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From: myers@hpfcdj.HP.COM (Bob Myers)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Hetro dining?
Message-ID: <17660105@hpfcdj.HP.COM>
Date: 12 Sep 90 18:26:26 GMT
References: <SQUASH.90Sep5183021@boogie.math.ufl.edu>
Organization: Hewlett Packard -- Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 17

>Sorry, but this is wrong. The 'super' in superheterodyne is actually
>a contraction of 'supersonic' referring to the fact that the
>heterodyne produced is above the range of audible frequencies (i.e.
>an RF heterodyne).

An interesting theory, but I suspect that it's incorrect as far as the
actual origin of the word is concerned.  When Armstrong invented the
superheterodyne technique, the most "refined" receiver type available
was called the "super-regenerative" (which, I assure you, had nothing to
do with regenerating supersonic frequencies - although the "regeneration" *did*
take place in the RF stages).  I suspect that he simply picked up the "super" 
prefix from this as a Good Marketing Move.


Bob Myers  KC0EW   HP Graphics Tech. Div.|  Opinions expressed here are not
                   Ft. Collins, Colorado |  those of my employer or any other
myers@fc.hp.com                          |  sentient life-form on this planet.