"I have compiled the report on the new series of alien transmissions."
"Anything new?"
"Sort of - we have been able to gain the input of a captured specimen, however, its translation unit was inadequate to the task of describing much. It was quite adamant that citizens do not normally broadcast on such a frequency. At least not militarily. Given that the frequency of 500 megahertz is only good for line of site and shows poor propagation under many environmental conditions, it would normally be a poor choice. However, it is a strong signal, and there are a large number of Yagi-Uda style antennas appearing in the latest observation the the nearby settlement."
"A what style antenna?"
"Yagi-Uda, its a directional element using an array of di-poles, really quite primitive - we've been using them since the late twenties. Nineteen twenties."
"Which would be utterly odd for creatures that were at least on par with 2050 communications when the arrived, and suffered far less EMP disruption."
"Well, I would argue that second point is hard to prove, if anything, their inability to capitalize on the current state of humanity may be..."
"We have had that debate before. We will have it again. The signals please."
The door opened behind the scientist "Excuse me sirs - I've got an important message."
"What is it?"
"Sorry to make the latest report obsolete - but we have figured out what the UHF signal is - its graphical media."
"Graphical - a new reconnaissance system?"
"No. Television. Analog signal UHF broadcast TV. given that its a bunch of Citizens sitting around drinking - it may be some sort of sit-com. The prisoner can't translate the jokes, but does find it rather hilarious."
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