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Radio Transceiver

Radio transceivers gradually brought the Department into the communication era and were used primarily for work instructions in the field. These ‘valve’ type transceivers were used well into the 1970s, until superseded by solid-state transistorised equipment.

This is the first Departmental HF radio receiver, Department plant No. 8 – 5402, and was last used by gangs at Marree. It is a transceiver No 2032, type 59 M10 and is complete with microphone, speaker and ‘crystals’ of various frequencies. It is a good example of an early 12 volt mobile HF transceiver for use in motor vehicles. The field supervisors usually used them, or another person allocated to standby for transmission. Each unit would have a particular time for call-in, for example, someone would be on hand to receive messages on call sign 8-SK1. Supplies were also ordered over the transceiver.

Twenty or thirty HF receivers were in use during the 1950s and 1960s. HF receivers are still used to make contact with gangs on the road. In the early years maintenance of receivers necessitated a trip to Port Augusta. However, senior area mechanics quickly gained familiarity with the technology and made repairs in the field. These men were multi-skilled & often worked in extremely difficult conditions to repair plant machinery.

In 1970 the installation of a new departmental radio communication system enabled direct two-way communication between the foreman and staff at any location in the Far-North and west of Ceduna to the Western Australian border, and the base station at Port Augusta. The Post Master General’s Department replaced the AM system by a ‘single side band’ (SSB) over a period of five years. During this time the old AM receivers could still be used. This development was needed to overcome the frequent communication problems with the Far-North gangs. The Flying Doctor Radio network at Port Augusta was sometimes used to transmit telegrams, or else men had to travel more than 160 kms to the nearest phone.

In 1984 Bon Bon Camp Supervisor, Don Brown was quoted as saying, “The Department’s radio system has made a great difference to life in these areas.” Don was responsible for 40 men during construction of the Stuart Highway. The radio transceivers were a way of talking to the outside world. The nearest town was Glendambo, 80 kms away. The Bon Bon camp had no TV, could only pick up ABC radio and received day old newspapers, so the radio transceivers were an important means of communicating with families and keeping in touch with events outside the camp.

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