In a message dated 7/10/06 4:40:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> , they use such techniques to check if people > in their houses have radios (or TVs) that they're not on record of > having licenses for! Bit of history: Way back about 100 years ago, there was little or no regulation of radio - or "wireless telegraphy" as it was known then. With only a few short-range experimental stations on the air, there was little need for regulation, but as radio technology and popularity improved, the need for rules was obvious. Here in the USA, various legislation was proposed by the parties involved, mostly the Navy and commercial wireless companies such as Marconi and Telefunken. This was 1910, before the FCC, ARRL, broadcasting, or the Titanic disaster that resulted in much more comprehensive regulation of radio. Their model was the telegraph legislation. Why not just extend the rules written for wire communication to wireless? It had been done for the telephone, why not for radio? The proposed rules did not differentiate 'receiving station' from 'transmitting station'. The commercial folks liked the idea of licenses for all stations because it would help keep people from listening in. A few interested amateurs/experimenters and organizations had gotten themselves involved, however. One of them was Charles Stewart of St. David's, PA, representing the Wireless Association of Pennsylvania. He argued that there was a vast difference between wired and wireless, and that the 'waves come upon us whether we bid them or not'. Also involved was the Radio Club of America. Because of these efforts the legislators were convinced to only license transmitting stations in the USA. But the UK and most other countries had no Charlie Stewart, and they licensed both receivers and transmitters. When Paul Godley went to England in 1921 to listen for American amateurs on 200 meters, he needed a license for the receiver. Since he wasn't British, he could not be issued a license, and a British assistant actually held the receiving license. Charlie Stewart became 3ZS and was one of the founders and vice presidents of the ARRL. He passed away in February 1936, the same month as HPM and Mrs. Maxim. St. David's is right next to Wayne, where I live. I think I have located his house, too. --- The use of "detector vans" is lampooned in a Monty Pyhton skit, in which a man tries to obtain a license for his pet bee named Eric. 73 de Jim, N2EY _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
