An investigation of the antenna and the propagation path of Marconi's transatlantic experiment

Abstract

Long distance radio propagation history started with Marconi's transatlantic experiment on the 12th of December 1901. Although Marconi's experiment has been analysed by many researchers, the focus has only been on the circuit theory part. But here in this work we have studied it from the antenna and the ionospheric propagation points of view. Marconi claimed that he had used signals with a frequency of 0.166 MHz. Using his antenna design and ionospheric conditions prevailing at that time the present work proves that signals with frequencies of 9.375 MHz and 12.5 MHz had much higher possibility of transatlantic transmission rather than his much reported frequency. We have also shown that if the experiment was done in summer the possibilities of success would have been even less.