Much of our communication these days relies on some form of wireless technology. Whether it’s radio, wireless data, TV transmissions or mobile phone signals, sending and receiving this information inevitably involves some kind of antenna in order for everything to work as it should.

But antennas come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on what they are used for. The simplest type of antenna is a wire strung between two points or posts. These are simple and cheap and can be used to send and receive basic radio signals. But as you add sophistication you need more specialist kit.

Vehicle antennas

Historically, vehicles have used monopole antennas – basically a metal rod – to receive radio signals. In recent years the traditional telescopic aerial has given way to short, stubby types using a coiled wire, or even to no visible antenna at all, thanks to making use of the rear window heating element.

If you need two-way transmission then a longer antenna may be needed – which is why you often saw 1970s minicabs with a long whip aerial on the roof. Although technology has improved these types of aerial known as buggy whips, available from suppliers like wisuk.co.uk/buggy-whip are still useful in locations where a tall antenna is needed and where the roof of the vehicle may be hard to access.

Fixed antennas

For most people, the antenna they will need most frequently is the TV aerial. These are multi-element and designed to pick up a range of different frequencies. The most common type with a series of short horizontal rods is known as a dipole array and is effectively a series of short antennas. However, TV aerials do differ in their specifications and what type you need will vary depending on where you live and which transmitter you are receiving your signals from – http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/reception_guide.

Satellite signals use a reflector antenna that focuses the signal onto a particular point. This type of antenna can be used for other purposes too, such as transmitting wireless signals between buildings where there is line of sight available.

Specialist applications like telecommunications and radar often use microwave antennas. These can be used in one-way situations like broadcasting and as relays to send signals over longer distances. They are often used to provide the backbone network for mobile phone systems.

Billions of pounds entering the UK’s property market via foreign firms has pushed up house price rises by over a quarter, research dated March 2018 has found.

The overseas impact on house prices

Average prices in England and Wales went from £70,000 in 1999 up to £215,000 in 2014, while without a flow of foreign money they would have increased only to £174,000, a study conducted by researchers at King’s College, London, shows.

So 28 per cent of property price growth over that time may have been down to overseas investment – a lot of it via anonymous shell companies which are registered in secretive tax havens.

The study proposes that foreign investment is a notably larger contributing element towards a crisis in housing than was previously believed, meaning that millions of people across the UK can’t afford to purchase their own home.

The senior lecturer at King’s College who carried out the research, Filipa Sa, commented that foreign investment does more than just raise the cost of pricey homes. It also has a ‘trickle down’ impact on the remainder of the market.

Ms Sa found that growth of 1 per cent in the amount of property sales to firms registered overseas hiked up prices in the area by 2.1 per cent.

If you are looking for conveyancing solicitors Manchester has firms including https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/conveyancing-solicitors/conveyancing-solicitors-Manchester.

Proposed penalties

The government has come under pressure to do more to penalise ownership of property via anonymous foreign shell companies.

Front men for faceless overseas firms that invest in UK property will be jailed for up to two years and face limitless fines should the true property owners not be listed on a public register, according to new plans. However, there are concerns that new rules will not be put in place until 2021.

For more on the government’s proposed levy on foreign buyers, you can read https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/29/theresa-may-slaps-new-property-tax-on-foreign-buyers.

Demand for openness

Russian figures linked to Vladimir Putin are thought to possess British properties amounting to almost £1.1bn, and the true value could be much bigger, because ownership can easily be hidden. London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, added his voice to calls for the government to initiate draft legislation, remarking that Londoners need to know the truth about who owns property in the city.

In some industries, few things made from solid material such as plastic or metal are made and delivered as they stand, because without some sort of protection they simply wouldn’t withstand the elements or environment they are in – which means they would have an unsatisfactorily short shelf life. The solution is to protect them with something, and this is where electroless nickel plating comes into play.

What’s the Technical Explanation?

In the trade this may be described as a process where an even layer of nickel-phosphorus or nickel-boron alloy is added to an item. The amount of phosphorus featured ranges between 2% and 14%, and the higher this number the more resistance to corrosion is provided – but in return the finish is not as hard. It is also referred to as autocatalytic coating, because during the metal or alloy deposit process chemical reaction causes it to be catalyzed.

Where and Why Will You See Electroless Nickel Plating Being Used?

The major uses for electroless nickel plating treatments are on products such as pumps, drive shafts, pipes and valves within the construction, engineering, aerospace, electronic and oil/gas industries. This invaluable resource offers high levels of protection from both abrasive exposure and general wear, helps to avoid corrosion and generally strengthens the product being coated.

It is commonly used on metal, plastic and carbon steel surfaces, though it doesn’t do so well on steels which contain chromium. Electroless nickel plating is adaptable to the conditions of a surface it is applied to, which means things such as pits and recesses are filled in so the end result is smooth.

Something to Consider

The best results from electroless nickel plating depend on things such as adequate surface preparation and cleaning as well as careful attention to and management of the plating baths. Avoid any issues by using the services of surface engineering specialists such as https://www.poeton.co.uk/.

Why Choose Electroless Nickel Plating?

There are several reasons why this is considered superior to electroplating. It is able to cope with surfaces which electroplating simply can’t manage, there is virtually no risk of excess deposits at high points, it has an extended range of throwing power and there is significantly less hydrogen charging. It does cost more to choose electroless nickel plating, but the advantages tend to outweigh this issue.

In this article we take a look at the definition of biomass, its importance in today’s world and how open fires and woodburning stoves are playing their part in this green energy production.

Definition

In essence, biomass is fuel from organic materials, creating electricity and other forms of power; it is both renewable and sustainable as waste residues will always exist, forests will always have trees and we will always have crops.

Materials

Materials that can make biomass fuels include scrap timber, debris from forests, some crops, manure and certain waste residues. With technology improving every day, other things might prove useful too.

A greener way

All the above are constant sources of waste which means that green energy can continue indefinitely.

Everyday biomass power

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Biomass power is carbon neutral power generated from organic material that would otherwise be dumped in landfills. When burnt, the energy in it is released as heat, as anybody who owns a woodburning stove or enjoys an open fire in their home will know.

The challenges

Although the process of electricity creation in a commercial and/or industrial setting is the same when using both biomass fuel and fossil fuel, the equipment needed is very different indeed. Whether for domestic or industrial purposes, the burning of anything creates emissions and ash so it is important – if you are considering introducing a woodburning stove in your home for example – to choose a reputable company that has processes and equipment in place to keep emissions within regulations. Some areas are smoke-free zones, so keep this in mind.

Conclusion

There is a huge amount of research out there that supports the conclusion that biomass provides substantial consumer and environmental benefits. These include improving the health of forests, ensuring our air quality is protected and, crucially, offering a dependable and long-lasting energy source that is entirely renewable and cannot be depleted. Biomass also has many advantages over fossil fuels due to the reduction in the amount of carbon emissions. Indeed, using biodiesel instead of petrol reduces these bad emissions by between a whopping 45 and 80 percent, which is fabulous news for creating a greener and more sustainable planet.