Radios are one of the first types of communication to be invented that are still used in the modern age. The main reason for this is because of the ease of use and the low cost it takes to use it. They are a very important component of many businesses such as the construction industry.
In the construction industry the person operating the crane is very high up and most defiantly out of reach of and site manager giving the instructions below. Some people might suggest the use of mobile phone for communication but the cost per day would be too high for it to be a viable option. Instead you can use a radio for communication as it would be very cheap, in fact all it would cost is the initial price of the radio sets at the shop. If you do decide to buy a radio set then make sure that it is rechargeable as buying multiple batteries per week for the use of the radio is also very expensive.When in pursuit of a criminal the police use radio communications in order to coordinate themselves around the suspect in order to increase their chances of catching him. It can also be use for calling for backup and is one of the first things that are used when a dangerous situation occurs. This just goes to show how important these devices are for this type of job, without them many different produces would have to be changed in order to get the job done to the same standard.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Old Time Radio
Old time radio (OTR) is not dead. In fact, it's alive and well on the Internet. The Internet has actually helped to revive old time radio. After the days of OTR were ended, the only way to get any of these shows was to find them on old reel to reel tape and listen to them in this format. Some kind folks converted these shows to phonograph records and later to cassette tapes.
There were small group of OTR fans that used to do this and trade the shows among themselves. Very few people that would have enjoyed these shows knew about these small clubs and therefore couldn't get the shows.When computers became available to more and more people, smart PC users learned how to convert these old shows to digital format. 70 minutes of shows could be put on one CD. With the appearance of the mp3 compressed audio format, distribution was now possible via the Internet.
So many people can now enjoy the fun and adventure of OTR due to the efforts of everyone who converted the shows and posted them on the Internet. With the high speed Internet connections we enjoy today, we can download as many shows as we want in a very short amount of time.
OK, so now that we know that these great old radio shows are available again, how do we go about locating them? There are several ways to acquire these shows.
The most expensive way is to buy the shows at a book store in audio format. Sure, these audio CD's will play in any CD player, including the one in your car, but you can only fit 70 minutes of shows on each CD. Plus, these are rather expensive.
You can search the Internet and buy old time radio disk sets in mp3 format. These are compressed and many hours of shows can fit on one CD or DVD. They don't play in most standard CD players, but you can listen to them on your mp3 player or on your computer.
Or, you could join an OTR download club and pay a monthly fee to be able to download any of the shows they have on their website. This is much cheaper and a good option for those with a home computer. The very best way to get old time radio shows on mp3 is to find a website that offers them for free. These sites are few and far between, due to the fact that there are expenses involved in starting and maintaining a website. There is the cost of registering the domain name, paying a monthly fee for web hosting and paying for the old time radio disk sets. Because of this, many of these sites can only offer a few hundred shows in limited genres.
The best old time radio websites are those that are run as a hobby club. This is where the visitors donate ten or twenty dollars one time, to help pay for the website and to buy more shows.
From then on, everyone who made a donation gets full access to all the old radio shows on the website, plus all the new shows as they are added. A good club will also have an OTR discussion forum so the webmaster and the club members can talk about old time radio, ask and answer questions from other club members and request and share shows with each other. Also, a good news blog is helpful. The person who runs the club can post news to the site to let the members know when new shows are added.
Why is a hobby club better than a download site? Some people, not all, who ask for a monthly fee are more of a business than an old time radio lover. A hobby club is usually run by someone who loves old time radio and just wants to share it with as many people as possible. This is the reason for the small donation fee instead of asking ten or more dollars per month as some sites charge. By combining their resources, all of the club members can listen to many more shows then they could afford on their own.An old time radio club can be lot's of fun. It's a way to enjoy and share this wonderful hobby with others and it also helps to keep old time radio alive for future generations to enjoy.
There were small group of OTR fans that used to do this and trade the shows among themselves. Very few people that would have enjoyed these shows knew about these small clubs and therefore couldn't get the shows.When computers became available to more and more people, smart PC users learned how to convert these old shows to digital format. 70 minutes of shows could be put on one CD. With the appearance of the mp3 compressed audio format, distribution was now possible via the Internet.
So many people can now enjoy the fun and adventure of OTR due to the efforts of everyone who converted the shows and posted them on the Internet. With the high speed Internet connections we enjoy today, we can download as many shows as we want in a very short amount of time.
OK, so now that we know that these great old radio shows are available again, how do we go about locating them? There are several ways to acquire these shows.
The most expensive way is to buy the shows at a book store in audio format. Sure, these audio CD's will play in any CD player, including the one in your car, but you can only fit 70 minutes of shows on each CD. Plus, these are rather expensive.
You can search the Internet and buy old time radio disk sets in mp3 format. These are compressed and many hours of shows can fit on one CD or DVD. They don't play in most standard CD players, but you can listen to them on your mp3 player or on your computer.
Or, you could join an OTR download club and pay a monthly fee to be able to download any of the shows they have on their website. This is much cheaper and a good option for those with a home computer. The very best way to get old time radio shows on mp3 is to find a website that offers them for free. These sites are few and far between, due to the fact that there are expenses involved in starting and maintaining a website. There is the cost of registering the domain name, paying a monthly fee for web hosting and paying for the old time radio disk sets. Because of this, many of these sites can only offer a few hundred shows in limited genres.
The best old time radio websites are those that are run as a hobby club. This is where the visitors donate ten or twenty dollars one time, to help pay for the website and to buy more shows.
From then on, everyone who made a donation gets full access to all the old radio shows on the website, plus all the new shows as they are added. A good club will also have an OTR discussion forum so the webmaster and the club members can talk about old time radio, ask and answer questions from other club members and request and share shows with each other. Also, a good news blog is helpful. The person who runs the club can post news to the site to let the members know when new shows are added.
Why is a hobby club better than a download site? Some people, not all, who ask for a monthly fee are more of a business than an old time radio lover. A hobby club is usually run by someone who loves old time radio and just wants to share it with as many people as possible. This is the reason for the small donation fee instead of asking ten or more dollars per month as some sites charge. By combining their resources, all of the club members can listen to many more shows then they could afford on their own.An old time radio club can be lot's of fun. It's a way to enjoy and share this wonderful hobby with others and it also helps to keep old time radio alive for future generations to enjoy.
disadvantages of Microphones
They are more commonly know as radio mics or wireless mics, where the original audio cable is replaced by frequency transmitting technology. Radio mics can now transmit audio through radio waves in FM, AM, UHF, VHF and various digital formats.
More advanced models will allow you to select various frequencies to transmit over, helping avoid interference with other electrical transmitters that might be using the same frequency, and also enabling the use of multiple microphones at the same time.
Radio Microphones - Plus Points
Using radio mics is very advantageous for the user. A starting advantage is that radio mics eliminate the health and safety risk of trailing microphone cables. Secondly, and as a result of this, you give the freedom of movement to the wearer of the microphone as they are not joined via a cable. Another plus point is that you no longer stress any cables by flexing them, which can frequently result in damage.
Disadvantages of Radio Microphones
Despite having such advantages, wireless microphones also have some select disadvantages. Firstly the two way radio batteries used do not always last very long as the radio microphones are very thirsty when it comes to power consumption. Radio mics are also hampered by range, with the furthest signals normally only achieved by the larger, more expensive models. Interference from another electrical appliance is also a possibility which would lead to a disruption of the signal. Finally, to avoid being on the same frequency and clashing, you are limited to the number of radio microphones you can use.
Walkie Talkies
Walkie talkies are unique in that the half-duplex channel they operate on will only allow one radio to transmit at any time, though there are no limits to the amount that can listen. Rather than have an earpiece similar to a telephone, they have a built in speaker so the unit does not have to be held to the ear. They are used to connect to both other handheld units and to radio stations which are in a fixed location. The typical shape is of a large telephone handset, with a fixed antenna poking out of the top of the unit.
History
The fist radio audio transmitter and receiver that was coined the 'walkie talkie' was created by Motorola. The group involved created the Motorola SCR-300 using frequency modulation. This first revision was actually backpack mounted. Not long afterward, during World War 2, Motorola produced the 'Handie Talkie' which rather confusingly is what we would now recognise as a 'Walkie Talkie'. It had massively reduced performance, but was the first completely self contained handheld device.
Nowadays
They are widely used nowadays in both consumer and commercial environments, for example outdoor recreations, business use, military and public safety. As a result of this the prices and quality of the units vary greatly, from kids walkie talkies to rugged digital units for heavy industry use. As technology has improved, and reduce in size, so have the housings. Normally, you will find the commercial walkie talkies are tougher, in protective cases and limited to a select few frequencies. Consumer versions on the other hand tend to be smaller, more lightweight and capable of scanning across far more channels within the band. Kids walkie talkies are generally low power units, and as a result are exempt from licence requirements. Though they often look the same as fully featured versions, they are normally relatively low-tech in comparison.
History
The fist radio audio transmitter and receiver that was coined the 'walkie talkie' was created by Motorola. The group involved created the Motorola SCR-300 using frequency modulation. This first revision was actually backpack mounted. Not long afterward, during World War 2, Motorola produced the 'Handie Talkie' which rather confusingly is what we would now recognise as a 'Walkie Talkie'. It had massively reduced performance, but was the first completely self contained handheld device.
Nowadays
They are widely used nowadays in both consumer and commercial environments, for example outdoor recreations, business use, military and public safety. As a result of this the prices and quality of the units vary greatly, from kids walkie talkies to rugged digital units for heavy industry use. As technology has improved, and reduce in size, so have the housings. Normally, you will find the commercial walkie talkies are tougher, in protective cases and limited to a select few frequencies. Consumer versions on the other hand tend to be smaller, more lightweight and capable of scanning across far more channels within the band. Kids walkie talkies are generally low power units, and as a result are exempt from licence requirements. Though they often look the same as fully featured versions, they are normally relatively low-tech in comparison.
Clock Radio
Although choosing a clock radio may seems to be a straightforward process there are some people that may require some help in doing so. Indeed with the different models that are present on the market it can be rather difficult for people to make a choice. In order to help you learn more on this I have written this short guide on clock radio and hope that it will be useful for you.
The first thing that you should look for in the clock is the available features. Besides the traditional alarm and radio features, clock radio now has a host of features that accompany them. For instance some have USB ports where you can plugin your portable media player. If you are owner of an iPod you might be interested in getting a clock that possesses an in-built iPod dock. However if you are thinking of using the clock as a primary device to listen to money it is important that you choose one that have some good speakers. Make sure that you listen to the radio in the shop before buying it. Alternatively you might also read some reviews on the internet in order to find out what other people think of the clock before buying.
Secondly you should also take into account your available space. The more features normally that a clock possess the bigger it is. If you have some limited space available at home then you might be more interested in a compact model. Nowadays there are some really good radios that are available and will really suit those that have a lack of space at home. Remember that most of the time a clock radio will be kept in a bedroom where you will have moderate space.
Obviously your choice of radio will be influenced by your budget. Indeed the more features that the radio carries the more expensive it should be. Here also you will have to make a compromise. If you face an unlimited budget then you will have a wide variety of clock radios to choose from. However thanks to intense competition in the market there are nowadays some good radios that available at affordable cost.Clock radios are a very important tool especially for those that have some difficult time waking up in the morning. However the models that are available nowadays are much more sophisticated and provide a host of features such as iPod docking and USB connectivity. Indeed the only limitation will be your budget and the space that you have at home.
The first thing that you should look for in the clock is the available features. Besides the traditional alarm and radio features, clock radio now has a host of features that accompany them. For instance some have USB ports where you can plugin your portable media player. If you are owner of an iPod you might be interested in getting a clock that possesses an in-built iPod dock. However if you are thinking of using the clock as a primary device to listen to money it is important that you choose one that have some good speakers. Make sure that you listen to the radio in the shop before buying it. Alternatively you might also read some reviews on the internet in order to find out what other people think of the clock before buying.
Secondly you should also take into account your available space. The more features normally that a clock possess the bigger it is. If you have some limited space available at home then you might be more interested in a compact model. Nowadays there are some really good radios that are available and will really suit those that have a lack of space at home. Remember that most of the time a clock radio will be kept in a bedroom where you will have moderate space.
Obviously your choice of radio will be influenced by your budget. Indeed the more features that the radio carries the more expensive it should be. Here also you will have to make a compromise. If you face an unlimited budget then you will have a wide variety of clock radios to choose from. However thanks to intense competition in the market there are nowadays some good radios that available at affordable cost.Clock radios are a very important tool especially for those that have some difficult time waking up in the morning. However the models that are available nowadays are much more sophisticated and provide a host of features such as iPod docking and USB connectivity. Indeed the only limitation will be your budget and the space that you have at home.
Radio DJ
If you want to become a radio DJ, there will to be something’s you will need to know about. It is not as simple as waking up one morning and deciding you are going to be a radio disc jockey. However, I will not leave you in the dark. I will explain a few things that you need to know to start you down the right path.
First off, you can not expect to get hire as a full time radio DJ right off the bat. There are a couple of things you need to do.
Start with College Radio:
You can start out at the local college or university radio station, this of course is on a volunteer basis. However, these spots are usually taken up by the local college kids, most likely from the communications department, or maybe even the performing arts department.
If you have a good enough pitch, you might be able to make a deal, and still anchor yourself a spot, usually a few hours a night, or week, depending on if there are any openings.
Do your own Live Broadcasting over the net:
This is as simple as having a good selection of music, and an idea to talk about while the next songs are coming up.
These have become quite popular over the years, with various types of software available out there for it, both from your desktop, and web based.
You will need your own server, or hosting platform to get this off the ground. And of course, this will be a none paying gig. Unless you can get some advertising or sponsors to pay you some money for you to advertise for them over the net. I wouldn't try this at the start, wait until you get a good solid following to make it work their while
Start at the bottom of a local major radio station:
This one is not all that appealing I know, but we all have to start at the bottom. And if you can get a position at the station that actually involves the radio part, and not pushing papers in some cubicle somewhere, the entire better.
You might even want to start as an intern, and be the station "gopher" while you learn the ropes. This is a great way of starting out, and I've seen it happen. Go to College or University for a degree,Now, this does not instantly guarantee you a position at a radio station to be a DJ, but it does give you the ins and outs of the business, and even some air time at the campus station, maybe even a foot in the door at a small local station down the road.
First off, you can not expect to get hire as a full time radio DJ right off the bat. There are a couple of things you need to do.
Start with College Radio:
You can start out at the local college or university radio station, this of course is on a volunteer basis. However, these spots are usually taken up by the local college kids, most likely from the communications department, or maybe even the performing arts department.
If you have a good enough pitch, you might be able to make a deal, and still anchor yourself a spot, usually a few hours a night, or week, depending on if there are any openings.
Do your own Live Broadcasting over the net:
This is as simple as having a good selection of music, and an idea to talk about while the next songs are coming up.
These have become quite popular over the years, with various types of software available out there for it, both from your desktop, and web based.
You will need your own server, or hosting platform to get this off the ground. And of course, this will be a none paying gig. Unless you can get some advertising or sponsors to pay you some money for you to advertise for them over the net. I wouldn't try this at the start, wait until you get a good solid following to make it work their while
Start at the bottom of a local major radio station:
This one is not all that appealing I know, but we all have to start at the bottom. And if you can get a position at the station that actually involves the radio part, and not pushing papers in some cubicle somewhere, the entire better.
You might even want to start as an intern, and be the station "gopher" while you learn the ropes. This is a great way of starting out, and I've seen it happen. Go to College or University for a degree,Now, this does not instantly guarantee you a position at a radio station to be a DJ, but it does give you the ins and outs of the business, and even some air time at the campus station, maybe even a foot in the door at a small local station down the road.
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