On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 23:02:06 -0700, "Sal M. O'Nella"
wrote:

I'm seeking learned opinions.

Will you settle for uninformed speculation and reverse engineering?

I think we refer to "beam antennas" that way because they behave like lamps
with reflectors, directing a beam of RF like a beam of light. I don’t know
the historical accuracy of my thinking.

Methinks the origin of the term is from the "death ray" weapons that
paralleled early radio development. The Uda-Yagi antenna was invented
in 1926 which included references to "beam-width" which presumably
referred to a narrow "radio beam" as in a death ray. During the same
time, Marconi, Tesla, and others jumped into the "death ray"
competition, claiming to have invented one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_ray
Even the invention of RADAR was originally inspired by an attempt to
produce a suitable "death ray". In all cases, the proposed "death
ray" was quite directional as it would not do to vaporize the entire
neighborhood. It was often referred to as a "radio beam" or "energy
beam". So, when you announce that you're "turning the beam" in
someone's direction, please take the time to inform them that it's not
a "death ray" that you're aiming.




--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558