"Dave Oldridge" wrote in message
9...
If the lossless transmission line (obviously no such animal exists) were
tuned with a lossless tuner, then VSWR would not matter at all.

Dave, I'm pretty sure I know what you mean here, but it should
be noted that this isn't entirely true. The line would have to have a
couple
of other characteristics besides being simply "lossless" for VSWR
not to matter at all.

The problem, of course, is that a VSWR of other than 1:1 implies
(by definition!) that the voltages and currents along the length of
the line are not constant; there are cyclic variations in each, with
maxima and minima located at half-wavelength intervals (that's
the whole "standing wave" thing in the first place, right?).
Particularly in high-power situations, it is possible for the maxima
to exceed the ratings of the source or of the line itself.

Bob M. (KC0EW)