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Comics in modern magazines
are a rather rare phenomenon for some reason, but they were fairly regular features
up until a couple decades ago. This set of electronics-themed comics is from the
December 1949 edition of Radio & Television News magazine. The first
one would probably not make sense to someone not familiar with the extents to which
some radio operators go to deploy antennas. During field day events and other mobile
scenarios, Hams have been using
kites and balloons
(see More on Balloon-Supported Antennas) to create 1/4-, 1/2-, or even
full-wave vertical antennas with wires run along the tether line, a la Benjamin
Franklin. When a kite is used, because of the wind carrying the kite away from the
ground point, it is impossible to get the antenna vertical unless the line is really
long and the antenna wire is located on the most vertical section of the line's
catenary shape.
The slanted antenna creates a radiation pattern that is directed upward on the windward
side and downward on the leeward side. Under low or no wind conditions, a balloon
has a better chance of enabling a near-vertical antenna. BTW, I colorized the
pictures, so blame the weird combinations on me.
Electronics-Themed Comics
"At a time like This - You Fly A Kite!" (Page 119)
"Remember in 1943 - you couldn't get a 35Z5?" (Page 131)
"What do you mean lightning doesn't strike twice in the same
place?" (Page 150)
Posted February 8, 2024
(updated from original
post on 3/6/2017)
These Technically-Themed Comics Appeared in Vintage Electronics Magazines. I
personally scanned and posted every one from copies I own (and even colorized some).
275 pages as of 5/13/2026.
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