Radio Timeline WW

First Radio Signal

Sep 23, 1895

Guglielmo Marconi, an italian inventor, created and sent the world's first radio signal using morse code to communicate his message. Some people believe that Marconi was not the first to do this, but was just subject to good publicity.

Uncle Charlie

Sep 23, 1905

Uncle Charlies are personal Radio Stations that people made. Back in these times anyone with the money and equipment could make a radio station in their basement. There were no licenses required.

Audion Tube

Sep 23, 1906

Lee De Forest created the first audion tube, allowing radio signals to be amplified through vacuum tubes. It is widely believed that this invention was actually thought up by Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor.

Am Waves

Sep 23, 1906

AM stands for Amplitude Modulation. AM Waves are from 535 kHz to 1605 kHz. It changes the height of the waves but not the frequency. There are 1000 kHz in 1 mHz.

Titanic

Sep 23, 1912

In 1912 the radio systems helped save many lives during the disaster of the Titanic.

First Radio Station

Sep 23, 1920

Broadcasting out of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Frank Conrad put together and created this station using phonographs to play his content. This station is still in use today, originally being titled 8XK before being renamed to KDKA.

Fm Waves

Sep 23, 1920

FM stands for Frequency Modulation. FM Waves are between 88 MHz to 108 MHz. FM Waves change the frequency of the waves instead of the height. 1 MHz is 1000 kHz. FM Waves were way bigger than AM Waves.

Call Letters

Sep 23, 1920

W is East of the Mississippi River
K is West of the Mississippi River
These call letters make it easier to separate the radio stations from each other in different zones. WBAP and WFAA were made before the call letters were made so they were able to keep their name.

Dawn of Advertising

Sep 23, 1922

In 1922 WEAF aired a 10 minute 'commercial' or toll broadcast, for an appartment complex charging $50. This began the idea of using radio for broadcasting and advertising your company/business.

Family Medium

Sep 23, 1922

The radio was something that the whole family could sit around and enjoy together. During these times the type of radio that was playing was: Big band music, story hour, situational comedies, and dramas.

FRC/FCC

Sep 23, 1927

The FRC was established in 1927 because Uncle Charlie was too popular. The FRC organized the licensing of transmitters so people had to have a license to have a radio station. Also they assigned radio station frequencies, call letters, and power limits. The FRC eventually turned into the FCC.

Golden Era

Sep 23, 1930

The Golden Era was between the 30's and the 40's and were during a war. Radio was at its finest. Everyone was hurting for money. Radio provided an escape to the people that were suffering through the war.

Radios Demise

Sep 23, 1930

TV makes appearance in the late 30's. As popularity grew Advertisers went to TV. Radio lost money, Radio shows jumped ship. Everyone was saying, "TV will do to Radio what the Car did to Horses" which meant that since cars overthrew the need for horses. TV will overthrow the need for Radio. It was also hard to move from radio shows to TV shows due to actors not looking like the people they pictured.

Radios Progression

Sep 23, 1930

Major Edwin Armstrong invented the FM transmitter, which made for a stronger signal and higher quality sound. Listeners were forced to buy new radio sets. AM was used for talking and FM was used to play music. TV had shows while Radio had music.