On Apr 19, 11:47�pm, AF6AY wrote:
xxx wrote on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:41:27 EDT:

Due to time limitations, this post will comment on just one of Len's
claims:

* *1. *"Discovery of 'shortwaves' enabling worldwide communications:
* * * Already known by non-hobbyist technologists.

Which ones? And why weren't they *using* those shortwaves before
amateurs led the way?

*Radio amateurs
* * * were forced upwards in frequency use by politics, not
* * * pioneering. *It was fortuitous for amateurs, yes, but not
* * * necessarily of their own and objected-to at the time by
* * * amateurs.

The conventional wisdom of the early professionals in radio was that
the longer the wave, the farther it would go along the earth's
surface.
The shorter waves were considered useless, or at least unreliable, for
long-distance communication, because ionospheric propagation was not
known at the time. Long-distance non-amateur radio used waves
thousands or tens of thousands of meters long for communications
across oceans and beyond. This required enormous antennas and
high power levels, all of which were developed for the purpose. The
Alexanderson-alternator station SAQ, now a museum that operates a few
times per year, is a prime example of the professional state of the
art at the time. SAQ operates at 17.2 kHz

After 1912, amateurs were required to use waves no longer than 200
meters. They were further restricted to 1000 watts input, which was
very low power by professional long-distance-radio standards.

Most anateurs stayed right at that wavelength, following the
professionals' statements that shorter waves were less effective. Some
amateurs and non-amateurs conducted experiments at shorter wavelengths
but the results were not promising. The radio developments of World
War 1 did not materially change the situation.

In those days the "gold standard" of communication was whether the
Atlantic Ocean could be crossed. Marconi's claim of transatlantic
reception of the single letter "S" was considered a major
accomplishment at the time.

In December of 1921, the ARRL sent Paul Godley to the UK to listen for
American amateurs on 200 meters. He heard several, and not just
coastal stations. But two-way transatlantic communication eluded
amateurs on 200 meters.

In November of 1923, documented two-way transatlantic radio
communication was achieved on approximately 110 meters by
two American and one French amateur, using less than 1000 watts input.
This success led to others, with transpacific and antipodal shortwave
amateur communications following in short order.

If the effectiveness of shortwave radio was known by nonamateurs,
why didn't they use it until after amateurs pointed the way and proved
it by their pioneering success?

73 de Jim, N2EY