Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Early in the twentieth century Amateur Radio Operators had been exiled to the wavelengths shorter than 200 meter's as part of a power play by large communication companies and the US government to set aside what they thought were the most desirable radio spectrum for themselves, leaving the shortwave wasteland below 200 meters to hams, but in 1921 a small group of radio amateurs performed an experiment that proved hams really had the better end of the deal.
Ed Gable, K2MP, and Mark Erdle, AE2EA, tell the story of the Transatlantic Tests of 1921, which were conceived of by radio amateurs, and proved that even with modest equipment, the Atlantic Ocean could be spanned with shortwave signals, opening up improved communications for many more purposes. These "short" wavelengths below 200 meters had been considered useless by commercial and governmental interests, resulting in the Radio Act of 1912 banning amateur activity in the wavelengths longer than 200 meters. As a result of the successful efforts of radio amateurs in Transatlantic Test Project , over the last 100 years many experimenters and inventors became focused on continually improving wireless technologies and devices. The direct results of that inventing are the smart phones, smart watches, smart TVs, wireless Internet routers, GPS tracking devices, and Bluetooth headsets, all of which depend on wireless technologies. Those pioneers 100 years ago could never have envisioned the way society has been enabled and transformed by wireless!
For more information visit 1BCG.org
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
Early in the twentieth century Amateur Radio Operators had been exiled to the wavelengths shorter than 200 meter's as part of a power play by large communication companies and the US government to set aside what they thought were the most desirable radio spectrum for themselves, leaving the shortwave wasteland below 200 meters to hams, but in 1921 a small group of radio amateurs performed an experiment that proved hams really had the better end of the deal.
Ed Gable, K2MP, and Mark Erdle, AE2EA, tell the story of the Transatlantic Tests of 1921, which were conceived of by radio amateurs, and proved that even with modest equipment, the Atlantic Ocean could be spanned with shortwave signals, opening up improved communications for many more purposes. These "short" wavelengths below 200 meters had been considered useless by commercial and governmental interests, resulting in the Radio Act of 1912 banning amateur activity in the wavelengths longer than 200 meters. As a result of the successful efforts of radio amateurs in Transatlantic Test Project , over the last 100 years many experimenters and inventors became focused on continually improving wireless technologies and devices. The direct results of that inventing are the smart phones, smart watches, smart TVs, wireless Internet routers, GPS tracking devices, and Bluetooth headsets, all of which depend on wireless technologies. Those pioneers 100 years ago could never have envisioned the way society has been enabled and transformed by wireless!
For more information visit 1BCG.org
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
