On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 14:36:19 +0100,it is alleged that tony sayer
spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

These were used more in the days of 405 line band 1 and 3 TV to which
they are/were better suited. Their not a lot of cop at UHF frequencies.

Indeed. In the US and Canada, they as you may know still use both VHF
and UHF for TV. On a portable set, the VHF antenna is usually a set of
'rabbit ears' which work well at VHF, and the UHF is usually a loop
antenna identical to the type that used to be supplied with BW tv sets
in the UK.

I suspect originally cluelessness as to the type of TV transmissions
in use in the UK on the part of some executive in far distant lands
(It works here and TV is the same everywhere, so it'll work in
London), immediately followed by 2 discoveries:

1. They don't work properly on UK UHF tv unless the transmitter is in
your backyard.

2. The public will still buy them in sufficient quantities to cause
profit, so point 1 doesn't matter.

I'm sure the other contents of this NG will wish you daughter all the
best, and to get well as soon as.

Bless her)

Seconded :-)

--
The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those
which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.
- Helen Rowland