Bizarre claim about mercury and antennas

So the old story goes, a fellow out in Russia can't get a television signal in rural, well, where-ever.

He allegedly incorporates mercury somehow into his television antenna, probably not made of aluminum because it would corrode, and suddenly can hear all the way to eastern Europe.
Then, the Russian police come to his house, and make him take it down. According to myth, it was screwing with plane electronics overhead.

I've been looking around for information on this, but all I can find on it is in Russian. Now, I know this is an awful idea. I'd never try it myself, fooling around with mercury.

But this, being a strange fringe idea, I figured the best place to ask would be the kingdom of the fringe.

So, has anyone else heard of a "mercury antenna"? Perhaps we have a russian in the audience.

It doesn't do anything magical. It's just a metal.

eta:
For some metals, rubbing mercury on will cause the metal to corrode on the spot. Especially aluminum.

reply to post by Bedlam


Yeah, but it has saturated my brain due to fillings in my teeth and vaccinations.

reply to post by Bedlam


Well, according to legend, it was some non-aluminum composition of antenna. Sure, it doesn't make sense.. And I don't expect much of a hit in regards to this... But I'm just hoping I can get someone crazy or russian enough to know what I'm talking about.

Next up on the Morton Downey Jr. show, mercury antennas.

hurdygurdy
reply to post by Bedlam

 

Yeah, but it has saturated my brain due to fillings in my teeth and vaccinations.

Just don't hold any aluminum in your mouth!

Grifter42
But I'm just hoping I can get someone crazy or russian enough to know what I'm talking about.

My favorite Russian story was about the Baba Yaga.

reply to post by Grifter42


Mercury is mentioned in the Aryan texts as the metal used to power their 'Vimanas' (Flying Machines)

reply to post by LightAssassin


Okay. Now we have someone crazy enough to explain it. Now, mercury is a metal with weird properties, continue. Next up, after you, the Russians.

An antenna for a TV receiver is supposed to be messing up electronics on aircraft?
A receiver antenna?

Phage
An antenna for a TV receiver is supposed to be messing up electronics on aircraft?
A receiver antenna?

Heck, I've got wires stuck in little bottles of mercury in two places in my house, and they don't have that effect. Bet you've got one too.

reply to post by Bedlam

You have an old pinball machine?
Or just the light switches?

Phage
reply to post by Bedlam

 

You have an old pinball machine?
Or just the light switches?

edit on 12/27/2013 by Phage because: (no reason given)

Thermostats.

eta: Although I have had light switches that did, come to think of it, use mercury. Also I've had tamper switches that used mercury. None of them shut down airplane avionics.

reply to post by Bedlam


Answered above.

reply to post by Bedlam

Nah.
I'm in the tropics. No call for such like.

reply to post by Bedlam



Mercury thermostats....little bit dated aren't they?

I cant see how mercury would make a bit of difference as far as reception.

Certainly would not be messing up aircraft's electronics with a receive only antenna.
Now if he was experimenting with transmitters, i could believe it.

reply to post by shaneslaughta

In which case intervention of the authorities would not be restricted to Russia.

LightAssassin
reply to post by Bedlam

 

Answered above.

edit on 27-12-2013 by LightAssassin because: (no reason given)

Nah, vimanas were all converted to gallium and bismuth after Indra drowned Namuci in the sea foam.

shaneslaughta
reply to post by Bedlam

 

Mercury thermostats....little bit dated aren't they?

They still work just fine, and I'm a tightwad.

reply to post by Bedlam


I said that in jest.

shaneslaughta
reply to post by Bedlam

 

I said that in jest.

Me too. I hate replacing things like that. The digital ones never cover up the area the old thermostat was on, and you end up having to paint the wall. Gah.