FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1978
POST OFFICE ACQUIRES NEW EQUIPMENT
TO TRACE RADIO INTERFERENCE
****
THE POST OFFICE IS TO IMPROVE ITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION FACILITIES IN TRACING RADIO INTERFERENCE WITH THE PURCHASE OF NEW ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
AN ORDER HAS BEEN PLACED THROUGH THE TENDER PROCEDURE WITH AEG TELEFUNKEN, WEST GERMANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF A RADIO DIRECTION FINDER AT A COST OF ABOUT $510,000.
A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN DETERMINING SOURCES OF RADIO INTERFT ENCE WILL BE DELIVERED IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR AND IT WILL EPLACE THE PRESENT SET WHICH
IS LESS SOPHISTICATED, AND VERSATILE.
HE NOTED THAT THE NEED FOR THE NEW EQUIPMENT AROSE FROM INCREASED RADIO INTERFERENCE EXPERIENCED IN RECENT YEARS AS A RESULT OF USAGE OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS.
DURING LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, FIXED STATION LICENCES ISSUED ROSE TO 976 AND MOBILE STATION LICENCES TO 9,723. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 21 AND 14 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE PRECEDING YEAR.
A TOTAL OF 1,787 LICENCES WERE ALSO ISSUED LAST FINANCIAL YEAR FOR RADIO-CONTROLLED MODEL AIRCRAFT AND BOATS, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF 48 PER CENT.
HE SAID IF THE INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY EQUIPMENT EMITTING RADIO WAVES WAS NOT CONTROLLED, IT COULD DISRUPT OUR DAILY LIFE. +FOR EXAMPLE, POLICEMEN ON RADIO BEAT PATROL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE IR CONTROL UNITS AND OUR TELEVISION SETS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PECEIVE CLEAR PICTURES. +
HE ADDED: +INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR ON INTERFERENCE COMPLAINTS ARISING FROM THE
INCREASED USE OF RAD 10-COMMUNICATIONS IN THE URBAN AREA. THESE RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF 37 FAULTY TV BOOSTER'S UNDER THE TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCE.+
DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THE DIVISION'S INSPECTORATE STAFF ALSO CARRIED OUT INSPECTIONS ON MANY TYPES OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT FOR LICENSING AND INTERFERENCE CONTROL PURPOSES. 29 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT AGAINST PERSONS FOUND CONTRAVENING THE LAW.
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