AN EXAMINATION FOR RADIO SERVICEMEN.

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 17, 6 November 1931, Page 4

AN EXAMINATION FOR RADIO SERVICEMEN.

"THE New Zealand Electrical Federation has taken a wise step in introducing an examination for Radio Servicemen, for such an examination has been long overdue. At the present time the radiotrician is in rather an unsatisfactory position. He has to comply with many of the regulations pertaining to the installation of electrical apparatus, yet no steps are taken to ascertain that he knows them. Certain other duties that anyone installing a set must perform can, according to the regulations, be carried out only by a licensed wireman -few licensed wiremen are radiotricians. Apart from this there is a pressing need for an examination to bring the trade to the status of other trades. A man would not enter your home and interfere with the drainage system unless he had a license or was acting under the supervision of a licensed drainlayer who had passed a certain examination. Yet there is nothing to prevent anyone interfering with your radio set. You may or may not know the man who does the job. In any case you are not aware of his qualifications and accordingly take a certain risk. Complaints regarding the inefficiency of certain types of "servicemen" are common and with the popularity of the electric set there is now a more pressing need for the straightening out of the position. THIS is what the Electrical Federation is endeavouring to do this month, and we wish them every success. Much will, of course, depend upon the examination itself. With nothing to guide them, other than overseas examinations, the Federation has no easy task. They must be guarded against setting a too easy or a too academic paper. Although theory is the basis of all sound practice, too high a standard in this direction can easily be asked, and men who, placed before a set would have no difficulty in locating and rectifying trouble, may be nonplussed by a question involving knowledge of, say, vectors and calculus. Yet the radio engineer will be quite at home with these calculations. The examination is not one that aspirants to an Institute would be reqttired to pass, but it should seek to ascertain the practical knowledge of the candidate. Another important aspect of the examination will be the questions on the regulations. This was one of the reasons for its institution, for too few radio dealers or their servicemen are conversant with the wiring regulations which concern them. Often dangerous apparatus is installed through sheer ignorance of the regulations, and.as modern radio demands the use of relatively high voltage current there is a very real source of danger if that apparatus is handled by men wnacquainted with the hazards they are creating. The wiring

regulations have been framed with the object of protecting the every-~/ day user of the apparatus. . ae Examinations for radio servicemen are regularly held in some of the older countries, where radio is recognised as a trade on a par with all others, and as such must set a definite standard to which those entering it must conform. NO doubt the institution of the examination will be only the commencement of a general "cleaning-up" regarding radio installations. Without a doubt there are literally thousands of radio sets that at the present time do not conform to the regulations, and thereby place their owners in a questionable position in the case of damage by fire to the property on which they are installed. For the past two years mains energised electrical apparatus has been used for the operation of radio sets, and although the Underwriters’ Association has made certain demands there is no evidence of these being enforced or of steps having been taken to make the regulations known. In fairness to the owner of such apparatus the regulations should be made more widely known. That the position is receiving some thought is shown by the fact that certain insurance companies are issuing their policies subject radio apparatus complying with the fire underwriters’ regulations wiwh regard to radio. They are even sending inspectors to examine tlie radio installations. When existing sets have been thus dealt with it will be an easy matter for all future ones to be brought into line. Just how the home constructor will fare under the stringent regulations is problematical. Of course, the battery’ set constructor will not be affected, but the a.c. enthusiast will be somewhat suppressed. In the interests of radio generally it would be regrettable to frame regulations forbidding the manufacture of home-made power apparatus. The regulations should be constructive. Generally speaking, the only enthtsiast who will undertake construction of power apparatus is he who has had a fair amount of experience, and provided he knows the regtilations he will comply with them. This fact must be borne in mind by the auhorities. Of course, when the amateur wishes to graduate into the professional or semi-professional ranks, it is only right that )~ he should be subjected to a searching test such as that now instituted. /