At 12:39 PM 2/21/2007, Steve Bosshard \(NU5D\) wrote:
Regarding a clean and shiny antenna, we had a discussion at coffee. The
preposition was that radio waves and light have many similarities, ie.,
wavelength, reflection, Fresnel behavior, and so forth. Using these
similarities, a mirror reflects light, and a dark surface absorbs light,
so, wouldn't a shiny antenna reflect incoming signals while
a dark colored antenna absorbs signals? This may only apply to receiving
antennas - hope I can get this idea to market before the April 1 edition of
QST.. .. .. de nu5d
Cute idea. However... How do you know aluminum that's shiny or black at
visible light frequencies is still shiny or black at radio frequencies?
Maybe RF black is visible day-glo orange, or pea-soup green. Or maybe it
would absorb light so well as to be invisible. I think this would make a
good April 1 article. I haven't written one for our repeater club
newsletter for a few years, maybe it's time for another. Assuming you don't
mind if I borrow your premise.
As I think about it a vague sense of deja-vu is forming. Maybe there was an
April Fool's article years ago somewhere about invisible antennas?
Roger Grady K9OPO
