[InHam] INARRL BULLETIN 06-2006

[Brian Murrey]

INARRL BULLETIN 06-2006
18:32 PM EST 12/25/2006

Broadcasting celebrates its centennial this December 29-30.

In 1906 Reginald Fessenden was experimenting with voices over radio, and his 
initial plan was to make a voice contact from Brant Rock, Massachusetts 
across the Atlantic to Machrihanish, Scotland.  But a storm blew down the 
antenna at the Scottish site.  Fessenden, in true ham spirit, went to "plan 
B."  Instead of transmitting to Scotland, he used the Brant Rock station to 
transmit Christmas greetings to ships of the United Fruit Company.  (More 
about this is at http://www.hello-radio.org/historyofradio.html).

This was the very first voice radio broadcast!   The entire human experience 
changed when the ideas, cultures and events of the world were brought into 
living rooms in every town, no matter how remote.

On Dec. 29-30, 2006, ham radio operators will complete what Fessenden failed 
to do in 1906 and achieve Plan A with special event stations - and a LOT 
more.

A PROUD HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY

Fessenden's broadcast started thousands of garage tinkerers playing with 
this new fangled thing called "radio."  Amateur (often called "ham") Radio 
operators have been in the forefront of developing wireless technologies 
from the beginning and continue their role in exploring new designs and 
applications.  Today hams use satellites, computers, software-defined 
radios, microwaves, Internet linked systems and technologies undreamed of in 
1906.  But it all started with the word "Hello".

There will be three primary special centennial event stations operating from 
2000 GMT on Dec 29 to 2000 GMT on Dec 30 and hundreds of other ham radio 
stations around the world.  Representing the past are W100BO/W1F at Brant 
Rock with Steve Barreres, K2CX, as team leader. GB1FVT will be at 
Machrihanish with Duncan MacArthur, GM3TNT, as team leader.  Representing 
the future will be W1AW in Newington, CT.

Details and information is being posted to

www.hello-radio.org/event

SOUND BYTES and VIDEO AVAILABLE

Reenactments of the first transmissions, early ham radio promotions by Bob 
Hope, audio clips of astronauts speaking about and using ham radio, Walter 
Cronkite, and exciting emergency calls from Hurricane Katrina are available. 
B-roll video is also available for use if desired.

In addition to the site locations showing the past and future of radio, the 
transmission modes used will also reflect both traditional and emerging new 
technologies.  The stations will be operating AM from the early 1900's, SSB 
and FM from the later 1900's, and Echolink/IRLP plus digital voice HF 
bringing in the digital communications of the 21st century.

Allen Pitts,  W1AGP
Media & PR Manager
ARRL - the national association for amateur radio
(860) 594-0328

INARRL BULLETIN 06-2006



Broadcasting celebrates its centennial this December 29-30.

In 1906 Reginald Fessenden was experimenting with voices over radio, and his 
initial plan was to make a voice contact from Brant Rock, Massachusetts 
across the Atlantic to Machrihanish, Scotland.  But a storm blew down the 
antenna at the Scottish site.  Fessenden, in true ham spirit, went to "plan 
B."  Instead of transmitting to Scotland, he used the Brant Rock station to 
transmit Christmas greetings to ships of the United Fruit Company.  (More 
about this is at http://www.hello-radio.org/historyofradio.html).


This was the very first voice radio broadcast!   The entire human experience 
changed when the ideas, cultures and events of the world were brought into 
living rooms in every town, no matter how remote.

On Dec. 29-30, 2006, ham radio operators will complete what Fessenden failed 
to do in 1906 and achieve Plan A with special event stations - and a LOT 
more.

A PROUD HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY

Fessenden's broadcast started thousands of garage tinkerers playing with 
this new fangled thing called "radio."  Amateur (often called "ham") Radio 
operators have been in the forefront of developing wireless technologies 
from the beginning and continue their role in exploring new designs and 
applications.  Today hams use satellites, computers, software-defined 
radios, microwaves, Internet linked systems and technologies undreamed of in 
1906.  But it all started with the word "Hello".

There will be three primary special centennial event stations operating from 
2000 GMT on Dec 29 to 2000 GMT on Dec 30 and hundreds of other ham radio 
stations around the world.  Representing the past are W100BO/W1F at Brant 
Rock with Steve Barreres, K2CX, as team leader. GB1FVT will be at 
Machrihanish with Duncan MacArthur, GM3TNT, as team leader.  Representing 
the future will be W1AW in Newington, CT.

Details and information is being posted to

www.hello-radio.org/event

SOUND BYTES and VIDEO AVAILABLE

Reenactments of the first transmissions, early ham radio promotions by Bob 
Hope, audio clips of astronauts speaking about and using ham radio, Walter 
Cronkite, and exciting emergency calls from Hurricane Katrina are available. 
B-roll video is also available for use if desired.

In addition to the site locations showing the past and future of radio, the 
transmission modes used will also reflect both traditional and emerging new 
technologies.  The stations will be operating AM from the early 1900's, SSB 
and FM from the later 1900's, and Echolink/IRLP plus digital voice HF 
bringing in the digital communications of the 21st century.

Allen Pitts,  W1AGP
Media & PR Manager
ARRL - the national association for amateur radio
(860) 594-0328

========================================
Brian Murrey - KB9BVN
KB9BVN at arrl.net
Indiana Section Bulletin Manager
(317)535-9887