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Article:
How a Satellite TV Antenna Works by: Gary Davis Practically all broadcast systems use antennas to transmit and receive radio signals. These antennas are based on single metal pole to which the carrier signal is sent through a cable. First let's talk about how this most simple type of antenna works: Pole Antenna A Pole antenna basically consists of one metal pole that transmits it signals around it as if it was the center of a sphere. In all directions the transmitted signal has the same power. The length of the antenna is determined by the frequency of the transmitted signal. Radio waves, like light waves, always travel at the same speed, which is about 186.000 miles (300.000 km) per second. One wave length is determined by the frequency of the signal by the following formula: Wavelength = speed of light / frequency This results in higher frequencies having shorter wavelengths. A pole antenna doesn't have to have the length of a complete antenna but can also have a length of about ½ , 1/'8
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