TELEPHONE " DONT'S " 159 



m 



Don't stand too far from the transmitter when talking. Talk from two to six 

 inches only from the mouthpiece and directly into it. 



Don't shout into the transmitter. Enunciate distinctly arid directly into the 

 transmitter. Clear enunciation, properly placed, transmits better than loud tones. 



Don't hang the receiver with the diaphragm up. This simply serves to- collect 

 dust. If the switch-hook is too big to hold the base of the receiver make it smaller 

 by bending the arms together. 



Don't tap on the diaphragm of either transmitter or receiver with a pencil or 

 other article. If the receiver diaphragm is bent, get a new one. It can be removed 

 by unscrewing the hard-rubber cap of the receiver. 



Don't drop the receiver. The shell is hard rubber and brittle. 



Don't leave the receiver off the hook for long periods. This exhausts the local 

 battery. 'With portable outfits having push-button on hand sets, be sure the push- 

 button is not depressed when you pack the set for transportation. 



Don't open the door of the telephone out of curiosity and then forget to fasten 

 it again. 



Don't allot signals to stations promiscuously. It saves time and patience to give 

 the stations most frequently called the shortest signals. 



Don't fail to post a copy of the " Operating Rules and Station Calls " at every 

 station, close beside the instrument. This includes outdoor stations, also. 



Don't expect a line through timber to maintain itself. If you must have a line 

 with the minimum of maintenance, cut a 100-f right of way and 1 build a standard 

 pole line. 



Section 97 Maintenance 



Don't try to maintain lines without systematic tests. Test daily to all stations 

 and correct immediately all breaks or other line or station troubles. 



Don't fail to make at least one general overhauling a year; two are better. 



Don't let fallen trees accumulate across tree lines. Keep them cut out and 

 make it the duty of every forest officer alwa"ys to clear the line of trees encountered 

 on patrol. 



Don't fail to inspect and clean lightning-protectors after every electric storm. 



Don't put paper between the protector blocks. Keep a few extra micas on hand 

 for repairs at each station. Also a fuse or two. 



Don't fail to put in new batteries at least annually; more often if necessary. 

 With portables using small flash-light batteries, get fresh ones every two months. 



Don't replace batteries one cell at a time. Put in an entirely new set. 



Don't buy batteries locally unless you can get standard telephone batteries and 

 can test them. Motor ignition batteries are the usual kind at local supply houses and 

 are not so good for telephones as the special brands. Get your batteries regularly 

 from telephone dealers. 



Don't forget that dust is prevalent in many forest cabins and that its accumula- 

 tion on the parts of the instrument and its accessories is injurious. Keep them clean. 



Don't expect binding-posts and other non-soldered connections to remain tight 

 and clean indefinitely. They all have a tendency to work loo'se, and often corrode, and 

 should be fixed up occasionally. 



Don't try to make repairs to delicate parts of the instrument unless you are 

 an expert. Send it back to the factory and substitute a spare telephone in the mean- 

 time. 



Don't oil the hinges of the box. 



Don't oil any part of a telephone unless you have the proper equipment for doing 

 so and know where to put the oil. Improper oiling will ruin the generator. 



Don't climb old poles without testing to make sure they are not rotten at the butt. 



Don't hesitate to pour water around your ground rod frequently. 



