Abstract :
The paper describes the development of automatic direction-finders primarily intended for measuring the bearings of aircraft, on signals radiated in the frequency band 100¿150 Mc/s. The basic system employs fixed elevated-H Adcock antennas and a single receiver, and, with the exception of the earliest model, all instruments give cathoderay oscillograph indication. An examination of the advantages and limitations of fixed*antenna automatic direction-finders employing two or more receivers leads to an account of the reasons for the adoption of a single-receiver system in the present development. The principles and evolution of this system are explained with reference to the original experimental models, whose performance is discussed. A naval direction-finder based on one of the experimental models is described in detail, and statistics are presented to show that the probable instrumental error varies from about 0.6¿1.25 deg over the frequency band, after compensation for octantal error. Bearings can be measured on signals of field strength down to 7 ¿V/m or less. The paper concludes with a description of direction-finders for use on land. One of these, under current development, will be capable of unattended operation on two alternative frequency-channels, with bearing indication and full remote-control at points up to twenty miles distant.
