Evening star., 1923-09-23
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

Radio terminology has expanded
and become so complicated along with
the, rapid development OF radio ap-
paratus and practice that very soon
the nomenclature of this worldwide
service Will have to be standardized.
/ Such steps have already been taken
in another growing art and industry
--aeronautics.
AS early as 1920 the Institute of
Radio Engineers began clarifying
| and systematizing the terms used in
radio communication and for desig-
mating the instruments and appara-
tus. Two years later the first pub
llshed report was issued by the in
stitute. Since then no revision has
been announced, although the body
has standing nomenclature COM
mittee, in which the government is
represented
The first step by any individual
governmental department toward the
elimination of obsolete terms and the
adoption of a standard nomenclature
for radio apparatus has just been
taken by the bureau of engineering
of the Navy Department. Orders is-
sued to the entire naval personnel
define the rerminology to be used In
making requisitlons and in corre-
spondence pertaining to radio instru-
ments. The matter of terminology
is of interest not only to the Navy
and the radio industry, but to all
users of radio apparatus as well. in
order that amateurs and, others may
always be assured of securing the
exact instrument desired.
Among the terms which are de-
clared obsolete by the Navy are the
commonly accepted names for bat
teries "a" "B" and &C. In lieu of
the term "a battery" the Navy De-
partment will hereafter require the
more definite expression "filament
battery" Similarly. the term plate
battery is to be substituted for "B
battery. and grid battery" for &c
battery"
The term vacuum tube" is proper.
and all such names as 'audion,"
correct, the Navy claims. Also. the
term receiver" has no place in radio
terminology with reference to head
phones. the expression telephone
headset" being declared standard for
Navy use. A receiver, 1t is explained,
is complete receiving circuit.
There is no such thing as a spark
tube transmitter," according to Navy
officials, the proper term for a
vacuum tube transmitter in which
high voltage A. c. is used being "a. c.
tube transmitter." The designation
flag top aerial is superseded by
"antenna," the term aerial being
declared obsolete for all purposes.
"Antenna ammeter" is the authorized
term for what has been commonly
known as radiation ammeter," and
"antenna resistance" is given as the
correct definition of what has been
popularity called radiation resistance"
All telegraph keys manually oper-
ated are hand keys" but the small
key used for signaling circuits or for
controlling relays Is hereafter to be
known in the Navy as the Morse
key" The old direction finder is now
| known officially as the radio COM
pass" and no longer as radio gon-
iometer"
The Navy orders also clarity the
terminology heretofore used in con-
nection with radio and radio ampli-
fication. The proper term for radio
amplifying apparatus being radio
frequency amplifer"
1t is expected that the orders of
the Navy Department, which are the
first efforts made by the government
to arrive at a standard terminology
of radio apparatus, will be reflected
in the radio industry. where the more
popular but less definite terms have
been largely used. 1t is probable
that the matter of standard nomen-
clature will be brought before the
interdepartmental radio communica-
tion board by the Navy Department.
The Standardization of radio terms
by the government will make 1t
obligatory upon the industry to fol-
low such nomenclature In bidding
for government contracts. resulting
generally. Recently ef-
forts were made toward the stand
ardization of apparatus and the next
move will be to simplify the termi