3. Insert the plug into the jack box and screw the
collar on firmly.
Adjust the mouthpiece to bring it directly in front of
your mouth when you stand erect. When you speak into
the transmitter, it should be about 1/2 to 1 inch from
your mouth. In making this adjustment, remember that
the fine wire that goes to the transmitter can be broken
easily. Be sure there aren’t any sharp bends in it, and
don’t allow it to get caught between the transmitter and
the yoke.
When you are wearing the headset, always keep
some slack in the lead cord and be sure it is flat on deck.
If you have the cord stretched taut (tight), someone
may trip over it and damage the wires, receive an
injury, or injure you. Don’t allow objects to roll over or
rest on the cord.
After plugging in the phones, test them with
someone on the circuit. If the phones aren’t in order,
report that fact to the person in charge of your station
and don a spare set; do not attempt to repair the set
yourself.
If you are on lookout and should be listening as well
as searching, cover only one ear with an earpiece so that
you can hear outside noises as well as telephone
communications. Keep the unused earpiece flat against
the side of your head so that noises will not enter the
circuit.
Never secure the phones until you have
permission to do so. When permission is given, make
up the phones for stowage according to the following
instructions:
1. Remove the plug from the jack box (fig. 4-2)
by holding the plug in one hand and unscrewing the
collar with the other. When the collar is loose, grasp
the plug and pull it out. Don’t pull on the lead to
remove the plug; that will weaken and eventually
break the connection. When the plug is out, lay it
carefully on the deck. Immediately screw the cover on
the jack box, as dust and dirt will soon cause a short
circuit in a jack box left uncovered. (NOTE: If you
see an uncovered jack box, cover it, even though you
were not responsible for the carelessness.)
2. Remove the headset and hang it over the
transmitter yoke, as shown in figure 4-3.
3. Coil the lead cord, starting from the end at the
phone. Coil the lead in a clockwise direction, holding
the loops in one hand, as shown in figure 4-4. The loops
should be 8 to 10 inches across, depending on the size of
the space where the phones are stowed. When you are
coiling the lead, be careful not to bang the plug against
the bulkhead or deck.
4-3
Student Notes:
Figure 4-2.—Sound-powered telephone jack box.
Figure 4-3.—Hanging the headset on the yoke.
Figure 4-4.—Coiling the lead cord.
