Submerged telephone repeaters for shallow water

Abstract

In 1943 the British Post Office laid the first submerged repeater in a working cable system, and since that date the technique has been developed so that such units are now being used freely in the shallow waters of the Continental Shelf.Shallow-water repeaters are of particular interest to the Post Office, with its extensive system of submarine cables to the Continent. While the interest in repeaters suitable for transoceanic routes in deep water remains and increases, independent solution of the lesser problem has been well worth while and has provided valuable background and data for the solution of the greater problem.The Post Office has standardized one system which provides 60 telephone circuits of C.C.I.F. standard over a single cable with up to at least 10 repeaters in tandem. Systems transmitting 36 circuits have also been designed by a British contractor, and other arrangements are practicable if required. However, the advantages of standardization of repeaters and terminal equipment are obvious.The paper discusses the problems involved and the methods adopted or proposed for their solution. At present, 18 cables have been equipped with repeaters or will be so equipped in the near future; 47 repeaters are involved, the maximum number in one cable being seven.