[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by Telecolor 3007

What does it means "on radio call?": http://www.taximetre.ro/wp-content/u...hecker-cab.jpg

Before the days of cell phones - cab companies used special licensed radio frequencies to communicate between the dispatcher and the taxis. If you were in a cab and the radio was on, you would hear the dispatcher reading a list of customer addresses. The driver would then reply if he was close and wanted to take the fare.

Edit: I believe that when the driver accepted a radio-dispatched fare, he would turn on the lighted "on radio call" sign so that people on the street would know he was not available, rather than rudely igoring them. Maybe someone remembers this for sure? I seem to recall that the sign was simpler in some places - "TAXI" light on if available, off if not available.