John Kraus, 94, of Delaware, died Sunday afternoon (July 18, 2004) at his residence. Arrangements will be announced by Rodman Bennett Brown Funeral Home.
Noted author of ANTENNAS, For All Applications and many other books and papers.
For those of you that are college students, if you follow the communications track in electrical engineering, you will cross paths with Dr. Kraus books. "Antennas" is excellent. He also worte another book on electromagnetics which I also had to use in school. His texts are the standards for which other books on the matter are measured. I still have those books in my book case after almost 22 years out of college. Excellent resources for design and experimentation.
73 DE Bert @ KA2UUP
Professor Kraus built the “Big Ear” for Ohio State University and Ohio Wesleyan.
http://www.bigear.org/
As a teenager I remember visiting the radio telescope and being absolutely entranced. It was one of the experiences that persuaded me to become an amateur. As a young ham I would request his textbook by interlibrary loan because I could not afford it.
I never met John but I will miss him just as I miss the Big Ear when I drive past the golf course where it used to be.
John's picture is from the above website.
Dr. John Krauss invented the beam antenna in the 1930's known as "The 8JK" It could be built for any band but was most popular on 40 meters. For 40, it consisted of two horizontal dipoles 66 feet long separated by 16 feet of 450 ohm ladder ine with a 1/2 turn in the middle. From the front dipole 21 feet of the same ladder line dropped vertically 21 ft. into a 4:1 balun then out with coax into the tuner and rig.
THEN came the Yagi beam by Drs.Yagi and Uda.
Haven't seen one of these once highly popular performers and conversational pieces in the air in years.
We are indebted to Dr. Kraus for much more than just "The 8JK" May he long be remembered.
Dr John Krauss (W8JK) has more than left his mark both in Amateur Radio and academic circles.
I used his text book "Electromagnetics" some 20+ years ago when studying for my Electrical Engineering degree. It is a great book, and one that I still use regularly today.
RIP Dr. John D. Kraus (W8JK) - Well done!
I am very saddened by the passing of Professor John D Kraus. I was honoured by being able to participate in constructing an "8JK" at W8DCL's house. It was fun to put together and much more fun to operate. I always had hoped I would get the chance to thank Professor Kraus for his outstanding contributions to Electronics.
I am very saddened by the passing of Professor John D Kraus. Many of his designs and theory of antennas have helped me through my studies throughout life. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.