First Radio Broadcast?

[joec188]

So, in the movie "Contact" the SETI guys receive back the first "high powered" tv signal sent into space (images of Hitler opening the olympics). The question is, what was the first broadcast sent into space (radio/tv) and where is it now? How far away? What are the chances of something out there actually picking it up and sending it back to us?

 

[vogon13]

John Baird transmitted a primitive form of TV from a ship in the Atlantic to (IIRC) NYC in the 1920s.<br /><br />Not sure if the carrier frequency was high enough to penetrate the ionosphere (probably not) and his ERP was pretty low too.<br /><br />I suppose with enough aperture (think really, really big) it might be detectable, but after ~80 years the signal is going to be extremely dilute.<br /><br />Extremely.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Prior to WWII, the British were actually broadcasting television to a small number of viewers.<br /><br />When WWII was declared, they abruptly ceased to broadcast, part way through the Disney animated short, "Steamboat Willie." German bombers could home in on the signal, you see.<br /><br />When Victory was declared in Europe, they returned to broadcasting - picking "Steamboat Wille" up exactly where they had stopped, years before.<br /><br />A bit of odd trivia. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

That's two bits of interesting trivia related to WWII I have seen this morning....<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

<i>SEPTEMBER 3RD<br /><br />1939 - British Prime Minister Chamberlain's War announcement interrupts a Disney Cartoon "Mickey's Gala Premiere" showing on the fledgling BBC television service. Television shuts down for the duration.<br /><br />1946 - After the War, the BBC television service resumes and an announcer says:"Well now, where were we?" They continue the Mickey cartoon from where it was interrupted in 1939.</i><br /><br />Timeline<br /><br />Sorry, forgot to post a link about it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[nexium]

There is a sizable group of experts who think even the 5 million watt transmiters of the past 30 years produce a picture with no useful detail at a distance of one light year even with a mile wide radio telescope. The audio is detectable to several light years, but not understandable. The picture carrier to perhaps 20 light years. My guess is several times that far, briefly and rarely, with technology we don't know about yet. An added complication is the antennas of high power transmitter are typically designed to beam the signal at the customers, so only one or two percent of the output escapes Earth's magnetosphere. Has anyone watched a snow free picture from a TV transmiter 7 miles below them, in a high flying plane? The inflight movies come from a VCR or DVD player. Neil

 

[pizzaguy]

<font color="yellow">So, in the movie "Contact" the SETI guys receive back the first "high powered" tv signal sent into space (images of Hitler opening the olympics). </font><br />That was a GOOD movie. Ms. Foster played the part of a scientist very well, but I wish they'd have used Gena Davis or someone else HOTTER than Jodie. (But I'm a pig. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /> )<br /><br />Anyway, a good movie but, like most science fiction, it was based on FICTION. Vega is 27 light years away, our TV signals would never make it that far, no matter how badly some people want to believe.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">How far away? </font><br />Not far. In any case, less than a light year.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">What are the chances of something out there actually picking it up and sending it back to us?</font><br />Zero. <br /><br /> Maybe you better click here. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1"><em>Note to Dr. Henry:  The testosterone shots are working!</em></font> </div>