When was the first radio created? A brief history

Radio technology has evolved into a massive part of our lives.

Even if you don’t realise it, you’re dealing with radio frequencies on almost a daily basis. Everything from televisions, to smartphones and the Internet of Things, wouldn’t exist if we didn’t first have radio.

However, many people still don’t know much about #RadioHistory or where the first broadcasting devices came from.

The growth and evolution of radio provide an interesting overview of our journey as human beings over the years. It shows how committed we’ve been throughout the decades, to creating a new method of communication and entertainment.

The technology in the radios that we know and love today is far removed from what you might expect to see in the first radio ever made. However, it’s worth looking back to understand how we got to where we are today.

Here’s your introduction to the basics of #RadioDesign.

The invention of the first radio

There are two definitions of the word “radio.” The first refers to the frequencies used to transmit information to the devices in our cars and homes today. This kind of radio was first discovered by a man called Heinrich Hertz. Hertz uncovered the existence of radio waves in 1988, during a classroom experiment.

The second description of radio refers to the devices and sets that we use to tune into shows and programmes. Just as the question of “who invented radio frequencies?” comes with a lot of controversy, it’s hard to find a solid answer to who made the first radio device too. It all depends on what you consider to be the first true radio.

For instance, Guglielmo Marconi is the man responsible for creating the initial radio systems used to communicate with ships at sea. His technology initiated the evolution of radio as we know it. However, his tech didn’t create the portable radio systems that existed in your Walkman, or the devices that help your car tuner to function. To truly understand who made the #FirstRadio, we need to look at some of the most significant contributions made by inventors over the years.

From home-made sets to car radios

When Marconi first brought radio technology to the market, the technology belonged exclusively to large government bodies and the armed forces. Eventually, the concept of the “crystal set radio” emerged, and people started to create their own systems that they could use to listen in to conversations. Anyone could make a radio of their own with a galena crystal and a cat whisker.

Of course, home-made radios were far from perfect. As the demand for radio access continued to grow, new inventors got involved, bringing their own ideas to the technology. John Ambrose Fleming created the vacuum tube diode in the early 1900s, and Lee De Forest developed the “triode” soon after. These pieces of technology improved the transmission in the radio systems of the day.

In 1918, the man responsible for parts of radio technology that are still used in systems today discovered a new kind of transmission strategy. Edwin Armstrong invented the “superheterodyne receiver,” a device that was kept under lock and key by the Radio Corporation of America for a number of years. Armstrong was also responsible for introducing the world to “Frequency Modulation,” an improvement on “AM” radio systems that improved broadcast quality.

In 1948, another team joined the history of #RadioInvention. A company called Bell Laboratories implemented the first transistor technology into a radio set receiver. Soon after, Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby introduced the first radio integrated circuit — the concept that would allow entire radio systems to be placed into a single computer chip.

Over the decades, our knowledge of radio evolved, and the systems we used transformed with it. We moved from tuned radio frequency sets built with tubes and cylinders, to wooden console radios designed by brands like Philco, and General Electric. The birth of the transistor radio even meant that car radios became a possibility for the first time. Much of this evolution started with Edwin Armstrong and his superheterodyne receiver.

The evolution of radio technology

The truth is, there’s no single answer to the question “Who made the first radio?”

Countless people, all the way from Guglielmo Marconi, to Edwin Armstrong, Jack Kilby, and Robert Noyce played their part in bringing radio systems to our lives and our homes.

Today, the evolution of the radio as a popular and widely-recognised device continues. #RadioTechnology has grown increasingly accessible as the years have passed, and the arrival of the internet means that we can now do more with radio design than ever before.

Radios no longer have to be built into wooden cabinets and boxes — although the style still appeals to many homeowners. We’ve entered an era where your radio can be delivered in anything from your smartphone, to your television. Thanks to the evolution of the Internet of Things, manufacturers are even experimenting with radio systems that transmit through your shower, or refrigerator. The opportunities are endless.

Click here to learn more about the creation of the first radio system, and the technology we’ve discovered over the years.

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