The birth of amateur radio starts, of course, with the invention of the radio. There are many contributors to the birth of radio such as Guglielmo Marconi, Nikola Tesla, ect. Brilliant Scottish scientist named James Clerk Maxwell set the next foundations in place.Maxwell was a theoretical scientist and sought to express physics in terms of mathematical relationships.
Maxwell's work culminated in 1873 with the publication of a book called "A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism". In this he developed equations, now known as Maxwell's Equations that defined electromagnetic waves.
No matter who gets the credit, one thing is clear, these first radio operators were the pioneers of amateur radio. In fact, by 1909, the first amateur radio club, The Junior Wireless Club, was organized in New York. The earliest transmitters consisted of spark transmitters and these continued to be used for many years. It was only in the 1920s with the cost of valves / tubes coming down that spark transmitters stopped being used. The phenomenon of radio waves gained a lot of publicity - the fact that signals could travel between two points with no wire even held a form of magical mystery and public demonstrations were sometimes given. These factors provoked people to learn about radio communication and to become radio amateurs.
In the early days in the history of ham radio it was not envisaged quite how radio would develop. Anyone was allowed to transmit and there was no regulation. However as radio started to be used for commercial uses it was agreed that licensing would be required. In the UK licenses started to be issued in 1904, and this occurred around the same time in many other countries. Callsigns also started to be issued, but this occurred a little later. As the years passed, the history of amateur radio showed that technology developed and new techniques were used. However the same pioneering spirit of some of the early radio amateurs was retained, with many radio hams contributing to the development of technology in many ways.
Events:
It was the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912 that prompted new international radio laws which also affect amateur radio, including frequency restrictions and operating procedures.
World War I: By 1917, World War I had put a stop to amateur radio. In the United States, Congress ordered all amateur radio operators to cease operation and even dismantle their equipment.These restrictions were lifted after World War I ended, and the amateur radio service restarted on October 1, 1919.
World War II: During the German occupation of Poland, the priest Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, SP3RN was arrested by the Germans. The Germans believed his amateur radio activities were somehow involved in espionage and he was transferred to Auschwitz on May 28, 1941. After some prisoners escaped , the Germans ordered that 10 prisoners be killed in retribution. Fr. Kolbe was martyred when he volunteered to take the place of one of the condemned men. He is considered the Patron saint of Amateur radio operators.
Again during World War II, as it had done during the first World War, the United States Congress suspended all amateur radio operations.
Maxwell's work culminated in 1873 with the publication of a book called "A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism". In this he developed equations, now known as Maxwell's Equations that defined electromagnetic waves.
No matter who gets the credit, one thing is clear, these first radio operators were the pioneers of amateur radio. In fact, by 1909, the first amateur radio club, The Junior Wireless Club, was organized in New York. The earliest transmitters consisted of spark transmitters and these continued to be used for many years. It was only in the 1920s with the cost of valves / tubes coming down that spark transmitters stopped being used. The phenomenon of radio waves gained a lot of publicity - the fact that signals could travel between two points with no wire even held a form of magical mystery and public demonstrations were sometimes given. These factors provoked people to learn about radio communication and to become radio amateurs.
In the early days in the history of ham radio it was not envisaged quite how radio would develop. Anyone was allowed to transmit and there was no regulation. However as radio started to be used for commercial uses it was agreed that licensing would be required. In the UK licenses started to be issued in 1904, and this occurred around the same time in many other countries. Callsigns also started to be issued, but this occurred a little later. As the years passed, the history of amateur radio showed that technology developed and new techniques were used. However the same pioneering spirit of some of the early radio amateurs was retained, with many radio hams contributing to the development of technology in many ways.
Events:
It was the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912 that prompted new international radio laws which also affect amateur radio, including frequency restrictions and operating procedures.
World War I: By 1917, World War I had put a stop to amateur radio. In the United States, Congress ordered all amateur radio operators to cease operation and even dismantle their equipment.These restrictions were lifted after World War I ended, and the amateur radio service restarted on October 1, 1919.
World War II: During the German occupation of Poland, the priest Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, SP3RN was arrested by the Germans. The Germans believed his amateur radio activities were somehow involved in espionage and he was transferred to Auschwitz on May 28, 1941. After some prisoners escaped , the Germans ordered that 10 prisoners be killed in retribution. Fr. Kolbe was martyred when he volunteered to take the place of one of the condemned men. He is considered the Patron saint of Amateur radio operators.
Again during World War II, as it had done during the first World War, the United States Congress suspended all amateur radio operations.
