About the Author

J.L. Smith received a B.S. degree in physics from the University of Houston in 1956 and an M.S. degree in engineering from Southern Methodist University in 1959. He began his career in broadcasting at KTRH in Houston in 1946. In 1956, he joined Collins Radio Company where he held the usual positions in research and development culminating in head of the Department of Research and Development. He served as the manager of Broadcast Systems Engineering at Collins Radio Company during the 1960s. While there he directed the development of a complete catalog of new broadcast products.

Mr. Smith has been active in FCC matters, having filed the first petition advocating automatic unattended operation of FM broadcast transmitters. He participated in the coordination of international broadcasting through his service on CCIR Study Group 10 and has participated in various national and international symposia. J.L. Smith has authored approximately 50 technical papers and has published two other books—Basic Mathematics with Electronics Applications (Macmillan, 1972) and Intermodulation Prediction and Control (Interference Control Technologies, 1993).

He is now retired in Covington, Louisiana, where he devotes much of his time to analytical research pertaining to AM directional antennas.