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.
(Hunt 2015) reported measurements of his dipole antenna system at 3.6MHz. Continue reading Voltage baluns are making a comeback for HF antennas – some real antenna measurements
I planned this article to be a Youtube video, but recent behaviors of Google / Youtube give me pause to consider whether or how I use Youtube in the future. So, this article is a simpler presentation of the underlying concepts.
For most purposes, users of HF antennas would like the feed line to perform that function alone, ie to not participate as radiating or pickup conductors.
For that end, we want the common mode component of feed line current to be very very low.
Discussion of antennas tends to represent them as two terminal devices in free space, ie ignoring the presence of ground in close proximity. This applies whether the feed line is coax or two wire line.
A more complete representation (or model) is a three terminal network that includes a terminal to permit current to flow to ground. Above is a Wye or Delta equivalent circuit, and that can be transformed to an equivalent Tee circuit. Continue reading Voltage baluns are making a comeback for HF antennas?
The term “impedance matching” is used frequently, but the meaning is context sensitive… and sometimes it is misused because the meaning used is not correct for the context. Continue reading What does “impedance matching” mean?
RF compensation of power relays referred to a video I have recently posted RF compensation of power relays.
Above, the example relay.
So, does this technique work for bigger relays?
Firstly, small is beautiful… it is easier to get good compensation of smaller relays over a wider frequency range.
Above is an example relay by K5UJ for discussion. I do not have measurement data for this relay box, but experience tells me that at HF, the compensation technique discussed above is likely to give good results for its intended purpose as a HF T/R relay. Continue reading RF compensation of power relays – bigger relays
I have recently posted a video on RF compensation of power relays.
Above, the example relay. Continue reading RF compensation of power relays
A recent online posting provides content for learning. K3EUI posted a NanoVNA-Saver screenshot of his antenna described as:
Set out a horizontal loop wire antenna for possible NVIS paths
Wire is about 140 ft length with an outside CLC tuner, fed with 50 ft RG213. …Here were the Nano VNA graphs of this new loop antenna, measured from inside the shack (50 ft RG213)…
Can we learn something from this? Continue reading Antenna assessment using NanoVNA – learning from a user example
A ham consulting the experts on QRZ asked:
On 30 meters, my SWR reads 3:1 to my antenna (an EndFed 53 feet long wire up about 25 feet). Reading a chart I have, I see that at 80 watts output, my reflected power should be 20 watts. I verified this by looking at my Diamond SX-200 Meter which also indicates the reflected power is 20 watts. My questions are these: does the 20 watts reduce my 80 watts output to 60 watts at the antenna? I have a choke on my feed line in my shack (near my transceiver) & the SX-200 Meter is between the choke & transceiver….
The OP later explained that the transceiver is a IC-7300 and it appears that the internal tuner is in use above… so let’s proceed on that basis.
Analysing the OP’s report, his SX-200 indicates VSWR=3 Pf=80, therefore Pr=20, and P=60W. Note that \(P=P_f-P_r\) is valid because Zref is real, so the answer to his question about power to the antenna is 60W, he is quite correct.
He went on to ask where the 20W reflected goes to… but I will leave that to Walt Maxwell devotees to discuss energy sloshing around and re-re-re reflections… the stuff of ham lore.
As an example of what might be expected of the IC-7300 with a mismatched load, I did a series of measurements at 7MHz with a sample variably mismatched load.
Above is a plot of power output vs VSWR for a sample mismatched load. Also plotted is the measured reflected power and the calculated power output based on the ham lore \(P=P_f (1-\rho^2)\). Continue reading IC-7300 VSWR protection
I recently posted a video entitled Half wave dipole series match .
Readers may find it relevant and interesting.
A correspondent reading Designing a Gamma Match – Simsmith design tool and confirmation of as-built antenna referred me to (Healey 1969) and questioned my method.
I have tried several times to reconcile built and tuned antennas and NEC models with Healey and failed, leading me to think of the problem and devise a good approximation that did reconcile (for me).
This article attempts to reconcile the example given at Designing a Gamma Match – Simsmith design tool and confirmation of as-built antenna, an example where the two built antennas reconcile well with the ARRL published design article and NEC model.
The example antennas are 4 element 144MHz Yagis built around 1970. They were originally designed with a 50Ω split dipole feed, or the option of a folded dipole with 4:1 half wave coax balun. Continue reading Designing a Gamma Match – Simsmith design tool and confirmation of as-built antenna – comparison with Healey
Seventh part in the series documenting the design and build of a Guanella 1:1 (current) balun for use on HF with wire antennas and an ATU.
The prototype fits in a range of standard electrical boxes. The one featured here has a gasket seal (a PTFE membrane vent was added later).
Above, the exterior of the package with M4 brass screw terminals each side for the open wire feed line, and an N(F) connector for the coax connection. N type is chosen as it is waterproof when mated. Continue reading Design / build project: Guanella 1:1 ‘tuner balun for HF’ – #7