Marconi transmitted radio signals for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) at the end of 1895.
He was awarded a patent for radio with British patent No. 12,039, "Improvements in Transmitting Electrical Impulses and Signals and in Apparatus There-for".
The application in England was first submitted on June 2, 1896 and the final complete specification was filed March 2,1897.
In 1897 Nikola Tesla filed his own basic radio patent applications in th U.S. They were granted in 1900. The controversy over who ‘really’ invented the radio continues to the present day.
Any thoughts on the 'real inventor?
Paul, Thank you for reminding us.
I vote for Heinrich Hertz, who transmitted and received a radio wave in 1886. Seems he died not knowing what any of it was good for. (Ditto Ben Franklin with the kite in the storm? It took a while before we did anything with that too.)
When I was a kid, we would visit the Cape Cod site where some of Marconi's transatlantic work was done. When I first got my Technician ticket, I brought an HT out there to make a ceremonial QSO. I got some local guy on the local repeater. I was thrilled and told him "hey, I'm at the Marconi Station!" and he said "uh huh".
I've been there as well...inspiring! I think your 'ceremonial QSO' was quite wonderful.