Resonator Resonator A resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance or resonant behavior, that is, it naturally oscillates at some frequencies, called its resonant frequencies, with greater amplitude than at others. The oscillations in a resonator can be either electromagnetic or mechanical (including acoustic). Resonators are used to either generate waves of specific frequencies or to select specific frequencies from a signal. Musical instruments use acoustic resonators that produce sound waves of specific tones. Another example is quartz crystals used in electronic devices such as radio transmitters and quartz watches to produce oscillations of very precise frequency. A cavity
Boat anchor (metaphor) Boat anchor (metaphor) In amateur radio and computing, a boat anchor or boatanchor is something obsolete, useless, and cumbersome – so-called because metaphorically its only productive use is to be thrown into the water as a boat mooring. Terms such as brick, doorstop, and paperweight are similar. In amateur radio, a "boat anchor" or "boatanchor" is an old piece of radio equipment. It is usually used in reference to large, heavy radio equipment of earlier decades that used tubes. The use of the term in a disparaging way is unusual. An early use of the term appeared in a 1956