Beyond Global Waves

Nevil Maskelyne's disruption of Guglielmo Marconi's wireless telegraph demonstration in 1903 can be seen as an early form of radio jamming, a technique that would later become a key element of electronic warfare. By transmitting a powerful signal on the same frequency as Marconi's system, Maskelyne effectively blocked the intended message, creating what we now call a denial-of-service effect. Like wartime jamming aimed at disrupting enemy communications, Maskelyne's interference sought to take control of the communication channel, highlighting the vulnerability of Marconi's system and demonstrating that wireless signals could be intercepted and manipulated.

While Maskelyne's actions were a targeted demonstration rather than an attempt at widespread disruption, they reflect the fundamental principle of radio jamming: overwhelming a signal with interference to prevent its reception. The sources explain that jamming has evolved to encompass a variety of techniques targeting different technologies, but the underlying concept remains consistent with Maskelyne's early example.