TEM planar diagrams vs. wireframe zeppelins
 

Hi everyone,

Just to point out my own ignorance: for the longest time I was trying to
picture TEM waves arriving at my antenna using the typical published
pictorials of planar EM fields at 90 degrees to each other.

What was really confusing was wondering why a dipole oriented to the
E-plane didn't also work by trying to orient it 90 degrees out to the
H-plane. This is basic theory and it presented a huge stumbling block
to me.

I finally ran across a pictorial that makes it clearer - a wireframe
zeppelin with the antenna in the center of it longitudinally. The wires
running from each end of the zeppelin represent the electric field and
the circular support frames represent the magnetic field. I suppose you
could substitute all sorts of mental pictures, ie footballs, etc.

I know this is basic stuff to everyone, but for me it was a watershed
moment! Now when I mentally picture throwing pool-cues and hula-hoops
at my antenna, it all makes sense!

73
Brian