Steam Radio
 

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.

Steam Radio
 

"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

Steam Radio
 

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.

Steam Radio
 

"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.

Steam Radio
 

"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

Steam Radio
 

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

Steam Radio
 

"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

Steam Radio
 

"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.

Steam Radio
 

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

Steam Radio
 

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.

Steam Radio
 

David Looser wrote:

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!

A turbine doesn't count. It's got to be a coal-fired piston
engine with a funnel and a whistle.

Ian

Steam Radio
 

"Ian Iveson" wrote in message
...
David Looser wrote:

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!

A turbine doesn't count. It's got to be a coal-fired piston engine with a
funnel and a whistle.

At 10,000 rpm?

David.

Steam Radio
 

David Looser wrote:

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.

You have not explained what sort of water cooled carbon microphone is
used capable of handling high power and which won't be dangereous for
the operator to use.

If you ever wanted to make a replica of the transmitter, I recommend you
contact Trevor Wilson.

His ability to generate hot air would be enough to power boil the water
for the superheated steam turbine easily.

And there's more.

Put Trevor in front of the mic with the promise that he will be able to
contact the outside world if he talks loudly enough to overcome the poor
sensitivity of 1912 microphones and he'll be happy as a pig in a bog.
He'll spray and foam so much while achieving acoustical miracles with
the mouth that you won't need water cooling on the mic.

If you want to transmit extra distances, then tie Phil A to the boiler
after-burner, mention something mildly insultive, and watch the big
meter needle showing RF power zooming upwards towards several thousand
watts.

For more about steam,

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEU.../rotaryeng.htm

Patrick Turner.