Date:         Fri, 2 Nov 2007 15:33:25 -0700
Reply-To:     Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Antena option for VW Vans
In-Reply-To:  <472B7389.4070801@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Everytime I see someone using the word for antennae relating to electronic
signals, I think of an insect with a ham radio strapped on its back ;-)  So
in the humorous spirit of "Frydaye", here's my take on this....

Terminolgy is where its at these days volks.....On of the first things I
learned in both high school biology and electronics is the correct
terminology of antenna, antennas or antennae (the electronics teacher had an
obession about drilling these differences home to us hapless students who
didn't know the difference between a Yagi or a Ground Plane antenna).

Antennae is the plural for antenna(s) on certain members of the animal
kingdom, to wit:  *Antennae* (singular *antenna*) are paired
appendages<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appendage>connected to the
front-most
segments <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphogenesis> of
arthropods<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropod>.
In crustaceans <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crustacean>, they are
biramous<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biramous>and present on the
first two segments of the head, with the smaller pair
known as *antennules*. All other arthropod groups, except
chelicerates<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelicerata>and
proturans <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protura> which have none, have a
single, uniramous <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniramous> pair of
antennae.Antennae's also are used to send signals to communicate. 20% of all
bugs have antennaes.  Antennae are jointed, at least at the base, and
generally extend forward from the head. They are sensory
organs<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_system>,
although the exact nature of what they sense and how they sense it is not
the same in all groups, nor always clear. Functions may variously include
sensing touch <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactition>, air motion, heat,
vibration (sound), and especially
olfaction<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfaction>(smell) or
gustation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustation> (taste). (From Wikipedia
- underlines are theirs, not mine)

Antennas are the plural form for antenna, that is those that are used for
transmitting and/or receiving selected electronic signals of the radio,
television, etc., to wit:  An *antenna* is a
transducer<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transducer>designed to
transmit <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmitter> or
receive<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receive> radio
waves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_waves> which are a class of
electromagnetic
waves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_wave>. In other words,
antennas convert radio frequency electrical currents into electromagnetic
waves and vice versa. Antennas are used in systems such as
radio<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio>and
television <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television> broadcasting,
point-to-point radio communication, wireless
LAN<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_LAN>,
radar <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar>, and space
exploration<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_exploration>.
Antennas usually work in air or outer space, but can also be operated under
water or even through soil and rock at certain frequencies for short
distances. (again, from Wikipedia - underlines are theirs, not mine)

Of course, on vehicles that looked more like insects (like the Beetle or
Bus), maybe antennae does apply.......;-)

That Bus does have one helluva an array tho...
--
Jim Thompson
(Who never got around to getting his Tech Plus)
(Maybe someday)
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 11/2/07, Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> If that guy's antennae can be used to receive normal analog TV signals,
> then he will be able to get DTV signals, too.
>
> But picking up DTV in the boonies will probably be harder. Unlike analog
> TV where the receiver can tolerate a pretty weak signal but still give
> you a picture (though with noise and multipath and sync problems), DTV
> is all-or-nothing. Once the signal gets too weak or filled with too much
> multipath, the TV will just give you a blank screen.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
> On 11/2/2007 11:33 AM Jack R. wrote:
>
> > Mike,
> >
> > So the poor guy in the photo from the link I sent, won't be able to get
> > digital with his little antenna either.
> > http://www.flickr.com/photos/77623993@N00/1829771066/
> >
> > You did open the above photo link did you>>>
> >
> > Jack
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Michael Elliott [mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com]
> > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 2:05 PM
> > To: Jack R.
> > Cc: Vanagon
> > Subject: Re: Antena option for VW Vans
> >
> > Where we live we have good TV signals. But we never get good programs. I
> > asked the man at the electronics store if the new HDTVs made the
> > programs any better and he said he didn't think so.
> >
> > Keep in mind that after Feb 17, 2009, all television broadcasters will
> > shut off their analog signals and broadcast only in digital. New
> > antennae, new tuners, will be needed. See
> > http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html