The Problems, Pleasures, Tribulations, and Experiences of the Department of Commerce Radio Inspector--What Happened During the Years of Radio Growing Pains
DEAR SIR:A PLEASANT start for a rather doubtful day, is it not? Yet this is what the heavy-eyed Radio Supervisor of your district is confronted with as he wearily takes his place at his desk to commence the daily grind. He comes to his office, not refreshed by a restful night's sleep, but dog-tired from a four or five hour vigil the night before, checking the frequencies of the various stations within range of his sensitive receiver. Not once in a while but every night, does he do this; not occasionally does he receive an irritating communication such as opens this article, but he gets numbers of them daily. And you, in the comfort of your fireside, complain bitterly at a few annoying splashes of static or an occasional ship transmittal which interferes with your pleasure. Maybe you write your district supervisor, demanding some immediate action, and then grumble at the inefficiency of Governmental services if an inspector does not appear at your home the following evening ready to devote his entire evening to your interests. Suppose you pick a comfortable chair, get a fresh cigar and read on--meet your District Supervisor and his radio inspectors. An insight into the workings of the Radio Inspection Service of the United States Department of Commerce will give you a new respect for the men who are laboring many hours a day that your evening's pleasure may be uninterrupted.
I still can obtain no satisfaction from your office in clearing up the radio situation in Podunk. The amateur nuisance is unbearable, and we demand some relief. We urge you to send a man immediately to investigate. You say it is 'ships.' This is preposterous, as reference to your map will show our city to be located twenty miles from the ocean--there are no ships in Podunk.
Yours truly,
GEORGE SMITH.
![]() Emery H. Lee, one of the radio inspectors attached to the New York office is checking up the wavelength of an amateur operator's station, using a standard Department of Commerce wavemeter. The station license is on the wall and the operator's license in the frame to the left, both issued by the Department of Commerce, is next to it. The revealing sign and crêpe on the burned-out transmitting tube tell their own story of the price the amateur pays for his hobby |
![]() Has regularly to be inspected by the radio service of the Department of Commerce. The inspector checks the wavelength adjustment of the transmitter, and tests the storage batteries which furnish auxiliary power in case of accident to the ship's generators. He also tests the telephone from the radio room to the bridge. At practically all ports of entry in this country, the Department of Commerce inspects each ship each trip it makes into that port. This service alone would keep a large inspecting staff busy, but in addition to ship inspection, the inspectors have to inspect amateur stations of a certain grade, commercial shore stations, broadcasting stations, conduct license examinations for amateur and commercial operators, and investigate violations of the radio laws. The ship being inspected is SS Maracaibo |
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![]() WEBJ, the Third Avenue Railway station in New York, being tested by a radio inspector from the New York, or Second Radio District. The wavelengths of all broadcasters are very carefully watched by the government inspectors |
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W. D. TERRELL Chief Supervisor of Radio. Mr. Terrell is in direct charge of the inspection activities of the Radio Service, Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce. The country is divided into nine radio districts, each with its supervisor and inspectors. The task of administering the radio law has grown to tremendous proportions since the beginning of broadcasting in 1920 | ||
Supervisor of Radio, Seventh District. With headquarters at Seattle, Mr. Redfern has charge of radio affairs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the Territory of Alaska |
Supervisor of Radio for the Third Radio District. His office is in Baltimore and with some exceptions he has control of the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia |
Supervisor of Radio of the First Radio District at Boston, which comprises Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut |