First Radio Transmissions Across the Atlantic

It is true that many scientific men are dubious of the practicability of sending electric waves to great distances. Others are not.

Continuing Radios’ First Triumph,
with a selection from his address to the Royal Institution of Great Britain by Gugllelmo Marconi. This selection is presented in 2 easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Radios’ First Triumph.

Time: 1909
Place: Mid Atlantic

The facility with which distances of over 200 miles could be covered with the author’s apparatus as long ago as 1900, and the knowledge that by means of syntonic devices mutual interferences could be prevented, led the author to advise the construction of two large power stations, one in Cornwall and the other in North America, in order to test whether, by the employment of much greater power, it might not be possible to transmit messages across the Atlantic Ocean.

On the erection of these stations very extensive tests and experiments were carried out during the latter part of 1902. These tests were greatly facilitated by the courtesy of the Italian Government, which placed a 7, 000- ton cruiser, the Carlo Alberto, at the author’s disposal. During these trials the interesting fact was observed that, unlike what occurs with moderate power-transmitting stations, the effect of intervening land or mountains between the sending and receiving apparatus does not bring about any considerable reduction in the distances over which it is possible to communicate; this result being due, no doubt, to the much greater length of wave radiated by the big elevated conductor of the long-distance stations, compared with the shorter wave length radiated by the smaller and less powerful installations.

After these experiments the Carlo Alberto was sent back from the Mediterranean to Plymouth, and thence conveyed the author to Canada; and in October, 1902, signals from Poldhu were received on board ship throughout the voyage up to a distance of 2,300 miles.

In December, 1902, messages were exchanged between the stations at Poldhu in England and Cape Breton in Canada, but it was found that communication was better from Canada to England than in the opposite direction.

The reason for this is to be attributed to the fact that, owing to the support and encouragement of the Canadian Government, the station at Cape Breton had been more efficiently and expensively equipped; while as regards Poldhu, owing to the uncertainty as to what would be the attitude of the British Government at that time toward the working of the station, the author’s company was unwilling to expend large sums of money for the purpose of increasing its range of transmission.

As, however, messages were sent with ease and accuracy from Canada to England, the author considered it his duty to send the first messages to their Majesties the Kings of England and Italy, both of whom had previously given him much encouragement and assistance in his work. The author was thus enabled to announce that the transmission of telegraphic messages across the Atlantic Ocean without the use of cable or wire was an accomplished fact. Messages were also sent to his Majesty from Lord Minto, the Governor- General of Canada, who had taken a considerable interest in the author’s early experiments in Canada. Officers delegated by the Italian Government and a representative of the London Times were present at the transmission of the messages, and over 2,000 words were sent and correctly received in the presence of these Government delegates.

Further tests were then carried out at the long-distance station erected at Cape Cod, in the United States of America, and a message from President Roosevelt was successfully transmitted from this station to his Majesty the King.

In the spring of 1903 the transmission of news messages from America to the London Times was attempted, and the first messages were correctly received and published in that newspaper. A breakdown in the insulation of the apparatus at Cape Breton made it necessary, however, to suspend the service, and, unfortunately, further accidents made the transmission of messages unreliable, especially during the spring and summer. In consequence of this, the author’s company decided not to attempt the transmission of any more public messages until such time as a reliable and continuous service could be maintained and guaranteed under all ordinary conditions.

It is curious to note that the transmission of messages across the Atlantic appeared to be much easier during the winter months of December, January, and February than during the spring and summer, but no serious difficulties were encountered before April. These were partly caused by the insulation of the aerial not being so good during the damp spring weather, when the snow and ice are melting and thawing, as at this period the insulation is much more difficult to maintain in an efficient condition than during the dry and crisp Canadian winter.

In October, 1903, it was found possible to supply the Cunard steamship Lucania during her entire crossing from New York to Liverpool with news transmitted direct to that ship from Poldhu and Cape Breton. Since June, 1904, a regular long-distance commercial service has been in operation on certain ships of the Cunard Steamship Company, which ships, throughout their voyage across the Atlantic, receive daily news messages collected for transmission by Messrs. Reuter in England and by the Associated Press in America.

As to the future of wireless telegraphy, the author expresses his confidence in its ability to furnish a more economical means for the transmission of telegrams from England to America and from England to the colonies than the present service carried on by the cables.

It is true that many scientific men are dubious of the practicability of sending electric waves to great distances. Others are not. On a recent memorable occasion at Glasgow University, Lord Kelvin publicly stated that he not merely believed that messages could be transmitted across the Atlantic, but that someday it would be possible to send messages to the other side of the globe. Apart from the practical and economical possibilities of this step, when realized, the trans mission of messages to the antipodes would open up the possibility of carrying out tests of very great scientific interest. For example, if transmission to the antipodes were possible, the energy ought to go over or travel round all parts of the globe from one station to the other, and perhaps concentrate at the antipodes, and in this way it might perhaps be possible for messages to be sent to such distant lands by means of a very small amount of electrical energy, and, therefore, at a correspondingly small expense.

Edward J. Wheeler begins here. Gugllelmo Marconi begins here. Arthur D. H. Smith begins here.

More information here and here, and below.

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