When was the ham radio invented?

Answer 1

It wws not invented, it was evolved, Technical magazine maven - also Science Fiction writer and editor Hugo Gernsback must be credited with legally getting involved with the whole amateur scene, circa l9l4 when the Federal government first began to regulate radio, largely through the maritime laws- as ships had wireless. based on reprinted articles in various Gernsback publication the argument seemed to be that Mr. Gernsback was if not the father of amateur radio, at least a very important fostering relative! - the Roberts Bill which codified the different (bands) in use at the time , passed around l9l3-l4 and Mr. Gernsback was much in favor, He controlled the EICO (Electro equipment company) which made much Ham equipment. kits, components and so on. any how Gernsback Broadcasted (not maybe the right word as it was almost entirely all C.W.-code in his day) his role as a Ham pioneer, so to speak. The Hugo awards in Science Fiction are named in his honor!

Answer 2

Ham radio is a service, a broadcasting spectrum- including both CW ( code) and Phone ( Voice radio) in various bands and segments. It was not a one-man invention but it evolved- as a concession on the part of the FCC and predecessor organizations ( oddly the maritime end of the Dept. of Commerce) to permit amateur operations on certain wavelengths. The Amateur radio angle really became feasible around l9ll- the early teens. As might be predicted, it was shut down in both Major Wars- after all the government has a right to police the airwaves- particularily in wartime where it might be abused by spies and subversives. Hugo Gernsback- prolific radio man, magazine editor and publoisher, and also science-fiction writer amd editor was always in defense of Amateurs- and the Roberts Bill- which granted concessions to amateur operators (this was all CW at the time) well, if you followed his editorials you would get the idea that Hugo Gernsback was the founding father of Ham Radio, which has more than a few grains of truth.

Answer 3

Ham radio , owing to its social context, evolved, and is not a consumer product as is, perhaps a Walkie-Talkie. the technical editor ( he edited a variety of radio and electronics magazines- also science fiction stuff) Hugo Gernsback played indeed a big Brother, or Father Figure type role to the whole idea of Amateur Radio back in the days of the Key-only transmissions. When the federal government got to regulating radio transmission licensing, Gernsback and his magazines- Modern Electrics ,. for one, made a big push for non-profit amateur operators, their various utility roles, etc. and this was instrumental in getting the Federal Roberts Bill enacted. This was in the very early teens.as it was, there was a separation of categories of licensed ops- commercial, marine ( ships, etc) and Amateur, all on different frequencies and wavelengths to minimize interference- often called Harmonics by Radio buffs. In a sense Mr. Gernsback was one of the Founding fathers of Ham Radio, in the organizational sense, so to speak.