Radio History Trent

  • Marconi

    Marconi sent and recieved the first radio signal in 1895. The first radio signal he sent wasnt music, it was just the first wireless one. Many people think he wasn't the first one to do it, however if you claimed it you did it first. He had good public relations and was able to claim that spot.
  • Audion Tube

    Lee De Forest, created (or possibly borrowed) the audion tube. The audion tube was a tube that amplified the signals. However, its believed that a canadian inventor by the name of Reginald Fessenden came up with the idea. The audion tube in the modern day is just a system in somebody's car.
  • First Song

    The first song that was played on the radio was "O Holy Night" from Brant Rock. It was during a short program played by Fessenden off the phonograph. He played the violion and transmitted it through the phonograph.
  • Impact on the Titanic

    Initally they sold Marconi's invention to the marine industry because wires cant be used in the ocean. The marine industry took up the idea of radio because it was easier to communicate with people on land. Without the radio people on land would never know that the titanic sank.
  • Radio Act of 1912

    The radio act of 1912 required all ships to keep a 24 - hour watch and keep in contact in nearby ships. Ever since the Titanic sank this became in effect and pretty much has been the same for many years. This act followed the radio act of 1927.
  • First Regular Broadcast

    The First Regular broadcast was on 9XM.It delivered Wisconsin weather, in morse code. It later was renamed to WHA radio.
  • Radio Station

    It took Marconi roughly twenty-five years to get a radio station that actually played music. KDKA was actually called 8XK before it was renamed. Frank Conrad actually invented the station and he actually put a microphone to a phonograph in order to play music.
  • The Dawn of Advertising

    In 1922, WEAF aired the first commerical and it was 10 minutes long.Each minute of the commerical they got paid $5 for it and in result made $50 off of it. At this point, advertising became what it is today based off of WEAF.
  • FRC

    The FRC was established in 1927, to regulate the ammount of "Uncle Charlies" that interfered with commercials.They organized the licensing of transmitters . Also they assigned radio stations frequencies, call letters, and power limits.
  • Golden Era

    This was the peak for Radio Stations, it was between 1930's and 1940's. At this time we were going through the Great Depression and people went to the radio to escape. People would actually save up for it rather than buy a new washing machine.
  • First Experimental Radio

    The first FM experimental radio was called W1XOJ. This radio station was granted a construction permit by the U.S. FCC. This Radio was later renamed as WAAF in 1967.
  • Radio's Demise

    Tv made its first apperance in the late 1930's. As Tv became more and more popular the advertisers went to TV. Since advertisers left, lost moneyand radio shows jumpped ship.
  • Radio's Progression

    Major Edwin Armstrong invented the first FM transmitter. It made the signal stronger and a higher quality sound. The new FM transmitter forced people to buy new radio sets.
  • Music in Germany

    Right after WWII FM radio was introduced to Germany. This was the first time Germans listended to music wireless. Also it was the start of something new in Germany,
  • Pocket Transistor

    First pocket transistor radio is introduced by Regency. It was the model TR-1 and powered by a "standard 22.5V Battery". It was small enough for you to carry it around and very portable.