THE RADIO PHONE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 5

THE RADIO PHONE

Operating Methods Described

“CLEAR SPEECH” OBSERVER

Speaking to Sydney from New Zealand over the radio channel is not so eventful an affair as might generally be imagined. The equipment to-day is so efficient, and the precautions taken to secure clear speech are so thorough that if a radio conversation is arranged one can be quite certain Hint it will go through without much difficulty.

There will be no excited exclamations "Are you there?”, although on occasion there might be a necessity to ask for a repetition of an indistinct sentence. It' that occurs, the time taken tor the repetition will not be charged against the caller. Although speech over the radio channel overseas is expensive, this concession ensures that the full time purchased will be available for clear communication. New Zealand’s outlet oversees through the radio channel is to Sydney, and thence to England; and to suit the differences in time at the more distant point, work usually commences at 2.30 p.m. with a testing of conditions. At an elaborate instrument board in the telephone exchange ia Wellington sits a technical operator who can be heard occasionally chatting in quiet tones through a telephone transmitter. He is talklag ta hi* colleague in Sydney, exchanging views regarding the nature of the transmission. As every radio listener knows, there is sometimes a certain amount of fluctuation in the volume of the signal, and this operator and his colleague ia Sydney are responsible for maintaining sig-nal-strength, and consequently the speech output, at as near au even volume as possible. Another operator makes observations to ensure that only clear speech periods are charged for. Still another precaution is takgyi before communication is established between two parties to a radio-telephone conversation. If, for instance, an Aucklander wishes to speak to a Sydney friend, the request is conveyed to the Wellington telephone exchange, wheie the technical operator at once tests the land circuit from that point to the New Zealand subscriber’s telephone. A similar test takes place in respect to tho land line at the other end and, where possible, adjustments are maou to improve the circuits. Speech from overseas by the radio channel is received at Mount Crawford, Wellington, on one wavelength, while outward speech is transmitted from Mount Etako (Tinakori Hills) on another wave-length. Although the two parties to a conversation ore probably not aware of it, when one is speaking he cannot be effectively interrupted by the other, for the reason that until outward speech ceases the inward circuit is closed. The separate wave-lengths needed for two-way speech cannot clash, because the impulses given by the "outward” voice instantly operate the valve system to close "inward” reception. It is a case of radio-enforced politeness which prevents interruption of one’s remarks, although the process is so smooth and rapid that only the technical officers know that it is going on. Ono’s imafflnation has to be exci-> vised to realise that the conversation is I not on an ordinary telephone circuit, ; because the process has reached the ' stage of perfection which makes it appear commonplace.