Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World - Chapter 252: The Birth Of Wireless Communication

A few weeks later, despite Poul being busy with the presidential campaigns, he was still able to play his role in the company. On the third floor of the main office, a group of engineers surrounded a table, scanning the object that they have been working on for months.

“So, that is the radio?” One of the engineers muttered, looking at its sleek wooden casing with awe. The radio prototype sat proudly in the center of the table, its design a testament to Poul’s vision and the engineers’ craftsmanship.

Poul nodded with satisfaction, his eyes fixed on the intricate details of the radio. The polished wood exuded elegance, while the carefully arranged knobs and dials hinted at its functionality. It was a compact device, designed to fit comfortably on a tabletop or shelf, with a built-in speaker and a small antenna extending from the top.

“Yes, this is our radio prototype,” Poul replied a hint of pride in his voice.

Amelia leaned forward, her eyes filled with curiosity and excitement. “How does it work, Poul? How can we transmit and receive voices and music through this small device?”

Poul’s gaze shifted to the engineers, specifically Walter, who exchanged knowing glances. Walter, eager to explain.

“The radio operates through the use of electromagnetic waves,” he began, gesturing to the various components inside the radio. “We have incorporated a receiver that captures radio waves emitted by broadcasting stations. These waves carry encoded audio signals, which the receiver decodes and converts into audible sound through the built-in speaker.”

Walter pointed to the antenna, explaining its crucial role. “The antenna acts as the interface between the radio waves in the air and the receiver. It captures the electromagnetic waves and directs them to the receiver for processing.”

“It would be easier to demonstrate it rather than simply describing it,” Poul interjected, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He walked over to a nearby table and picked up a microphone, which he had conveniently brought along.

“Amelia, would you be so kind as to speak into this microphone?” Poul requested with a playful smile.

Amelia looked slightly perplexed but complied, holding the microphone close to her lips. “Testing, one, two, three,” she spoke into the microphone, her voice reverberating through the room.

Poul walked back to the radio prototype and adjusted the knobs, tuning it to a specific frequency. Suddenly, Amelia’s voice filled the airwaves, emanating from the radio’s speaker with remarkable clarity.

Amelia’s eyes widened in amazement as she heard her own voice echoing from the radio. “Poul, it’s incredible! My voice is traveling through the air and being received by the radio!”

Poul chuckled, delighted by Amelia’s reaction. “Indeed, Amelia.”

Poul leaned closer to the radio, pointing at the receiver. “Inside the receiver, we have electronic circuits that are designed to detect and extract the encoded audio signals from the radio waves. These signals are then converted into electrical currents that can be amplified and transformed into sound waves, which we hear through the speaker.”

Amelia nodded, beginning to grasp the concept. “So, the radio waves act as carriers of information, and the receiver’s circuits are responsible for extracting and decoding that information. Fascinating, but how does one reach another that is located a great distance, let’s say two thousand kilometers, how do radio waves get to that?”

Poul smiled, appreciating Amelia’s curiosity. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding with scientific and technical details.

“Ah, the propagation of radio waves over long distances,” Poul began. “It’s a remarkable phenomenon, Amelia. Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation that travels through space at the speed of light. They propagate through the atmosphere, and their behavior can be influenced by various factors.”

He gestured towards the antenna of the radio prototype. “The antenna plays a crucial role in both transmitting and receiving radio waves. When it comes to transmitting, the radio station uses a powerful transmitter that generates high-frequency electromagnetic waves. These waves carry the encoded audio information, and the antenna efficiently radiates them into space.”

Poul paused, his gaze focused as he continued. “Now, when it comes to receiving those signals over long distances, we rely on the principles of wave propagation. Radio waves can be affected by factors such as atmospheric conditions, the curvature of the Earth, and obstacles in their path.”

He moved closer to the table, tracing his finger along the surface. “To reach a destination located thousands of kilometers away, we employ a combination of techniques. One of the key methods is called ‘skywave propagation’ or ‘ionospheric propagation.’ When radio waves encounter the ionosphere, a layer of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, they can be reflected back down to the Earth’s surface.”

Poul raised his hand, signaling the height of the ionosphere. “The ionosphere is present at an altitude of around 80 to 1,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. By adjusting the frequency and power of the transmitted radio waves, we can optimize their chances of reaching distant locations through reflection and refraction in the ionosphere.”

He looked at Amelia, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. “Of course, this is a simplified explanation, as the behavior of radio waves can be complex and influenced by various factors. But through careful engineering and understanding of these principles, we can establish communication links over vast distances.”

Amelia was a bit lulled by the technical details but remained intrigued. She took a moment to absorb the information, contemplating the marvels of radio wave propagation. Breaking the silence, she asked.

“I’m quite understanding it so how will we mass produce this radio and market it?”

Poul’s smile widened, appreciating Amelia’s practicality and forward-thinking mindset. He walked back to the table, where the engineers had gathered around the radio prototype, and motioned for Amelia to join them.

“Mass production and marketing, an essential aspect indeed,” Poul responded, his voice filled with determination. “To bring this radio to the world, we will need to establish a robust manufacturing process and develop a strategic marketing plan. As we all know, people around the world still use telegraphs, especially those that are connected via cable. I’m sure you have seen telegraph pole lines crisscrossing above, ruining the view of the landscapes. Our radio and wireless telegraph has the potential to revolutionize communication and eliminate the need for these unsightly wires.”

Amelia nodded in agreement. “So we simply highlight that one aspect? Well, this is kind of basic. It will also save potential customers money as they don’t have to build cable infrastructures to establish telegraph connections. We can emphasize the cost-effectiveness of our radio technology compared to the installation and maintenance of extensive telegraph lines. I’ll get to work.”

“Oh, what do we have here?”

Everyone turned to the sudden visitor, and they recognized the voice, it was Jonathan.

“Hoh? A radio huh? So you have finished it, Poul?” Jonathan said, looking at Poul.

“Yup, you just missed the demonstration,” Poul chuckled.

“I see, well I’m going to need your help on our weapon’s enterprise,” Jonathan revealed the reason why he was there. “As soon as you finish there, I want you to come down and join me to visit the weapons factory.”

“Actually, I’m technically done here,” Poul said. “Amelia, prepare a comprehensive and detailed plan for starting a new enterprise.”

“What would you like it named, Poul?” Amelia asked, jotting down everything Poul had said.

Poul has pondered a new name for that enterprise, and based on the nature of the product, it can fall under the Axelsen & Nielsen Electric Manufacturing and Distribution Company. But he wanted it to be a separate entity, where it can focus solely on developing hi-tech wireless communication.

“It’s simple, Axelsen and Nielsen for our signature name and then Radio Manufacturing and Broadcasting Company.”