The Importance Of Two Way Radio To The World

The two way radio is an important tool in maycommunicate in real time with other aircraft and
industries, from taxis to security it providescommanders. Development continued in both the
operatives with an instant form of communicationmilitary and law enforcement spheres. The New
for the relaying of important information. TypicallyYork Police Department utilised a system that
the two way radio is available as a handheldenabled faster response times while during the
device although stationary central devices are alsoSecond World War troops used handheld and
used for more far reaching purposes. The historybackpack devices that allowed for greater
of this device is an interesting tale of innovationoperational effectiveness.
and experimentation.These early systems however had serious
At the earliest stage the first receivers andlimitations, the most serious being that only one
transmitters were created to carry messagecommunication could occur at any time. This was
wirelessly. Some argue that it was in 1907 thatbecause all of the devices used the same
two way telegraphy started across the Atlanticfrequency; understandably this led to confusion in
Ocean as a commercially available communicationmany cases. The problem was solved however
method. The uses of these devices spread rapidlyby giving different transmitters their own
and by 1912 wireless devices were fitted in thefrequency meaning that systems were linked to a
majority of commercial and military ships to allowsmaller network. Terminology refers to these two
communication across the seas.systems as 'simplex', the single frequency mode
This early equipment however was in no wayand 'duplex', the multiple frequency mode of
mobile and usable for transit applications. This alloperation.
changed however in 1923 when an AustralianThe earliest of these devices required operatives
policeman, Frederick William Downie invented theto train and learn Morse code; especially true in
first portable wireless communication device forthe shipping sphere. However the advancement
patrol cars. As a senior officer in the Victoriaof technology, particularly in the military meant
Police Force, Downie felt that the existing methodthat the transmission of voices became a reality.
of communication that utilised strategically placedThis subsequently led to more efficient
phone booths was simply inefficient andcommunication and hence greater levels of
unworkable for the purposes of effective crimeoperational effectiveness. Today devices are
fighting. Hence he worked towards creating asimple and easy to use meaning that operatives
device that would allow officers to communicatedo not require large amounts of training to utilise
with each other and the headquarters from theirthe equipment successfully.
cars. The equipment however was still large andFrom humble beginnings helping the police forces
cumbersome, reports from the time claim thatof Australia the handheld two way radio has
the radio took up the entire back seat of themade life easier for many all over the world. It
Lancia patrol cars.has not only made the role of law enforcement
Technology however rapidly improved and themore successful but has also played an integral
size of the two way radio was soon reduced. Thepart in winning wars. In the modern era it still has
military were quick to realise the benefits of thea number of applications in the military and police
device by fitting them into aircraft. This innovationbut in many other industries such as retail it is also
meant that pilots no longer had to drop messagesextensively used. In the world of communication
to troops on the ground and instead were able tothere is no other more important device.