Editor's Notes

The AP-S website continues to evolve as we add new features, content and make editorial changes. While this Editor’s Note has been a long time coming, the web site is continuously being updated with new content. We are trying to stay on top of the most recent developments. Please check the site on a regular basis for notices, updates to the Advertiser Section and the Calls for Papers – we are trying to maintain as complete a Calls for Papers section as possible. There are currently 23 EM, antenna and propagation related conferences listed.

A few changes are being worked as I write this note. We are bringing back the EM Library section of the site and expect to have it up and running shortly. Issues with the online videos have been fixed and we will also be implementing a new file format so that they can be downloaded for later viewing. The Feature Articles now has an archive section so that all of the previous articles will be permanently maintained on the site.

The Educational Resources section of the site under the For Students tab is being prepared as we try to define and edit the content. Preparation of this section has been a challenge since there is so much content available on the Internet. If you are an educator and would like to have some of your content featured on the AP-S website, please let me know via email. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

I am pleased to announce the latest Feature Article: Peter Song and David Barker from Quintel Technology Limited gives us his perspective on how many antennas do we need? Please see the short introduction below. If you are interested in writing a Feature Article or have any suggestions for a topic or author, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Finally, if you have any comment on the web site content, format or any other suggestions, please let me know and I will address it as quickly as possible.

- Steven Best, webeditor@ieeeaps.org

Feature Article

Antennas, How Many Antennas do we Need?
Peter C. T. Song and David Barker
Quintel Technology Limited
One of the key components interfacing between the radio hardware and the
‘Ether’, i.e. the air-interface for wireless communication is the antenna. With tremendous
growth and demand for high speed high data rate wireless communication, more and more
antennas, and antennas covering a multitude of frequency bands are required. This paper
begins by giving an innovations overview of the evolution of the wireless standards and
access technologies, driving antenna innovations from a conventional single narrow band
component to today’s advances capable of multiple services, and cognitive capable antenna
systems.

Full feature article

Announcements

Web Site Information and Updates

The inaugural launch of the AP-S web site leaves a few areas “under construction”. These include the For Students tab, the Ask an Expert feature and AP Fellows on the Cutting Edge. Updates to these sections of the web site will follow shortly.

In the For Student section of the site, we intend to add education resources, which will include the capability to download a number of IEEE AP-S training videos. With Ask an Expert, we intend to add a feature that will allow students to ask recognized experts in the field basic questions regarding antennas, electromagnetics and wave propagation. We have some implementation considerations to work out on this feature before it goes live. Finally, with AP Fellows on the Cutting Edge we intend to have short feature comments from recently elected AP-S Fellows on critical topics in antennas and electromagnetics.

Navigating the web site is straight-forward using the numerous tabs on the left. You are encouraged to use these tabs rather than the backward and forward features of your browser. If you have any issues or find any errors on the site, please send an email to webeditor@ieeeaps.org