On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:31:58 GMT, Lancer wrote:

To have the measured SWR change with coax length, means you have
current flowing on the outside of the coax. Your coax then becomes
part of the antenna, so changing its length is changing the antenna
length. This would change the feedpoint impedance and the SWR.

Unless the line is carrying common mode currents that affect antenna
impedance, changing coax length won't change the SWR, even if the
antenna isn't matched.
********

BS

Common mode currents on the shield of coaxial cables do not alter the
feed impedance. Repeat ofter me. Common mode currents on the shield of
coaxial cables do not alter the feed impedance.

The feed impedance of an antenna is solely determined by its physical
length and any load impedances within the antenna structure. Load
impedances can be stray capacitance with ground via metal objects
within the near field of the antenna or even a building.

The "Magic" of an electrical halfwave transmission line is at a
precise frequency, the reflection of the load to the transmistter is
equal to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line
irregardless of what impedance it is terminated with. Other lengths
have the load impedance reflected back and transformed by the length
of the coax. The coax then acts as a transformer. It will either step
up or step down the impeadnace of the load depending on the load
itself and the electrical length of the coax.

All a tuner does is electrically lengthen or shoten the coax by
introducing a lumped LC constant that helps present a resistive load
to the transmitter. The SWR at the feedline does not change. By
placing various different lengths of coax inline, you do the same
thing a tuner does, add a lumped LC constant.

james