On 9/30/2015 8:58 PM, Wayne wrote:


"John S" wrote in message ...

On 9/30/2015 8:24 PM, rickman wrote:
On 9/30/2015 9:10 PM, John S wrote:
On 9/30/2015 3:31 PM, Wayne wrote:


"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...

In message , rickman
writes
On 9/30/2015 12:57 PM, John S wrote:
On 9/30/2015 10:12 AM, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message , Jeff
writes
On 29/09/2015 14:31, Jerry Stuckle wrote:
On 9/29/2015 4:40 AM, Jeff wrote:


So let's get back to the original question. Was it ever really
answered? I think it was made slightly more complicated by the fact
that the antenna feedpoint impedance was not purely resistive, but was
actually around 20-j130 (at 14 MHz),

Was there any advantage in having the coax paralleled (both for 20
ohms resistive, and for 20-j130)?

Expanding on the original question.... Antenna feedpoint approximately
20-j130
The ATU drives the antenna through about 15 feet of coax.
Assuming that the ATU provides a +j130 conjugate match, does that leave
the coax with a SWR of 50/20= 2.5:1?
If so, then I will not bother with considering 2 parallel coax.

The ATU will have no effect on the SWR in the 15ft of coax. The SWR is
determined entirely by the mismatch between the coax and your antenna.
The ATU simply transforms the impedance it sees to give the transmitter
the load it needs (50 + j0).

I will plead ignorance of ATUs, but wouldn't they also be designed to
match the impedance seen at the cable?


Using a Smith chart, I estimate that your load (antenna) will be
transformed to 6.67 + j52.5 through the 15ft of coax. So, that's what
your ATU will see for a load. The chart also shows about 17:1 SWR in the
coax and there is nothing I can do at the transmitter to change it.

If I now change the coax to Zo of 25 ohms, the impedance at the
transmitter end changes to 1.55 +j18.5 ohms and the coax SWR becomes
about 40:1.

It seems to me that you would only be hurting yourself.

Are you calculating the SWR based on the cable to ATU match or the cable
to antenna match? Using an online calculator I get 20:1 VSWR with a 50
ohm cable and 36:1 with a 25 ohm cable. Were you just rounding your
numbers? I used Z = 20 -j130 ohms for the antenna.


# Wow! Is this an interesting discussion, or what?

Well, I think it is The antenna system has a lossy coax between the
antenna feed and the ATU.

In Wayne's case it is not a great loss until the SWR gets great.

My understanding is that the SWR on the line is what it is, regardless
of the ATU settings.

Yes, that is so.

In fact, I use an RF ammeter between the ATU and the antenna and tune
for maximum smoke. When I look at the SWR reading on the transmitter
panel, it seems to more or less coincide with max RF current.

That's good.

I'll have to drop out of the discussion for a week or so....going off
the grid on vacation.

I wish you a happy and rewarding vacation. Cheers.