Practical_Antenna_Handbook_0071639586

6 p a r t I : B a c k g r o u n d a n d H i s t o r y
slung in the former bomb bay. Nothing. Thinking that the new toy had failed, the pilot
returned to base—only to be told ground observers had reported that a German Heinkle
bomber fell from the overcast sky at the exact spot where the pilot had his ghostly encounter!
Radio, television, radar, and a wide variety of services are available today under the
general rubric “radio communications and broadcasting”. Increasing numbers of families
now obtain their radio and television broadcasts via small dishes aimed at satellites
in geosynchronous orbit 23,000 mi out in space. Inside, these same families network
their home computers, audio/video equipment, and printers with wireless nodes. Amateur
operators are able to communicate worldwide on low power and have even
launched their own “OSCAR” satellites. And, of course, no summary of present-day
radio communications would be complete without mentioning the ubiquitous cell
phone.
Whether visible or hidden inside the consumer’s device, antennas are required at
both ends of the circuit for each of these communications systems. Thus, the antenna is
arguably one of the most important parts of the receiving and/or transmitting station
(Fig. 1.1). That is what this book is all about.