K2R Celebrates 119th Anniversary of Marconi's First Transatlantic Radio Transmission
Channel: Rob Roschewsk
Date: 2020-12-13

Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer. His team was the first to successfully transmit a radio signal across the Atlantic Ocean. On Dec 12, 1901, they transmitted a Morse Code “S” radio signal from Poldhu, Cornwall England, to a receiver in Newfoundland, Canada. Since antenna towers did not exist at the time, Marconi attempted to elevate his antenna using balloons. Unfortunately, high winds prevented the successful use of the balloons; however, he successfully used a kite to hold the antenna aloft.


In honor of the 119th Anniversary of Marconi's historic radio transmission, the 721st Mechanized Contest Battalion operated a Ham Radio station in Thomas Stewart Park in Stewartsville, New Jersey. The station utilized an antenna held aloft by a kite. The group contacted stations from other parts of the country and world.


The 721st MCB is an Amateur Radio group from Warren County, NJ. that specializes in showing youth the power of Amateur (Ham) Radio to tie together Electronics, Engineering, Mechanics, Building and Making. Their "core DNA" is casual radio operating, contesting, and building stuff. More information about the group can be found at: http://wc2fd.com.