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VK3ZWI > AMRVIC 29.08.05 00:58l 48 Lines 1964 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 57616_VK3DSE
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Subj: Pioneer antenna designer dies
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0WUE<DK0WUE<7M3TJZ<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<VK3AYM<VK3DSE
Sent: 050828/0939Z @:VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:57616 [Narre Warren] FBB7.00g25
From: VK3ZWI@VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : AMRVIC@WW
Pioneer antenna designer dies
-----------------------------
By Jim Linton VK3PC
Well recognised for re-shaping the construction of antennas and their
theory of operation is Gordon "Dick" Bird G4ZU/F6IDC, who has died aged
86.
A friend, Jean-Claude Menard F8ND reports that Dick's widow Helene Bird
has confirmed he passed away at Malves en Minervois in South France on 16
August.
A chief electronics engineer and manager he worked for the British Post
and Telecommunications, NATO and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
An active radio amateur, who after retirement and moving to France
continued his ham activities until recent years under the callsign F6IDC.
From the 1950s he created numerous original antennas such as the
"Minibeam" and "Birdcage" with their designs being published in ham radio
magazines creating worldwide interest.
In the 1980s he designed an antenna with bent elements that became known
as the "Jungle Job" or "Bow-and-Arrow Yagi". Later when writing about it
Dick conceded in having stumbled on the 'critical coupling' technique
developed jointly by Fred Caton VK2ABQ and Les Moxon G6XN.
The popular multi-band "spider beam" is based on Dick's ideas but was not
developed by him. It consists of three mono-band "Bow and-Arrow Yagis"
interlaced on the same supporting cross. This lightweight portable antenna
remains popular today and is marketed by Cornelius Paul, DF4SA.
The G4ZU antenna designs are renowned for their gain. An example being a
two-element switchable beam antenna made of wire comprising three dipoles
and a common parasitic reflector.
The three switchable lobes, 120-degrees apart, produced forward gain of
nearly 9dBi and a front-to-back ratio of about 25dB.
Modern day antenna builders using computer modelling continue to explore
the G4ZU principles that remain the subject debate and wonderment.
- Amateur Radio Victoria.
www.amateurradio.com.au
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