The First Christmas Radio Broadcast

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marchone
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The First Christmas Radio Broadcast

Post by marchone » Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:59 am

Until 1906, listening to the radio wasn’t an enjoyable experience. The medium was used only as a way to transmit Morse code through the air — with the dots and dashes spoken as “di,” dit” and “dah.”

One scientist saw bigger possibilities: Reginald Fessenden, an electrical engineer who was working for the United States Weather Bureau at the turn of the century.

The bureau’s goal was to send forecasts using signals, like Morse code, over the airwaves. That proved to be frustrating for Mr. Fessenden, and he aimed for more: transmitting sound waves to carry human voices.

He was able to turn those sound waves into electric waves and lay them upon existing radio waves. These were the first radio waves to carry signals for a range of sound.

After years of experimenting, a transmitter on the Massachusetts coast sent out the first clearly heard broadcast 99 years ago tonight.

The hourlong radio program, heard by ships at sea, began at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The broadcast included seasonal Bible readings, Mr. Fessenden’s own violin rendition of “O Holy Night” and a recording of Handel’s “Largo.”

He wrapped up the night by wishing his listeners a merry Christmas.

More:
http://ethw.org/Milestones:First_Wirele ... nden,_1906
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zepp21
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Re: The First Christmas Radio Broadcast

Post by zepp21 » Thu Dec 24, 2015 4:16 am

You're really showing your age now.

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unixshrk
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Re: The First Christmas Radio Broadcast

Post by unixshrk » Thu Dec 24, 2015 4:34 am

Good stuff

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CGSshorty
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Re: The First Christmas Radio Broadcast

Post by CGSshorty » Thu Dec 24, 2015 6:55 am

That must have been very exciting for you, Wayne.
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
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