The Evolution of Radio Receivers

The radio receiver is one of those devices that people have been using for generations. After the invention of radiocommunication by Guglielmo Marconi in 1895, the first radio receiver was also invented by Marconi. A radio receiver is an electronic device that can only receive radio signals and can convert radio signals into audio and sound. A radio receiver can receive radio signals of various frequencies by tuning in to a certain frequency. These frequencies are of two types: amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). A radio receiver capable of receiving any analog audio at AM / FM frequency is called an analog radio receiver, and for many years people used analog radio receivers.

Since the invention of analog radio by Marconi in 1895, many companies have begun to manufacture radio receivers. The De Forest RJ6 first came out in 1916, and later many analog radio receivers such as the Sony TR-63 (1957) and H.H. Scott 350 (1961) went on the market, and were the first analog radio receivers of its kind. After the advent of digital electronics and digital radio transmission, digital radio receivers began to capture the market, receivers capable of receiving digital radio transmission (DAB). In 2003, Pure launched the PocketDAB 1000 and became the world’s first digital pocket radio capable of playing DAB radio stations. However, radio receivers diversified when Internet technology was introduced, which allowed companies to introduce Internet radio receivers. An internet radio receiver can be a computer application or it can be a standalone receiver, connected to the internet to receive internet radio stations. 3com’s Kerbango Internet Radio Receiver was the first standalone Internet radio receiver of the 21st century. This change in radio receiver technology even went beyond Internet radio, with the advent of Software Defined Radio (SDR). An SDR receiver is a radio receiver that can receive both analog and digital radio transmission, but can be configured and controlled using software. This was made possible by the introduction of System-on-a-Chip (SoC) manufacturing technology, and Broadcom manufactured the first SDR receiver with the BCM21551 processor in 2007. These SDR radio receivers became popular among Ameture radio and USB enthusiasts. The dongle with the Realtek RTL2832U / R820T2 demodulator chip is often used by enthusiasts as an SDR receiver. The technology of frog receivers dio has changed many times since the invention of the first radio receiver, and radio receivers are becoming smarter with the advent of various new technologies.

There are mainly two categories of radio receivers: analog and digital. Under the analog category, there is an AM or FM receiver, but it can also be a combined receiver. Digital receivers can include an AM / FM HD radio receiver or a DAB / DAB + receiver. Internet radio receivers are also digital radio receivers, but they can only receive radio stations when they are connected to the Internet.

AM radio receivers can only receive AM radio frequencies. AM radio stations emit radio signals using a technology called amplitude modulation, which is called AM. It started with a crystal radio in 1904 and then came vacuum tube radios in 1906; after the invention of vacuum tubes by Lee De Forest. Carrying a radio receiver everywhere was not easy at the time due to its bulky design, but shortly after the invention of the transistor in 1947, radio receivers became portable and smaller in size. An AM radio receiver is capable of receiving AM radio broadcasts, which can be longwave (LW), medium wave (MW), and shortwave (SW). The long-wavelength (LW) frequency range is 30 to 300 kHz, and most of the old AM radio receivers were capable of receiving long-wave radio broadcasts. Long-wave signals can travel up to 2,000 km, but a reception distance of 17,000 km was also experienced. Radio Algerie / Chaine 1 (198 Khz) from Algeria, RTL (234 Khz) from France, Médi 1 (171 Khz) from Morocco and Polskie Radio (216 Khz) from Poland are some AM radio stations that broadcast on frequencies of long wave with great power. antennas. The average frequency (MW) frequency range is from 525 kHz to 1710 kHz, and most local radio stations in the world still broadcast at mid-frequency frequencies since the 1920s. Medium-wave stations can be receive locally, but at night radio signals can travel up to 2000 km and stations can be heard from another city or country. The shortwave (SW) frequency range is 3 to 30 MHz and many international radio stations broadcast at shortwave because shortwave signals can be transmitted at a distance of several thousand kilometers. ‘one continent to another. Shortwave radio signals can travel to various parts of the world because they are reflected by the ionosphere, just like a mirror that reflects light. Among all types of AM frequencies, only shortwave frequencies can be heard from various parts of the world using any normal AM radio receiver.

The first commercial AM radio was RJ6 manufactured by De Forest Radio Telephone And Telegraph Company in 1916. After the invention of superheterodyne radio receivers by Edwin Armstrong, many companies such as Zenith Electronics (USA) introduced AM radio receivers as the model 12S-568 and model 7G605 in 1942: the first portable radio. Most vacuum tube radios were made to receive longwave and mediumwave frequencies just because shortwave emission was not common at the time. Philips was also one of those companies that started manufacturing vacuum tube radios in 1927 and became the largest AM radio manufacturer in the world.

After the invention of the transistor (electronic component) in the early 1950s, many companies such as Sony, Zenith, RCA, DeWald and Crosley began to manufacture various types of AM radio receivers that were also able to receive frequencies of short wave. The Sony TR-63 launched in 1957 was the first mass-produced transistor radio, which led to the penetration of the mass market of transistor radios.

After the golden age of radio during the 1950s and due to the rise of international radio stations, many companies began manufacturing global band receivers. A global band receiver is capable of receiving any AM radio station, broadcast on longwave, mediumwave, or shortwave frequencies. Many companies, such as Sony, Sangean, Grundig, and Philips, manufactured transistor-based global band receivers.

Companies later began manufacturing radio receivers with AM and FM modes, and today most radio receivers can receive AM and FM frequencies. AM / FM receivers became so popular that many products such as alarm clocks, CD / MP3 players, walkmans, portable speakers, and so on. they were manufactured with integrated AM / FM radio. Sony Walkman was one of those popular products that came with an AM / FM receiver. However, many radio receivers, manufactured today, also come without AM mode. Due to the decline in AM listeners, many companies today do not integrate AM receivers with FM radio receivers. Currently, only selected radio models have AM / FM modes, and global band receivers manufactured by companies such as Degen and Tecsun have these features. However, due to the increase in smartphone users and the integration of FM receivers into smartphones, the number of AM listeners has decreased overtime.

Analog receivers receive analog radio signals through a telescopic or loop antenna. The received radio signals are then amplified by the radio frequency (RF) amplifier and mixed with oscillator waves. The intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier then sends the amplified signals to the detector, which detects the audio and feeds it to the audio amplifier. The audio amplifier finally amplifies the audio and makes it audible with the help of a loudspeaker.

Broadcast frequencies and radio receiver manufacturing standards are regulated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and companies must follow FCC-regulated standards. For this reason, almost all radio receivers manufactured by branded companies can only receive frequencies from commercial radio stations, but they cannot receive any other type of communication frequencies such as the frequencies of the Air or Police band.

2. Digital radio receivers: Digital radio receivers only work with digital radio transmission or Internet broadcast, and a digital radio receiver converts received digital audio signals from digital radio signals into analog audio. This analog audio is then converted to sound using an analog audio amplifier. Digital radio signals may or may not be compressed, but are usually compressed in MP2 format. Various types of digital radio receivers include: Digital audio broadcast (DAB) receivers, HD radio, and Internet radio receivers. Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) receivers first emerged during the 1990s, and The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) launched the world’s first DAB channel on June 1, 1995 (NRK Klassisk). Many DAB receivers came on the market, and PocketDAB 1000 was the world’s first pocket DAB receiver launched by Pure International in 2003. A few years after the rise of DAB receivers, HD radio receivers were introduced to the market by many companies such as Sangean, Sony, TEAC, Yamaha, JVC, Kenwood and Pioneer. This HD radio receiver was capable of receiving digital AM / FM radio signals. Because HD radio stations only operated in some countries such as the United States and Canada, these HD radio receivers could not reach the international market in abundance. Later, Internet radio receivers became popular with Internet users, and this radio receiver requires an Internet connection to play any Internet radio station. It was an application used on a computer or a standalone receiver connected to the Internet. 3com’s Kerbango Internet Radio Receiver was the first standalone Internet radio receiver, but standalone Internet receivers could not dominate the market due to the easy availability of radio applications for Internet radio stations that could play on the Internet when used on a computer (connected to the Internet). But the story does not end here: after the rise of System-on-a-Chip (SoC) processors, the operation o f A software-defined radio receiver (SDR) was made possible. An SDR receiver is a radio receiver that can be used to receive radio signals with the help of a computer and is controlled by software. The Broadcom BCM21551 processor was the first SoC used in an SDR receiver in 2007. Since then many companies have launched many types of SDR receivers and the USB dongle with the Realtek RTL2832U / R820T2 demodulator chip can also be used. as an SDR receiver. , and is very popular with Ameture radio enthusiasts. Many companies such as Yaesu (USA) currently manufacture radio transceivers with integrated SDR functionality.

Many other companies like Pioneer, Tecsun, Revo, Tivoli, Geneva, etc. they manufacture DAB radio receivers. A newer version of DAB transmission called DAB + has started in many countries, and many new DAB receivers are manufactured to work with DAB +, but older ones cannot. However, newer DAB + receivers are compatible with earlier versions and may also receive DAB broadcasts. Due to many good features of DAB technology, many AM / FM radio stations have completely switched to DAB, but this is not the case in the US, because in North America most radio stations use radio technology. HD instead of DAB for digital radio broadcast.

DAB radio receivers use technology to decode digital radio signals to play the radio station. The tuner digitally tunes the radio frequency and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals are demodulated by the OFDM demodulator. The demodulated signals are used by the channel detector and the digital signals of the tuned station are used by the demux and the packet decoder to make use of the digital signals for different services and audio playback. Each of these receiver components is controlled by the controller via a control bus, and user inputs are also used by the controller via the user interface.

It is also possible to listen to any online radio station via any internet radio station using any mobile application or PC software. PC software such as Steamcore Scream Radio (https://www.screamer-radio.com/) is an Internet radio software that can be used on a Windows PC to listen to online radio stations. To listen to any online radio station using the internet radio receiver, you need to get the broadcast URL link. Many websites like https://www.internet-radio.com/ host online radio stations, but to get the broadcast link, you need to download the file from the M3U playlist and open it with an editor of text as the notepad. After opening the playlist file in Notepad, you’ll see the streaming URL as a web address with a port number (example: http://us4.internet-radio.com:8266/). You must copy this URL and use it with your internet radio receiver to play this radio station.

It sounds like a very easy way to listen to online radio stations, but there are many radio stations that do not use a static URL link to transmit their radio stations and it is always encrypted. These radio stations can only be played on their official website or via their mobile app. Many international radio stations such as Voice of America and China Radio International use encrypted radio streams.

Internet radio receivers can also work with a microcontroller such as ESP32 and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The microcontroller must be programmed to decode Internet radio packets. When connected to the Internet via WiFi, the user can tune in to an Internet station via the controller interface and the station information is displayed on the screen.

display device connected to the microcontroller. The decoded signals are fed into the DAC and converted to analog audio, which is played back through a connected speaker.

The first SDR was developed by the research team of an American businessman and scientist named Ulrich L. Rohde, while working under a US Department of Defense contract at RCA in 1982, and used the COSMAC chip. (Complementary Symmetry Monolithic Array Computer). However, the practical commercial application of SDR was made possible by a company called Broadcom, with the help of RF CMOS technology. The company demonstrated this by integrating an SDR into a single mixed-in-chip (SoC) signal system with the BCM21551 processor in 2007.

Since then, many companies have introduced SDR receivers to the market for ameture use. Any USB dongle with the Realtek RTL2832U / R820T2 demodulator chip can be used as an SDR receiver with the help of a computer and SDR software such as SDRSharp. It has a frequency range of 25MHz to 1800MHz and supports both analog (AM / FM) and digital (DAB) radio reception. More information is available at https://www.rtl-sdr.com/.

The hardware of the SDR receiver works in conjunction with the hardware of the connected computer. Various components of the receiver are controlled by the computer hardware according to the software configuration. The radio signals received by the antenna connected to the SDR hardware are used by the flexible RF hardware of the SDR. Only the flexibility of RF hardware allows you to work in many different modes with the help of software. Filtered radio signals are converted to digital data and used for channeling and converting the sampling frequency. The computer uses this data for further processing to output the data for audio.

Many AM / FM radio stations have resorted to digital broadcasting and also use Internet radio channels. Although the audio quality of digital radio transmission is of superior quality, digital transmission still has some disadvantages compared to traditional analog transmission. And one of the biggest disadvantages is that digital transmissions like DAB have a limited range of coverage. AM (especially SW) analog radio signals can be transmitted thousands of miles from one country to another, but this is not possible with digital radio transmissions such as DAB. In addition, to use an Internet radio receiver, you must have an active high-speed Internet connection, which is not free.

Therefore, analog radio technology has some good features that make it a winner in some of the worst-case scenarios, such as network failure (for Internet radio) and electromagnetic interference (which causes data loss). for digital transmissions), and is one of the best technologies ever made.

The author is a software engineer and enjoys geeking about various software technologies. Apart from that, he also enjoys writing articles related to science and technology. He has written many articles related to software and computer technology, and has knowledge of various software technologies such as Robot Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Artificial Intelligence; Machine learning (ML), blockchain, DevOps, database management and also knows many programming languages. In addition, he is familiar with various multimedia programs used for editing and producing audio / video. His passion for computers makes him work hard, and he believes that success only comes to life through hard work and good skills.

Contact: [email protected] or Twitter: @debojitacharjee

Was there radio in 1925?

In 1925 he experienced a series of significant events in the history of broadcasting. This may interest you : Global Location Analytics Market Predicted to Garner a.

What was radio like in the 1920’s? Crystal radios, like the one on the left, were among the first radios to be used and manufactured. These radios used a piece of lead galena crystal and a cat mustache to find the radio signal. Crystal radios allowed many people to join the madness of radio in the 1920s because they were easy to make from home.

Did the 1920s have radio?

In the mid-1920s, a radio station cost about $ 150, which would be more than $ 1,000 today. By the 1930s, the price had dropped dramatically, and most homes in America had one. Read also : IAS officers’ body expresses gratitude to PM for recognising Mohapatra’s contribution. Radio quickly became a favorite family pastime and it all started in the 1920’s.

What was the radio called in the 1920s?

Crystal equipment was the most widely used type of radio until the 1920s, when it was gradually replaced by vacuum tube radios.

How was the radio used in the 1920s?

After being introduced during World War I, radios became a common feature in American homes in the 1920s. Hundreds of radio stations sprang up over the decade. These stations developed and broadcast news, serial stories, and political speeches.

Was there radio in 1923?

Radio broadcasting in the United States has been used since the early 1920s to distribute news and entertainment to a national audience. This may interest you : IP Infusion Enables Larch Networks to Provide Customized Disaggregated Networking Solutions. In 1923, 1 percent of American households owned at least one radio receiver, while most had one in 1931 and 75 percent in 1937.

What is the oldest radio station in Los Angeles?

K45LA signed on August 11, 1941 as the first FM station in Los Angeles, broadcasting from a tower on top of Mount Lee; is California’s oldest continuously operating FM station.

Was there radio in 1917?

However, all amateur and commercial use of the radio abruptly came to a halt on April 7, 1917, when, with the entry of the United States into World War I, the president ordered that most stations private radio stations in the United States were shut down or arrested. the government, and during the war it became …

Was there radio in 1912?

Radio technology was still in its infancy in 1912, and was surprisingly complicated to use: restricted to Morse code for transmissions, most radio transmitters at the time were known as “spark” transmitters. “, because they were based on sparks of electrical energy. .

When did radios start?

The radio broadcast of music and conversations aimed at reaching a dispersed audience began experimentally between 1905 and 1906, and commercially between 1920 and 1923. VHF (very high frequency) stations began 30 to 35 years later.

When did radios become common in homes?

The Golden Age of Radio As a result, its popularity grew rapidly in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and by 1934, 60 percent of the country’s households had radios. There were also a million and a half equipped cars. The 1930s were the Golden Age of radio.

When were radios first available to the public?

Radio waves were first identified and studied by German physicist Heinrich Hertz in 1886. The first practical radio transmitters and receivers were developed around 1895–1896 by the Italian Guglielmo Marconi, and radio became began commercial use around 1900.

When did radios become popular for music?

The period between the late 1920s and early 1950s is considered the Golden Age of Radio, in which comedies, dramas, variety shows, game shows, and popular music shows attracted millions of people. listeners all over America.

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When did FM radio start?

Radio History Documents The first decade of FM broadcasting, beginning between 1936 and 1946, occurred in the 42 – 50 MHz band. The frequency band was changed to the current 88 to 108 MHz band in 1946. FM stations operating in the old frequency band had to switch to the higher frequencies and most did so before 1948.

When did FM radio become commonplace? The popularity of FM radio grew in the 1950s and 1960s, as the FCC opened more channels to stations, and FM devices became cheaper and more readily available. Car companies introduced FM car radios in 1963.

What is the oldest FM radio station?

Pittsburgh’s KDKA, more commonly cited as the first radio station in the United States, had started as an 8XK amateur radio station in 1916, but was forced to air during World War I. It reappeared on November 2, 1920, as â € œCommercial Voice and Musicâ €

Which country banned FM radio for the first time?

OSLO: Norway opened a chapter in the history of telecommunications on Wednesday, becoming the first country to stop broadcasting FM radio. The change, in digital broadcasting, aims to save money, but critics are concerned about the effect on drivers and listeners of small radio stations.

When was the first FM radio broadcast?

On March 1, 1941, W47NV began broadcasting in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first fully licensed commercial FM station. There was significant interest in the new FM band from station owners, however, construction restrictions imposed during World War II limited the growth of the new service.

What year did FM radio come out in cars?

Blaupunkt, a German company, produced the first car FM radio in 1952. In one year, Becker Audiosound produced a combined AM / FM radio.

What year were radios put in cars?

The first commercial car radio around 1926, which later became Philco and was eventually acquired by Philips. But it was Motorola’s forerunner, Galvin Manufacturing Corp., that introduced the first mass-market car radio in June 1930.

When were FM radios released?

On March 1, 1941, W47NV began broadcasting in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first fully licensed commercial FM station. There was significant interest in the new FM band from station owners, however, construction restrictions imposed during World War II limited the growth of the new service.

When did FM radio take over AM?

Finally, in 1933, Edwin Armstrong introduced his revolutionary change to the world of broadcasting. FM radio offered a number of advantages over AM, such as: The ability to play almost any sound range that humans can hear, thanks to a wider frequency band. This is known as high fidelity.

When did FM radio surpass AM radio?

FM radio did not surpass AM in terms of audience in the United States until the late 1970s, nearly half a century after Armstrong patented it.

When did FM become more popular than AM?

By the late 1960’s, FM had been adopted for the “A.O.R.” ‘Oriented Rock Album’ “stereo format, but it was not until 1978 that the audience of FM stations surpassed that of AM stations in North America.

Did AM or FM radio come first?

Analog audio is the oldest form of radio broadcast. AM broadcasting began around 1920. FM broadcasting was introduced in the late 1930s with improved fidelity.

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What was known as color radio?

KFWB was the first station in Los Angeles to detect the commercial possibilities of baby boomers. In 1958, the station introduced a Top 40 song format, called “Color Radio, Channel 98”. The term referred to color television, which was being picked up.

Who established the first radio station in Nigeria? Broadcasting was introduced to Nigeria in 1932 by then-British colonial authorities as an experiment by the BBC’s Empire Service. One of its main tasks was to broadcast the BBC’s overseas service via wired speaker systems. This service was called Radio Diffusion System (RDS).

Who invented the radio in the 1920s?

Guglielmo Marconi made practical improvements to turn them into a commercial wireless telegraphy system.

Who and when was the radio invented?

The Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi (pictured right) first developed the idea of ​​a radio, or wireless telegraph, in the 1890s. His ideas took shape in 1895 when he sent a message. Morse code wireless to a source more than a mile away.

Who owned radios in the 1920s?

Between 1923 and 1930, 60 percent of American households bought radios. Families gathered around their radios for nightly entertainment. As the ownership of the radio increased, so did the number of radio stations.

What was the radio 1920?

On November 2, 1920, the KDKA station made the country’s first commercial broadcast (a term coined by Conrad himself). They chose this date because it was election day, and the power of radio was demonstrated when people could hear the results of the Harding-Cox presidential race before reading it in the newspaper.

What was the first radio broadcast?

Under the KDKA call sign, the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh broadcast the first broadcast scheduled for November 2, 1920. Leo Rosenberg of KDKA announced the live return of the presidential election between Warren G. Harding and James Cox .

What was the first ever radio broadcast?

On Christmas Eve 1906, Fessenden used a rotary spark synchronous transmitter for the first radio program broadcast from Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, Massachusetts. Ships at sea listened to a show that included Fessenden playing O Holy Night on the violin and reading a passage from the Bible.

When did the first radio broadcasts begin?

Radio broadcasting of music and talks aimed at a wide audience began experimentally around 1905–1906, and commercially between 1920 and 1923.

Who made the first radio broadcast?

Contents. The Italian inventor and engineer Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) successfully developed, demonstrated, and marketed the first long-distance wireless telegraph, and in 1901 he broadcast the first transatlantic radio signal.

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What was the radio 1920?

They started broadcasting things like popular music, classical music, sporting events, conferences, fictional stories, news, weather reports, market updates, and political commentary.

What did radios bring to the 1920s? After being introduced during World War I, radios became a common feature in American homes in the 1920s. Hundreds of radio stations sprang up over the decade. These stations developed and broadcast news, serial stories, and political speeches.

Did the 1920s have radio?

In the mid-1920s, a radio station cost about $ 150, which would be more than $ 1,000 today. By the 1930s, the price had dropped dramatically, and most homes in America had one. Radio quickly became a favorite family pastime and it all started in the 1920’s.

What was the radio called in the 1920s?

Crystal equipment was the most widely used type of radio until the 1920s, when it was gradually replaced by vacuum tube radios.

Why was the radio important in the 1920s?

What made radio important in the 1920’s? In the 1920s, radio was able to bridge the gap in American culture from coast to coast. It was more effective than print media for sharing thoughts, culture, language, style, and more. For this reason, the importance of radio was more than just entertainment.

Why was the invention of radio so important?

Where television and telegraph were used to communicate by cable, radio emerged as the first way to communicate between wireless people, and was therefore initially called wireless telegraphy.

Why was the radio so important?

Radio broadcasts provide real-time information, and some that broadcast 24 hours a day may provide the latest updates to listeners. Radio has the ability to reach across borders and can become a valuable source of information where reliable news is scarce.

Why was the radio such an important device in the 1920’s?

With radio, coast-to-coast Americans could hear exactly the same programming. This had the effect of attenuating regional differences in dialect, language, music, and even consumer taste. Radio also transformed the way Americans enjoyed sports.

Who first invented the radio?

Who Invented Radio in 1920? Guglielmo Marconi made practical improvements to turn them into a commercial wireless telegraphy system.

Who is the real inventor of the radio?

Guglielmo Marconi: an Italian inventor, demonstrated the viability of radio communication. He sent and received his first radio signal in Italy in 1895. In 1899 he sent the first wireless signal through the English Channel and two years later received the letter “S”, telegraphed from England. to Newfoundland.

Is Tesla the inventor of the radio?

Nikola Tesla gave a public demonstration of wireless power transmission on March 1, 1893. He had created an induction coil to transmit and receive radio signals. Years later, while preparing to transmit signals remotely, so did another inventor: Guglielmo Marconi.

Did Marconi actually invent the radio?

For the next three years, Marconi’s radio patents were routinely denied because they were based too much on the work of Tesla (and some other inventors). But in a surprisingly rare decision, the Patent Office overturned its decision in 1904 and gave Marconi the patent for the invention of the radio.

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