Leafing through my copy of "The Practical Telephone Handbook" (1912
edition) - as one does - I came across the description of a transmitter for
"Wireless Telephony". It consists of an alternator that generates 5A at 60V
at the carrier frequency (60kHz) coupled to the aerial via a tuned step-up
transformer. The "modulator" is a water-cooled carbon microphone connected
in the earthy lead of the transformer secondary. The best bit, though, is
that the alternator is driven by a steam turbine. I'd always heard of "steam
radio", I hadn't realised it actually existed!

David.

"David Looser"

Leafing through my copy of "The Practical Telephone Handbook" (1912
edition) - as one does - I came across the description of a transmitter
for "Wireless Telephony". It consists of an alternator that generates 5A
at 60V at the carrier frequency (60kHz) coupled to the aerial via a tuned
step-up transformer. The "modulator" is a water-cooled carbon microphone
connected in the earthy lead of the transformer secondary. The best bit,
though, is that the alternator is driven by a steam turbine. I'd always
heard of "steam radio", I hadn't realised it actually existed!



** Does that explain the real origin of the ham radio term " fire up the rig
" ??



...... Phil

David Looser wrote:

The best bit, though, is that the alternator is driven by a steam
turbine. I'd always heard of "steam radio", I hadn't realised it
actually existed!

On that definition, you could well be on the steam internet. Certainly will
be if your electricity comes from a nuclear power plant.

--
Tony W
My e-mail address has no hyphen
- but please don't use it, reply to the group.

"Tony" wrote in message
...
David Looser wrote:

The best bit, though, is that the alternator is driven by a steam
turbine. I'd always heard of "steam radio", I hadn't realised it
actually existed!

On that definition, you could well be on the steam internet. Certainly
will be if your electricity comes from a nuclear power plant.


I take your point. But with that there is both physical separation between
the steam and the transmitter and an intermediate electrical form to the
energy.

David.

"Tony" wrote in message
...
David Looser wrote:

The best bit, though, is that the alternator is driven by a steam
turbine. I'd always heard of "steam radio", I hadn't realised it
actually existed!

On that definition, you could well be on the steam internet. Certainly
will be if your electricity comes from a nuclear power plant.

**Or hydro-electric, coal fired power station, or even geo-thermal. That
water is useful stuff.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Trevor Wilson wrote:
"Tony" wrote in message

On that definition, you could well be on the steam internet. Certainly
will be if your electricity comes from a nuclear power plant.

**Or hydro-electric, coal fired power station, or even geo-thermal. That
water is useful stuff.


Where in a hydro-electric station do you get steam?

--
Adrian C

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Trevor Wilson wrote:
"Tony" wrote in message

On that definition, you could well be on the steam internet. Certainly
will be if your electricity comes from a nuclear power plant.

**Or hydro-electric, coal fired power station, or even geo-thermal. That
water is useful stuff.


Where in a hydro-electric station do you get steam?

**Water is just condensed steam.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...


"Adrian C" wrote in message
...

Where in a hydro-electric station do you get steam?

**Water is just condensed steam.


Indeed it is, but that fact is neither here nor there as far as power
generation is concerned. It's not the fact that steam is evaporated water
that makes it useful, it's the pressure that results from the evaporation
(which in turn derives from the heat energy that has to be provided).

You can't generate power from plain, still water; hydro-electric power
depends on the mass and potential energy of the water.

David.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:20:59 -0000, "David Looser"
wrote:

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...


"Adrian C" wrote in message
...

Where in a hydro-electric station do you get steam?

**Water is just condensed steam.


Indeed it is, but that fact is neither here nor there as far as power
generation is concerned. It's not the fact that steam is evaporated water
that makes it useful, it's the pressure that results from the evaporation
(which in turn derives from the heat energy that has to be provided).

You can't generate power from plain, still water; hydro-electric power
depends on the mass and potential energy of the water.

David.


Hydro-electicity is a reasonably pure form of solar power. The sun
puts the water on top of the mountain, and you use the energy it gives
off as it falls back down again.

d

Adrian C wrote:
Trevor Wilson wrote:
"Tony" wrote in message

On that definition, you could well be on the steam internet.
Certainly will be if your electricity comes from a nuclear power plant.

**Or hydro-electric, coal fired power station, or even geo-thermal.
That water is useful stuff.


Where in a hydro-electric station do you get steam?

From the kettle. How long do you think a power station would run
without tea?

--
Eiron.