RHF wrote:


OK then what is a 'matchbox' in :
* a poorly designed transmitting antenna,
* a mismatched transmitting antenna,
* a non-physically resonate transmitting antenna,

Consider the 'matchbox' to be one element
in the RF Energy Radiating System :
Feed-Line + 'matchbox' + Antenna Element

i want to know - iane ~ RHF
.


It would be far more "in the realm of correct" to consider what a
matchbox DOES, rather than what it IS--as it is simply some combination
of inductive and capacitive components which ALWAYS will induce some
form of loss into any system it is inserted into.

However:
*a matchbox will allow you to use a poorly designed/constructed
antenna--it will NOT improve the antenna.

*a matchbox will allow you to "match" differing impedances to achieve
proper power transfer to the antenna--again, it will NOT improve the
efficiency of that antenna, and the power will be "simply lost" (as heat.)

*a matchbox CAN allow you to alter the electrical length of an
antenna--physical and electrical lengths are two different animals.

And, this is all-in-a-nut shell; as you realize, a proper education in
this field is NOT a trivial thing.

That said, I frequently carry a cheap portable with me on trips and
launch a longwire into a tree, etc., find acceptable signals and enjoy
listening ... or else, just grab the SW stations audio from the net ...
being an old-timer, the first is more enjoyable, for me.

Regards,
JS