[TenTec] In praise of older technology

[John]

Rick,

Not trying to start something.....but....The only difference between us 
and Franklin is frequency and power.   At least those of us with verticals.

John
WA1JG


On 2/24/2014 3:27 PM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:
> Doug, I think you've been hanging out with Mahlon Loomas too long!
>
>   
>
> And for those of you who can't remember who he was, it might be worth your
> while to look it up.
>
>   
>
> I bet most of you didn't even know that wireless communications was invented
> by a DENTIST!
>
>   
>
> Yes, he also invented the very first Aerial, although some might argue it
> was Benjamin Franklin.
>
> Franklin only used the kite wire to capture electricity; Loomas used it as
> an Aerial to send and receive signals.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlon_Loomis
>
>   
>
> Though his patent for a wireless telegraph was in 1872, as I recall he
> discovered this about 4 years earlier.  Hard to remember exactly.  I was
> just a young whipper snapper back then.
>
>   
>
> So guys, take it from me; next time you're having problems with your
> antenna, don't ask an engineer, consult your dentist!
>
> Hey, I oughta know... I work for an antenna company!
>
> ;-)
>
>   
>
> What does all of this have to do with Doug's comment?
>
> Everything.
>
> Mahlon discovered that if he made the length of the wire of the TX and RX
> aerial the exact same length, communications was much more reliable.  Thus
> you might conclude that the length of wire was determining the frequency.
>
>   
>
> But that's not quite accurate.
>
> Actually it was transmitting on (almost) all frequencies, but only
> efficiently radiating into the ether on the wavelength associated with the
> length of his aerial.  So specifically, the aerial, not the transmitter,
> determined the frequency being radiated into the distant ether.  In the near
> field, a broad frequency spectrum was being radiated.
>
>   
>
> ... at least that's my understanding of what was happening.
>
> Then again, how would I know?
>
> I'm neither an engineer nor a dentist!
>
>   
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>
>   
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Doug Reid
> Back when I started out, we used a spark generator and the frequency was
> determined by the length of our antenna......
>
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