The "New York concern" which provided the wireless telephone systems for this failed test was Lee DeForest's Radio Telephone Company.
Popular Mechanics, August, 1909, pages 218-219:
WIRELESS TELEPHONE ON BATTLE FLEET A TOTAL FAILURE
Conditions at Sea Less Favorable Than on Land--Experiments Will Continue However
While "C. Q. D." proved successful with the Atlantic fleet on its trip around the world, wireless telephony tests resulted just the opposite. In no instance during the entire voyage did the "hello 'Connecticut'" or the greeting to any of the other battleships of the fleet get any response.
This is the text of a report of the wireless telephone as made by Admiral Sperry to the Navy Department upon his return from the famous trip. During the voyage the telephone was tried daily by the commandants of each ship, and each filed a report as to the nature and result of the tests. In not one single instance was there a favorable report made, and the Navy Department, upon the strength of the reports, abolished the telephone on ships of the Navy.
The Navy Department, however, will, during the summer and fall, make further experiments and tests with the wireless talking apparatus, with the view of perfecting it. One test station will be at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition at Seattle.
"The chief trouble with the wireless telephone," said a prominent naval officer, "is the receiver. It is easy enough to make a call, but it is almost impossible to receive any message. We tried the apparatus at all distances, from a half mile to five miles. It was easy enough to distinguish 'hello,' but as for making out anything else it was quite impossible.
"The service was installed by a New York concern, and a member of that firm personally supervised many of the trials at sending and receiving messages.
"It will be years, if ever, before the wireless telephone will be of any service to naval vessels," continued the officer.
"It may, eventually, prove successful on land, and become commercially one of the wonders of the twentieth century."
The Army's greatest interest lies in the wireless telephone. General Allen has at his disposal about $30,000 to be used for purchasing suitable apparatus for the Army's use.
Wireless Telegraphy Improving
The United States Navy is not lagging in the development of wireless telegraphy. The wireless experts of the Navy are continuously working to improve its use on the big sea fighters. A series of extensive experiments have begun at Brant Rock, Mass. These experiments will be carried on to demonstrate the capability of meeting all requirements set forth in the specifications of the Navy Department, about which some doubt has been expressed by the experts.
These experiments will probably extend throughout the summer, and the battleship "Connecticut," flagship of the Atlantic fleet, will take part. There is being installed on the "Connecticut" a new set of wireless instruments capable of sending messages a distance of 2,000 miles and receiving them at a distance of 3,000 miles. The battleship "Mississippi" also is to be equipped with a similar apparatus later on.
Extensive use will be made of wireless telegraphy during the maneuvers of the Atlantic battleship fleet on the Atlantic coast this summer. The torpedo boats of the Atlantic torpedo flotilla are being equipped with wireless. These will be the first vessels of the torpedo craft of the Navy to be so equipped. These little vessels will have a sending radius of about 200 miles.
At present the Navy has a school for instructing men in wireless telegraphy. It is located at the New York Navy Yard and there are in attendance about 60 students. These men when fully efficient are sent to the Navy wireless stations on the coast or aboard one of the battleships, where a force of five men is required to work the ship's instruments.
The Army Signal Corps officers have purchased for experimental purposes a German portable wireless set, mounted on wheels. The army has been using a portable set which is carried on the backs of animals and which is capable of exchanging messages at a distance of 25 miles. With the larger wireless set from abroad, communication is possible for a distance of from 100 to 125 miles.
The apparatus is mounted on a vehicle drawn by four horses and equipped with an extension steel mast which may be elevated to a height of 6O ft. It is proposed to try out this type of portable wireless apparatus, with a view to ascertaining whether it may be advantageous to add it to the equipment of the Army Signal Corps in the field.