I.

Reading Comprehension

THE WIRELESS SOCIETY

Wireless yesterday and today

Less than fifty years ago ,the wireless was a means of listening to voices and music by means of
radio waves-that is, without the wire of the telegraph .
Today wireless is one of the technologies with greatest potential for the future .Radio waves ,with
all their advantages of flexibility and versatility ,are finding an increasing number of technically
and commercially challenging applications in telecommunications systems.

Wireless in the network
Building a telecoms network can be a long,difficult and above all expensive job. The cost of
laying cables,and the disturbances caused to streets,buildings,pavements,even trees, can cause
social problems and require a heavy return on investment.
Radiolinks are increasingly seen as a simpler and more efficient way of setting up communication s
in new areas or for new purposes-or to provide competition for established operators. In
developing countries ,for examples,where there is no firm infratructure of cables to form a fixed
network, or in remote areas where access is difficult ,radiolinks can be a quicker and cheaper way
of connecting subscribers to the exchange than the conventional cabling. Fixed cellular links are
a phenomenon proving more and more popular and cost-effective in Central Europe.

Wireless at home and in the office

One of the biggest and yet simplest revolutions in telecommunications in the home is the cordless
telephone.This simple device allows the user to move around with a handset within some 50 0r
200 metres of a small base station in the home or office .
A development of this principle is the cordless Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX or
PBX) . Thisis a PBX connected to the fixed network,and which has cordless handsets instead of the
conventional cable linked extension. These handsets give the extension use greater flexibility and
mobility within the office.and also mean fewer lost calls when users move about the building. It
also means less cabling work within the office environment.
The cordless phone is being given even greater flexibilityby DECT ( Digital European Cordless
Telecommunication ), the emerging European standard forvdigital cordless phones. DECT will
allow the customer to use the same handset in a number of different situation : with an ordinary
base telephone,with an office PBX .or with a telepoint base staion in urban areas. Local Area
Netyworks (LAN) can also use radio links between different pieces of equipment. Companies then
have the flexibility tolocate their equipment in separate buildings ,or in old building s where wiring
could be difficult. Another feature which makes this solution more attractive than conventional
cable links is the ability to add on equipment and move it around as circumstances change.


Answer the following questions:
1. What are the advantages which wireless systems have over fixed networks ?
2. Describe a wireless network based on a non regulated radio frequency !
3. What kind country in which radio technology could prove a cost effective solution to building
new networks ?
4. Give three examples of cordless communications.
5. What are the advantages of radio LANs ?

Comparison and Linking words

A. Comparing things

Illustration

1. Comparing unequal qualities
- The technology is simpler than a fixed network.
- This solution is more attractive than conventional cable links .
- For some business people , price is less important than mobility.
2. Cumulative Comparisons
- They are more and more popular and cost effective .
- Satellites are becoming less and less expensive.
3. Comparing amounts
-it means fewer lost calls and less cabling within the office,..
-a wide range of products gives a greater choice to the customer
4. Superlatives : maximum comparisons
- .one of the biggest revolutions in telecommunications
-they cover the largest area possible .

V. Exercises

Using part 1 of the examples,compare the following. More than one comparison may be made.
Example : Radio systems / fixed networks/easy to install,difficult to install
-Radio systems are easier to install than fixed networks.
-Fixed networks are more difficult to install than radio systems.

a. Wireless technology/common/now,20 years ago.
b. Cordless phones/conventional phones / flexible ,cheap
c. In Central Europe /fixed cellular links/cable networks/common,cost effective
d. LEOs/GEOs/ orbit/ high.low
e. Sattelite communications/land-based communications/expensive/recent

Now complete these sentences .
f. Cordless PBX s give ..mobilityconventional PBXs.
g. As time goes on,sattelite communications will become. common,
and.. ..expensive.
h. Theimportant feature of radio LANs is the flexibility they offer.
i. Because they have a..orbit,GEOs can cover a.area of the earths surface than the other
types of satellite.
j. Of the three types of satellite, the GEO is the largest and the most expensive; the LEO is
the..and the.

B. Linking words

Illustration

Contrasting ideas
Satellites are not cheap; however , they are getting cheaper.
Although the technology is old,it has recently become popular.
Despite investment costs,volume production will rapidly bring customer prices down.
We must look for new activities,otherwise our turnover will go down.

Adding ideas
Small handsets are easy to carry. In addition,they use very little power.
Some components arrived late; moreover ,the quality was not what we expected.
Showing result or consequence

Thet cover a wide part of the surface. As a result ,fewer satellites are necessary.
The equipment is small,so it can be carried in your pocket.

Showing reason or cause

As there is a lack of frequencies , we have to make the best use of those available.
We moved some employees over to the radio division ,because themarket had grown so fast.
Our competitors are moving into some of our traditional areas. Therefore we need to step up our
marketing in these areas.

Notice how the words in italics to make clearer the relationship between the two ideas expressed .

Link the following pairs of sentences by means of an appropriate expression from the list
underneath.

a. We will be able to develop the business market.we will be able to gain valuable experience.
b. Delivery of some components was delayed. The model was not available in time.
c. W need to act quickly.Our competitors will gain a lead.
d. The volume of production went up.The customer price went downn.
e. The high cost of the service .The demand will be great.
f. Greater flexibility can be achieved through radio links. They can be extremely expensive.
g. We have tried hard to reach a solution . we have not found one.

(i) as a result (ii) otherwise (iii) although
(iv) so ( v) in addition ( vi) Despite
( vii) However