3 ms·
Antennas are weird beasts. Their behavior and performance can be predicted and measured in very technical ways but, at the end of the day, throwing a random len
by sizzzzlerz 5y ago
Antennas are weird beasts. Their behavior and performance can be predicted and measured in very technical ways but, at the end of the day, throwing a random length of wire over a tree branch, cut to 1/2 or 1/4 of the operating frequency wavelength can be all one needs to communicate with another station, even a very lower transmit power. This applies primarily to HF and VHF. Frequencies reaching up into the microwave range is where antenna design starts becoming a dark art, practiced by wizards and neuromancers.
- EdwardDiego 5y agoI've used old school HF portable radios when I was a ranger and in a valley with no line of sight to our VHF repeaters in the park. The fun part was finding a clearing big enough to string the antenna out. Usually involved ascending to the bushline or descending onto the river flats. Being able to listen to Scottish life guard boats from the other side of the world, at dusk as the ionosphere layers changed, was cool. Zimbabwean cricket broadcasts could be listened to up until about 9:30am in the morning.