"Cecil Moore" wrote in message
...
Sal M. Onella wrote:
I'm starting to think in terms of Smith charts, which I never thought I
would need or use. Surprise!

Carrying a Smith Chart around in your head is a
good way to conceptualize transmission line and
antenna configurations.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

Yes. I have seen a lot of Smith charts for broadband Navy shipboard
antennas. The people who match them obviously have to do a chart for the
raw antenna in place on the ship, then design and adjust a matching network,
followed by a chart of the results, with every point inside the 3:1 (or 4:1)
circle. Their efforts are generally documented in the ships' antenna files.

I agree about the Smith chart for conceptualizing but at this stage, I am
just a Smith baby.

Back on topic, I am using the sleeve in a conventional dipole configuration
until I can take the time to apply the ideas presented in this NG. I
noticed this afternoon that coiling four turns of decoupling loop a few feet
from the feed actually raised the VSWR, which I didn't understand. Also,
where the coax hangs down next to the antenna makes a difference in the
VSWR, so obviously the line is not "flat" and is instead part of the
antenna. (Do we still use the term "flat" to describe a transmission line
which is properly matched to the load? I recall it from Navy training more
than 40 years ago.) My first HF antenna works, but it's clearly no marvel.