Now that we discussed the concept and early history of radio in Part I of this article, it is time to get more in-depth on how inventive effort and demand helped transform the early prototype into what it is today. The following blog post will contain a bit more technical information than the previous one. However, this is necessary to understand the complexity of radio and how it evolved over the years. I hope you find it informative and interesting.
Hertzian Waves: The Experiment That Moved Things Forward
In the previous blog post, I told you about how James Clerk Maxwell proved that radio waves were electromagnetic waves in 1864. Afterward, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz demonstrated through a series of experiments dated between 1886 and 1888 that Maxwell’s theory was correct.
This, in turn, led other scientists to experiment with the “Hertzian waves,” as they were called back in the day. The term “radio” would only appear about two decades later. These scientists would conduct a series of experiments where they would transmit and detect the waves. They used Maxwell’s analogy between electromagnetic and light waves to look for an optical element.
One scientist, Oliver Lodge, managed to demonstrate how to transmit and detect radio waves in 1894. This prompted him and fellow scholars, including the famous Augusto Righi, to search for the quasioptical nature of these wavelengths.
Applications of electromagnetic (radio) waves
Of course, what is the use of any discovery without its practical application? Scientists like John Perry, Frederick Thomas Trouton, William Crookes, and many more embarked on a quest to find how electromagnetic, or radio, waves could be best proposed.
Some of the ideas included navigation aids, wireless telegraphy, and the like. However, things began to take a real shape when the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi began experimenting with building long-distance wireless transmission systems.
While other scientists would shun away from this possibility, Marconi was convinced of the successful application of electromagnetic waves for long-distance communication. He spent a lot of time building various devices, such as portable transmitters and receivers.
Long story short, Marconi succeeded and he established his first radio station in 1897 on the Isle of Wight in England. In the following year, he opened a so-called “wireless factory” at Hall Street in Chelmsford, England, where he employed about 60 workers.
His most significant breakthrough came on December 12, 1901, when he successfully transmitted a message across the Atlantic Ocean. Marconi then went on to build high-powered stations that would communicate with ships at sea. Later on, he initiated a regular transatlantic radio-telegraph service.
Evolution at Its Finest: From a Simple Apparatus to an App in Your Mobile Phone
The evolution of radio is so complex that I will skip a few details and will only give you the rest of the basic highlights. Following Marconi’s efforts, radio became an experimental area of even greater interest.
The Canadian-American inventor Reginald Fessenden managed to successfully transmit speech over a distance of 1.6 kilometers (one mile). Simultaneously, US inventor Lee de Forest used arc transmitters to create s steady signal that could be used for AM radio transmissions. Finally, the Americans succeeded in transmitting electronic telharmonium music in 1907.
On November 6, 199, a Dutch company called Nederlandsche Radio-Industrie made another historical move. The enterprise, which manufactured transmitters and receivers, aired the first entertainment radio broadcast. Many more followed, and the rest is history.
AM and FM Radio
I will not bore you with too many technical details, so I will just briefly mention what AM and FM are, and why they are important.
The acronym AM comes from “amplitude-moderated” radio. The main thing here is that AM allows stations that are situated close to one another to simultaneously transmit signals. The pioneers of AM radio are known to be Reginald Fessenden, Valdemar Poulsen, and Lee de Forest.
FM radio appeared slightly later, in 1933. It reduces static and interference from the atmosphere and electrical machinery by employing the so-called “frequency modulation” of the radio wave. FM radio was patented by Edwin H. Armstrong.
Radio Nowadays
After FM appeared, the radio took off. It became one of the most popular media for audiences of all sorts across the UK, the US, and the rest of the world. Legislation developed in due course. For instance, the major US regulations on radio include:
- Wireless Ship Act of 1910
- Radio Act of 1912
- The Radio Act of 1927
- The Communications Act of 1934
- The Telecommunications Act of 1996
In the 21st century, we have radio everywhere. We can access it with a single tap on our touchscreen and carry it in our pocket all day long.
Of course, not only the technical aspect of the medium has evolved. Radio programs have advanced to an enormous extent, and I will demonstrate that in the articles to follow.