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