INDEX

• INTRODUCTION
• LINKS and DOWNLOADS
• PHOTOS
• MORE IDEAS
• FOOTNOTES
• RETURN to Index

INTRODUCTION

A Special AHARS Lecture Presentation
by 
Professor Mike Underhill, G3LHZ

 Titled:

All sorts of small antennas – they are better than you think – Heuristics shows why! 

Monday 4^th February 2008

Content outline of the Talk: 

• What is Heuristics?
• Practical Demonstration of ‘MagLoop’ – to make heuristic ‘observations’
• ‘The Schopenhauer Effect’ - in any new Science? A predictable reaction to new antennas that challenge classical theory?
• The Loop Controversy – heuristics resolves it once and for all time! (No, it is not losses in the tuning capacitor – it does not get hot!)

• Small Antennas are Efficient. Heuristics demonstrates and proves this using the ‘First Law of Thermodynamics’ = conservation of energy and power.

• Heuristic Antenna Impedance Measurements – extracting maximum  - information for design improvement – multiple antenna modes are measured.

• Heuristic Antenna Pattern measurement – extracting maximum information for design improvement – separating mode patterns?

• Heuristic (ground wave) propagation measurements – reveals the main misunderstanding that has fuelled the ‘loop controversy’ – an olive branch?

• Simple Heuristic EM theory of radiation and reception proposed
• Discovering, Inventing and Demonstrating ‘Impossible’ Antennas – that are supposed not to work!

• An introduction and brief summary of the Crossed Field Antenna (CFA) and EH antenna – first hand practical experiences.
• The Future of small antennas? – what does it hold? – does heuristics help?

 During his brief visit to Adelaide Mike has graciously agreed to present AHARS club members and guests with an entertaining and informative talk on the controversial subject of the real-world practical performance of electrically small HF antennas.  Examples covered will include the tuned transmitting loop, the novel Hairpin, the Tuned Folded Dipole, and the “Double Dustbin” antenna. The enlightening and practical orientated presentation will be supported by a miniVNA live demo and will include plenty of Q&A time.

Brief Bio for Prof Mike Underhill, G3LHZ

The formal (boring) stuff:

Chairman and Research Director, Toric Ltd, UK and Principal, Underhill Research (Scientific Research Services)

Mike’s long industry career was mostly with Philips, where his major roles included Director of the Systems Division at Philips Research Laboratories, Redhill, and Technical Director at MEL, Crawley. For over 20 years, Mike has been an advisor to the Ministry of Defence in a variety of roles, centrally through the Defence Science Advisory Council, but also through QinetiQ (formerly DERA) and DSTL.  Mike has also enjoyed a long academic career, and has been associated with the University of Surrey at Guildford UK for nearly 40 years.

He has been involved in Defense Electronics (mainly HF Radio) since 1961 and EW and Radar and IR since 1980. His current research interests include low phase noise in oscillators and frequency synthesis, low jitter clocks and clock recovery, HF transmitting loops and associated electromagnetic theory, millimetric and satellite borne HF radar and Ionospheric sounding. He holds about 50 patents in these and related fields and has published about sixty papers. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering since 1993.

 The amateur radio (fun) stuff:

 Mike has written on HF transmitting loop antennas for RSGB and ARRL publications including the specially commissioned article titled “The Truth About Loops” in the International Antenna Collection Handbook which gave an in-depth account of the much maligned small loop. Mike currently has a book on the subject of small loop antennas in preparation for imminent publication in 2008.  

There has been raging debate and technical comment on the efficacy of small loops in the RSGB’s publication RadCom in recent years, including Pat Hawker’s widely read column.

 Leigh Turner, VK5KLT.

oooOOOooo

LINKS and DOWNLOADS

Demonstration videos:
Loop Demo 1_0001.wmv            (1.00 MB)
Loop Demo 2_0001.wmv             (686 KB)

Problems with downloads? Click here.

MORE  IDEAS

Click HERE to see Mike's new paper on fences and rooftops. (25-02-2008)
 

Final arrangements for dissemination of the DVD and the Lecture Notes are in progress.
It is intended that both the video and the Lecture Notes presentation files will be on the DVD.
It is expected that a small charge will be made for the DVD.
The Lecture Notes presentation file is available for direct download. Look in the DOWNLOADS box above.
 

PHOTOS
(Click on any photo for an enlargement).

A close up of Mike's open loop.
With a small tuning capacitor (at the bottom), it tunes down to 80 metres.

(0922)

John and Leigh providing moral support for Mike as he "battles technology" to get his presentation running.
(3749-2)

Mike kept the interest of all up until the end, and even well after that. We enjoyed his affable nature, excellent ability to cover so much in such a short time, and his ability to stimulate our own enthusiasm. (0928-2)

John presenting "The best of the British" with the "Best of South Australian wines" as a thank-you.
(3756-2)

Photos by David (VK5AMK) and John (VK5EMI)

FOOTNOTES

• A summary of the talk and the evening in general will appear shortly in AR magazine.
• I hope to see a few club projects flow on from the talk.
• Many thanks to those whose contribution ensured the success of the night:
  Mike, Leigh, Christine, Christine and Geoff, Greg; Jim and the rest of the AHARS committee.

John Elliott, VK5EMI, President, AHARS.

Return to  TOP

Updated  14/06/2008