Thread: Why 50 ohms?
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Old February 23rd 10, 02:22 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna
Fred McKenzie Fred McKenzie is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 317
Default Why 50 ohms?

In article
,
phaedrus wrote:

Hi again,

Well I have read your informative replies on the problems with making
a low Zo twin feed with much interest. Clearly it's not really a
practical proposition. Shame.

So the obvious question is: why are transmitters normalised to 50 ohms
when clearly 450 ohms would enable us to enjoy cheaper, do-it-
yourself, lower loss feeders? Was this some oversight at the time, or
good practice for some obscure reason that I simply cannot think of?


As others mentioned, the origin is probably based on military standards.

It is my understanding that the lowest loss air dielectric Co-Ax would
have an impedance of around 75 Ohms. If you use the same mechanical
dimensions but with a polyethylene dielectric, the impedance becomes 52
Ohms.

Fred
K4DII