Anyone got information about the transcontinental land routes?<p>I was trying recently to learn when the first fiber optics made it coast-to-coast across the US (beginning to make the Long Lines microwave relay network obsolete), and I found it really hard to dig up anything at all. I know when the technologies were developed and commercialized, but had to make some educated guesses about the progress of their deployment.
How they tested the cable during laying:<p>> At least once in every five minutes the cable was used as a condenser. A charge from a battery of about one hundred cells was given and in turn discharged through a properly shunted Sullivan galvanometer and the “throw” of the needle carefully noted.<p>Note that “condenser” means “capacitor”.<p>—-<p>Another good read is the biography of Oliver Heaviside who is famed for his (armchair) contributions to both wireless and subsea communications!
For an exciting and gripping story of the laying of the first Trans-Atlantic cable check out A Thread Across the Ocean, by John Steele Gordon. It is quite the page turner.
If this is interesting, you will love Mother Earth, Motherboard by Neal Stephenson: <a href="https://www.wired.com/1996/12/ffglass/" rel="nofollow">https://www.wired.com/1996/12/ffglass/</a>