7 Surprising Facts You Might Not Know About Antennas

By John Oncea, Editor

Think you know everything there is to know about antennas? Maybe so, but then again, there just might be a surprise or two in here.

Antennas are metallic structures used to capture and transmit radio electromagnetic waves. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the five-nanometer DNA Nanoantenna created by Université de Montréal researchers to monitor the structural change of proteins to the 1,640-foot Huge FAST Telescope located in Guizhou, China.

More than just metal rods, antennas are essential components in various technologies, including radio, television, cell phones, Wi-Fi, radar, and satellite communication. There are dipole antennas, parabolic antennas, Yagi-Uda antennas, helical antennas, microstrip antennas, and omnidirectional antennas, to name but a few.

One type of antenna – the loop antenna – has been used by thieves to extend the radio connection between key fobs and a car over several hundred feet, allowing them to start the car and drive it as far away as a tank of gas will take them, according to GPS Leaders.

Another novel use of antennas, according to Barron’s, is to pilot unmanned, Starlink-equipped narco-submarines from Colombia across the Caribbean Sea to Central America and Mexico. These cocaine-smuggling subs aren’t the first instance of a cartel using Starlink to its advantage. According to Barron’s, “A whopping $4.25 billion in meth was seized on a ship near India (in 2024), and the boat was being operated remotely using a Starlink connection” as well.

But not all of the unusual uses of antennas are nefarious – some are downright inspirational. Here, we take a look at seven unusual uses of them, and we even throw in a bonus fun fact just for kicks.

Antennas Aiding Disaster Relief

Researchers from Stanford University and the American University of Beirut have developed an innovative, lightweight, portable antenna that can reliably connect to both satellites and terrestrial devices, offering a vital tool for disaster response teams and humanitarian organizations.

In the immediate aftermath of disasters like earthquakes or floods, the failure of traditional communication infrastructure, such as damaged cell towers or downed radio masts, critically impedes rescue efforts. This new antenna directly addresses those failures, enabling rapid deployment of impromptu communications to coordinate emergency response and connect with isolated survivors.

Unlike conventional metallic satellite dishes, which are heavy and demand considerable power, the newly developed antenna is small, light (about 39g), and requires no extra energy to switch between two stable configurations: one optimized for targeted satellite communications and the other for omnidirectional ground connectivity.

According to Stanford, it achieves this flexibility by employing a unique design based on counter-rotating helical strips made from fiber-reinforced composites, allowing easy transformation between operational modes merely by pulling or compressing its structure.

Publication of the design in Nature Communications demonstrates its validity as a suitable solution for post-disaster scenarios, especially in regions where resources and infrastructure are limited or compromised. Field tests showed successful performance for both point-to-point terrestrial connectivity and satellite localization within the crucial L-band frequency range frequently utilized in emergency communications.

Importantly, such passive, reconfigurable antennas lower the technological entry barrier for responders and reduce logistical burdens during high-stress rescue operations, underscoring their potential to transform humanitarian aid and resilience strategies in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters.

Beverage Antennas In Vietnam

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Marines made strategic use of “commo wire” to create Beverage antennas—very long, low-to-the-ground wire antennas—enabling reliable and secure communication between forward bases and command centers. Typically, these antennas extended for several wavelengths and were positioned only a few feet above the ground.

According to Ham Radio Outside the Box, the Marines deliberately engineered these Beverage antennas to be inefficient: by terminating the wire with resistors (around 600 ohms), they further increased lossiness, which limited the effective communication range.

This intentional inefficiency was a tactical advantage. By severely restricting the range, transmissions became much harder for North Vietnamese intercept units to detect or exploit, thus maintaining operational security for nearby command communications.

Beverage antennas, though not optimal for powerful long-range signals, provided a low-profile, easily concealed antenna that could be deployed while crawling, reducing exposure to enemy observation or attack. Their construction using readily available wire also made them both practical and low-cost for field operations.

Military documentation and antenna engineering studies confirm that, although Beverage antennas generally have a mere 1.5% efficiency as transmit antennas, their highly directional and easily adaptable design provides key security and stealth benefits in a contested, electronics-rich environment such as Vietnam. Modern analyses emphasize that radio communication during the Vietnam War depended on a mix of technological improvisation and strategic awareness of signal vulnerabilities, with the Vietnam War depended on a mix of technological improvisation and strategic awareness of signal vulnerabilities, with the Marines’ use of inefficient Beverage antennas exemplifying this balancing act.

Antenna As A Metamaterial Design

Metamaterials, artificially engineered materials with extraordinary electromagnetic properties, are transforming the landscape of antenna design. A recent breakthrough by Lockheed Martin and Penn State highlights this trend: the creation of a compact antenna using metamaterial concepts to overcome the long-standing limitations of conventional antennas for satellite and GPS applications. This antenna features a hexagonal shape and is specifically optimized for use in arrays, enabling higher gain and more efficient performance when multiple antennas are deployed together. Compared to traditional circular designs, the hexagonal configuration results in better array packing and an additional increase in gain.

The integration of metamaterials into the antenna structure results in significant improvements in both gain (up to 25%) and aperture efficiency, with added robustness and reduced weight, critical for aerospace and satellite environments. Furthermore, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, this new antenna offers dual-band capability, enabling efficient operation at two key frequencies needed for GPS systems.

The use of carefully designed metamaterial elements empowers engineers to precisely manipulate electromagnetic wave propagation, yielding antennas that are not only more compact and lightweight but also capable of enhanced multi-band functionality and improved resistance to interference.

Research at Penn State’s Computational Electromagnetics and Antennas Research Lab (CEARL) has played a pivotal role in these advancements, leveraging advanced optimization and simulation to refine these metamaterial-enabled designs. The resulting antennas are poised to provide substantial benefits for next-generation GPS and communication satellites, promising enhanced reliability, efficiency, and reduced payload mass – all critical factors for modern aerospace and defense systems.

DIY Antennas From Everyday Items

The creative construction of DIY antennas using commonplace items such as aluminum foil and wire glue exemplifies the ingenuity found among amateur radio and television enthusiasts. Recent practical guides and engineering experiments have confirmed the effectiveness of such homemade designs.

For example, one project detailed the process of building a deep-fringe TV antenna out of plywood, corrugated cardboard, heavy-duty aluminum foil, and 12-gauge copper wire, with wire glue providing the critical electrical connection between foil and wiring, Wire Glue Projects writes. The antenna's structure deliberately connects the “director” and “reflector” elements, both to boost reception gain and to shield against noisy interference from nearby electronics – a testament to the nuanced understanding many amateurs bring to their builds.

Academic and research communities echo this spirit of innovation, experimenting with flexible and scalable techniques for antenna fabrication. Researchers at Columbia University have advanced the field by developing “knitted” RF metasurface antennas from off-the-shelf yarn, integrating electromagnetic functionality into ultra-lightweight and foldable textiles. These antennas represent a significant evolution of the core DIY philosophy by leveraging everyday materials yet advancing performance and flexibility.

Parallel antenna configurations, inspired by the pioneering work of John Winegard, credited as the “father of the modern TV antenna,” remain a recurring theme in both hobbyist and academic contexts. Leveraging multiple antennas improves signal quality and reception diversity, as demonstrated in both engineering theory and practical radio setups, according to Princeton University.

The continued development of both simple homemade and sophisticated research antennas underscores the accessibility and adaptability of antenna technology for personal and experimental use, blurring the boundary between amateur ingenuity and academic advancement.

Antenna Man

DXing – receiving distant radio or television signals – remains a vibrant hobby within the amateur radio community, inspiring enthusiasts like “Antenna Man” to experiment with various equipment and antenna designs. Many amateur radio operators, or “hams,” trace their passion for DXing back to early experiences with makeshift antennas, such as using a coat hanger to pull in faraway stations, according to SWLing.

This creative approach exemplifies the spirit of experimentation that underpins amateur radio and has led hobbyists to increasingly sophisticated setups, like high-gain antennas mounted on towers, for greater signal reach and clarity.

DXing is more than just a pastime; it is a means of expanding knowledge about radio wave propagation and improving technical skills, adds The National Association for Amateur Radio. Organizations such as the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) host annual contests that encourage participants to contact distant stations, deepening their understanding of atmospheric conditions and antenna performance. The integration of digital technology and the rise of software-defined radios have further broadened the horizons for DXers, making it easier for individuals to monitor, analyze, and log distant signals.

Academic collaborations, like those promoted by the HamSCI initiative, bring together scientists, students, and radio enthusiasts to study ionospheric phenomena using DXing techniques. These partnerships exemplify the growing recognition of amateur radio’s value for both personal achievement and scientific advancement. Current research also highlights how DXing fosters innovation and learning within the amateur radio community, bridging the gap between casual listening and advanced signal experimentation.

The Human Body As An Antenna

Recent studies confirm that the human body can function as an antenna when exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic fields, absorbing, scattering, and even radiating electromagnetic energy. Researchers have numerically modeled scenarios where the body is near a high-frequency (HF) vehicular antenna and have shown that a portion of the incident energy is indeed radiated away by the human body, while the rest is absorbed and dissipated as heat through biological tissues, according to Frontiers.

Specific absorption rate (SAR) values are used to assess how much electromagnetic energy is converted into heat within the body, and these remain essential metrics for understanding exposure and safety. The electrical properties (permittivity and conductivity) of skin, fat, and muscle influence how the body interacts with electromagnetic fields, and the overall absorption and radiation characteristics vary with frequency, tissue composition, and proximity to the EM source.

Apart from absorption (which results in heat dissipation), the human body can facilitate energy transfer in near-field communication scenarios. For example, recent research in wearable technology demonstrates how placing antennas in contact with the skin improves performance, as the human body modifies the antenna’s load and can enhance the radiation efficiency and pattern, writes Nature. 

Additionally, writes MDPI, experiments show that ambient electromagnetic wave energy can sometimes be harvested using the human body as a passive conductor or antenna to power ultra-low energy wearable electronics. These findings underscore the complexity of the body's interaction with electromagnetic fields and emphasize the need for ongoing safety monitoring, particularly as more devices operate nearby at higher frequencies.

Stealth Antenna

Some ham radio operators creatively integrate stealth antennas into residential environments by disguising them as common architectural elements such as gutters or downspouts. This approach allows operators to comply with restrictive homeowner association (HOA) rules that often prohibit visible antennas and avoid attracting unwanted attention from neighbors or local authorities.

According to Scribd, stealth antennas are intentionally designed to be inconspicuous, using thin wires or disguising the antenna as everyday objects like flagpoles, roof vents, or weather vanes, or even installing them indoors (e.g., in attics) to maintain a low profile while still achieving effective radio communication.

The need for stealth antennas arises not only from HOA restrictions but also from other social considerations, such as maintaining good neighborly relations or dealing with space constraints in urban and suburban settings. Given that traditional antennas can be large and visually prominent, disguising antennas as part of the household infrastructure enables ham radio operators to continue their hobby within regulated environments without compromising performance. Magnetic loops and small transmitting loops are popular indoor or semi-hidden antenna types for such applications.

Recent advances have produced specialized stealth antenna kits and designs that retain high performance while remaining covert, such as broadband VHF/UHF antennas that avoid the bulky radials typically associated with antenna setups, enhancing both stealth and functionality, Heathkit writes. The trend toward stealth antennas reflects a broader adaptive strategy among amateur radio enthusiasts to balance technical needs with regulatory and community constraints, demonstrating innovation in antenna technology integration within residential areas.

Bonus Fun Fact: The Origin Of The Word Antenna

The word antenna in wireless communication is attributed to the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, who conducted wireless experiments in 1895 using a long wire “aerial” suspended from a pole. Marconi's use of this apparatus led to the term “antenna” being associated with the Italian word for a tent pole, l'antenna centrale.

This was a shift from earlier terminology, where such devices were referred to simply as “terminals” in wireless telegraphy. Marconi’s prominence and successful wireless demonstrations helped popularize the term, which then spread among wireless researchers and the public alike.

The Latin origin of the word “antenna” means “sail yard” (the horizontal spar used in sailing to hold a sail), which influenced its Italian usage to mean a pole or rod. Marconi’s choice of the word might have reflected the physical resemblance of his wireless aerial to a sailing yard or the tent poles from which the wire was suspended. This terminology then evolved and solidified in the context of radio and wireless technologies.

Before Marconi, the earliest radio antennas were conceived by Heinrich Hertz in the late 19th century for demonstrating electromagnetic waves, but these were not termed antennas at the time. Marconi’s experiments and commercial developments, particularly his 1895 transmission work near Bologna, brought the concept and the term “antenna” firmly into usage for the radiating and receiving elements in wireless communication devices.

Thus, the word antenna in the wireless context is a result of Marconi’s practical innovations and linguistic adaptation from Italian and Latin maritime terminology to modern radio technology.