[Milsurplus] Armstrong Days at InfoAge

[Gene Smar]

Al et al:

     I read Sarnoff's report of the experiments on 31 January 1914.  Apparently the principal difference between the state-of-the-art receivers at that time and Armstrong's regen was in the volume of the output audio.  I suppose that increase resulted from the amplification in addition to the detection of RF signals that Armstrong's regen afforded.  

     A brilliant man, like Tesla, who had to fight for recognition and FM patent ownership until the day he died.  RIP, Major.


73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Al Klase 
  To: Gene Smar 
  Cc: Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 3:56 PM
  Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Armstrong Days at InfoAge


  Gene,

  There aren't any pictures or hard info on exactly what Armstrong was using at that point.  There's a excerpt from Sarnoff's report at the bottom of the webpage referenced below.  The reports to Marconi from Sarnoff and Roy Weagant are pretty informative.  I'll try to break loose the whole thing.

  Coherers were obsolete by this time.  This was double-tuned crystal set versus regen.  We have an analog of the Armstrong circuit running in the Museum receiving a simulated spark signal.  The sounds of a regen going into oscillation on a spark signal are not what you'd expect.  There's no carrier and so no bloop.

  In the reports, Clifden refers to the Marconi spark station in Ireland.  The crystal set could not hear CW stations, but Armstrong and Sarnoff were able to hear the Poulsen ARC CW stations in San Fransisco and Hawaii, and the Telefunken station in Nauen Germany, an alternator, on Armstrong's rig.  The commercial CW stations at that time were using really awful receivers, mechanical tickers etc., so hearing them at those distances was really impressive.

  Come hear this stuff yourself.  I'll try to get more on the web after the event.

  Al Klase - N3FRQ
  The Radio Technology Museum
  http://www.rtm.ar88.net/





  On 1/16/2014 2:19 PM, Gene Smar wrote:

    Al et al:

         We in the know understand the significance of regen vs coherer receivers.  But what did Armstrong demostrate to the assembled crowd?  Is there any lab-type document from Armstrong that goes through his demo step by step?  

         I ask because I can't imagine what a listener like Sarnoff or Weagant might have seen or heard during the demo that would have convinced them that regen was the greatest thing since sliced bread.  Might be something to ask about at the event on 30 Jan.  Thanks for the info but I can't attend.


    73 de
    Gene Smar  AD3F


    On 01/16/14, Al Klase<ark at ar88.net> wrote: 

    Armstrong Fans;

    On the night of 30 January 1914, Edwin Howard Armstrong, accompanied by 
    Professor Morecroft from Columbia University, demonstrated his 
    regenerative receiver to David Sarnoff and Roy Weagant of The American 
    Marconi company at the Belmar receiving station, then under 
    construction. Join us at InfoAge in Wall Township, New Jersey on 8 or 9 
    February 2014 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic event.

    Get the details: http://www.rtm.ar88.net/Armstrong_Days_at_InfoAge.html

    See you there,
    Al

    -- 
    Al Klase -- N3FRQ
    Jersey City, NJ
    http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/
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-- 
Al Klase – N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/