Microwaves

Various uses of the microwave spectrum are discussed. The first realisation was communications across the Channel by British and French engineers in 1931. During the Second World War enormous effort was expended to harness microwaves for radar. The research work was often done with limited resources (a poem by one of the participants describes the efforts). The operation of Microwave links described; how they can be used for Long Distance Communications. Satellite communications and the men who put them in practice (Rudi Kompfner and John Pierce of Bell Laboratories) are introduced and the first few satellites are described in somewhat more detail. Operation of microwave waveguides is explained.