On Thu, 19 Mar 2015 19:28:33 +0000, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Don Pearce
writes
On Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:20:58 +0000, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Don Pearce
writes
On Thu, 19 Mar 2015 13:58:37 +0000, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Phil
Allison writes
Brian Gaff wrote:


I think the worst case I saw was a Pioneer receiver which kept calling a
ferrite rod am aerial a Loopstick,

** Correct name, in my experience.

A "loopstick" is a ferrite rod antenna that replaces the old loop antenna.

Indeed. It's what the Americans have always called a ferrite rod aerial
(well, at least since the 1950s).



That name never happened in the UK - or if it did, I never heard of
it. It doesn't make much sense either - it can't be a loop and a
stick.

On the contrary, it IS fairly logical. It a loop (or, more accurately,
lots of loops) of wire, wound on a ferrite stick.

A loop is a very specific type of antenna.

And so is a 'loopstick'.

I know about using a loop AND a stick to resolve the two possible
directions from a loop DF antenna, but that isn't what this is about.

Not all of what some Brits call 'crass Americanisms' are completely
crass. Some names give a fairly good description of what a device does.
For example, in the world of cable TV, a constant impedance, variable RF
attenuator acquired the name of 'varilosser'. On the other hand, a
'toob' could be anything!

A loop is a specific type of antenna. It is large, and looks a little
like a tennis bat with no strings.

It all depends on the design frequency!

A ferrite antenna

Surely you mean 'ferrite aerial'?

here is called a
rod rather than a stick.

You don't say!

Obviously it has a coil wound round it -
that's the only way to create the necessary inductance, but it doesn't
constitute a loop.

The 'loop' probably refers to what was originally used in some types of
LW and MW radios, ie a large-ish, multi-turn air-cored loop.

It's a rod.

You say nee-ther, and the Americans say nigh-ther (or, more likely, vice
versa).


Aerial, antenna. I use both interchangeably mostly. But when I'm
dealing with a dish it's always an antenna.

On my old fashioned long/medium/short wave valve radio, the antenna
plugs into the aerial socket.

d