Path: utzoo!utgpu!ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca!CUVMA!SWL-L Date: Thu, 11 Jan 90 14:18:31 EST Reply-To: Mike Smith Sender: Short Wave Listener's List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was From: Mike Smith Subject: Why omni? (Was Re: TV and FM radio DXing) X-To: swl-l@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu To: UofToronto LAN redistribution Message-ID: <90Jan11.145844est.58533@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> Newsgroups: bitnet.swl-l Distribution: ut Approved: devnull@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu In article <6043@alvin.mcnc.org> spl@mcnc.org.UUCP (Steve Lamont) writes: >There are some antenna systems which PURPORT to emit an omnidirectional pattern >(the FCC, in fact, MANDATES that all FM and, if I recall, all TV to be >omnidirectional), although numerical analysis as well as actual measurement >indicate that no such beast exists. I'm confused (a not unusual state for me ...) Why would the FCC want folks to have an omnidirectional pattern? Most of the population lives near one coast or another (West, South, or East). Why would they want a TV station in, say, New York, to radiate half of it's power out to sea? In other areas the city is often in a valley surrounded by nice hills or mountains. Why would an FM station want to send half it's power into the hills/desert/national wilderness rather than into the valley with the people and cars? I don't understand ... -- E. Michael Smith ems@apple.COM 'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.' - Goethe I am not responsible nor is anyone else. Everything is disclaimed.