1921 Spark Gap Transmitter / Ham Radio

greenmountainsolar Says:

Jan 23, 2008 - narrower signals than the flex radio i heard tonight on 75? chris/N3GAD

gedanate Says:

Jan 28, 2008 - Wow! So now I really understand why early ships' radio operators were all called "Sparks". Thank you very much. I've got to show this video to my XYL, but she already believes all Hams are crazy. :-) 73 de David, vk2dmh

Organgrinder010 Says:

Jan 29, 2008 - Beauty. You do fine work.

Mindraker1 Says:

Mar 2, 2008 - Good heavens, mate. You can hear that thing humming.

RckyMtneer Says:

Mar 9, 2008 - Thanks for posting that. One of my grandfathers, u6CCY, had one of those in the 1920's. I still have his original licenses that state he was authorized to run spark gap. Kewl! Rick N0VLF Colorado

kuernodechivo Says:

Jun 3, 2008 - I think I heard someone running voice into one of those on 27.025 (The Bowl)

trisoctehedron Says:

Jun 15, 2008 - I am sure glad I got to see a spark transmitter at last after reading about them for so long. I've never understood why they need a rotary gap. Looks like you could just key a stationary gap with high voltage applied to it and get a spark. If you feel like explaining I will be very grateful.

WA5MUF Says:

Jul 17, 2008 - I bet not too many RSTs with a T of 9 were received back in the Spark Gap days! Great video -- thanks a million. 73, WA5MUF (Same call sign since 1965)

NorbertZF Says:

Aug 14, 2008 - Excellent! Wish I had one. I also have an interest in the wireless transmission of energy as per Tesla. Thank you!!!

Rippey574 Says:

Aug 28, 2008 - I am attempting to do an spark gap transmitter. what i am trying to do is actually output modulated sound like with a modern unit (am C.B. {U.S.A.} style) with the spark gap. Is this possible or is spark gap limited to CW operation only?

kb8wfh Says:

Sep 11, 2008 - I have a vague recollection of hearing about some early experiments using a rotary gap to modulate a phone signal, but I don't think they were at all practical or usable. However, it was ultimately unnecessary as AM signals were possible with carrier signals with newly emerging vacuum tubes. I really wouldn't bother to try it with a rotary gap to generate a signal. I doubt whatever you got would really be intelligible.

sonick808 Says:

Oct 18, 2008 - Truly a thing of beauty. Great job.

Atlantis1986 Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - Is it dangerous for human in direct contact with sparcle situation? ;)

bloggycreek Says:

Nov 29, 2008 - That is a hauntingly beautiful sound.

kb8wfh Says:

Nov 29, 2008 - Absolutely!

boxa888 Says:

Dec 12, 2008 - hey norbert i put up information on teslas wireless energy transfer through the earth if you are interested!

dnl5649 Says:

Jan 6, 2009 - They have rotary spark gaps because a stationary gap would melt itself and a rotary gas make a better tone on the radio reciever. I am 12 by the way and I have 3 spark transmitters I made.

rockymountainradio Says:

Jan 30, 2009 - you can do, but whith higher powered machines the nead for spark quenching became greater, and thus the rotary gap came in, as can be seen in the video, it stretches as the disk roates causing it to cool down faster. they were used with AC and produced a more regular and much higher powerd spark. hope this helps

Penfold8 Says:

Feb 3, 2009 - Well that's one way to straighten your hair!

KC0TCH Says:

Feb 12, 2009 - if you get a chance, go see the titanic museum in branson mo. they have a straight key hooked up to a spark gap generator there for people to try out.

Atlantis1986 Says:

Feb 14, 2009 - What kind of antena it uses?

gmcjetpilot Says:

Feb 15, 2009 - Question to any one, these transmitted on a very wide band width, basically a blast of RF that splattered across a wide spectrum of frequencies. It was just a spark impulse. Thanks

lbevIT Says:

Feb 24, 2009 - great

lbevIT Says:

Feb 24, 2009 - Great video!

dnl5649 Says:

Apr 6, 2009 - i now have my license and am operating a hf and 2 2 meter rigs a total of 114 watts peak envelope power (pep)