Known as the ‘father’ of radio is Guglielmo Marconi. He died in July, 80 years ago.
In the late 19th century Marconi was among a few keen people experimenting with waves that had been shown by German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.
In honour of Hertz providing conclusive proof of the existence of electromagnetic waves , in 1960 ‘Hertz’ replaced the older ‘cycles per second’ in the International System of Units.
Marconi read reports of Hertz in popular scientific journals, and had a vision that any two points on earth could communicate – an idea readily dismissed at the time.
He remained convinced, having sent signals in late 1894 at his parent’s home. At 21-years of age in 1896, Marconi left for England with a system that could send Morse code signals across a room, which he called ‘wireless telegraphy’.
In the WIA journal Amateur Radio magazine for July tells of the early days of Marconi through to his death on July 20, 1937.
It includes reference to vision of the Italian funeral procession for this scientific hero, and known influences in Australia of both Hertz and Marconi.
Jim Linton VK3PC
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2017/june/the-marconi-legacy.htm#.WU5TF4WcHIV
