1921 Spark Gap Transmitter / Ham Radio

Uploaded by: kb8wfh
Video Description:
This is an operating reproduction exhibit I built of a 1921 spark gap transmitter used by Amateur Radio operator John Westcott, W8AGA. It was built for a house museum where John once lived and operated his transmitter, but the museum reneged on its agreement with the radio club and the exhibit was never installed.

Tags for this video: amateur gap ham Morse radio spark transmitter

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Awesome! "*****" I ... ( 1 year ago by albear972)

Awesome! "*****" I didn't know those old transmitters used electric motors? wild thing to see working!

Very nice work. ... ( 1 year ago by MorticiaMaquette)

Very nice work. Thanks for sharing it. It would be nice if there was some sort of voice-over describing the various parts.

If you get a chance ... ( 1 year ago by KC0TCH)

If you get a chance to visit Branson MO, drop by the Titanic Museum. The radio room display has the equipment from the Olympic, Titanics sister ship. There is even a key and spark gap that museum visitors can interact with. The tension is too stiff for me though.

"W8AGL?" why is ... ( 1 year ago by KC0TCH)

"W8AGL?" why is there a question mark at the end of the call?

The actual call it ... ( 1 year ago by kb8wfh)

The actual call it is sending is W8AGA but the video is spliced with another section of video/audio asking QRL? making it a little hard to hear the intended characters sent.

oh, i see i guess ... ( 1 year ago by KC0TCH)

oh, i see i guess that happens sometimes.

Fantastic! I love ... ( 1 year ago by CT4RK)

Fantastic! I love it! best 73 CT4RK Carlos Portugal

great vid makes my ... ( 1 year ago by ballores)

great vid makes my fillings tingle just to watch it!

Isn't that slightly ... ( 1 year ago by SpeakUpNow)

Isn't that slightly illegal to fire up? Imagine every cop/fireman in the city heard it on all bands?

Nope, not a problem ... ( 1 year ago by kb8wfh)

Nope, not a problem. Its made to "look" and audible "sound" like a transmitter, but it actually doesn't generate a signal. None of the tuning circuits are hooked up and everything metal is grounded.

No wonder it ... ( 11 months ago by w4csc)

No wonder it doesn't get out far! Look at the coils....The coupling's too tight and killin' the circuit...(c;
73 DE W4CSC Charleston, SC

Just the way I want ... ( 11 months ago by kb8wfh)

Just the way I want it! ;)

Masterful piece of ... ( 11 months ago by jeffpicks)

Masterful piece of work OM!
Build some more ! (or if you already have, let's see !) Guys, THIS is what ham radio is all about... not that drivel you hear on 75 mtrs... or your local repeaters.

long wave??? ( 11 months ago by tonijn1969)

long wave???

narrower signals ... ( 9 months ago by greenmountainsolar)

narrower signals than the flex radio i heard tonight on 75?
chris/N3GAD

Wow! So now I ... ( 9 months ago by gedanate)

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

Beauty. You do fine ... ( 9 months ago by Organgrinder010)

Beauty. You do fine work.

Good heavens, mate. ... ( 8 months ago by Mindraker1)

Good heavens, mate. You can hear that thing humming.

Thanks for posting ... ( 8 months ago by RckyMtneer)

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

I think I heard ... ( 5 months ago by kuernodechivo)

I think I heard someone running voice into one of those on 27.025 (The Bowl)

I am sure glad I ... ( 5 months ago by trisoctehedron)

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.

I bet not too many ... ( 4 months ago by WA5MUF)

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)

Excellent! Wish I ... ( 3 months ago by NorbertZF)

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

I have a vague ... ( 2 months ago by kb8wfh)

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.

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1921 Spark Gap Transmitter / Ham Radio

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