Quote:
Originally Posted by Geek44
Thanks KGP it's fascinating stuff. There's nothing I like more in a WW2 aircraft (other than large guns) than some pimples, domes and/or RADAR arrays. Some of the later war Luftwaffe nightfighters looked more like porcupines than aircraft.
|
Very interesting info KG!
One thing that isn't indicated is the frequencies at which these various devices operate. As the technology developed, the operating frequencies went up. Higher frequencies allow better spacial resolution for radar, and smaller antennae for all devices (look how small the 880 MHz antennae on a cell phone is!). It also makes it harder to jam and detect. The early navigation devices would operate in the kiloHertz (KHz) range (like AM radio) while the radars would operate in the megaHertz (MHz) range (like FM radio). Modern radars operate in the GigaHertz (GHz) frequencies (like your 2.5 GHz cordless phone) and the cutting edge of radio technology is now moving into the TeraHertz range (you have probably never seen/used this unless you work in a lab like me). The far infrared frequencies are around 100 THz by comparison (near infrared is used for night vison).
In the biz, Radio Frequency technologies are referred to lovingly as "RF" (Arrrr, F like a Pirate would say it)...
