Figure 1.--Here we see three American highschool boys, probably from the Midwest (notice their college banners--Harvard, New York University, Grenell College in Iowa) listening to the radio on head sets. The photograph is undated, but probably taken in the eraly 1920s. The boy sitting on the right (about 16 years old) wears a suit, shirt and tie with above-the-knee knickers and long black stockings. His counterpart of about the same age sitting at the left wears fuller cut knickers buckled below the knee. The boy standing up, perhaps slightly older, is coatless and wears only a white shirt and tie. We can't see his trousers, but they are probably knickers also like those of his friends.

Great advances in technology often ocvcur during or as a result of war. World War I was no exception. The need for improved communications resulted in considerable advances in telecommunications, including radio. Commercial radio broadcasts began after World War I. The broadcasts started in America first (1919-20). Broacasts in other countries soon followed: Australia (1921?), France (1921), England (1922), Germany (1923), New Zealand (1923), Switzerland (1923), and Austria 1924). Early radio listerners used broadcast "detectors" (crystal sets) to receive the broadcast. The basic detector obtained its energy from the transmitted signal. Only headphone reception was possible (figure 1). possible. Boys are always interested in technology. Boys of the period were very keen on radio as a hobby. For some reason girls were much less interested. (This has not changed greatly. In our modern age, boys show a much greater interest in computers than boys.) Boys also liked radio since it brought them in touch with far-flung places and people. Soon a popular activity for boys was building a crystal set. An additional source of electricuty was not needed for a basic crystal set. There were exceptions. A detector with rectifier material needed additional bias voltage. Good detectors had the ability to separate transmissions and were capable of long-distance reception. The great advantage of the crystal detector was the "current-free" reception. The crustal set was, however, replaced by vacuum tubes receivers. These receivers are radio sets were much more sensitive and selective. hey also offered the advantage of greater volume. Crystal set listening was an individual experience with headsets. Radio sets with added voltage and vacuume tubes has a speaker which could be heard by the whole family. Radio became a family experience. Radio sets were large (becauseof the vacuume tubes) and very expenive. Gradually the expense and the size came down. Through the 1930s, however, many families had radio sets on their living rooms that were larger than modern televisions. Television when it came used the same vacuume tube technology. Basic radio technology did not change until the late 1950s with the appearance of the transistor. Other major changes in radio are taking place in the 2000s with digital satellite radio and computer reception.

Commercial Broadcasts

Great advances in technology often ocvcur during or as a result of war. World War I was no exception. The need for improved communications resulted in considerable advances in telecommunications, including radio. Commercial radio broadcasts began after World War I. The broadcasts started in America first (1919-20). Broadcasts in other countries soon followed: Australia (1921?), France (1921), England (1922), Germany (1923), New Zealand (1923), Switzerland (1923), and Austria 1924).

Crystal Sets

Early radio listerners used broadcast "detectors" (crystal sets) to receive the broadcast. The basic detector obtained its energy from the transmitted signal. Only headphone reception was possible (figure 1). Crystal set listening was an individual experience with headsets. It was possible to plug more than one headset in, but still with the headsets on, convesation and comments were difficult. Radio listening with a crystal set was sill an individual activity. Boys are always interested in technology. Boys of the period were very keen on radio as a hobby. For some reason girls were much less interested. (This has not changed greatly. In our modern age, boys show a much greater interest in computers than boys.) Boys also liked radio since it brought them in touch with far-flung places and people. Soon a popular activity for boys was building a crystal set. An additional source of electricity was not needed for a basic crystal set. There were exceptions. A detector with rectifier material needed additional bias voltage. Good detectors had the ability to separate transmissions and were capable of long-distance reception.

Vacuum Tubes

Television

Television when it came used the same vacuume tube technology. While the technology was similar with the adition of a cathode ray tube (CRT). Even so, the impact on radio was monumental. Americans soon wanted to see their favorite programs on television rather than radio. This was especially true of the comedy and drama series. Gradually radio evolved into a medium for news and music.

Transistors

Basic radio technology did not change until the late 1950s with the appearance of the transistor.

Computer Recption

Other major changes in radio are taking place in the 2000s. Many mostly young people listen to radio bradcastede music over their computers.

Digital Radio

Digital satellite radio became avail as a subscription service in the 2000s.

Created: December 20, 2003
Last updated: December 30, 2003