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

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

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

She still gave no position and the Itasca's direction finder could not get a bearing because she had failed to adjust her radio to its frequency.

From Time Magazine Archive

Only half of Jason's mind was occupied with the work as he drew up a list of materials he would need for the psionic direction finder.

From Deathworld by Dongen, H. R. van