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First Wireless Telegraph
On May 13, 1897, the first ever wireless communication was sent. Sent over a distance of 6 km. From flat home island to Laverock point. This was believed to be impossible because, at the time, they thought the radio waves would scatter far enough that you would not be able to receive any messaging. The message received stated, “Are you ready? “ Wikipedia contributors. "Guglielmo Marconi." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Jan. 2024. Web. 2 Feb. 2024. -
First Land To Ship Radio
On Aug. 23, 1899, the first radio communication for the US was sent to a ship between the ship and the shore station. It was crucial to the overall US Coast Guard and showed how these new forms of radio could be used during times of war. This was also extremely useful in helping these ships' operations and was later installed in 12 more vessels. -
Reference
“The Long Blue Line: Coast Guard Pioneers the Marine Radio over 100 Years Ago!” United States Coast Guard, 21 Jan. 2022, www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/2902513/the-long-blue-line-coast-guard-pioneers-the-marine-radio-over-100-years-ago/. -
World War One
On July 28, 1914, the US entered the first world war. Radio was used very extensively and even shut down certain radio companies to be taken over by the government to make sure that Germans weren’t listening in on their communications. This was also the first time radio was used in a large-scale war. And this eventually helped end the war as well. But with that being said, radios were often seen as unreliable, especially compared to their wired counterparts, being telephones and telegraphs. -
Reference
Brady, Hillary. The Golden Age of Radio in the US. Digital Public Library of America. May 2014. https://dp.la/exhibitions/radio-golden-age. -
Broadcasting Boom
In early 1922, the broadcasting boom became a huge phenomenon. Over 576 broadcasting companies had their start; these broadcasting companies primarily existed in entertainment styles. They usually consisted of music, drama, political sports, events, and cooking. Many large organizations that originated from this time still exist today, such as NBC. -
Reference
WHITE, THOMAS H. “Broadcasting Becomes Widespread (1922-1923).” 18. Broadcasting Becomes Widespread (1922-1923), 30 Sept. 1996, earlyradiohistory.us/sec018.htm#:~:text=Then%2C%20in%20early%201922%2C%20a,the%20end%20of%20the%20year. Book, Constance L. “1890s – 1930s: Radio.” Elon University, 2005, www.elon.edu/u/imagining/time-capsule/150-years/back-1890-1930/. -
World War II
World War II played a massive part in radio success overall. Not only did it allow large-scale US propaganda and pervasive education on what was going on during World War II, but this was a large part and allowed people of the Nazi population to listen to Hitler’s speeches and played a large part in the recruitment of the German population. -
Reference
“Television and Radio in the Second World War.” National Science and Media Museum, 18 Mar. 2022, www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/tv-radio-second-world-war#:~:text=Radio%20at%20home,-Long%2Dterm%20loan&text=These%20sets%20were%20created%20by,Britain%2C%20although%20for%20different%20reasons.