100 Years ago, Edwin H. Armstrong tried out a little circuit.

[Channel Hopper]

Regeneration amplification worked by feeding the initial received signal back into the circuit, giving greater sensitivity (up to some 30,000 times with later valve manipulation) and offering radio - then TV - broadcasts to be received at a far greater range.

He went on to invent frequency modulation as well as superhets.

Armstrong was paid well for his electrical work in communications, but his life was tarnished by others claiming they were the behind many of his inventions, and he committed suicide in 1954.


_http://www.yonkershistory.org/arms.html

 

[Llew]

Ah, happy days. Before those new-fangled transistors appeared, I built a superregen FM reciever in the 50's using one Acorn ex-military valve. Managed to receive Wrotham FM 60-odd miles away clear as a bell with the proverbial wet string. Couldn't use anything larger, as superregens chuck out a lot of interference over a wide spectrum.

 

[2cvbloke]

Us Armstrongs are smart people...

(Well, my surname isn't Armstrong, but the mothers' maiden name is!!)

ANd if you want to learn a basic history of the radio, I suggest watching The secret life of the Radio:

[video=youtube;2roG4jIjvEk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2roG4jIjvEk[/video]