QST, Vol. I, №6, May, 1916, p. 99
THE writer has been asked to present to the readers of "QST" the method of instruction developed by The National Radio School in its Correspondence Courses for the systematic training of the ambitious Wireless Amateur, during his spare time at home, so he may qualify for a Government Commercial License.
During the first year of the school's existence many inquiries were received asking if Correspondence Courses were taught. The constant demand for this type of course led the instructors of the National Radio School to formulate an outline of the subjects which should be included in this preparation. The next step was to devise efficient methods tor accomplishing these results.
The selection of the proper books was not as difficult a task as one might find in other cities since in Washington one has access to all books copyrighted in the United States by going to the Congressional Library. Three books were chosen. Instruction book No. I treats of the elementary laws and principles of electricity as applied to wireless telegraphy. Book No. 2 explains the different types of apparatus used in this country for wireless communication, describes its theoretical aspect, its constructive features, its methods of operation and shows diagrams of the hook-ups to other apparatus which make up the complete unit. Book No. 3 is the U. S. Laws on Radio Communication.
The problem of teaching the International Morse Code was next considered and led to a study of the different types of machines already on the market for such purposes. While none of them seemed to answer the purpose in all respects, one was selected and new attachments designed which makes our National Universal Sender give to the ear, by aid of a headband receiver, sounds which resemble in every respect a real wireless message. The Operator by the slight movement of a rod may change the intensity of the signals. He may make it loud to correspond to a nearby sending station or faint to resemble a long distance message. The speed may be adjusted to values from 4 to 40 words per minute to suit the ability of the operator.
In order to prove the efficiency of this Automatic Sender tor the teaching of the Code it was tested, with our written instructions, on a young man who did not know the letters of the Code on starting. In four months our test student was able to read the entire weather forecast sent out by the Arlington station at 10 p. m.
The results from this test and others of recent date has led to its adoption in our home school. We have a Universal Sender on our head operator's desk which is used to test the speed of our students from week to week. Most of our Washington students have one of these machines in their home for practice purposes.
The results of our tests, extending over more than a year, assures us that Wireless Telegraphy can be taught by mail in a most satisfactory manner. Our Correspondence Courses have been open to the public for nearly a year and we have students from nearly every state in the Union. Many of our students have prepared themselves for the Government examinations for a Commercial License. The students Lecome deeply interested in the study and are fascinated by the wonders of the Automatic Sender.
Our Courses require the student to pre-