15 American Radio Receiver BC-14A, 1918

Fotogalerie

All the armies, engaged in World War I, used wireless telegraphy based on the principle of electromagnetic waves propagation. Before the war, majority of these devices were installed aboard ships. It was estimated that there were about 4 to 5 thousand ship stations in the world.

Invention of three-electrode valve – triode, made by the American Lee de Forest before the war, enabled upgrading of the stations during the war. The research aimed at improvement of the triode for military purposes was carried out by French researcher General Ferrié. Thanks to that, they were able to construct a modern triode, which was used by all the fighting countries at the end of World War I. As early as in 1915, the French specialists designed a little transmitter for aircraft, which enabled literally a revolution in their use as observation means for artillery gun laying. At the beginning of the year 1917, French armed forces had already several thousands of small vacuum tube transmitters and receivers. The U.S. BC-14 radio receiver, together with the BC-15 transmitter, formed part of the SCR-54A artillery observer set. It was used by the artillery to receive instructions from reconnaissance aircraft or balloons. Rapid communication without great effort and its resistance against enemy fire remained the best advantage of the radiotelegraphy during the war. However, the speed was considerably decreased by encryption, decryption and useless length of the messages during the war. On the other hand, the need of well-trained personnel and easy monitoring (spying) of the plain messages by the enemy appeared to be disadvantage. The Russian defeat by Tannenberg, at the turn of August and September 1914, clearly proved how dangerous the bad organisation and uncontrolled activity of radio telegraphic network can be.

15 American Radio Receiver BC-14A, 1918

Fotogalerie

Aktuálně

Ministryně obrany na Vítkově vyznamenala in memoriam "takřka zapomenuté" československé hrdiny

Upozornění na uzavřený hangár v Leteckém muzeu Kbely

Národní památník na Vítkově je od čtvrtka 11. září od 13:00 uzavřen. Platí to i pro pátek 12. září

Vývoz a dovoz speciálu v druhé pětiletce

Přijďte do Císařské konírny Pražského hradu na výstavu válečných plakátů - do 28. října 2025

Vojenský historický ústav Praha

Ředitelství

Správní rada pro vyřízení vývozních povolení, darů či výkupů

Správní rada pro vyřízení zápůjček

Knihovna VHÚ

Časopis Historie a vojenství

Armádní muzeum Žižkov

Letecké muzeum Kbely

Vojenské Technické Muzeum Lešany u Týnce nad Sázavou