Why did radio aerials switch from using metal telescopic tubes to thin cables? And what’s the advantages and disadvantages of each design?

Question

Why did radio aerials switch from using metal telescopic tubes to thin cables? And what’s the advantages and disadvantages of each design?

In: 3

Answer 1

Mostly it’s frequency.

Frequency is inversely proportionate to wave length. Wave length determines antenna length.

Old AM radios required a big antennas. You probably seen them outside, they can be several hundred feet tall. The whole tower is an antenna.

FM radio antennas are a lot smaller. They look like little half circles mounted on the tower.

Wifi antennas are even smaller. The whole wave length is almost 5 inches. So you can put a tiny wifi antenna in your phone and it doesn’t take much space.