(This web page is a work in progress)
On 12 December 1901, Marconi made communications history by his claim to
have received the first transatlantic wireless signal in a fever hospital on
Signal Hill. The signal originated from his spark transmitter in Poldhu,
Cornwall, England. Amateur radio operators and others who share a passionate
interest in Marconi's work have been commemorating the event for over 4
decades. In April of 1960, the Marconi radio station VON moved from Cabot
Tower, and some time after that, the building was made available for amateur
operations. The building where Marconi did his experiments on Signal Hill was
destroyed in fire on 18 December 1920.
To the right of Cabot Tower in this early photo is the former fever hospital
where Marconi conducted his receiving experiments in 1901. (Photo thanks
to the Memorial University Archives.)
Inside the fever hospital: Marconi and his receiving apparatus including
coherers, coils and a telephone earphone. (Photo thanks to the
Newfoundland and Labrador Archives.)
Several themes are used in the commemorations that highlight the historic
achievements of Marconi, such as the contrasting technologies used in global
communications and the innovative skills and high degree of technical
competence of the traditional radio amateur operator.
1931 - The 30th Anniversary
Marconi himself participated in an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the
first transatlantic wireless signal. He was in London at the time along
with Kemp and Paget, according to the information in "My Father, Marconi"
by Degna Marconi.
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1961 - The 60th Anniversary
The 1961 operation took place from the Colonial building on Military road.
The participants were, standing from left to right, Messrs R. Peddle VO1BD,
B. Lewis VO1FM, name not known, and G. Humphrey; seated Messrs A. Burden VO1BJ, E. Ash VO1AA,
Dr J. Craig VO1FB, and Mr Eric Holden VO1BH.
now VE3GN, who also contributed to the operation.
Images thanks to Dr J. Craig.
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1971 - The 70th Anniversary
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1981 - The 80th Anniversary
Mr Frank Davis, the (now) late Gioia Marconi Bragga and the late Mr Ben Collins
represented SONRA and Newfoundland Telephone Amateur Radio Club. The call sign
VO1MEA was used for the 80th anniversary. An honorary degree was conferred
upon Gioia Marconi Bragga at the fall convocation of Memorial University.
Elettra Marconi and her son, Guglielmo have been suggested for honorary degrees for 2001 to mark the centenary.
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1983
This photo by Brian VO1IF shows Don VO1KZ, Brian VO1BG, Jim VO1JW (seated).
Standing are Brian VO1IF, Ned VO1MN and Aiden VO1KH. The operation was
from the second floor of Cabot Tower on the west part of the floor. Thanks
to VO1FB for the info from the "The Long Skip" newsletter.
1985
In 1985 Messrs Cyril Forbes, Ned Mulrooney, Waren Stone, Frank Davis and Joe
Craig operated a tube radio that they set up on the 2nd floor and a wire
antenna was strung out the west window of Cabot Tower.
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1986 - The 85th Anniversary
Messrs Warren Stone, Bob Lewis, Frank Davis, Ned Mulrooney and Joe Craig
operated a temporary station from the second floor of Cabot Tower.
Warren and Joe were interviewed by CBC radio's Ted Blades. Many contacts
were had.
Mr R. Troke of Parks Canada (upper left) assisted and welcomed us to
use Cabot Tower for the event.
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1987
 Mr Chris Allingham and
Mr J. Craig representing the Memorial University of Newfoundland ARC
and SONRA. Mr Don Parsons of Parks Canada assisted.
(Photograph and story courtesy of The Telegram.)
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1991 - The 90th Anniversary
An operation was set up within metres of where Marconi heard the first
transatlantic signal to commemorate the 90th anniversary. The operators were
VO1KX, MP, and NA and several others. A re-enactment was conducted where
the Morse letter 'S' was received from the Poldhu Amateur Radio Club in
Cornwall, England.
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1993
Plans to prepare for the 100th anniversary are discussed with Parks Canada
Mr Bob Lewis, VO1BL, founding member of SONRA displays a small home-built
amateur radio transmitter with only 12 components. Mr Lewis, a well known
radio and television personality, was building his own radio transmitters while
Marconi was experimenting with short waves.
The skilled amateur radio operators in Poldhu have received messages from this
tiny transmitter for 4 consecutive years on 12 December.
Photograph courtesy of The Telegram.
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1994
Operators were VO1JOH,VO1FE,NA,FZ and others.
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1995
Radio amateurs welcome Prof Len Zedel of the Physics Department of Memorial
University who has requested we attempt to make a direct contact with David
Edwards in Hobart, Tasmania on the other side of the world. Tasmania was the
site of a Marconi station in 1905. A special antenna is designed and a
prototype erected with the assistance of Parks Canada and the contact is made.
Greetings are exchanged between officials at CSIRO (VK7RO) and MUN via Morse
code and the internet. The Poldhu contact is established at 12:30 local time
and greetings are exchanged.
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1996 - The 95th Anniversary
His worship Mayor Murphy of St John's exchanges greetings with the "mayor" of
Poldhu, Chairman of Council Carolyn Rule, via Amateur Radio as Sandro de
Bernardin of the Italian Consulate (upper right) and amateur radio operator
J. Craig look on.
The mayor uses the telegraph key to send the Morse while Joe activates
the antenna switch. This transmitter was built from junk-box parts following
the amateur practice of years gone by and had a
power output of one watt -- about the same power used by a small flash-light.
Of course, we also made contact with Hobart using Morse code and the
internet.
(Paper clipping used with permission of The Telegram.
Colour photographs taken by Bob Lewis)
(Picture and story courtesy of The Telegram)
1997
Contacts are made with Hobart via radio station VK7UJ and via internet phone. A message from David Edwards is sent from VK7UJ to VO1AA to be forwarded to
GB2GM in Poldhu. Contact is established with Carolyn Rule in Poldhu and
greetings are exchanged using radiotelephone. Home built radio apparatus is
used to transmit messages in Morse code to Poldhu, including the letter 'S'.
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1998
On 2 October 1998, Mr Roy Dodge, VO1XP and Mr J. Craig VO1NA were very
honoured to communicate with Princess Elettra (Marconi's daughter) while she
was in Poldhu England. The Poldhu Amateur Radio Club had organised the event
and the Newfoundland Telephone Club station VO1NT was used to communicate
from St. John's. Also heard were amateur radio operators in Villa Griffone
where Marconi did his early experiments.
Click here to hear
Elettra Marconi's radio transmission across the Atlantic from GB2GM (Poldhu)
to VO1NT (St. John's).
Again, we are successful in contacting Poldhu and Hobart on 12 December.
This year, Len and Autry exchange internet video and audio with Hobart.
Radiotelegraph contact was established with Hobart. The small transmitter is
used to send messages to Poldhu. Radio amateurs in St. John's chat with
amateurs in Poldhu.
1999
Prof. Zedel, David Edwards (Tasmania) and Mr. Craig are interviewed by
CBC radio. A telegram is sent via Morse code to the Governor of Tasmania
from the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland. Contact is made
with Poldhu, but radio conditions are very poor and Morse code was the only
reliable means of radio communication that was available.
At 5:00 AM Barry Roberts and Autry Dawe (top) welcome coffee from Michelle and
Joe. Autry established I-phone and image transmissions.
Len chats with dignitaries in Hobart on a cell phone. Barry, an electrical
engineer with NewTel, arranged the cell phone operations.
Mr Craig, having telegraphed greetings from his Honour Lt. Governor Maxwell
House, copies the reply from His Excellency Governor Green in Hobart. Dr
Zedel forwards the telegram to Lt. Governor Maxwell House.
We are grateful to Parks Canada for granting us permission
to use the site.
2000
As in previous years, and following the tradition started by Marconi in 1901,
we brought all of our gear to Signal Hill and set it up for the event.
The aerial was tuned using a remote controlled balanced antenna tuner,
constructed entirely from parts provided by the Canadian Marconi Company.
We are very grateful to Mr Barry Hayes of CMC Electronics for his expertise and
helpful technical discussions.
At around 5:00 AM an internet connection was established with Hobart, and
efforts were made to co-ordinate the Morse code contact with VK7RO.
Mr Jack Norman VO1JN, telegraphs Australia as Len and Autry
continue to exchange information with the ITEE conference delegates on a ship
in Tasmania.
This year, we were honoured to welcome Kelly Nelson and David Burns of Marconi
Canada. Kelly has been very enthusiastic and supportive of our efforts.
David was very happy to be involved for the
first time. Despite a solar flare that made conditions very poor, direct radio
communications were established with Hobart and Poldhu. All present
had a chat with Carolyn Rule. Pictured are Kelly, David and Joe. We are most
grateful to Dr J.Craig VO1FB, for providing his radio for the event. It
is just visible to the left of Kelly who has the microphone in hand.
(photo: Frank Davis)
Kelly wrote a brief message that was
telegraphed to Poldhu. This and the reply are transcribed below.
We received the letter 'S' and were able to acknowledge it using the
home built transmitter. We resume voice communications and there is excited
discussion about the centenary event next year. Also participating was
Mr Frank Davis. Frank declined to be photographed, but assures us he hasn't
changed since the 1981 photo!
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February 2001
St John's was honoured with a visit from Princess Elettra. Here from left
to right are Len Zedel, Princess Elettra, and Premier Grimes. Photo: J. Craig.
November 2001
The Marconi Radio Club of
Newfoundland is formally incorporated.
2001 - The 100th Anniversary
After considerable planning involving the Poldhu ARC, Memorial
University and the IEEE, the Nfld Science Centre, Radio Amateurs of Canada and
a host of others, we set up on the campus of
Memorial University using half the driven element from the 20 metre yagi beam
of VO1FB as a quarter-wave monopole atop the Music Building. The special
call sign VD1GM was used. Telegrams were sent and received from government
officials, radio amateur officials and academics. We were joined on the
air waves by distinguished radio scientist Dr John Belrose and RAC regional
director Bill Gillis VE1WG.
Photo: Chris Hammond, Memorial University of Newfoundland Photographer.
Dr Zedel looks on as Frank Davis, P.Eng operates the radio and Joe
announces the transmission over the World Wide Web.
Photo: Chris Hammond
Drs O'Young and Zedel listen on a crystal receiver. This receiver was
assembled by components contributed by several
MRCN members. Jeff Newhook a senior electrical engineering student, looks on.
The Receiver Competition for grade 9 students was a resounding success.
MRCN members Mr Dave Colton, VO1TK, Dr Siu O'Young, Mr Barry Roberts, P. Eng
(standing) and seated Joe and Len who gave details of our operation during
an interview by CBC.
Barry displays the Canadian flag to the web cam for viewers in Tunisia
as Dave transmits Morse code to IY4FGM in Villa Griffone in Italy where Marconi
did his early experiments. Radio Contacts were also made with Chelmsford,
Glace Bay, Cape Cod, and other sites with historic connections to Marconi.
Len checks the internet connection to Hobart as Joe copies a reply to
Lt Governor Maxwell House from His Excellency Sir Guy Green in Hobart
Tasmania.
A ceremony was held by the IEEE and University for the Crystal Receiver
Competition. Dignitaries included Lt. Gov. Dr House, Dr Meisen,
Mr Fontaine (University and IEEE presidents) and of course the students.
We received greetings from John Rule in Poldhu: the radio transmission was
fed into the audio system in the auditorium so all could hear.
Dignitaries exchange greetings with their counterparts in Poldhu. Mr Harris,
MHA for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi,
Mr Guerette, District Director, Industry Canada and Dr Gill, professor of
Electrical Engineering, were on the air. Here Mr Bob Lewis transmits from
VD1GM to GB100GM. Coincidentally the year 2001 was Bob's 70th as a licensed
radio amateur. He participated in the commemoration 40 years ago in 1961.
Mrs Carolyn Rule invited the MRCN to be a formally linked with the Poldhu ARC
as their sister station and of course we were very honoured to accept. The
event concluded with a transmission of three clicks from Poldhu (which
resembled the transmission by Dr John Belrose VE2CV who recreated the sound
one would hear when receiving a the Poldhu transmitter in 1901). These were
heard on an authentic Marconi receiver. Here's
a signal transmitted from Poldhu and received in Newfoundland
with a Marconi receiver.
VIPs and some MRCN members: Mr J. Harris, Dr E. Gill, Mrs M. Craig,
Mr D. Bouzaine, Mr R. Guerette, Mr J. Craig, Dr L. Zedel and Mr B. Lewis.
Photo: Ms Cathy Young, Executive Assistant to Mr Harris.
For additional details on the centenary events, please see the
Fall 2002 issue
of "The IEEE Canadian Review".
2002
Click here to hear the 'tiny transmitter' send the
letter S and GB2GM, the call sign of the Poldhu Amateur Radio Club from Poldhu
in September.
Following the big splash on the Centenary, we resumed more usual operations.
Contact was made with David Edwards via Richard Rogers by radio.
Richard was pleased to accept an honorary membership in MRCN during the
Morse code contact. David has also accepted an honorary membership.
Here we see Dr Zedel making his own "radio transmission" from the site
where Marconi spanned the Atlantic 101 years earlier.
Of course, we made out usual contact with the PARC. Fortunately Dr Lawton,
VO1BP alerted us to the fact that Poldhu was calling slightly off frequency
and we were able to make the contact with Keith. Several other MRCN members
were able to exchange greetings with other PARC members as well.
2003
MRCN returned again to Signal Hill to successfully link the antipodes via
radio (although not with Hobart) and to re-enact the first wireless
transatlantic experiment. We used the telephone line and the internet to
contrast with the radio methods of communication
by contacting the ITRE in Hobart as part of their Radio Foundation Day
celebrations. During our contact with Poldhu, MHA Jack Harris was greeted by
his counterpart Chairman Carolyn Rule. We are very grateful to Michelle Miskel
and the staff of the Johnson Geo Centre for their being so accommodating and
helpful and arranging an interview with the local television station.
Pictured above are Messrs D. Colton, J. Craig and B. Lewis at the VO1MRC
station in the Geo Centre on Signal Hill.
2004
This year, we had the participation of all honorary members, Dr J. Belrose,
Magistrate C. Rule, Mr David Edwards and Mr R. Rogers. Dr L. Zedel of MRCN
was a guest at the radio station of J. Craig where 1 kW of RF on 7 MHz
was transmitted from a 25 metre tower and gave readable signals in Hobart.
Although VK7AW (VK7RO at the key) was very weak in Newfoundland, we did
complete the contact on the 10th of December as part of an awards banquet
in Hobart. Details appeared in the Febuary 2005 issue of "Engineering
Tasmania." We also sent images to Hobart and had a chat on the phone.
And as usual, members of the the Poldhu Amateur
Radio Club and the Marconi Club linked again and reminisced about our
many transatlantic wireless exchanges of greetings and members.
Len Zedel chats to David Edwards in Hobart on an old style telephone as
J. Craig enjoys a beaker of coffee after completing the radio contact.
2005
As part of International Physics Year, we were invited to the Newfoundland
and Labrador Science Centre. Here Len works on the antenna on the roof.
The staff at the Centre did an excellent promotion with a 'Wireless Workshop'
with children building their own radios and using them to copy Morse code
transmissions. The Poldhu club received our transmissions and we received
theirs, but because of electrical noise, the usual contact was not possible
on 12 December although we did have other contacts including Ric VK7RO
in Hobart, Tasmania.
Here we see Joe, Len and Frank along with a Cornish Flag and Cornish Kite
(on the table to the right) from our friends in Poldhu.
2006
Once again, we returned to the NL Science Centre, about 2 km from
Signal Hill. Atop the Science Centre, we set up this aerial, the same one
we used in the 2001 reenactment.
On the top floor, we set up a temporary radio station and completed
several 2-way contacts using Morse code and radiotelephone. Here we see Tracy
Thoms, whos assistance and advice on behalf of the Science Centre has been
truly outstanding. After news that VO1MRC was on the air, many stations
started calling our station including ...
our friends at our sister station in Poldhu GB2GM. (Photo: PARC Newsletter,
55:1,2007) Conditions were not especially favourable but fortunately
Morse code was used to make the initial contact. We then switched to voice
and were delighted to exchange greetings across the Atlantic to mark the
105th anniversary of Marconi's experiment. We are very grateful to all those
who assisted and of course, the NL Science Centre.
Feel free to include a link to this web page, but please note that no
material may be copied from this site without the prior written permission
of the authors and the acknowledgement of the Marconi Radio Club of
Newfoundland.
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