The Inventor of the Radio

A. S. Popov, the great Russian inventor, was born in 1859. By the time he graduated from the Petersburg University (1882) he had already possessed a broad knowledge of electrical theory as well as a wide experience in that field.

Woking both as scientist and teacher, he always carried on some practical work, solving many practical problems such as the introduction of electricity into the Navy and others. Popov was one of the first to pay attention to the works of Hertz who proved by experiments the existence of electromagnetic waves. After many experiments carried out together with his assistant Ribkin the device Popov constructed began receiving electromagnetic waves at, a long distance. By means of his receiver Popov could detect the waves at a distance of some meters and then kilometers. The receiver recorded waves gene-rated by lightning discharges. While experimenting the scientist found out that a free wire being connected to the receiver, the range of the latter increased. Thus he connected his first receiver to the first antenna.

On April 25, 1895, Alexander Popov demonstrated his device at the Russian Physi со-Chemical Society. Having summarized the results of his experiments, Popov expressed his hope that the device, after been perfected, would make possible transmitting signals at a distance by means of rapid electrical oscillations. In summer 1895, Popov's invention was successfully tested and in the same year he attached to the device an apparatus previously used for recording telegrams over the wire telegraph.

In the following year this receiver was used at the electric power station in Nizhny Novgorod for warning about approaching thunderstorm.

The great Russian inventor did not make any secret of his discovery, describing it in the press and making reports about it at the meetings of scientific societies. In the same year he demonstrated the transmissions of words over a wireless telegraph. This-new demonstration proved to be of great importance.     

In summer 1897, Popov successfully carried out his experiments at sea, having succeeded in effecting radio communication between the shore and the sea at a distance of 3 km.

In this way the future wireless communication between the continents was being prepared. The year 1898 witnessed a new important invention made by Popov together with his assistants Ribkin and Troitsky, namely the reception of audible signals by means of a receiver. All these successful experiments having been completed, serious practical testing began. Popov's radio telegraph helped to save the battleship "General Admiral Apraksm".

Popov's work drew attention in many countries. The wireless telegraphy is the result of Popov's experiments, this fact having been acknowledged by different representatives of foreign science, engineering and industry. Popov was offered immense profits from commercial use of his invention in case he leaves Russia. But the Russian patriot refused the wealth offered to him, preferring to remain a true son of his fatherland "I am a Russian and I must give all my knowledge, all my work and all my achievements to my native land" were his words.

It is impossible to say that nobody in Russia understood and appreciated the great work carried out by Popov. On the contrary, the leading representatives of Russian science realized from the outset the significance of his inventions but the fate of the country was not in their hands. The tsarist government did nothing to provide the training of specialists for the newly born branch of science and engineering. Neither was home production of devices for wireless telegraphy organized⁵ in Russia. Instead it was handed over to foreign companies.

Only the victory of the Great October Socialist Revolution could entirely alter the state of affairs. During the very first days of the October Revolution the new means of communication was used by Great Lenin in his struggle for the victory of Revolution.

DIALOGUE

A.        I was told that you were a radio-amateur, aren't you?

B.        Oh, yes. Radio is my hobby.

A.        What branch of radio engineering are you interested in most of all?

B.        In radio constructing, certainly.

A.        Is your interest in radio of purely theoretical nature or are you fond of designing too?

B.        I'm an amateur-constructor.   I've   designed and constructed several radio sets and they are not bad,

I believe.

A.        Do you know who constructed the first radio set in the world?

B.        Do you take me for such an ignorant person that you've put me such a question?

A.        Sorry, it is only a joke. I think there are very few people who don't know about the pride of Russian

science — A. S. Popov.

B.        And the most remarkable thing about him is that he was not only a great outstanding scientist but a

great patriot too.

A.        Yes, of course. Though he was offered much money to go abroad, he utterly refused, saying that he

was a Russian and all his knowledge and all his favor belonged to his people and his country.

B.        Such high patriotism is very characteristic of Russian scientist.

A.        Yes,  there are many examples of this. It is great love for the native country and its people that

promote the greatest achievements of our science and engineering.

B.        You are quite right. Here lies the real reason of the progress our people have achieved.