Nate 📡

This is one of those things I had to go double-check is real and not a Wikipedia hoax, because it genuinely feels like something you'd ask someone else to get you as a prank, like "a bucket of steam", "a 2x4 stretcher", or "headlight fluid". What is it? A 'leaky feeder', a coaxial cable that leaks data along its length.

Yeah, like an irrigation hose with holes drilled into it. In fact, exactly like that. Except instead of dripping out water, it drips out data signals! When I say the same, I really do mean it: It's a coaxial cable that has holes in the shielding where data dribbles out. And even back in!

Normally, the way a coaxial cable works is that signal is sent along a central conductor (usually copper). That conductor is fully enclosed by an insulating material, then there's a woven copper shield which keeps outside signals from getting to the conductor and interfering with the data, and then there's a cover around the whole thing to keep your cat from eating it.

A leaky feeder (or radiating cable) is basically the same, but the shielding has holes in it, and essentially the entire central conductor acts as an antenna! An antenna which is able to both broadcast and receive radio signals. This means you can have two-way radios with nothing but a cable, but if you send a digital signal, you can even have (very slow) Wi-Fi!

What are the use cases for this? They're pretty specific, since the signal will be a lot more limited than just using a real antenna. The simplicity of deployment makes it ideal for mines, where you just string up the leaky feeder and no further work is needed.

( ˶°ㅁ°) ᵎ!ᵎ RADIO STAMPS + BLINKIES

・⸝⸝⸝ [ request ] [ self indulgent ] ★

──  f2u ˃ᴗ˂ credit appreciated, not required  .

⚠ :: credits · [4] [6] [7] [8]™ 

⌨ ➜ . send me ur fav radio stations :))