Experimental Antenna Topics-- Contents and Preface

Although nearly a century has passed since Marconi's first demonstrations of radio communication, there is still research and experiment to be carried out in the field of antenna design and behavior.

The aim of the experimenter will be to make a measurement or confirm a principle, and this can be done with relatively fragile, short-life apparatus.

Because of this, devices described in this guide make liberal use of cardboard, cooking foil, plastic bottles, cat food tins, etc. These materials are, in general, cheap to obtain and easily worked with simple tools, encouraging the trial-and-error philosophy which leads to innovation and discovery.

Although primarily a practical guide with text closely supported by diagrams, some formulae which can be used by straightforward substitution and some simple graphs have also been included.

Preface:

Although nearly a century has passed since Marconi's first demonstrations of radio communication, there is still research and experiment to be carried out in the field of antenna design and behavior.

The aim of the experimenter will be to make a measurement or confirm a principle, and this can be done with relatively fragile, short -life apparatus. Because of this, devices described in this guide make liberal use of cardboard, cooking foil, plastic bottles, cat food tins, etc. These materials are, in general, cheap to obtain and easily worked with simple tools, encouraging the trial-and-error philosophy which leads to innovation and discovery.

Warning!

The young and less experienced experimenter should test and measure the antennas described here using battery-operated equipment. Mains -driven apparatus should be left for the mature expert.

Note:

The symbol λ [Greek letter lambda] is used throughout this guide to denote wavelength.

Also see:

Industrial Electronics (in the early 1960s)

199 Electronic Test & Alignment Techniques (1972)

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