Secret Life Of Machines - The Radio (Full Length)

/ carlthepianist
Any electrical spark creates radio waves and acts as a transmitter. You hear sparks on a radio as interference. That's why lighting makes radios crackle, and even the tiny spark in a switch is enough to make a noise on the radio when turning on a light.
Accompanying Sheet:
www.secretlifeofmachines.com/i...
Please see www.secretlifeofmachines.com for more information
Thanks to Tim Hunkin the creator for allowing these excellent videos to be freely distributed on-line.

[@leokimvideo]

One of my all time favourite TV shows, a show that explained complex everyday things so everyone could understand. Where's a TV show like this today?

[@cbroz7492]

..amen. my friend

[@geomcc39]

Great shows !

[@Andrew-iv5dq]

On KZbin

[@jam99]

Profit from educating people is far too long term for today's powers that be. Best instead to control them with addiction, fear, anger and other emotional responses. Programs like this stimulate people into thinking for themselves and actually doing things that may not involve looking at screen media.

[@littlerayofsunshine69]

TLC, The History Channel and The Discovery Channel tried. They became nothing more than drama and advertisements like everything else.

[@RobMacKendrick]

This was such a great show. This radio episode is brilliantly straightforward and complete, and doesn't treat the viewer like an idiot.

[@gpo746]

I repair vintage radios for clients and I still think radio is magic and wonderful.

[@mandelorean6243]

It is.. people just take everything for granted.. like hot showers and clean water. If some societal collapse... Radio would be almost important as food

[@Lividbuffalo]

I AM a radio actually

[@rig_it_safe]

​@@Lividbuffaloalmost everyone

[@KOakaKO]

I do so miss watching "Secret Life of Machines". Was such a good program.

[@youfuckingsuck3000]

Too bad nearly all the machines they covered are now obsolete. Analog Phones, CRT TV's, Fax Machines, VCR's, Photocopier, The Word Processor.

[@mikerca]

Yes it was !

[@chartle1]

@@youfuckingsuck3000 Fax Machines are still very much used in the medical field.

[@extradimension7356]

Meeee toooo I miss "Brum" too lol

[@pokemaster2464]

The mechanisms are not obselete tho, the way they work can be applied to all current tech. The way radio is used hasnt changed and neither has the way computers worked. Or car engines. Everything has just gotten more complex, but its still a great resource for learning!

[@ObiTrev]

"You breaka my plate! I smasha ya face!"

[@parishna4882]

Words we can all live by.. lol

[@AndreasDelleske]

Problem solving in all centuries.

[@James_Bowie]

Reminds me of the bumper sticker: "Insured by The Mob. You hit us, we hit you."

[@theharbingerofconflation]

Must be one of those rarely mentioned moments in Guglielmo Marconi's biography.

[@Andrew90046zero]

Im glad im not the only one who heard that XD

[@Fibr3Optix]

I love these old educational videos. For some reason they have more information in them than modern productions. Probably because they got to the point faster.

[@CelticSaint]

Less loud music, fewer swooooping sound effects, and didn't treat the viewer like an 8 year old.

[@robertpatterson3321]

@@CelticSaint The masses must be kept docile and uneducated so they will buy all the needless crap sold to them by their ruling overlords! It is as simple as that buddy!

[@willsander6178]

I feel part of it is the technology was less complicated and abstracted.

[@rageius]

It's because people are generally stupid and need to be entertained by theatrics or else they won't watch it, so in order to sell information and actual learning is valued less and marketing is more

[@annother3350]

@@rageius No, it's called 'dumbing down' - intentionally treating the people like idiots.

[@JulesB-zv9dp]

Used to love watching this series in the 80's. R.I.P Rex Garrod 👍

[@minty_Joe]

RIP, Rex. We miss you!

[@blipblip88]

aww. he died? sad..charming gent.

[@minty_Joe]

@@blipblip88 Yeah, it was Alzheimer's.

[@ZilogBob]

I didn't know. He was great as Tim's sidekick/co-host.

[@hesterhenrietta261]

Brum! Finally, a celebrity cameo I can get behind

[@atlantic_love]

Who cares?

[@fatcat2939]

Now thats a proper documentary. Thanks for the uploads.

[@fireballninja01]

Tim Hunkin is back!!!! go look, they have even remastered this episode!

[@Jim-ie6uf]

This was, and still is one of my favorite shows. Fortunately , available on KZbin.

[@rjwh67220]

I first started seeing this show on Sunday mornings, I think, on either The Discovery Channel or maybe A&E. Being an American, I’d never heard of BBC Four, and I think I’m a lot worse off for it. What a great show, what a great channel!

[@robertpatterson3321]

As an amateur radio {HAM) operator and a former U>S> Military electronics (communications technician) operator I learned more from this video than all of my previous teachings combined! Thank you from the bottom of my heart felt wavelengths. !

[@michaelterrell]

I was a Broadcast Engineer for AFRTS in the mid '70s. I tested out of that three year school while in Basic.

[@praveendissanayake2509]

Can I ask you good folks what's the future job outlook like for RAN engineers in your opinion? I currently work as a wireless network engineer ( has to do with WiFi) but I'm passionate about mobile networks to such an extent that I'm thinking of going back to college for a telecommunications engineering master.

[@c.e.schlink9933]

This is the best show in the whole world. Should be shown in all high schools.

[@c.e.schlink9933]

I wonder if this type of show could be done with today's high-tech industry? After all, integrated chips are just highly involved etching techniques. In other words, could he break it down for common people to understand? WE NEED HIM, is he still alive?

[@c.e.schlink9933]

John Ashtone thanks for the link to his web address! I can almost hear "Take 5" by Dave Bruebeck playing on his theme song!

[@fireballninja01]

Tim Hunkin is back!!!! go look, they have even remastered this episode!

[@charlemarcharlemar2401]

Why? Secret Life of Machines Never taught racism and Hating America 101

[@c.e.schlink9933]

@@charlemarcharlemar2401 Nerds are hardly ever racist or political activists. They are too busy making things or learning how things are made. God bless the nerds.

[@jfan4reva]

I remember when it first came out in the U.S. It was broadcast on Public Television (because commercial TV networks would never have picked up something as nerdy as this.) It was a real gem! I loved the demonstrations, usually done with hardware store bits and pieces. Some of them were downright dangerous, and can't be recreated these days because of safety regulations. Thanks Carl for posting these!

[@damianlopez7630]

Net work tely is mostly sh*t garbage.

[@thetoecutter13]

I'm really glad someone posted these. Beings back a lot of memories. Tim Hunkin has his own youtube channel and has been posting remastered episodes with a few minutes of his commentary at the end.

[@burgercide]

One of the very best TV programs ever.

[@BeingRomans829ed]

The beginning makes me feel like a dummy for having stepped down ladders all my life.

[@dwightthreepersons8074]

I did not learn how to do this until I was in the Navy. LOL

[@NoahSpurrier]

That RC car is awesome.

[@georgemaragos2378]

That was better than synchronized swimming

[@tactileslut]

In the Navy the well maintained ladder won't cut your fingers as you slide.

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

laddes are up ( snakes and chutes are down )

[@DarkRedZane]

I can't explain why but I get teary watching this documentary. Probably because it's simply beautiful. Thank you for this documentary.

[@Dennis-et9vq]

As a retired Radio Amateur the program brought back many great memories. Thank you. The little car was fantastic too.

[@joaocosta3374]

More useful and better written than 90% of TV today...

[@rjwh67220]

Only 90%? You’re too kind,

[@Turrican]

What a great series this was!

[@spacy7test812]

been working in radio comms for 35 yrs and have shown this vid to so many people

[@fireballninja01]

Tim Hunkin is back!!!! go look, they have even remastered this episode!

[@InfiniteWonderz2]

OH MY GOD ITS BRUM! NEVER IN MY LIFE WOULD I EVER THINK I WOULD GET TO SEE THE PROP CREATOR LET ALONE HIM EXPLAINING HOW IT WORKS. Please excuse me while I pick my jaw up from the floor

[@PacoOtis]

Thanks for the video. I grew up with AM and in college FM came along and we were thrilled. Stereo? We were blown away. Again, thanks for posting the video.

[@deafmusician2]

Imagine going back in time to show them the cell phone in your hand.

[@dsandoval9396]

@@deafmusician2 I'm blown away by cell phones TODAY. We have a little device in our pocket that can do a myriad of things including some phones that can be a literal PC that rivals some of them.

[@kickpublishing]

LOL comment on here about his dirty fingernails - the guy is a proper hands-on engineer, what do you expect?

[@weerobot]

Yes Snowflakes...lol

[@joecordingley7071]

@Smattless 6 years ago they had a different comment ordering algorithm which always seemed to promote the crazys.

[@wisteela]

@@weerobot More people not concentrating on the stuff that matters.

[@babboon5764]

@@wisteela Damn straight they're not concentrating on the stuff that matters fretting about fingernails We *could* all have had radio tuned *teeth* Stuff Apple specs and such like. I *want* musical teeth.

[@charlemarcharlemar2401]

His fingernails looked dirty only because his hands were clean.

[@chrisshockey8883]

The music sounds like a variation of the tune "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck. Great program. I remember when channels like TLC showed actual educational programs like this instead of rubbish like reality shows.

[@alext9067]

You have a good ear. It is a variation called The Russians Are Coming and is available on Spotify. It's a good tune and it's definitely a version (sort of) of Take Five. Good one.

[@RolandHutchinson]

It IS "Take Five", but with the middle of each 5-beat measure stretched out so that the whole measure takes eight beats instead of five.

[@chrisst8922]

Did you not notice the composer. Paul Desmond?

[@vinnie00078]

One of the best shows I've ever found . I was bummed when it went off the air . Thanks to u tube I can see the show whenever .

[@wellingtonboobs7985]

Should be shown in schools, this series. Ties a lot of history together in a very engaging way.

[@2.7petabytes]

Tim made EVERYTHING easy to comprehend! What a great show! Thanks for the upload!

[@kurtb8474]

I haven't seen this show in years. I've always enjoyed watching it.

[@johnclark8359]

This was one of the all-time great TV series!

[@Rotary_Phone]

probably one of the most interesting documentaries I've ever seen on YT. I love those old RCA radios.

[@kertmustapha2367]

I always loved these shows. Thank you so much Tim.

[@williweb9788hotmail]

My Dad was an electronics engineer. I'm beginning to understand how smart he really was :-)

[@edh656]

He actually got smarter by studying electronics... study is just like taking your brain to the gym

[@richlee509]

​@Dacia Sandero guys how is this a bad comment. The guy is saying if you work your brain it gets bigger.

[@ortizramon]

Wow I remember watching this show on tv this is my favorite show thanks Carl for uploading it.

[@hankreardon2764]

I love that you have posted these shows. Just a nice, calm, educational program. Bless you.

[@tedvanmatje]

This is on the ball!! Carl, thankyou mate for uploading this wee gem....makes me feel all nostalgic :)

[@finldavi]

These gentlemen are legends.

[@KMac329]

I love this. So many wonderful things like radio are taken for granted.

[@MadMatt021081]

Thank you for uploading these videos, Carl.

[@ufoengines]

Heard about these program years ago from a big fan of them. They are delightful !

[@markriley24]

Loved this show! I forgot all about it till I saw this, hope to find more!

[@thomthumbe]

Absolutely wonderful!! Great presentation! Great stage presence! Wonderful topic!

[@MasterYota1]

Miss this show so much!! It’s the father of the discovery channel! Yes thanks!!

[@webbtrekker534]

Always enjoyed these programs done by Tim Hunkin. I use to watch them on the local PBS station many years ago.

[@nathanhouck2403]

Best examples and explanation of how radio works I've seen.

[@PileOfEmptyTapes]

10:20 That's got to be the most adorable RC car I've ever seen. Makes sense for something used in a children's TV series, but still, really neat.

[@johndoe-rd6jn]

I BELIEVE HE STILL LIVES IN Bourton-on-the-Water kzbin.info/www/bejne/omWbg4BjlLd9qK8

[@richardgates7479]

I prefer the radio-controlled radios.

[@AngusLepus]

Thanks Mr. Carl, I like the old transmitters in your presentation. Even though I have worked on TV and radio transmitters since the tube days a simple crystal set is still magical.

[@conundrum112]

I used to watch this great and Informative series over 25 years ago, brilliant !

[@szymongorczynski7621]

So that's how you slide down a ladder. Thanks! Modern TV would never teach you that!

[@David-bc4rh]

That was so boss.

[@babboon5764]

@@David-bc4rh Nah - That was the cover on the middle of the microlight's propeller.

[@babboon5764]

@@readmedottext Pearls before Swine I guess ....... Just made a 'whooshing noise as it went over most folk's heads. Glad someone got the joke 'tho.

[@amreshkumar8730]

When i was studying in high school was very obsessed with the radio or electromagnetic waves and this obsession led me to be a physicist as well as a lecturer 🙏

[@oktc68]

Excellent, a glimpse of the good old days. Thanks for posting.

[@derstreber2]

4:53 "ahhh!! You breaka my platea I smasha your face!!" lol

[@stevenlagoe7808]

@John Ashtone Not as though us Ultravox fans are bitter, but someone really should 'smasha ya face' of Joe Dolce. I mean, he's not even bloody Italian...

[@redmercer]

Ah, for the days when you might actually learn something on The Learning Channel.

[@babboon5764]

That'll teach you.

[@MasterYota1]

There was no learning channel when this came out in.

[@papadop]

I think it was the Discovery channel. Same sentiment. You could discover and learn useful stuff instead of “reality” crap.

[@wilneal8015]

​@@papadop Like the Reality of young fellows Raping the Earth to obtain mere Particles of Gold, but They Can't tell you Where Gold Comes From!! 😮🤬⚡⚡🌟🌟💫

[@realryder2626]

Because today, science is a construct, not based on actual science.

[@grovermatic]

My dad and I used to watch this show together. Thanks for the memories. :-)

[@passtheparcel2007]

His easy going, so "matter of fact" presentation is easy to understand. And endears others to him. He makes it look so easy...

[@grovermatic]

And out of absolutely nowhere here in 2020 my brain said "Hey, whatever happened to that British science show you liked so much as a kid?"

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

Mar 2021: Loved this show too - early 1990s. Glad to know we can still find stuff like this on YT.

[@ChadForquer]

His new videos are just as good.

[@toonbat]

16:23 *Rex fiddling with his homemade radio receiver. * REX: "I shall call it the Rexophone!" *looks at Rexophone on the other end of the table* REX: "Well, shoot!"

[@alphabeets]

This is such a superb series.

[@functionalsolenoid5398]

this is amazing, the car demonstration really makes something click.. I have my tech amateur license and this is still giving me new understanding.

[@Jasonificatiation]

surprisingly sweet jam at the beginning there.

[@diabolicalartificer]

It's the Russian's Are Coming by Val Bennet.

[@Jasonificatiation]

right on, thanks.

[@billharris6886]

Hi Carl, thank you for posting the old but, quite informative documentary on some of radio's history. I wanted to point out an error on the video, the earliest spark gap transmitters did transmit interference all over the band but, that was okay for a while, with only a hand full of stations operating part time. However, when this new technology became more popular, interference quickly became an issue. To solve the problem, a combination of inductor/capacitor filters were used, along with the transmitter antenna being electrically matched to the transmitter, which added another layer of filtering. The filtering was a huge improvement (although not perfect) as it allowed many stations to use the band similtaneously. After vacuum tubes/valves were invented and transmitter circuits devised, these were found to be much cleaner in regards to interference. As a result, the filtered spark gap transmitters were obsoleted, being outlawed in the mid 1920's.

[@navneetpandit7299]

Brilliant! It's a fortune to be able to see such authentic videos of old times..they speak volumes of the truth unlike modern times.

[@johnpenner5182]

love tim hunkin's expositons of technology - he's superbe!

[@jlucasound]

Tim Hunkin is a great creator and instructor. Miss this show, I wish he could make more.

[@joelee24]

Very interesting explanation to radio, it bought me back the good old days I learned electronics as a hobbyist. One thing the video didn't mention and out of scope was aircraft uses AM instead of FM due to Doppler shift effect of fast moving transmitter.

[@gxlbiscuit]

I USED TO LOVE THIS SHOW.. THANK YOU!!!

[@dogsbodyish8403]

By far the best portrayal of the evolution of the earlier days of radio that I've come across!

[@Willam_J]

@8:39 - That specific radio is called a ‘One Tube Regenerative Receiver”. It was a clever design, invented by Edwin Armstrong. It used a single triode (3 element) tube, as the RF amplifier, oscillator and detector. Very clever, indeed! I just finished restoring one of these radios, made in 1923, by the Tri-City Radio Electric Company, in Davenport, Iowa, USA. It works great, but like most radios of that time, you can only listen by using headphones, and it doesn’t have a standard radio dial. It uses one 6 volt battery for the tube filament and a 22.5 volt battery for the tube plate. I really need to make a video of it. It’s my oldest, and most favorite, radio restoration.

[@micromachine7954]

Oh how I would love to explore your workshop! That radio controlled car was marvelous!

[@glennway2409]

Micro Machine m

[@jamest.5001]

This was just awesome! I wish I had things like this to watch growing up..

[@unequally-tempered]

Thanks so much for posting this. A real gem.

[@mcenglish4654]

Oh my - that was brilliant - completely forgotten about this excellent BBC series.

[@icook74]

I think it was on Channel 4, if I remember correctly.

[@wisteela]

@@icook74 It was.

[@Fifury161]

Erm, it was shown on Channel 4 in the UK back in 1987, I remember sending a SAE to receive an infopack! Edited versions were also shown in other countries (most of the cartoons removed) on the Discovery channel.

[@SianEnglish]

@@Fifury161 -- Wrong. 1990. End title card screen at the bottom if you look.

[@Fifury161]

@@SianEnglish I was referring to the series overall this was from the 3rd series...

[@welshpete12]

I remember this series when it first went out, maybe 1980's ? it was excellent wish they would rebroadcast it

[@Fifury161]

1987 - the full series have been placed on KZbin and Tim Hunkin encourages them being shared: www.timhunkin.com/41_slom1.htm

[@neutralobservation9418]

Rex's car is the give away.

[@ChernoBueno]

This is the best content on planet earth this kind of stuff, it’s extremely important

[@markjacobsen302]

I think that it is most marvelous, the hypnotic effect that people with British accents have on me. I love radio and have been a ham operator for over 40 years and thats what attracted me to this vid. But listening to it lulls me right off to sleep. I think that is just fantastic!

[@Jingleboy14]

Love the little cameo of Brum!

[@keithlegg]

The original Mythbusters. 10 years earlier and more interesting.

[@SuperTex1966]

Mythbusters is a modern portrayal of this idea. Although the characters ( Adam and Jamie + Company) were far more entertaining, to get todays youth to look up from their smart phones. Although at superior in technical knowledge, "Secret Life" I'm guessing wouldn't have held good footing in todays society. Both have merit, and their place in history. Both have had an influence on me.

[@MarkTillotson]

But there is nothing in common, one is a documentary on a particular kind of machine each episide, the other is myth busting. Perhaps you think anything involving something technical is like anything else involving something technical?

[@oukid2633]

@@SuperTex1966 I grew up on myth busters, I wish I grew up on this. I wouldn't dare to call them in anyway similar, they both build gadgets and thats really the only similarity. The reason we bring up myth busters is because it was one of the few science/engineering programs on air. I wish there were shows that actually taught engineering when I grew up, but unfortunately all American science shows are utter trash, they only give facts never explanations. But alteast kids these days have the internet and they get to choose wether or not they want to brain wash themselves.

[@DDS029]

This show explained how it does what it does. Mythbusters showed if it can be used the way some people claim. They would sometimes revert back as to how it works, to explain why they got the results they did.

[@Nereosis16]

@@oukid2633 Except as a kid in the 90s I watched absolutely countless science/technology shows from the US so MythBusters wasn't the only one. These shows are not similar and comparing is a waste of time.

[@deck614]

Thank you for this post-postmodern genius - and common - demonstration for everyone, and eternity. The sound of waves.

[@bobeden5027]

Delightfully pleasant and informative presentation!

[@alumycrick2911]

Ten marks out of ten! What a great primer about the radio revolution. Gosh, it would have been such a thrill to get to operate Marconi's original equipment. I see the programme was made in 1990, just a year before Tim Berners-Lee's World Wide Web instigated another communications revolution by making the internet, hitherto an obscure boffin plaything which few people had even heard of, accessible to the broad public.

[@spacefolder]

What a great show! The guy make complex concepts quite easy to understand, loved it! What year was it first aired? On the end screen I believe it says 1990, but it definitely looks older (though the boom boxes add to the confusion). Cheers!

[@PatrickCoble]

So awesome! Thank you for contributing.

[@vanpenguin22]

My dad started his professional life after wwii at an engineer for KPRC in Houston. For the rest of his life, he would nearly constantly listen. I too am obsessed with finding distant stations that come in as though next door at night, As well as with antenna design. My son is as smart as his gramps, and is himself a ham, among other things. Thank you for this content!

[@scopex2749]

I do miss Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrod on Channel 4 teaching us how everything works so simply! These guys were genius's

[@minty_Joe]

RIP Rex. We miss you. :*-(

[@richlee509]

Legend of a man Rexy

[@fordprefect80]

Great little documentary. I got interested in radio at around 11-13 years old. Building circuits with my 200 in 1 electronic project kit and using my father's short wave radio scanner to pick up all types of signals. A nice rendition of Take Five at the end as well.

[@RadioHist]

What a treat to see Gerry Wells in his garden shed again... Being from the USA his little museum was a MUST SEE in 1987 & 1996. Love this series here on KZbin since I never saw the originals.

[@jasonsgroovemachine]

I'd never seen these before. This is excellent stuff.

[@039dalekmoore2007]

loved this show has to be the best science how did they do it type show ever

[@mattwilson76]

I was a child when this was shown, it was when Channel 4 was almost an indie channel, I remember watching this The Grandmother, Eraserhead, phil molloys animations Cowboys. It was a great time you would just get random animations and art films and Music after 11pm.

[@turboslag]

I was a bit older but C4 then was an innovative and creative channel with exceptional program content. Anyone remember Monkey Dust? A dark and foreboding cartoon animation.

[@DDS029]

Channel 4, where? To give the rest of us context to what you are describing, please.

[@wisteela]

@@DDS029 UK

[@Fifury161]

@@DDS029 Channel 4 is the name of the broadcaster (at launch a national terrestrial analogue network) - and although it was the 4th channel in the UK at the time it's not actually a designated channel number (now) as would appear in other countries... (the others channels at the time being BBC One, BBC Two & ITV (UTV or STV , depending on region - a 5th channel appeared in 1997 and they called it Channel 5!))

[@Dazsvintagestuff]

I can remember one of these programs ( Secret life of the quartz watch) being used as a teaching aid in the school were I used to work as late as 2012. It was a fantastic series.

[@BeatboxNorwich]

I've been educating my friend about radio recently. Totally blown her mind! Hopefully I'm about to know more!

[@minustaco42zero24]

Rex's little car was so adorable

[@flybobbie1449]

Television in the UK has turned into a version of the Sun newspaper. Been so long since i have watched tv. Gone are the days of decent tv, Horizon, Equinox, Tomorrows World, TOTP's , any comedy before 1990ish with a few exceptions, even Panorama.

[@andygozzo72]

yep, modern tv programmes, apart from a very few, are now a pile of horse plop ..

[@Mercmad]

Thanks for posting these,I watched them in Australia in the late 1980's or early 90's . Rex's pick up looks like something someone would knock together in Australia .

[@abeleballestri612]

Well done and most tutorial story of how radio was born and the FM version followed practically and scientifically for people interested in the story like me.thanks very much for this interesting video.

[@mrbrianparker]

As charming and interesting as I remember it when a younger version of me enjoyed watching the series. I still love radio but these days I can tap into big multi-user shortwave receivers over the internet. There's a certain strange magic to that.

[@KarstenJohansson]

I'd love to see a good video like this on why you could get stereo on the FM band, but only mono on AM, shortwave, etc.

[@m3hnl]

wonderful series of programs quality

[@tetracor]

Amazing. Thank You CL.

[@ASilentS]

Judging from his accent, I'm going to say Gerald Wells is Photonicinduction's grandfather.

[@nyki7fykxtjxyi]

Now that's funny

[@deathsheadknight2137]

i forgot all about photonicinduction. did he ever burn down his neighborhood?