---
title: "Radio Telegraphy Signal Transmitted Across Atlantic"
year: 1901
canonical: "https://recap.at/1901/marconi-transatlantic-1901"
slug: "marconi-transatlantic-1901"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1901-01-01"
---

# Radio Telegraphy Signal Transmitted Across Atlantic

> Marconi's successful transatlantic wireless signal from Cornwall to Newfoundland proved radio could span oceans, launching the wireless age.

## Summary

Wireless telegraphy or radiotelegraphy is the transmission of text messages by radio waves, analogous to electrical telegraphy using cables. Before about 1910, the term wireless telegraphy was also used for other experimental technologies for transmitting telegraph signals without wires. In radiotelegraphy, information is transmitted by pulses of radio waves of two different lengths called "dots" and "dashes", which spell out text messages, usually in Morse code. In a manual system, the sending operator taps on a switch called a telegraph key which turns the transmitter on and off, producing the pulses of radio waves. At the receiver the pulses are audible in the receiver's speaker as beeps, which are translated back to text by an operator who knows Morse code.

## Sources

- [Radio telegraphy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_telegraphy) - Wikipedia

---
Canonical: https://recap.at/1901/marconi-transatlantic-1901