Key Dates

In 1946, Kenwood was founded in Komagane City, Japan, initially under the name Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. The company later changed its name to Trio Corporation before adopting the Kenwood brand for its products. Kenwood quickly became renowned for producing high-quality audio and communication equipment. In the 1970s, Kenwood entered the amateur radio market, earning…

In January 1945, CQ Magazine was launched, providing a new and influential voice for the amateur radio community. Founded by Richard H. “Dick” Ross, K2MGA, CQ quickly became a leading publication for radio enthusiasts, offering a wide range of content including technical articles, equipment reviews, operating tips, and news. The magazine’s focus on promoting the…

In 1933, Arthur A. Collins founded Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The company quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality radio and communication equipment, initially focusing on amateur radio gear. Collins Radio Company became renowned for its innovative designs and reliable products, which were widely used in both civilian and military applications. During…

The first ever ARRL Field Day was held on June 22-23, 1933. This annual event was established by the American Radio Relay League to encourage emergency preparedness and to promote outdoor, portable operations among amateur radio operators. During Field Day, participants set up temporary stations in various locations, simulating emergency conditions to practice their communication…

In 1927, Brandon Wentworth, operating under the call sign 6OI, achieved a significant milestone in amateur radio by working and confirming contacts with all inhabited continents. This accomplishment, known as achieving “Worked All Continents” (WAC), demonstrated the remarkable potential of amateur radio for long-distance communication. Wentworth’s success highlighted the capabilities of the evolving radio technology…

In 1926, Shintaro Uda and Hidetsugu Yagi of Tohoku Imperial University in Japan invented the directional antenna array, now widely known as the Yagi-Uda antenna or simply the Yagi antenna. This innovative design features a driven element (typically a dipole), one or more directors, and a reflector. The Yagi antenna’s configuration enhances its ability to…

In 1915, a patent for single sideband (SSB) modulation was granted to John Renshaw Carson, an American engineer working for AT&T. His invention, described in U.S. Patent 1,449,382, outlined the method of using only one sideband of the transmitted radio signal along with a suppressed carrier, which significantly improved the efficiency and clarity of radio…

In 1914, Edwin H. Armstrong invented the tube-operated regenerative receiver, a groundbreaking advancement in radio technology. This receiver utilized a triode vacuum tube to amplify signals, significantly improving sensitivity and selectivity compared to earlier crystal detectors. By feeding a portion of the amplified signal back into the input circuit (regeneration), the regenerative receiver could achieve…

In 1914, Hiram Percy Maxim, along with Clarence D. Tuska, founded the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). This organization was established to promote and support the interests of amateur radio operators in the United States. Maxim, an avid radio enthusiast and inventor, recognized the need for a coordinated effort to relay messages across long distances,…