Radios have come a long way since their invention in 1985 - but who can be credited with this technological marvel?
Living in the age of waterproof headphones, Skype, Mobile phones, and even a robotic vacuum cleaner, we can take the radio for granted. But we should give more credit to these intelligent little devices.
Well we're doing just that: casting the spotlight entirely on radios, and most importantly solving the mystery of who invented the first radio - Marconi or Tesla?
Who is the true inventor of the radio?
There's always slight hesitation around who should get genuine credit for inventing the first radio, and you'd think it'd be straightforward enough to have solved this by now.
But the invention of radio communication took many decades of experimental investigations, a tonne of engineering, and a huge amount of technical development. It's far more complicated than many of us are aware.
In fact, when you search for the inventor of radio, a few names crop up:
Guglielmo Marconi
Marconi was the first person to exploit the radio commercially.
And after many years of vast, in-depth work, the underpinning and technical foundations were already laid for Italian inventor, Guglielmo Marconi, to come along and build a fully working, and successful wireless communication system.
He sent and received his first radio signal in Italy in 1895, and in 1901 Marconi used the radio to send a message across the Atlantic, from England to Canada.
Fun fact: the message was very, very faint, and the only noise actually heard was the sound of letter 'S'.
Nikola Tesla
Tesla was an extraordinary engineer, who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern day alternating current electric supply system.
After emigrating to the United States in 1884, Tesla invented the Tesla coil, which was a device crucial to sending and receiving radio waves - one that Marconi later relied on for his development of wireless communication.
As early as 1893, Tesla was already publicly demonstrating wireless communication devices, and held a firm belief that wireless technology would not only be used for communication, but also for power distribution.
So, while Tesla laid the groundwork and came up with the idea of radio communication, Marconi developed and patented the actual product that we know as radio today.
Alexander Stepanovich Popov
Another name that often comes up alongside the search of 'who invented the radio?' is Alexander Popov. Popov is reported to have developed the first radio capable of distinguishing morse code, which was demonstrated in the year 1895.
He used his radio apparatus to send a Morse code message which then went on to become an invaluable asset used during the world war.
When was the first radio invented?
After Italian genius, Marconi had proved the existence and practicality of radio communication, he sent and received his first radio signal in Italy in 1895.
It was also reported that Popov demonstrated his radio apparatus in the same year.
So, whether you believe Popov or Marconi is the true father of radio, it was in the mid 1890's that the radio was technically invented and successfully displayed.
What are the best radios today?
The best radios
1 of 5Roberts Revival RD70
Roberts is a company known for creating radios of the highest quality, and the Revival RD70 adds to this reputation. The 1950s styling is excellent (and it's a synthetic leather, so those looking to use fewer animal-based products will be happy). Right from the box, you'll note the impressive build quality, and the sound is lovely and warm. The Revival is highly functional, offering FM, DAB and DAB+ radio stations, and coming with Bluetooth, allowing a smartphone or tablet to link up for even more audio choice. The radio lets you save 10 FM and 10 DAB stations for quick navigation, and has an alarm and snooze functions.Mains powered, adapter included. Available in a range of colours, including Pastel Cream, Leaf and Duck Egg (pictured).For: Attractive 1950s styling, excellent sound, great features and easy to use.Against: Nothing.
£178.00
2 of 5Pure Evoke H6
Pure's Evoke H6 is one of our favourites. While it is slightly more expensive when compared to other options, the build quality, sound and features soon make up for the price. The two speakers provide a rich, warm and vibrant audio, while the FM, DAB and DAB+ coverage gives plenty of listening choice. Bluetooth allows for wireless playback from a mobile device. The full-colour screen is clear and easy to read, and navigation is simple thanks to the simple button layout. The Evoke H6 can be made portable with the purchase of a rechargeable Pure ChargePAK F1 battery.Mains powered, adapter included. Portable battery pack available separately.For: Great sound, clear screen and easy to use.Against: Expensive and not the best looking option, though by no means ugly.
3 of 5John Lewis & Partners Spectrum Duo II
John Lewis & Partners has been producing DAB radios for some time now, and has gotten rather good it. The Spectrum Duo II has FM, DAB and DAB+ coverage, and will also play audio from wireless NFC connections to smartphones and tablets. There is also a line-in connection for wired playback – you're spoilt for choice. It carries two speakers, which as well as providing a rich audio, offers plenty of volume. The finish is soft-touch, and the buttons are simple to use for navigation.Battery or mains powered, adapter included. Available in Teal, Gunmetal and Plaster (pictured). For: Affordable, high-quality sound and build. Against: Soft-touch finish can be a dust and dirt magnet.
4 of 5Roberts Radio Play10
The Robert Radio Play10 is a portable radio, offering full FM/DAB/DAB+ coverage in a lightweight and portable shell. There is a headphone socket for personal listening, and several presets for simple navigation. While the radio doesn't have the best sound quality on this list (mostly due to its size), it's more than enough to keep you company while you're out in the garden, on a picnic or when on holiday.Battery and mains powered, adapter included. Available in Black and White.For: Easy to use, portable and reliable.Against: Not the strongest sound for everyday use.
5 of 5Sony XDR-P1DBP Pocket Radio
The ultimate portable radio, featuring all the functions you could need at a size that'll slip into your pocket – it weighs only 170g and measures in a 115 x 57 x 25mm (W x H x D). Sony's battery-powered radio covers FM, DAB and DAB+, and can store up to 20 stations in its memory. You can listen from either the in-built speaker, or via headphones. The battery will last up to 15 hours and is rechargeable too, so there's no fiddling around with individual battery cells.Available in Black and White.For: Lightweight, very portable, rechargeable and has a high build quality.Against: The buttons can be fiddly and the speaker isn't very loud.
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