Correct Marconi History
Don Kimberlin has previously challenged (internal link to .pdf file) the one hundred year old claim that Marconi first transmitted a wireless message across the Atlantic in 1901. He now has more information.
"I'm now able to add to the article in .pdf above that the Poldhu transmitting aerial could not have emitted anything above the medium waveband (specifically about 800 kHz); that 12/12/01 was the LOWEST, QUIETEST day of ionospheric activity in the entire 20th century; that what the Poldhu transmiter emitted was not the 'buzz-buzz-buzz' of spark transmitters as we know them, but rather just 'click-click-click' as lightning might do, plus there is an ideal propagation path for atmospherics from the South America lightning epicenter up to Newfoundland."
"Earlier iterations of this story have been published in Radio Guide and NARTE News (US). Those who did respond acted as though I had denied 'virgin birth.' It's that much a matter of 'you'd better believe' as taught in schools, even though there's no proof. The real story is that nobody, including Marconi, knew how that first message could have happened. Shortly after Marconi's claim, reporters asked Kennelly, Marconi's assistant, how it might have happened, and he told them that MAYBE it was due to a newly discovered ionized layer in the upper atmosphere -- only MAYBE, but it became taken as gospel by the teachers and has been taught and republished ever since, even though Marconi himself and a legion of others failed to duplicate the feat at the same frequency and with the same power output. Marconi finally did get a working link only after two later iterations that each decreased the frequency and increased the power, finally winding up on 30 kHz with 300 kW of power."
"I would invite anyone who really wants to correct history to republish my article and get some discussion underway!"
Don Kimberlin