Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]


Groups > sci.physics > #533801 > unrolled thread

long antenna

Started byRichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com>
First post2015-11-17 10:42 -0800
Last post2015-11-25 23:51 +0000
Articles 20 on this page of 95 — 14 participants

Back to article view | Back to sci.physics


Contents

  long antenna RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2015-11-17 10:42 -0800
    Re: long antenna Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> - 2015-11-17 12:46 -0600
      Re: long antenna Poutnik <poutnik4nntp@gmail.com> - 2015-11-17 20:10 +0100
      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-17 20:28 +0000
        Re: long antenna benj <nobody@gmail.com> - 2015-11-17 16:59 -0500
      Re: long antenna Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-11-18 22:56 +0100
        Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-18 16:57 -0600
          Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-18 23:15 +0000
            Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-18 20:42 -0600
              Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-19 05:29 +0000
                Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-19 08:54 -0600
                  Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-19 18:44 +0000
                    Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-22 15:32 -0600
                      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-22 23:16 +0000
              Re: long antenna HVAC <mr.hvac@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 06:59 -0800
                Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 20:02 -0500
        Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 01:36 -0500
    Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-17 13:28 -0600
    Re: long antenna "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2015-11-17 14:04 -0800
      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-17 22:35 +0000
        Re: long antenna benj <nobody@gmail.com> - 2015-11-17 19:28 -0500
          Re: long antenna Timo <timo@physics.uq.edu.au> - 2015-11-17 17:18 -0800
            Re: long antenna RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2015-11-24 11:39 -0800
              Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 15:12 -0500
                Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 09:21 -0600
                  Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 10:05 -0600
                    Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-26 20:05 +0000
                      Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 18:39 -0600
                        Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-27 01:46 +0000
                  Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-26 19:55 +0000
              Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-24 20:04 +0000
                Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-24 16:33 -0600
                  Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-24 22:58 +0000
                    Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 09:11 -0600
                      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-26 19:42 +0000
                        Re: long antenna "Ross A. Finlayson" <ross.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 11:57 -0800
                        Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 14:52 -0600
                          Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-26 21:12 +0000
                            Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 18:58 -0600
                              Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-27 01:37 +0000
                                Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 23:45 -0500
                                  Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-27 01:01 -0600
                                    Re: long antenna "Ross A. Finlayson" <ross.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 23:31 -0800
                                      Re: long antenna benj <nobody@gmail.com> - 2015-11-27 11:34 -0500
                                        Re: long antenna "Ross A. Finlayson" <ross.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2015-11-27 09:58 -0800
                                    Re: long antenna benj <nobody@gmail.com> - 2015-11-27 11:46 -0500
                                      Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-28 16:42 -0600
                                        Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-28 22:58 +0000
                                          Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-30 07:46 -0600
                                            Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-30 19:01 +0000
                                              Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-30 14:12 -0600
                                                Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-30 20:43 +0000
                                                  Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-30 17:41 -0600
                                                    Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-12-01 00:15 +0000
                                                      Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-30 20:23 -0600
                                                        Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-12-01 06:21 +0000
                                              Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-30 15:22 -0500
                                                Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-30 20:48 +0000
                                                  Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-30 17:16 -0600
                                                    Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-30 23:52 +0000
                                                      Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-30 19:59 -0600
                                                        Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-12-01 02:16 +0000
                                                  Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-30 19:20 -0500
                                    Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-27 18:53 +0000
                Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 00:08 -0500
                  Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-25 06:13 +0000
    Re: long antenna "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 16:25 -0800
    Re: long antenna "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 16:08 -0800
      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-20 00:40 +0000
        Re: long antenna "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 15:51 -0800
          Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-21 00:34 +0000
            Re: long antenna jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-21 14:37 +0000
              Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-21 19:32 +0000
                Re: long antenna jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-22 14:50 +0000
                  Re: long antenna "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2015-11-22 11:27 -0800
                    Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-22 19:44 +0000
                  Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-22 19:40 +0000
                    Re: long antenna jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-23 14:13 +0000
                      Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-23 13:00 -0500
                        Re: long antenna jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-24 13:20 +0000
                          Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 13:40 -0500
                            Re: long antenna jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-25 13:44 +0000
                      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-23 18:47 +0000
                        Re: long antenna jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2015-11-24 13:20 +0000
                          Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-24 19:49 +0000
                            Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-24 16:36 -0600
                              Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-24 23:00 +0000
                                Re: long antenna gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> - 2015-11-26 16:17 -0600
                                  Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-26 23:35 +0000
          Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 20:58 -0500
      Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 20:09 -0500
    Re: long antenna "nuny@bid.nes" <Alien8752@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 12:51 -0800
      Re: long antenna benj <none@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 00:01 -0500
    Re: long antenna "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 15:36 -0800
      Re: long antenna jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2015-11-25 23:51 +0000

Page 1 of 5  [1] 2 3 4 5  Next page →


#533801 — long antenna

FromRichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com>
Date2015-11-17 10:42 -0800
Subjectlong antenna
Message-ID<d82a6d99-39d1-4eb7-9aa0-4ed38641537a@googlegroups.com>
During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter 
extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I 
wanted to place it at a distance.
The cord is the antenna.

I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.  
I figured the longer line should improve performance, 
right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.

Can anyone explain the physics here?

--
Rich

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]


#533802

FromOdd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-17 12:46 -0600
Message-ID<n2fsm5$ms8$1@speranza.aioe.org>
In reply to#533801
On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
> wanted to place it at a distance.
> The cord is the antenna.
>
> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>
> Can anyone explain the physics here?

Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the 
radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the 
radio.

Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
            <-----------  Radio  ------------------->

See where the antenna goes?

>
> --
> Rich
>


-- 
Odd Bodkin --- maker of fine toys, tools, tables

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533806

FromPoutnik <poutnik4nntp@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-17 20:10 +0100
Message-ID<n2fttt$l7g$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#533802
Dne 17/11/2015 v 19:46 Odd Bodkin napsal(a):
> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>> The cord is the antenna.
>>
>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>
>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
> 
> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the 
> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the 
> radio.
> 
> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>             <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
> 
> See where the antenna goes?
> 

Many phones provided with FM modul use earphones
as an external antenna. I suppose while it is the output,
there is also a filter,
passing the VHF signal by a loopback to the VHF input.

A proportionality between antenna gain and size
is valid only for the size << signal wavelength.

For FM 100 Mhz is wavelength about 3 m.
So the typical earphone cords are very close
to lambda/4. A typical antenna length is lambda/4 or lambda/2.

3 m + orignal length is too long, providing worse output,
than original cord.


-- 
Poutnik ( the Czech word for a wanderer )

Knowledge makes great men humble, but small men arrogant.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533828

Fromjimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
Date2015-11-17 20:28 +0000
Message-ID<v8fshc-rs1.ln1@mail.specsol.com>
In reply to#533802
Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>> The cord is the antenna.
>>
>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>
>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
> 
> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the 
> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the 
> radio.
> 
> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>            <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
> 
> See where the antenna goes?

Nope; separation of RF and AF by simple filters.

Using the ear bud/head set cord as an antenna is a common practice. 

-- 
Jim Pennino

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533842

Frombenj <nobody@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-17 16:59 -0500
Message-ID<564ba330$0$31334$c3e8da3$dd9697d2@news.astraweb.com>
In reply to#533828
On 11/17/2015 03:28 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
> Odd Bodkin <bodkinodd@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>>> The cord is the antenna.
>>>
>>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>>
>>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>>
>> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the
>> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the
>> radio.
>>
>> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>>             <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
>>
>> See where the antenna goes?
>
> Nope; separation of RF and AF by simple filters.
>
> Using the ear bud/head set cord as an antenna is a common practice.

jimp, Ivory Tower Boinker is as dumb as a stump. He believes everything 
those in authority tell him and parrots it all over the net. He's worse 
than Asshat. As you can see from his idiotic "explanation" that he 
doesn't have a clue even when someone TOLD him where the antenna was he 
still can't find it. He can't find his own ass even if allowed to use 
both hands. But he still thinks he knows more than everybody else.  When 
it comes to any practical understanding, Boinker couldn't figure out 
which end of the soldering iron is the handle even if it were on!

As to answer the question, there is much more involved in an antenna 
than simply length vs signal. You didn't say what kind of radio this 
was. Frequency can be important. Issues can be standing waves in the 
room or on the antenna or perhaps the longer wire creating a bad 
impedance match to the radio. Key issue is how the impedance of a 
transmission line transforms as you move along it.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533995

FromThomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de>
Date2015-11-18 22:56 +0100
Message-ID<4736856.kWDMch3Bm0@PointedEars.de>
In reply to#533802
Odd Bodkin wrote:

> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>> The cord is the antenna.
>>
>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>
>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
> 
> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the
> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the
> radio.

Wrong.

> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>             <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
> 
> See where the antenna goes?

Not only is your answer wrong, you also missed the point of the question.

As the OP indicated, earphone (also: headphone) cords contain wires which 
can serve as antennas.  [They certainly do with smartphones (from where I 
know the technology): Once you have plugged the headphones into the 
smartphone, you can start a radio app to tune in to FM (frequency 
modulation) radio channels (*without an Internet connection*). [0]
It stands to reason to use the same technology elsewhere.]

How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the 
transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked 
on them through modulation of them.  Radio waves are electromagnetic (EM) 
waves with frequencies from ca. 3 kHz to 300 GHz. [1]  EM waves can be 
understood as self-propagating waves of self-inducing electric and magnetic 
fields. [2]

An electrical current in an conductor creates a magnetic field (MF) around 
it (Ørstedt, 1820; see: electromagnet).  If it is an oscillating current, 
the result is an oscillation in the surrounding MF, which induces an 
oscillating electric field (EF) which creates an oscillating MF and so on, 
propagating through space: an EM wave.  So far for the transmitter, at the 
radio station.

Also, a change in the MF around a conductor, such as a wire, induces a 
current in it (Faraday, 1831). [3]  In particular, with a radio receiver, 
“when radio waves strike an electrical conductor, the oscillating fields 
induce an alternating current in the conductor” (Hertz, ca. 1880). [1]

AIUI, a conductor serves best as an antenna (either for transmission or 
reception of radio waves) if its electrical resonance frequency matches 
approximately the frequency of the radio waves to be received. [4]

The electrical resonance frequency f₀ of a conductor is given by the angular 
frequency

  ω₀ = 1∕√(LC)

where L is the inductance and C is the capacitance of the conductor, and

  ω₀ = 2πf₀,

so that

  f₀ = ω₀∕2π = 1∕(2π√(LC)). [5]

The inductance of a coaxial cable [6a] is

  L = µ₀l∕2π ln(R₂∕R₁)

where

  µ₀ – vacuum permeability
  l  – length of the cable
  R₂ – half of the thickness of the cable (also a₁, outer radius)
  R₁ – half of the thickness of the conductor (also a, inner radius). [6b]
  
The capacitance of a coaxial cable is

  C = 2πεl∕ln(R₂∕R₁)

where additionally ε is (absolute) permittivity (ε = ε_r ε₀, whereas the 
relative permittivity ε_r depends on the material, and ε₀ is the vacuum 
permittivity). [7a][7b]

So both the inductance and the capacitance of a conductor increase with 
length, which means that its electrical resonance frequency decreases with 
length.  Or, IOW, since wavelength λ = c∕f, where f is frequency, “Antennae 
length is proportional to the wavelength of reception.” [0]  Therefore, the 
longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio 
channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.

I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is 
interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents 
induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves 
can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from 
other sources.  Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A, 
where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the 
signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length 
increases.

However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are 
nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]  So it 
appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would 
like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise 
here.  And please, CMIIW.


PointedEars
___________
[0] <https://www.quora.com/How-headphones-work-as-an-Antenna-to-play-FM-radio-channels-on-Mobile-phones-Why-mobile-companies-doesnt-install-the-same-inbuilt-Antenna-on-phones-to-be-able-to-play-FM-without-the-headphones>
[1] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio>
[2] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation>
[3] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction>
[4] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_(radio)#Antenna_types>
[5] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RLC_circuit>
[6a] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable>
[6b] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductance#Self-inductance_of_simple_electrical_circuits_in_air>
[7a] 
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance#Capacitance_of_simple_systems>
[7b] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permittivity>
[8] 
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistance_and_conductance#Relation_to_resistivity_and_conductivity>
[9] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_(radio)#Traveling_wave> p.
-- 
Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity
   does it take to change a light bulb?  
A: Two: one to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.
(from: WolframAlpha)

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533999

Fromgilber34 <fafa@invalid.com>
Date2015-11-18 16:57 -0600
Message-ID<n2ivpn$gh9$1@speranza.aioe.org>
In reply to#533995
On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>
>> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>>> The cord is the antenna.
>>>
>>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>>
>>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>>
>> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the
>> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the
>> radio.
>
> Wrong.
>
>> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>>              <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
>>
>> See where the antenna goes?
>
> Not only is your answer wrong, you also missed the point of the question.
>
> As the OP indicated, earphone (also: headphone) cords contain wires which
> can serve as antennas.

.....well, they do connect to the Head which serves as the big resonae 
cavity Antenna. a large round semi conductive salt vat on your sholders, 
full of liquid up in the air.


  [They certainly do with smartphones (from where I
> know the technology): Once you have plugged the headphones into the
> smartphone, you can start a radio app to tune in to FM (frequency
> modulation) radio channels (*without an Internet connection*). [0]
> It stands to reason to use the same technology elsewhere.]
>
> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked
> on them through modulation of them.

no piggies were harmed...


> Therefore, the
> longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio
> channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.

that is, in general, a wrong statement.  larger capture area means more 
signal power.


> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents
> induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves
> can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from
> other sources.

they dont "hit" the cable.



> Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A,
> where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
> sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the
> signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
> increases.

wrong.  (match the impeadance, Hint: it is a complex term. lots of free 
programs out there on antenna design if you are interested.)

>
> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are
> nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]  So it
> appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would
> like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise
> here.  And please, CMIIW.
>
>
> PointedEars

depends upon what frequency band you are looking at.
FM - you usally will get blasted out by high power stations, over 
loading your very cheap chinese receiver.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534000

Fromjimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
Date2015-11-18 23:15 +0000
Message-ID<fddvhc-vob.ln1@mail.specsol.com>
In reply to#533999
gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>>
>>> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>>>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>>>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>>>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>>>> The cord is the antenna.
>>>>
>>>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>>>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>>>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>>>
>>> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the
>>> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the
>>> radio.
>>
>> Wrong.
>>
>>> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>>>              <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
>>>
>>> See where the antenna goes?
>>
>> Not only is your answer wrong, you also missed the point of the question.
>>
>> As the OP indicated, earphone (also: headphone) cords contain wires which
>> can serve as antennas.
> 
> .....well, they do connect to the Head which serves as the big resonae 
> cavity Antenna. a large round semi conductive salt vat on your sholders, 
> full of liquid up in the air.

Nope. 
 
>  [They certainly do with smartphones (from where I
>> know the technology): Once you have plugged the headphones into the
>> smartphone, you can start a radio app to tune in to FM (frequency
>> modulation) radio channels (*without an Internet connection*). [0]
>> It stands to reason to use the same technology elsewhere.]
>>
>> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
>> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked
>> on them through modulation of them.
> 
> no piggies were harmed...
> 
> 
>> Therefore, the
>> longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio
>> channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.
> 
> that is, in general, a wrong statement.  larger capture area means more 
> signal power.

Nope; grossly oversimplified to the point of being wrong.

>> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
>> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents
>> induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves
>> can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from
>> other sources.
> 
> they dont "hit" the cable.

They sure don't go around the cable.

> 
> 
>> Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A,
>> where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
>> sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the
>> signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
>> increases.
> 
> wrong.  (match the impeadance, Hint: it is a complex term. lots of free 
> programs out there on antenna design if you are interested.)

About the only thing correct so far.

>> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are
>> nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]  So it
>> appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would
>> like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise
>> here.  And please, CMIIW.
>>
>>
>> PointedEars
> 
> depends upon what frequency band you are looking at.
> FM - you usally will get blasted out by high power stations, over 
> loading your very cheap chinese receiver.

FM stations are not usually high power as the FM band is essentially
line of sight and does not depend on either ground wave or sky wave
propagation as AM does.


-- 
Jim Pennino

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534011

Fromgilber34 <fafa@invalid.com>
Date2015-11-18 20:42 -0600
Message-ID<n2jcuf$9qr$1@speranza.aioe.org>
In reply to#534000
On 11/18/2015 5:15 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>>>>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>>>>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>>>>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>>>>> The cord is the antenna.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>>>>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>>>>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>>>>
>>>>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>>>>
>>>> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the
>>>> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the
>>>> radio.
>>>
>>> Wrong.
>>>
>>>> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>>>>               <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
>>>>
>>>> See where the antenna goes?
>>>
>>> Not only is your answer wrong, you also missed the point of the question.
>>>
>>> As the OP indicated, earphone (also: headphone) cords contain wires which
>>> can serve as antennas.
>>
>> .....well, they do connect to the Head which serves as the big resonae
>> cavity Antenna. a large round semi conductive salt vat on your sholders,
>> full of liquid up in the air.
>
> Nope.
>
>>   [They certainly do with smartphones (from where I
>>> know the technology): Once you have plugged the headphones into the
>>> smartphone, you can start a radio app to tune in to FM (frequency
>>> modulation) radio channels (*without an Internet connection*). [0]
>>> It stands to reason to use the same technology elsewhere.]
>>>
>>> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
>>> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked
>>> on them through modulation of them.
>>
>> no piggies were harmed...
>>
>>
>>> Therefore, the
>>> longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio
>>> channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.
>>
>> that is, in general, a wrong statement.  larger capture area means more
>> signal power.
>
> Nope; grossly oversimplified to the point of being wrong.

yep,  oversimplified for sure.   Need the frequency band.

>
>>> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
>>> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents
>>> induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves
>>> can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from
>>> other sources.
>>
>> they dont "hit" the cable.
>
> They sure don't go around the cable.

"hit" an antenna is not used in the industry,
look it up in Kraus, its a summation of currents, etc. etc.


>>> Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A,
>>> where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
>>> sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the
>>> signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
>>> increases.
>>
>> wrong.  (match the impeadance, Hint: it is a complex term. lots of free
>> programs out there on antenna design if you are interested.)
>
> About the only thing correct so far.
>
>>> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are
>>> nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]

one can use an antenna with a preamp and forget matching, however the 
preamp will be a mixer, with the LO supplied by FM, TV stations or other 
if around, providing inteference.


  So it
>>> appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would
>>> like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise
>>> here.  And please, CMIIW.
>>>
>>>
>>> PointedEars
>>
>> depends upon what frequency band you are looking at.
>> FM - you usally will get blasted out by high power stations, over
>> loading your very cheap chinese receiver.
>
> FM stations are not usually high power as the FM band is essentially
> line of sight and does not depend on either ground wave or sky wave
> propagation as AM does.
>
>

not so, FM power is HUGE.
and remember FM is frequency is 200 times AM, and probagation is very 
different, still good compaired to 800 MHz. BUT the main thing with FM 
is that system was designed so one could use cheap low cost receivers, 
so transmit power is high, and the receivers do not have much 
selectivity, and rely on an effect called "capture". if you have two 
stations on the same frequency, but one is 10Db lower in power, the 
higher power one will swamp out the low power one, and you will hear 
only the high power one. (not so with AM, you hear both)

he said he was listening to FM, so he is in a city,

but break out your spectrum analyser and see how huge the FM station 
power is, larger than any other, except for some TV channels

I would do it and send a photo, but my analyser when last turned on, let 
out some smoke in the back, and no workie now. (smoked a resistor in the 
power section somewhere)


[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534017

Fromjimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
Date2015-11-19 05:29 +0000
Message-ID<2a30ic-rud.ln1@mail.specsol.com>
In reply to#534011
gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
> On 11/18/2015 5:15 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>>>>>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
>>>>>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
>>>>>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>>>>>> The cord is the antenna.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
>>>>>> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
>>>>>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>>>>>
>>>>> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of the
>>>>> radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an INPUT to the
>>>>> radio.
>>>>
>>>> Wrong.
>>>>
>>>>> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>>>>>               <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
>>>>>
>>>>> See where the antenna goes?
>>>>
>>>> Not only is your answer wrong, you also missed the point of the question.
>>>>
>>>> As the OP indicated, earphone (also: headphone) cords contain wires which
>>>> can serve as antennas.
>>>
>>> .....well, they do connect to the Head which serves as the big resonae
>>> cavity Antenna. a large round semi conductive salt vat on your sholders,
>>> full of liquid up in the air.
>>
>> Nope.
>>
>>>   [They certainly do with smartphones (from where I
>>>> know the technology): Once you have plugged the headphones into the
>>>> smartphone, you can start a radio app to tune in to FM (frequency
>>>> modulation) radio channels (*without an Internet connection*). [0]
>>>> It stands to reason to use the same technology elsewhere.]
>>>>
>>>> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
>>>> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked
>>>> on them through modulation of them.
>>>
>>> no piggies were harmed...
>>>
>>>
>>>> Therefore, the
>>>> longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio
>>>> channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.
>>>
>>> that is, in general, a wrong statement.  larger capture area means more
>>> signal power.
>>
>> Nope; grossly oversimplified to the point of being wrong.
> 
> yep,  oversimplified for sure.   Need the frequency band.

Nope; irrelevant to the original statement.

>>>> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
>>>> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents
>>>> induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves
>>>> can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from
>>>> other sources.
>>>
>>> they dont "hit" the cable.
>>
>> They sure don't go around the cable.
> 
> "hit" an antenna is not used in the industry,
> look it up in Kraus, its a summation of currents, etc. etc.

While not generally used, hit is a synonym for words that are.

>>>> Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A,
>>>> where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
>>>> sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the
>>>> signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
>>>> increases.
>>>
>>> wrong.  (match the impeadance, Hint: it is a complex term. lots of free
>>> programs out there on antenna design if you are interested.)
>>
>> About the only thing correct so far.
>>
>>>> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are
>>>> nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]
> 
> one can use an antenna with a preamp and forget matching, however the 
> preamp will be a mixer, with the LO supplied by FM, TV stations or other 
> if around, providing inteference.

Total nonnsense.

Mixing requires a non-linear device and preamps are built to be linear
devices.

Matchins still important to preamps.

>  So it
>>>> appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would
>>>> like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise
>>>> here.  And please, CMIIW.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> PointedEars
>>>
>>> depends upon what frequency band you are looking at.
>>> FM - you usally will get blasted out by high power stations, over
>>> loading your very cheap chinese receiver.
>>
>> FM stations are not usually high power as the FM band is essentially
>> line of sight and does not depend on either ground wave or sky wave
>> propagation as AM does.
>>
>>
> 
> not so, FM power is HUGE.

The ERP tends to be huge in urban areas.

> and remember FM is frequency is 200 times AM, and probagation is very 
> different, still good compaired to 800 MHz. BUT the main thing with FM 
> is that system was designed so one could use cheap low cost receivers, 
> so transmit power is high, and the receivers do not have much 
> selectivity, and rely on an effect called "capture". if you have two 
> stations on the same frequency, but one is 10Db lower in power, the 
> higher power one will swamp out the low power one, and you will hear 
> only the high power one. (not so with AM, you hear both)

Most of that is just nonsense.

> he said he was listening to FM, so he is in a city,

There are lots of FM stations outside major cities these days.

> but break out your spectrum analyser and see how huge the FM station 
> power is, larger than any other, except for some TV channels
> 
> I would do it and send a photo, but my analyser when last turned on, let 
> out some smoke in the back, and no workie now. (smoked a resistor in the 
> power section somewhere)
 
 
Not surprising given your level of RF knowledge.

 

-- 
Jim Pennino

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534036

Fromgilber34 <fafa@invalid.com>
Date2015-11-19 08:54 -0600
Message-ID<n2knqi$4vu$1@speranza.aioe.org>
In reply to#534017
On 11/18/2015 11:29 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>> On 11/18/2015 5:15 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>>> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>>>>>

>>>>>
>>>>> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
>>>>> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked
>>>>> on them through modulation of them.
>>>>
>>>> no piggies were harmed...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Therefore, the
>>>>> longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio
>>>>> channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.
>>>>
>>>> that is, in general, a wrong statement.  larger capture area means more
>>>> signal power.
>>>
>>> Nope; grossly oversimplified to the point of being wrong.
>>
>> yep,  oversimplified for sure.   Need the frequency band.
>
> Nope; irrelevant to the original statement.

irrelevant also

>
>>>>> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
>>>>> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents
>>>>> induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves
>>>>> can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from
>>>>> other sources.
>>>>
>>>> they dont "hit" the cable.
>>>
>>> They sure don't go around the cable.
>>
>> "hit" an antenna is not used in the industry,
>> look it up in Kraus, its a summation of currents, etc. etc.
>
> While not generally used, hit is a synonym for words that are.

>>>>> Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A,
>>>>> where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
>>>>> sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the
>>>>> signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
>>>>> increases.
>>>>
>>>> wrong.  (match the impeadance, Hint: it is a complex term. lots of free
>>>> programs out there on antenna design if you are interested.)
>>>
>>> About the only thing correct so far.
>>>
>>>>> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are
>>>>> nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]
>>
>> one can use an antenna with a preamp and forget matching, however the
>> preamp will be a mixer, with the LO supplied by FM, TV stations or other
>> if around, providing inteference.
>
> Total nonnsense.

not at all, the typical tradeoff in designing preamps, how much gain, in 
how much selectivity (bandwidth), how much NF.
Typical in the below 30MHz RF preamps is no antenna matching, other 
factors dominate.

>
> Mixing requires a non-linear device and preamps are built to be linear
> devices.

preamps are linear only in a range, outside this range all preamps are 
mixers.  And even in their linear range, they also provide gain to other 
signals in their bandwidth, which also cause following stages to be over 
driven, to become mixers.

If you put a +20dB preamp on your FM radio, it will trash it out totally.

>
> Matchins still important to preamps.

and so is intentional mis-matching, important to provide stability, and 
loading for front end filters, and finding best NF, a tradeoff 
typically. Depends on the band and application.

>
>>   So it
>>>>> appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would
>>>>> like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise
>>>>> here.  And please, CMIIW.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> PointedEars
>>>>
>>>> depends upon what frequency band you are looking at.
>>>> FM - you usally will get blasted out by high power stations, over
>>>> loading your very cheap chinese receiver.
>>>
>>> FM stations are not usually high power as the FM band is essentially
>>> line of sight and does not depend on either ground wave or sky wave
>>> propagation as AM does.
>>>

>>
>> not so, FM power is HUGE.
>
> The ERP tends to be huge in urban areas.
>
>> and remember FM is frequency is 200 times AM, and probagation is very
>> different, still good compaired to 800 MHz. BUT the main thing with FM
>> is that system was designed so one could use cheap low cost receivers,
>> so transmit power is high, and the receivers do not have much
>> selectivity, and rely on an effect called "capture". if you have two
>> stations on the same frequency, but one is 10Db lower in power, the
>> higher power one will swamp out the low power one, and you will hear
>> only the high power one. (not so with AM, you hear both)
>
> Most of that is just nonsense.

I see you are unfamiliar with FM radio.
"Capture" is also closely related to "takeover gain"
That is why FM sounds so much better than AM.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/fm-modulation-capture-effect.747206/

>
>> he said he was listening to FM, so he is in a city,
>
> There are lots of FM stations outside major cities these days.

>> but break out your spectrum analyser and see how huge the FM station
>> power is, larger than any other, except for some TV channels
>>
>> I would do it and send a photo, but my analyser when last turned on, let
>> out some smoke in the back, and no workie now. (smoked a resistor in the
>> power section somewhere)
>
>
> Not surprising given your level of RF knowledge.

no it is a nice but older 10KHz to 22GHz Unit, easy to fix smoked 
resistor, but a 100#der almost a boat anker.
but Troll on if you must, but you could contribute too.


[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534072

Fromjimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
Date2015-11-19 18:44 +0000
Message-ID<0th1ic-34j.ln1@mail.specsol.com>
In reply to#534036
gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
> On 11/18/2015 11:29 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>> On 11/18/2015 5:15 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>>>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>>> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>>>>>> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>>>>>>
> 
>>>>>>
>>>>>> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
>>>>>> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information piggybacked
>>>>>> on them through modulation of them.
>>>>>
>>>>> no piggies were harmed...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Therefore, the
>>>>>> longer line does _not_ improve reception quality of a particular radio
>>>>>> channel (its station transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.
>>>>>
>>>>> that is, in general, a wrong statement.  larger capture area means more
>>>>> signal power.
>>>>
>>>> Nope; grossly oversimplified to the point of being wrong.
>>>
>>> yep,  oversimplified for sure.   Need the frequency band.
>>
>> Nope; irrelevant to the original statement.
> 
> irrelevant also

Non sequitur.

> 
>>
>>>>>> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
>>>>>> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical currents
>>>>>> induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of the) radio waves
>>>>>> can hit the cable at those points at different times, and interference from
>>>>>> other sources.
>>>>>
>>>>> they dont "hit" the cable.
>>>>
>>>> They sure don't go around the cable.
>>>
>>> "hit" an antenna is not used in the industry,
>>> look it up in Kraus, its a summation of currents, etc. etc.
>>
>> While not generally used, hit is a synonym for words that are.
> 
>>>>>> Finally, electrical resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A,
>>>>>> where ρ is the material-dependent electrical resistivity and A is the cross-
>>>>>> sectional area, is proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the
>>>>>> signal that reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
>>>>>> increases.
>>>>>
>>>>> wrong.  (match the impeadance, Hint: it is a complex term. lots of free
>>>>> programs out there on antenna design if you are interested.)
>>>>
>>>> About the only thing correct so far.
>>>>
>>>>>> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae that are
>>>>>> nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio. [9]
>>>
>>> one can use an antenna with a preamp and forget matching, however the
>>> preamp will be a mixer, with the LO supplied by FM, TV stations or other
>>> if around, providing inteference.
>>
>> Total nonnsense.
> 
> not at all, the typical tradeoff in designing preamps, how much gain, in 
> how much selectivity (bandwidth), how much NF.
> Typical in the below 30MHz RF preamps is no antenna matching, other 
> factors dominate.

Nope.

> 
>>
>> Mixing requires a non-linear device and preamps are built to be linear
>> devices.
> 
> preamps are linear only in a range, outside this range all preamps are 
> mixers.  And even in their linear range, they also provide gain to other 
> signals in their bandwidth, which also cause following stages to be over 
> driven, to become mixers.

Arm waving.

> 
> If you put a +20dB preamp on your FM radio, it will trash it out totally.

This just shows you haven't a clue why one would use a preamp.

> 
>>
>> Matchins still important to preamps.
> 
> and so is intentional mis-matching, important to provide stability, and 
> loading for front end filters, and finding best NF, a tradeoff 
> typically. Depends on the band and application.

Nope.

> 
>>
>>>   So it
>>>>>> appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to receive.  I would
>>>>>> like someone with experience in radio technology to add their expertise
>>>>>> here.  And please, CMIIW.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> PointedEars
>>>>>
>>>>> depends upon what frequency band you are looking at.
>>>>> FM - you usally will get blasted out by high power stations, over
>>>>> loading your very cheap chinese receiver.
>>>>
>>>> FM stations are not usually high power as the FM band is essentially
>>>> line of sight and does not depend on either ground wave or sky wave
>>>> propagation as AM does.
>>>>
> 
>>>
>>> not so, FM power is HUGE.
>>
>> The ERP tends to be huge in urban areas.
>>
>>> and remember FM is frequency is 200 times AM, and probagation is very
>>> different, still good compaired to 800 MHz. BUT the main thing with FM
>>> is that system was designed so one could use cheap low cost receivers,
>>> so transmit power is high, and the receivers do not have much
>>> selectivity, and rely on an effect called "capture". if you have two
>>> stations on the same frequency, but one is 10Db lower in power, the
>>> higher power one will swamp out the low power one, and you will hear
>>> only the high power one. (not so with AM, you hear both)
>>
>> Most of that is just nonsense.
> 
> I see you are unfamiliar with FM radio.
> "Capture" is also closely related to "takeover gain"
> That is why FM sounds so much better than AM.

Nope.

Clueless.

FYI, FM sounds better than AM (for broadcast) because the allowed bandwidth
is much higher. It has little to nothing to do with the modulation other
than FM is static resistant.
 
> https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/fm-modulation-capture-effect.747206/
> 
>>
>>> he said he was listening to FM, so he is in a city,
>>
>> There are lots of FM stations outside major cities these days.
> 
>>> but break out your spectrum analyser and see how huge the FM station
>>> power is, larger than any other, except for some TV channels
>>>
>>> I would do it and send a photo, but my analyser when last turned on, let
>>> out some smoke in the back, and no workie now. (smoked a resistor in the
>>> power section somewhere)
>>
>>
>> Not surprising given your level of RF knowledge.
> 
> no it is a nice but older 10KHz to 22GHz Unit, easy to fix smoked 
> resistor, but a 100#der almost a boat anker.
> but Troll on if you must, but you could contribute too.

OK.

Go buy a copy of the Radio Amateurs Handbook and read it.


-- 
Jim Pennino

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534613

Fromgilber34 <fafa@invalid.com>
Date2015-11-22 15:32 -0600
Message-ID<n2tc8f$9h$1@speranza.aioe.org>
In reply to#534072
On 11/19/2015 12:44 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>> On 11/18/2015 11:29 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>> On 11/18/2015 5:15 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>>>>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>>>> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
<snip>

>>>> one can use an antenna with a preamp and forget matching, however the
>>>> preamp will be a mixer, with the LO supplied by FM, TV stations or other
>>>> if around, providing inteference.
>>>
>>> Total nonnsense.
>>
>> not at all, the typical tradeoff in designing preamps, how much gain, in
>> how much selectivity (bandwidth), how much NF.
>> Typical in the below 30MHz RF preamps is no antenna matching, other
>> factors dominate.
>
> Nope.

have to match transmitter,  below 30 MHz receiver preamps not much need 
at all.

>
>>
>>>
>>> Mixing requires a non-linear device and preamps are built to be linear
>>> devices.
>>
>> preamps are linear only in a range, outside this range all preamps are
>> mixers.  And even in their linear range, they also provide gain to other
>> signals in their bandwidth, which also cause following stages to be over
>> driven, to become mixers.
>
> Arm waving.

this is stuff experienced RF designers know, not the Hams, or amateur 
radio people what is left of them.


>
>>
>> If you put a +20dB preamp on your FM radio, it will trash it out totally.
>
> This just shows you haven't a clue why one would use a preamp.
>

so you are recommending using +20dB preamp for FM radios ?

>>
>>>
>>> Matchins still important to preamps.
>>
>> and so is intentional mis-matching, important to provide stability, and
>> loading for front end filters, and finding best NF, a tradeoff
>> typically. Depends on the band and application.
>
> Nope.

well, that is RF design, not amateur radio sandbox tinkering.


>>>
>>> Most of that is just nonsense.
>>
>> I see you are unfamiliar with FM radio.
>> "Capture" is also closely related to "takeover gain"
>> That is why FM sounds so much better than AM.
>
> Nope.
>
> Clueless.
>
> FYI, FM sounds better than AM (for broadcast) because the allowed bandwidth
> is much higher. It has little to nothing to do with the modulation other
> than FM is static resistant.

Why is FM "static resistant" ?  Capture effect.
Guess you should take some time and refresh yourself.

>
>> https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/fm-modulation-capture-effect.747206/
>>
>>>
>>>> he said he was listening to FM, so he is in a city,
>>>
>>> There are lots of FM stations outside major cities these days.
>>
>>>> but break out your spectrum analyser and see how huge the FM station
>>>> power is, larger than any other, except for some TV channels
>>>>
>>>> I would do it and send a photo, but my analyser when last turned on, let
>>>> out some smoke in the back, and no workie now. (smoked a resistor in the
>>>> power section somewhere)
>>>
>>>
>>> Not surprising given your level of RF knowledge.
>>
>> no it is a nice but older 10KHz to 22GHz Unit, easy to fix smoked
>> resistor, but a 100#der almost a boat anker.
>> but Troll on if you must, but you could contribute too.
>
> OK.
>
> Go buy a copy of the Radio Amateurs Handbook and read it.
>

  that is for Amateurs, 1960's stuff, and didn't they quit printing that 
a while back ?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534639

Fromjimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
Date2015-11-22 23:16 +0000
Message-ID<6vu9ic-bgi.ln1@mail.specsol.com>
In reply to#534613
gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
> On 11/19/2015 12:44 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>> On 11/18/2015 11:29 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>>>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>>> On 11/18/2015 5:15 PM, jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:
>>>>>> gilber34 <fafa@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> On 11/18/2015 3:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> <snip>
> 
>>>>> one can use an antenna with a preamp and forget matching, however the
>>>>> preamp will be a mixer, with the LO supplied by FM, TV stations or other
>>>>> if around, providing inteference.
>>>>
>>>> Total nonnsense.
>>>
>>> not at all, the typical tradeoff in designing preamps, how much gain, in
>>> how much selectivity (bandwidth), how much NF.
>>> Typical in the below 30MHz RF preamps is no antenna matching, other
>>> factors dominate.
>>
>> Nope.
> 
> have to match transmitter,  below 30 MHz receiver preamps not much need 
> at all.

Preamps have nothing to do with transmitters.

A switchable preamp is very handy; switch in it when signal levels are
low and out when there are strong signals that would cause overload.

>>>>
>>>> Mixing requires a non-linear device and preamps are built to be linear
>>>> devices.
>>>
>>> preamps are linear only in a range, outside this range all preamps are
>>> mixers.  And even in their linear range, they also provide gain to other
>>> signals in their bandwidth, which also cause following stages to be over
>>> driven, to become mixers.
>>
>> Arm waving.
> 
> this is stuff experienced RF designers know, not the Hams, or amateur 
> radio people what is left of them.

This is very basic RF that you can find in the Radio Amateurs Handbook.

I suggest you read it.

>>>
>>> If you put a +20dB preamp on your FM radio, it will trash it out totally.
>>
>> This just shows you haven't a clue why one would use a preamp.
>>
> 
> so you are recommending using +20dB preamp for FM radios ?

No, I am saying you don't know what you are talking about.

>>>> Matchins still important to preamps.
>>>
>>> and so is intentional mis-matching, important to provide stability, and
>>> loading for front end filters, and finding best NF, a tradeoff
>>> typically. Depends on the band and application.
>>
>> Nope.
> 
> well, that is RF design, not amateur radio sandbox tinkering.

Nope, it is babbling word salad.

>>>>
>>>> Most of that is just nonsense.
>>>
>>> I see you are unfamiliar with FM radio.
>>> "Capture" is also closely related to "takeover gain"
>>> That is why FM sounds so much better than AM.
>>
>> Nope.
>>
>> Clueless.
>>
>> FYI, FM sounds better than AM (for broadcast) because the allowed bandwidth
>> is much higher. It has little to nothing to do with the modulation other
>> than FM is static resistant.
> 
> Why is FM "static resistant" ?  Capture effect.

Nope, it is because static is primarily AM.

> Guess you should take some time and refresh yourself.

Guess you still haven't a clue what you are talking about.

>>
>>> https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/fm-modulation-capture-effect.747206/
>>>
>>>>
>>>>> he said he was listening to FM, so he is in a city,
>>>>
>>>> There are lots of FM stations outside major cities these days.
>>>
>>>>> but break out your spectrum analyser and see how huge the FM station
>>>>> power is, larger than any other, except for some TV channels
>>>>>
>>>>> I would do it and send a photo, but my analyser when last turned on, let
>>>>> out some smoke in the back, and no workie now. (smoked a resistor in the
>>>>> power section somewhere)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Not surprising given your level of RF knowledge.
>>>
>>> no it is a nice but older 10KHz to 22GHz Unit, easy to fix smoked
>>> resistor, but a 100#der almost a boat anker.
>>> but Troll on if you must, but you could contribute too.
>>
>> OK.
>>
>> Go buy a copy of the Radio Amateurs Handbook and read it.
>>
> 
>  that is for Amateurs, 1960's stuff, and didn't they quit printing that 
> a while back ?

Nope, it is kept up to date and is far above your demonstrated technical
level.

 

-- 
Jim Pennino

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534038

FromHVAC <mr.hvac@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-19 06:59 -0800
Message-ID<12032439-67df-4b3c-9f8b-0680e74f0efc@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#534011
Smoke comes out a lot easier than it goes back in

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534123

Frombenj <none@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-19 20:02 -0500
Message-ID<jiu3y.143082$1Z.99845@fx01.iad>
In reply to#534038
On 11/19/2015 09:59 AM, HVAC wrote:
> Smoke comes out a lot easier than it goes back in

A concise statement of HVAC's level of technical and scientific 
understanding of radio. (And most other toptics)

Aren't you glad we have such a compendium of electromagnetic expertise 
for Moderator of this physics newsgroup?



-- 

       ___           ___           ___            ___
      /\  \         /\  \         /\__\          /\  \
     /::\  \       /::\  \       /::|  |         \:\  \
    /:/\:\  \     /:/\:\  \     /:|:|  |     ___ /::\__\
   /::\~\:\__\   /::\~\:\  \   /:/|:|  |__  /\  /:/\/__/
  /:/\:\ \:|__| /:/\:\ \:\__\ /:/ |:| /\__\ \:\/:/  /
  \:\~\:\/:/  / \:\~\:\ \/__/ \/__|:|/:/  /  \::/  /
   \:\ \::/  /   \:\ \:\__\       |:/:/  /    \/__/
    \:\/:/  /     \:\ \/__/       |::/  /
     \::/__/       \:\__\         /:/  /
      ~~            \/__/         \/__/

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#534022

Frombenj <none@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-19 01:36 -0500
Message-ID<w5e3y.137768$fC2.51232@fx03.iad>
In reply to#533995
On 11/18/2015 04:56 PM, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
> Odd Bodkin wrote:
>
>> On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
>>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter extension to
>>> the earphone cord of my radio, as I wanted to place it at a
>>> distance. The cord is the antenna.
>>>
>>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy. I figured
>>> the longer line should improve performance, right?  No!  The
>>> reception was barely decipherable.
>>>
>>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>>
>> Yeah, it's pretty simple. The earphone is attached to an OUTPUT of
>> the radio. The only valuable place to stick an antenna is on an
>> INPUT to the radio.
>
> Wrong.
>
>> Signals-->||-->Tuner-->Amplifier-->Analog driver-->||-->Earphones
>> <-----------  Radio  ------------------->
>>
>> See where the antenna goes?
>
> Not only is your answer wrong, you also missed the point of the
> question.

This is typical of Boinker. HE babbles on and on parroting what he 
thinks authorities have told him without any understanding at all.


> As the OP indicated, earphone (also: headphone) cords contain wires
> which can serve as antennas.  [They certainly do with smartphones
> (from where I know the technology): Once you have plugged the
> headphones into the smartphone, you can start a radio app to tune in
> to FM (frequency modulation) radio channels (*without an Internet
> connection*). [0] It stands to reason to use the same technology
> elsewhere.]
>
> How does radio, how does an antenna work?  Radio is based on the
> transmission and reception of radio waves carrying information
> piggybacked on them through modulation of them.  Radio waves are
> electromagnetic (EM) waves with frequencies from ca. 3 kHz to 300
> GHz. [1]  EM waves can be understood as self-propagating waves of
> self-inducing electric and magnetic fields. [2]

Actually this is wrong. But wikipedia editors perpetuate the censorship 
of actual effects. Wikipedia is not any reliable source. They are as 
political as any media.

> An electrical current in an conductor creates a magnetic field (MF)
> around it (Ørstedt, 1820; see: electromagnet).  If it is an
> oscillating current, the result is an oscillation in the surrounding
> MF, which induces an oscillating electric field (EF) which creates an
> oscillating MF and so on, propagating through space: an EM wave.  So
> far for the transmitter, at the radio station.

No. Magnetic and Electric fields are created together and propagate 
together. They do not "create" each other.

> Also, a change in the MF around a conductor, such as a wire, induces
> a current in it (Faraday, 1831). [3]  In particular, with a radio
> receiver, “when radio waves strike an electrical conductor, the
> oscillating fields induce an alternating current in the conductor”
> (Hertz, ca. 1880). [1]

This is wrong too. Faraday's law is bogus. (Except for the way Faraday 
actually stated it)

> AIUI, a conductor serves best as an antenna (either for transmission
> or reception of radio waves) if its electrical resonance frequency
> matches approximately the frequency of the radio waves to be
> received. [4]

Well, yes, but it's not because of it's ability to collect radio waves. 
It's because of matching to an output load. Generally speaking 
collection of waves is determined by a parameter called "aperture" which 
oddly enough IS related to the length of the antenna and its size in 
general. But increasing the size of an antenna does not always increase 
the aperture.

> The electrical resonance frequency f₀ of a conductor is given by the
> angular frequency
>
> ω₀ = 1∕√(LC)
>
> where L is the inductance and C is the capacitance of the conductor,
> and
>
> ω₀ = 2πf₀,
>
> so that
>
> f₀ = ω₀∕2π = 1∕(2π√(LC)). [5]
>
> The inductance of a coaxial cable [6a] is
>
> L = µ₀l∕2π ln(R₂∕R₁)
>
> where
>
> µ₀ – vacuum permeability l  – length of the cable R₂ – half of the
> thickness of the cable (also a₁, outer radius) R₁ – half of the
> thickness of the conductor (also a, inner radius). [6b]
>
> The capacitance of a coaxial cable is
>
> C = 2πεl∕ln(R₂∕R₁)
>
> where additionally ε is (absolute) permittivity (ε = ε_r ε₀, whereas
> the relative permittivity ε_r depends on the material, and ε₀ is the
> vacuum permittivity). [7a][7b]
>
> So both the inductance and the capacitance of a conductor increase
> with length, which means that its electrical resonance frequency
> decreases with length.  Or, IOW, since wavelength λ = c∕f, where f is
> frequency, “Antennae length is proportional to the wavelength of
> reception.” [0]  Therefore, the longer line does _not_ improve
> reception quality of a particular radio channel (its station
> transmitting at a particular frequency) to begin with.

Technobabble.
Shows what happens when mathematics is blindly applied with no 
understanding!

> I also think that the longer the line the more likely that there is
> interference, i.e. alternating, partially canceling electrical
> currents induced at different points of the cable as the (peak of
> the) radio waves can hit the cable at those points at different
> times, and interference from other sources.  Finally, electrical
> resistance of a conductor R = ρl∕A, where ρ is the material-dependent
> electrical resistivity and A is the cross- sectional area, is
> proportional to the length l of the conductor [8], so the signal that
> reaches the tuner should become weaker as the cable length
> increases.

Technobabble.

> However, I understand that there are also traveling wave antennae
> that are nonresonant, like random wire for receiving shortwave radio.
> [9]  So it appears to depend on the frequencies that one wants to
> receive.  I would like someone with experience in radio technology to
> add their expertise here.  And please, CMIIW.

Antennas (antennae are on bugs) have been studied and developed for more 
than a century and the complexities are quite known. To make 
speculations with no information (OP didn't even say what band he was 
listening to) isn't productive. With some information perhaps a 
simplified "explanation" could be generated.

Depending on frequency, a number of factors could come into play. One 
might be the wavelength of the antenna. Note that if an antenna is a 
full wavelength long half of it has one phase and the other the opposite 
phase so it cancels. Hence If the antenna were half wave and you 
extended it to full wave output would go DOWN not up. None of this 
information is available. Another case is that the the antenna may be 
working fine but changing the length changes the output impedance which 
changes the matching into the radio. The bad match reflects power and 
signal goes down. And Thirdly, the whole situation is so ill-defined 
that little can be said. For example if wavelengths are short (FM band) 
There can be standing waves in room which a longer antenna can interact 
with in a negative way. (Remember the old TV days when someone had to 
stand on one foot and touch the window blinds so the program could be seen?)

Basically antennas that are earphone wires or line cord antennas are 
really not able to be precisely described by theory because of the lack 
of defined circumstances. They are added to products as just kind of 
"here's something even if it is crap" feature. You are WAY over-thinking 
the problem!

> PointedEars ___________ [0]
> <https://www.quora.com/How-headphones-work-as-an-Antenna-to-play-FM-radio-channels-on-Mobile-phones-Why-mobile-companies-doesnt-install-the-same-inbuilt-Antenna-on-phones-to-be-able-to-play-FM-without-the-headphones>
>
>
[1] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio>
> [2] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation> [3]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction> [4]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_(radio)#Antenna_types> [5]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RLC_circuit> [6a]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable> [6b]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductance#Self-inductance_of_simple_electrical_circuits_in_air>
>
>
[7a]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance#Capacitance_of_simple_systems>
>
>
[7b] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permittivity>
> [8]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistance_and_conductance#Relation_to_resistivity_and_conductivity>
>
>
[9] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_(radio)#Traveling_wave> p.
>


-- 

       ___           ___           ___            ___
      /\  \         /\  \         /\__\          /\  \
     /::\  \       /::\  \       /::|  |         \:\  \
    /:/\:\  \     /:/\:\  \     /:|:|  |     ___ /::\__\
   /::\~\:\__\   /::\~\:\  \   /:/|:|  |__  /\  /:/\/__/
  /:/\:\ \:|__| /:/\:\ \:\__\ /:/ |:| /\__\ \:\/:/  /
  \:\~\:\/:/  / \:\~\:\ \/__/ \/__|:|/:/  /  \::/  /
   \:\ \::/  /   \:\ \:\__\       |:/:/  /    \/__/
    \:\/:/  /     \:\ \/__/       |::/  /
     \::/__/       \:\__\         /:/  /
      ~~            \/__/         \/__/

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533813

Fromgilber34 <fafa@invalid.com>
Date2015-11-17 13:28 -0600
Message-ID<n2fv51$t4f$1@speranza.aioe.org>
In reply to#533801
On 11/17/2015 12:42 PM, RichD wrote:
> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter
> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I
> wanted to place it at a distance.
> The cord is the antenna.
>
> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.
> I figured the longer line should improve performance,
> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>
> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>
> --
> Rich
>

if antenna too long/large in FM band, the other strong FM channels can 
break through the selectivity and sound like noise, or chunky noise. In 
the industry it is called de-sence. Most FM radios are cheaply build 
now, and have poor selectivity (RF and/or IF filtering), so most sound 
like crap.  You may find a length that works best for your station. Too 
short not enough signal, too long, the big FM stations bomb through your 
cheap FM radio's selectivity.

It is not physics, it is RF engineering.

Also the antennas on FM Radios use a wire, and part of the circuit 
board, which will include your headphones. walkie talkies use part of 
your arm as a radiating structure, and cellphones will too to a lesser 
degree.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533845

From"reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com>
Date2015-11-17 14:04 -0800
Message-ID<6b5f8c35-7374-4502-ad9d-ea3431b913cd@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#533801
On Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 10:42:09 AM UTC-8, RichD wrote:
> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter 
> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I 
> wanted to place it at a distance.
> The cord is the antenna.
> 
> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.  
> I figured the longer line should improve performance, 
> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
> 
> Can anyone explain the physics here?
> 
> --
> Rich

Car antenna 3 feet,and that is the length of radio wave sent out.Making it bigger than the incoming wave does not help.Get the picture  trebert

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#533865

Fromjimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
Date2015-11-17 22:35 +0000
Message-ID<3nmshc-1o2.ln1@mail.specsol.com>
In reply to#533845
reber g=emc^2 <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 10:42:09 AM UTC-8, RichD wrote:
>> During my workout yesterday, I attached a 3 meter 
>> extension to the earphone cord of my radio, as I 
>> wanted to place it at a distance.
>> The cord is the antenna.
>> 
>> I was indoors, where the reception is usually crummy.  
>> I figured the longer line should improve performance, 
>> right?  No!  The reception was barely decipherable.
>> 
>> Can anyone explain the physics here?
>> 
>> --
>> Rich
> 
> Car antenna 3 feet,and that is the length of radio wave sent out.Making it bigger than the incoming wave does not help.Get the picture  trebert

Nope; the quarter wave length of the signal is about 90 feet for AM and
about 2.4 feet for FM.


-- 
Jim Pennino

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


Page 1 of 5  [1] 2 3 4 5  Next page →

Back to top | Article view | sci.physics


csiph-web