associate Edward Hope Kirkby), who manufactured the Australian Wireless System equipment for Balsillie and the Commonwealth. Shaw subsequently litigated against the Australian System as a Patent infringement, but the litigation ceased upon his passing.

Shoemaker System

Invented by American Harry Shoemaker - widely used by the American Navy for a time.

Sutton System

Invented by the Australian Henry Sutton (Ballarat/Melbourne), offered to the Australian Navy gratis but not accepted.