The Wireless Operator 



By E. E. Bucher 



Instructing Engineer, Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America 



'-pHERE is a wide 

 JL gulf between the 

 wire and the wireless 

 operator. The former 

 is more or less a mechanical human ; 

 he is simply the interpreter of the little 

 instrument before him. He has no prob- 

 lems, no responsibilities outside of those 

 of transcribing the message. He rarely 

 has thrilling situations nor is he called 

 upon to face unusual conditions. He is 

 not placed upon his own resources. A 

 skilled force is maintained to take care of 

 the engineering details of his work. He 

 is not thrown in contact with new peo- 

 ples and surroundings. On the other 

 hand, the wireless operator is a trained 

 engineer who possesses basic knowledge 

 of his profession. In addition to his 

 knowledge of the telegraphic codes he is 

 required to exercise his mental faculties 

 in the everyday routine. He is so to 

 speak in charge of a small laboratory, 

 the efficiency of which depends to a large 

 extent on his understanding. 



What opportunities for development 

 the profession of wireless operator of- 

 fers! Men have worked for years to 

 gain similar surroundings. One who has 

 worked in the art for three or four years 

 and is not a brighter and more alert in- 

 dividual owes it to himself for the fail- 

 ing. 



The question is asked, "Where do 

 these young men receive their training?" 

 The great commercial companies main- 

 tain schools of instruction at various cit- 

 ies of the globe specifically for this pur- 

 pose. Here young men of desirable qual- 

 ifications, who have passed the mark of 

 1 8 years, are accepted and thoroughly 

 schooled in the intricacies of the art. At 

 a very nominal fee they receive a train- 

 ing in the elements of electricity which, 

 at a future date, should fit them for a 

 better position in the allied branches of 

 electrical work. 



They are taught the construction, de- 

 sign and assembly of the complete wire- 

 less equipment. They are taught what to 

 do in an emergency and how to make 

 repairs in case of accident. Their educa- 

 tion does not rest on this alone but the 

 geographical features of the universe are 

 discussed and studied. Steamship routes 

 are mapped out ; distances are measured ; 

 important local conditions at each port 

 are taken into account. 



The student is instructed in the de- 

 spatch of radio traffic how to account 

 for the tolls on a message. Intricate 

 problems which may arise are solved. 

 The student is thoroughly familiarized 

 with the International Regulations by 

 which the radio situation is universally 

 controlled. He then passes a Govern- 

 ment examination, receiving a certificate 

 of proficiency. Could a more compre- 

 hensive profession be imagined? Or a 

 more interesting one? 



The applicant for admission to these 

 classes must undergo a slight grilling. 

 Entrance examinations are required and 

 the boy who has long since left school 

 is dazed at the questions asked. He finds 

 the same old problems which he battled 

 with during his later days at school. 



Perhaps he is asked to add a column 

 of fractions or to state where the north 

 magnetic pole is located. He might be 

 queried as to the number of days con- 

 stituting the complete year or to name 

 the months having 31 days. And then 

 the old bugbear decimal fractions. 

 Again he might be required to disclose 

 his knowledge of distances and he is re- 

 quested to state the miles intervening be- 

 tween, say, New York and Buenos Aires 

 or perhaps the time required to make a 

 return voyage between these two points. 

 But when he comes to the query, "How 

 often does the earth make a complete 

 rotation on its axis?" he throws up his 

 hands in horror. Sometimes the replies 

 received are humorous in the extreme. 

 Take, for instance, the following descrip- 

 tion of the action and construction of a 



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