Bachelor of Journalism & Mass communication, Media Evolution & Trend, Marconi, hertz and radio

1. MARCONI, HERTZ AND RADIO
A page from Arthur C. Clarke’s article in Wireless World of
1945 in which he suggested the use of space relay stations for
communications.
Let us take a look at another scientific invention that has had a
profound impact on the human race – satellites. Now-a-days it
is commonplace for the use of satellites in weather observation,
taking pictures of the earth to study its composition and most
important in the field of communication. But when the
suggestion to use space relay stations was first made by science
fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke in 1945 it may have sounded
outlandish to many people. But he did it keeping in mind the
need for radio and television signals to be transmitted over large
areas. He took into account the scientific knowledge with respect
to rocketry available at that time. Naturally the Soviets would
have known about all this when in 1957 when they launched
the first satellite – Sputnik. The context may have changed and
the Cold War may have been the driving forces behind the
efforts of the Soviets and later in response of the Americans.
In 1962 the Americans put the Telstar communication satellite
in space. Now Europeans could view television programmes
aired in the United States and vice versa. As a result, people in
Europe watched the funeral of John F. Kennedy live. The next
important even telecast across the globe was the Tokyo Olympics
in 1964 that opened up a global audience for sports. With
this came corporate sponsorship of sports with its boost to
games and a flip side as well.
There are however,a number of other path breaking inventions
that transformed the face of communications. The first is the
invention of the thermionic valve or tube brought the dawn of
the age of electronics. Its invention enabled the wireless
technology of the day to move forward. Many new and exciting
applications were found for these devices, first as telephone
repeater amplifiers and then many other applications that were
not always linked to wireless and as a result the new area of
electronics was born. Though the electronic effect had been
noticed during the 19th century it was not until 1911 that the
valve was used as an amplifier. After this discovery people were
quick to try to exploit it. De Forest built an amplifier using three
Audions and demonstrated it to the telephone company A.T &
T. Although the performance was poor they saw its potential
and soon started to build repeaters using valves which they had
improved. What was the first demonstrable effect of the radio? The ocean
liner, “Titanic” hit an iceberg and sank. The wireless distress call
(63 k Wav spark transmitter) was heard 58 miles away by the
liner “Carpathia”. Those who made it into lifeboats were
rescued 3 1/2 hours later. There were 705 lives saved.
In September of 1922 there are 537 stations broadcasting.
Two frequencies are authorized for broadcasting...833 and 619
kc’s.
A third frequency was added later in the year - 750 kc.
Approx. 100,000 radio sets are produced in 1922. Radio prices
begin to fall, as competition to market radio’s grows.WEAF in

2. New York is the first to offer air time to advertisers. It was
August 28th, at 5:15 PM - an infomercial on the Hawthorne
apartment complex in Queens.
The Marconi Company starts ‘2LO’ in London - Britain’s first
broadcasting station.
US President Harding has a radio installed at the White House.
The first Network broadcast was made,as WEAF, WJAR and
WMAF are linked by phone.
New radios became obsolete in 3 to 6 months time.
Approx. 500,000 radio sets are produced this year.
1924
The present A.M. band is assigned. It spans 550 - 1550
kilocycles.
President Coolidge’s cat is lost...and found with the help of
Radio.
Over 1400 stations are now broadcasting.
It is estimated that over 3 million radio sets are in use in the
United States.
Baseball games are broadcast almost daily.
New radio’s - superhets, reflex sets,TRF’s, and neutrodynes are
much more complex, so a new industry begins to take shape -
the radio repairman.
Can you think of a technology that has become popular during
the last 10 to 15 years and has had a deep impact on the way
that we lead our lives?
References-
1. Baran and Davis; Mass Communication Theory; (2000); Thomas-Wadsworth
2. Fiske; Introduction to Communication Studies; (1982)
3. Infante, Rance and Womack; Building Communication Theory, 2nd edition; (1993);
4. Berger; Media Analysis Techniques