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

Derived Forms

• direction finding
  noun

Etymology

Origin of direction finder

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

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

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

From Forbes • Nov. 10, 2014

The positions of distress calls from boats that don�t have DSC capable radios can be determined by triangulating the automatic direction finder bearings from all of the antennas receiving the signal.

From Time Magazine Archive

With a 20-m.p.h. tail wind and guided by a direction finder at Bermuda, it hit its tiny target on the nose 4 hr.

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 Collins, A. Frederick (Archie Frederick)