• Timeline of Wireless Technology

    Timeline of Wireless Technology

    Jayesh Limaye, Jun 19, 2009 1245 hrs IST

    Evolution of a 125-year-old technology

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What is wireless communication? In layman's language it can be described as using technology to transfer information over a distance without using any wires. Wireless communication is not new and has been in use for well over 125 years now. Through this article we trace the origin of this technology and its evolution to its present form. Here is the timeline of wireless technology.


 



 




1887


The principle of wireless communication was presented by German physicist Heinrich Hertz in the year 1887. Hertz demonstrated how electromagnetic waves could be transmitted across free space. This was an expansion of the theory of electromagnetic theory of light put forth earlier by James Maxwell and Michael Faraday. Though Hertz managed to demonstrate it, he never tried to take it any further, even remarking that it would be of no significance.


1893


Nikola Tesla transmits radio waves in St. Louis, Missouri.


1897


Guglielmo Marconi is awarded the British Patent for 'Improvements in transmitting electrical impulses and signals and in apparatus there-for'. What this effectively means is that he was granted the rights to the Radio.


1898


Nikola Tesla demonstrates a remote control boat. It would be amusing to know that people watching this demonstration thought Tesla was controlling the boat using his mind, as nobody seemed to have any information about radio waves at that time.


1906


Amplitide Modulation (AM) is used by Reginald Fessenden to broadcast his voice over the North Atlantic. This mode of radio transmission is the same as Shortwave and Medium wave in use today.



1915


First transatlantic transmission takes place. AT&T achieves this radio transmission from Arlington, Virginia to Paris using the Eiffel Tower to hold the receiving antenna.


1919


Radio Corporation of America (RCA) is incorporated by General Electric (GE) on Oct. 17 specifically to acquire the assets of the wireless radio company American Marconi from British Marconi.


1921


Shortwave (SW) radio is developed. It is called Shortwave because the wavelength of light is shorter than visible light due to the higher frequency. Shortwave Radio (also known as High Frequency or HF radio) has a frequency of 2.310 Megahertz to 25.820 Megahertz. The benefit of Shortwave radio is that the waves can bounce off the ionosphere (the layer of atmosphere consisting of ions or charged particles), enabling transmission to the other side of the world without actually having a direct line of sight.


1931


Frequency Modulation or FM is developed by Edwin H. Armstrong. FM transmission is less prone to noise associated with AM transmission and therefore results in a clearer broadcast. Also, it is possible to transmit stereo signals, making it suitable for musical radio broadcasts.



1982


The GSM (Groupe Special Mobile) group is formed and decides on a digital system for its cellular systems.

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Discussion Board
(3) Comments
Gangadhar G. Ba
,Mumbai, on Jun 20, 2009 06:31 AM
The author has omitted to give information about the other system for mobile communication namely CDMA (Code Division MultiplexAccess) developed by the American Defence Research organisations. This was originally adopted by Tatas and Reliance in India and still is in use in Korea. Although it is more effecient in using the precious spectrum than the GSM, its disadvantage is that we have to give royalty to the patent owners for using it whereas GSM is freely available for use anywhere in the world as it is developed by ITU. That is why it is more popular in the world and is therefore good for interntional roaming. Tatas and Reliance have belatedly realised it and are now launching their GSM networks.
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CDMA, ATM,VSAT
,delhi, on Jul 20, 2009 12:50 PM
true CDMA has been omitted. may be TT being paid for those technolgy articcles only !
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Ankit Kumar
,Delhi, on Jun 19, 2009 01:55 PM
jayesh buddy good work done, compilation is nice but looks it needed more words... well nothing written abt reuters? i knw article is of wireless transmission but reuters needs credit in field of telecom... but still very infomative article...
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