direction finder

American  

noun

Radio.

1. a receiver with a loop antenna rotating on a vertical axis, used to ascertain the direction of incoming radio waves.

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direction finder British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: D/F.   DF.  a highly directional aerial system that can be used to determine the direction of incoming radio signals, used esp as a navigation aid

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Other Word Forms

• direction finding
  noun

Etymology

Origin of direction finder

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

direction finder

One involved Noonan doing celestial navigation; the other, her use of a radio “bearing” direction finder.

From Forbes ● Nov. 10, 2014

Why would Earhart start out on such a hazardous journey without knowing how to operate her aircraft’s radio direction finder to the nth degree?

From Forbes ● Nov. 10, 2014

He wanted to show Europeans how simple and safe it was to fly their own planes, especially with the Lear automatic pilot, the Lear automatic direction finder and the Lear omnirange navigational system.

From Time Magazine Archive

There three months ago a Pan American airport crew set up a base, installed a direction finder in an abandoned mission.

From Time Magazine Archive

AERIAL, LOOP.—Also called a coil aerial, coil antenna, loop aerial, loop antenna and when used for the purpose a direction finder.

From The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by A. Frederick (Archie Frederick) Collins