SOUTH WALES, UK. — Wireless technology is largely attributed to Guglielmo Marconi, who was born in Italy in 1874. Marconi developed the wireless telegraphy system, which came to be known as “radio”, demonstrating the transmission and reception of Morse Code-based radio signals over a distance of 2 or more kilometres on Salisbury Plain in England in 1896.
Marconi made the first wireless transmission across a body of water in May 1897 from Lavernock Point, South Wales to Flat Holm Island.
The technology was soon implemented by defence forces. On August 23, 1899, US Lightship No. 70 San Francisco announced the arrival of the US Army troopship Sherman with the words, “Sherman is sighted”.
The lightship relayed the message via wireless telegraphy, which later came to be known as “radio”.
It was the first use of wireless by the US Coast Guard, and within a maritime context.
The method used sparks to send out intermittent radio waves embedded with Morse Code messages. It was a method that remained in use through World War I, until more modern technology, “the valve,” was developed between World Wars.
