Post-war and on to 1975 (continued)

Somewhat later a need arose in the Australian network for a low cost bearer to. be used on minor rural routes with the possibility of development to 120, or more, telephone channels, bridging the gap between 12 channel systems on open wire routes, or cables, and broad band system. A cable in the form of a screened quad (two pairs) with polythene insulated 40 Ib. copper conductors, with an outer nylon sheath, enabling the cable to be directly buried in the ground, was developed, with J. J. Harding playing a leading role, and quite extensively installed for carrier systems operating to 1500 KHz.[30]

Increasing research activity, both in the universities and the APO laboratories, was a factor in this period. One influence was that soon after the war at its own request, the Department of the Interior took over the ionospheric prediction work of the RRB and the Board returned to its original objective of facilitating the training of radio research workers and stimulating fundamental radio research. When the change was made only two universities were active in the field, but by 1959 the RRB was supporting work in six of Australia's nine universities, with the Board's funds derived from CSIRO, APO, OTC and the Australian Broadcasting Control Board (ABCB). In a departure from past practice the RRB began allocating a portion of its funds to foster projects in Solid State Physics, the first step in a series of changes in its area of interest, reflecting the very rapid scientific and technological developments in radio science, electronics, telecommunications and digital computer developments. Then in 1967 the RRB supported the first of a series of special subject symposia, while a little later in the period there was a change to project grants, instead of institutional grants. Support for post-doctoral fellowships followed, while 1974 saw the Board allocate funds to work in non-university institutions, namely the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Footscray Institute of Technology.

Within the APO Research Laboratories radio telephony investigations, from 1945 on, extended to VHF and UHF systems, including related work on the technology for the realisation of such systems and on antenna design. From 1947-60 the Laboratories engaged in investigations relating to the ultimate introduction of the National TV Broadcasting service in 1956, recommending the adoption of a 625 line system standard. The same year studies were made of coaxial cable systems and associated transmission measurement techniques, to assist in the planning and commissioning of the Sydney-Melbourne and other major coaxial cable systems of the nineteen sixties. As a direct contribution to improving long distance communications, the Laboratories in 1960 designed and constructed transistorised 12 channel repeaters suitable for pole mounting in open wire systems for use between Alice Springs and Darwin.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering