Guglielmo Marconi: The Father of Radio

Marconi (http://nobelprize.org/physics /laureates/1909/marconi-bio.html)

Arguably the inspiration of modern radio, Guglielmo Marchese Marconi is my hero. Marconi was born near Bologna, Italy on April 25, 1874 to parents Guiseppe Marconi and Annie Jameson. Both came from wealthy families. If not for this wealth, Marconi may not have found his inspiration. At the age of twenty, Marconi was studying in Livorno when an article caught his attention. It suggested the possibility of wireless communications via radio waves, a breakthrough idea in those days when the leading technology was through telegraph wires. Radio waves were a new concept; Heinrich Hertz, for whom hertz is named, had discovered them only 6 years ago.

Marconi was inspired. He began work almost immediately, and within a year, he was transmitting and receiving within a range of 2 miles. In 1896, he decided to go for a patent. The Italian government wasn’t interested, but Britain was. Before long, radio equipment was installed in some of their ships. Radio proved itself. It was tested across the Bristol and English Channels by 1899. Still, many people didn’t believe it. It was said that due to the curvature of the Earth, signals were imperceptible after 200 miles. In 1901, he proved radio once and for all when he was able to transmit the Morse code letter “S” (...) across the Atlantic Ocean. Just three dots later, and the door to a huge telecommunications industry was opened.

Unfortunately, Marconi died on July 20, 1937 in Rome, Italy. As a tribute, radio stations worldwide observed 2 minutes of silence. His legacy is not left forgotten as you will see in the next paragraph.

As a registered amateur radio operator, Marconi has a great impact on my life. I haven’t ever even operated my radio, but I share a sense of pride in achievement by being a part of such an influential community of people. FCC Part 97 states the purpose of the Amateur Service:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

So, the next time you tune your radio, channel surf, use your cell phone, etc. remember the man who made it all happen.