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Building upon our discussion of fundamental antenna characteristics, we now turn our attention to some of the most common and basic antenna types: wire antennas  and loop antennas . These forms are significant due to their simplicity, versatility, and widespread use in various applications. Wire Antennas Wire antennas are familiar to many and are seen in numerous places such as on vehicles, buildings, and aircraft. They come in various shapes, including straight wires (dipoles), loops, and helices . Linear or curved wire antennas are some of the oldest, simplest, cheapest, and often the most versatile. The simplest form is a straight wire , commonly referred to as a dipole . Dipoles are discussed in more detail in Chapter 4 of Balanis' "Antenna Theory".  Variations of the straight wire include monopoles , often used for mobile cell and cordless telephones, sometimes in a helical form with a plastic cover to increase input resistance for ...

The word deserve is thrown around way too much these days. Back in the day, it meant you earned something through hard work and effort. Now? People use it to justify entitlement. You hear it all the time: “I deserve to be happy.” “I deserve a vacation.” “I deserve that raise.” But do you really? Or do you just want it? What "Deserve" Used to Mean The word deserve comes from the Latin deservire , meaning “to serve well.” Basically, if you put in the effort, you got the reward. Simple. ( Etymology of "deserve" ) It wasn’t just about wanting something; it was about earning it. If you worked hard, you deserved the raise. If you trained every day, you deserved the championship. There was a clear connection between effort and outcome. The Shift to Entitlement Somewhere along the way, people stopped using deserve to mean earned and started using it to mean expected . Now, people say they deserve things just because they exist. No effort,...

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) government's recent move to regulate Facebook has sparked significant debate. Citing concerns over misinformation and social unrest, authorities have tested ICT controls to monitor and potentially restrict access to the platform. While the intention is to promote responsible social media use, this action raises critical questions about freedom of expression in the country. The Government's Justification for Facebook Regulation Authorities argue that Facebook has become a conduit for malicious content, including fake news and defamatory material, which could endanger public safety. By implementing a temporary ban or stricter controls, they aim to assess the platform's impact and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. This approach, they claim, is necessary to maintain social harmony and protect citizens from harmful content. However, this rationale has been met with skepticism. Critics contend that such measures...

In our previous post, we introduced the fundamental concept of an antenna as a transducer between the wired and wireless realms. Now, we'll delve into some of the most crucial characteristics that define an antenna's performance: gain , polarisation , and impedance . Understanding these properties is essential for anyone looking to grasp the basics of antenna theory. Let's start with Gain . When discussing antennas, the term gain refers to the power at the intended terminals and importantly, it includes antenna losses . As you delve deeper into antenna theory, you'll often encounter the term directivity . In fact, in electrical engineering curricula, the concept of directivity is often introduced before gain. While related, gain builds upon directivity by factoring in the inefficiencies of the antenna. Antenna gain is typically expressed in dBi , which stands for decibels relative to an isotropic antenna . An isotropic antenna is a theoretical point so...

Welcome to the first instalment of our crash course in antenna theory! If you've ever wondered how your mobile phone connects to a network or how radio signals travel through the air, you've already encountered the crucial role of antennas. In this post, we'll lay the groundwork by answering a fundamental question: what exactly is an antenna? We can define an antenna in several ways. Firstly, an antenna is "a usually metallic device (as a rod or wire) for radiating or receiving radio waves". The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provides a similar definition, describing the antenna or aerial as " a means for radiating or receiving radio waves ". More technically, an antenna can be understood as a transitional structure that sits between free-space and a guiding device . This guiding device, which could be a coaxial line or a waveguide, serves to transport electromagnetic energy . Think of it like this:  When transmitt...

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of both women and men in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Their hard work and resilience have significantly impacted our nation’s development, and their stories continue to inspire future generations. Today, we honor these individuals, reflecting on their contributions and looking ahead to a more inclusive future in STEM. Pioneering Women in STEM Dr. Jane Mogina Dr. Jane Mogina, a biodiversity specialist, has made significant contributions to environmental conservation in PNG. With a PhD in Community Resource Management and Ethnobiology, her work includes the discovery of a damselfly species, Nososticta moginae , named in her honor. She was also recognized at the Global Pioneer Award at the Gastech conference in 2023. ( Source ) Crystal Kewe As a co-founder of Crysan Technology Ltd., Crystal Kewe is a young entrepreneur developing digital plat...