An A/B comparison of a low G5RV with a MobileOne M40-1 – statistical analysis

This article reports statistical analysis of the measurements made for An A/B comparison of a low G5RV with a MobileOne M40-1 (read it first). I left it for readers to visually form a view of the difference between the antennas, and the implications for credibility of folk lore about the two antenna types, this article … Continue reading An A/B comparison of a low G5RV with a MobileOne M40-1 – statistical analysis

An A/B comparison of a low G5RV with a MobileOne M40-1

This article reports measurements on 40m of S/N as a receiving station in Melbourne of a 10W transmitter switched between a G5RV and M40-1 over a 1 hour period. The experiment compares the antenna over a specific, but very relevant ionspheric path so it is more useful than ground level measurements in a car park … Continue reading An A/B comparison of a low G5RV with a MobileOne M40-1

Voltage baluns are making a comeback for HF antennas – some real antenna measurements

Voltage baluns are making a comeback for HF antennas discussed the application of a common Ruthroff 1:4 (voltage) balun design to a slightly unbalanced theoretical scenario. This article applies the same analysis to two reported measured dipole cases at 3.6MHz. G3TXQ dipole system at 3.6MHz (Hunt 2015) reported measurements of his dipole antenna system at … Continue reading Voltage baluns are making a comeback for HF antennas – some real antenna measurements

Simsmith model of Ruthroff 1:4 voltage balun

Ruthroff described some baluns in 1959, and which have had continuing application. This article discusses the 1:4 Voltage Balun. Voltage Balun From Definition: Current Balun, Voltage Balun: An ideal voltage balun delivers voltages that are equal in magnitude and opposite in phase. A good voltage balun will approach the ideal condition. It will deliver approximately equal voltages (wrt the input ground) with approximately … Continue reading Simsmith model of Ruthroff 1:4 voltage balun

The ZS6BKW five band antenna – discussion of an NEC model

Origins (Austin 1987) described a multiband HF antenna that is very popular with hams some thirty years later. In his article, Austin explained the characteristic of a single wire multiband antenna with a series section matching transformer. The geometry is quite similar to the G5RV with hybrid open wire and coax feed, but Austin pursued … Continue reading The ZS6BKW five band antenna – discussion of an NEC model

MFJ ATU hand effects on capacitor knobs

The problem Users of some ATUs may have noticed particular sensitivity to hands on the capacitor adjustment knobs. It is a common problem with cheap implementations of the T match as the capacitor rotor is usually at high RF voltage and if that shaft is extended to the adjustment knob, under certain circumstances tuning becomes … Continue reading MFJ ATU hand effects on capacitor knobs