Thread: RG-6 for HF?
View Single Post
  #8   Report Post  
Old December 31st 07, 12:36 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave
RHF RHF is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,652
Default Building a 75-to-50 Ohm [1.5:1] Matching Transformer for RG6 CoaxCable

On Dec 30, 9:37*pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
Brian wrote:
I finally got a house out in the woods on five acres and I'm going to set up
a couple of pretty long wires and my Wellbrook ALA-1530. I've pretty much
decided on RG-6 for a couple of 150 ft. runs because the stuff's dirt cheap
and I can pick it up at the local Home Depot. Is the impedance mismatch here
going to be negligible, or should I just bite the bullet and go with RG-8 or
a similar 50 ohm coax?


-Brian


- Alone, your receiver won't care. I doubt that the Wellbrook would,
- either.
-
- * *As a complex, however, you're going to have not one mismatch, but
- two. One at the output of the Wellbrook loop, and one at the input
of
- the antenna interface. This may result in standing waves on the
- transmission line which, in turn may result in irregularities in
- performance.
-
- * *With a reasonably well designed receiver, you'll likely not
notice
- any losses in practical listening. And unless you are working at the
- very limits of performance on signals very far down in the noise and
- doing A/B tests of one coax over another, you'll not detect the
- performance irregularities.
-

DPM,

Then it becomes a Practical Implementation and CBA type Problem.
CBA = Cost Benefit Analysis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost-benefit_analysis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implementation

Cost of RG58/RG8 Coax Cable -versus- Cost of RG6 Quad-Shield
Coax Cable with a 75-to-50 Ohm Matching Transformer at each
end.

Starting with the Concept of a 9:1 Matching Transformer for General
Broad-Band Shortwave Radio (High Frequency 3~30 MHz) Use and
Application with 30 Turns (9-Side) and 10 Turns (1-Side) and the Same
Ferrite Core Material :

We now need a Matching Transformer to take the Antenna and Radios
SO-239 Jack/Plugs {BNC Connector Optional} -to- the 75 Ohm Coax
Cable with an F-Connector {BNC Connector Optional} .

The 50 Ohm 10 Turns (1-Side) should be understood.

Getting to the 75 Ohm (X-Side) should be simple Math :
75 / 50 = 1.5
Square Root of 1.5 = 1.225
Therefore the 75 Ohm (X-Side) would have 12 Turns.

A 75 Ohm to 50 Ohm [1.5:1] Matching Transformer would have
12 Turns (1.5-Side) and 10 Turns (1-Side) and the Same Ferrite
Core Material -as- 9:1 Matching Transformer for General Broad
Band Shortwave Radio (High Frequency 3~30 MHz) Use and
Application.

Anyone Else Have Any Ideas : On a Building Your Own {DIY}
a 75 Ohm to 50 Ohm [1.5:1] Matching Transformer ?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - -


The Next Question Becomes : At What Cost ?

* Are the 75 Ohm to 50 Ohm [1.5:1] Matching Transformers
commercial available ? - a Ready Made Item ? Price ?

* Are the 75 Ohm to 50 Ohm [1.5:1] Matching Transformers a
Low Cost "Built-it-Yourself" Item ? - DIY Price ?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - -

DPM - I go back to your first statement : "Alone, your receiver
won't care. I doubt that the Wellbrook would, either."


IMHO - For the vast majority of Shortwave Radio Listeners (SWLs)
Practical Implementation Says : Just Do It ! - Use the RG6 Coax
Cable -and- enjoy listening to your radios - iane ~ RHF