Radio communications

Summary form only given. In Dostoevsky's words, "much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid". Communication, therefore, is crucial to mankind's efforts to survive on this planet and to grow in well-being, prosperity and understanding of one another. From the earliest days of radio its point-to-multipoint nature was self evident but its very first trial steps were point-to-point messages across the Atlantic. This dual ability is at the heart of radio's flexibility and attractiveness in the modern world in general and in South Africa in particular. This paper examines contemporary communication needs and the means necessary to address them. But while communication needs are the "pull", technological advancement in electronics and access methodologies is the "push". Accordingly, this paper also addresses the likely implications of the combined power of advanced digital electronics and access methodologies in the years ahead.