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antenna impedance
how do you determine the impedance of an antenna?
is this something i can do with a multi-meter or is it very technical? thanks chuck |
In article ,
"c.foster" wrote: how do you determine the impedance of an antenna? is this something i can do with a multi-meter or is it very technical? You can't effectively measure it with a multi-meter. An antenna is a 3rd to 4th dimensional problem involving electric and magnetic fields depending on its construction. The derivation thereof are technical but there are formulae and spread sheets that can be followed to calculate the dimensions that make it simple at the same time. -- Telamon Ventura, California |
CF,
Consider one of these two Antenna Testers by "MFJ": MFJ-204B = 1.8 - 30MHz Antenna Bridge http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...rodid=MFJ-204B MFJ-259 = HF/VHF Antenna/SWR/RF Analyzer w/ LCD, Counter & Meters http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...rodid=MFJ-259B iane ~ RHF .. Some Say: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWL-AM...na/message/502 I BELIEVE: On A Clear Night... You Can Hear Forever and Beyond ! .. .. = = = "c.foster" = = = wrote in message ... how do you determine the impedance of an antenna? is this something i can do with a multi-meter or is it very technical? thanks chuck .. |
"c.foster" wrote:
how do you determine the impedance of an antenna? is this something i can do with a multi-meter or is it very technical? thanks chuck In electronics there are basically three kinds of signals, DC (direct current), AC (alternating current) and more recently, digital. DC means the current flows continuously in one direction but it can change in value. AC current is constantly changing in value and periodically reverses in direction. A digital signal can be seen as a kind of pulsing DC where the signal is either on or off but not somewhere between those two values or 'states'. In a DC circuit, the relationship between voltage-V and current-I gives the resistance-R of the circuit. The formula is V/I=R. However things are not so simple with an AC circuit, particlarly one involving an RF (high frequency AC) signal. In that case, the word 'impedance' is used to define a special kind of resistance for AC signals. The impedance of an antenna is the relationship between voltage and current at the feed point where the lead wire is connected. This is not something which can be measured with a typical multi-meter because it involves RF rather than pure DC or low frequency AC. However the impedance of an antenna can be measured with the proper equipment. In the days of vacuum tubes there was a device called a 'grid dip meter' which could be used to evaluate an antennas charecteristic impedance at a particular frequency. Today we have more sophisticated solid state equipment for doing this. The first URL below shows one of these devices. The other two addresses have more information about antennas. http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...rodid=MFJ-259B http://www.ominous-valve.com/antennas.txt http://digilander.libero.it/iw3sim/antennas.html -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
STARMAN,
Nice Answer and Two Very Good Links: http://www.ominous-valve.com/antennas.txt http://digilander.libero.it/iw3sim/antennas.html iane ~ RHF .. .. = = = starman = = = wrote in message ... "c.foster" wrote: how do you determine the impedance of an antenna? is this something i can do with a multi-meter or is it very technical? thanks chuck In electronics there are basically three kinds of signals, DC (direct current), AC (alternating current) and more recently, digital. DC means the current flows continuously in one direction but it can change in value. AC current is constantly changing in value and periodically reverses in direction. A digital signal can be seen as a kind of pulsing DC where the signal is either on or off but not somewhere between those two values or 'states'. In a DC circuit, the relationship between voltage-V and current -I gives the resistance-R of the circuit. The formula is V/I=R. However things are not so simple with an AC circuit, particlarly one involving an RF (high frequency AC) signal. In that case, the word 'impedance' is used to define a special kind of resistance for AC signals. The impedance of an antenna is the relationship between voltage and current at the feed point where the lead wire is connected. This is not something which can be measured with a typical multi-meter because it involves RF rather than pure DC or low frequency AC. However the impedance of an antenna can be measured with the proper equipment. In the days of vacuum tubes there was a device called a 'grid dip meter' which could be used to evaluate an antennas charecteristic impedance at a particular frequency. Today we have more sophisticated solid state equipment for doing this. The first URL below shows one of these devices. The other two addresses have more information about antennas. http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...rodid=MFJ-259B http://www.ominous-valve.com/antennas.txt http://digilander.libero.it/iw3sim/antennas.html -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
-=jd=- wrote: I had about 300' of #14 insulated wire strung in this "Z" shape down one of the woodlines on my property. It really overloaded the receiver, but with an external attenuator, it was a very useable signal snagger. Last week, the new wore off and I decided to change it. I now have about 100' of that wire arranged in horizontal triangular loop. The happy surprise is that the S/N ratio is much, much better. The one thing that I would like to do is try to figure out the actual characteristic impedance of the antenna. I've found information that shows me how to do this with a noise-bridge, but I don't have one of those. I was wondering if anyone knows of a link or a formula for finding a relatively close "ballpark" figure for characteristic impedance. I'm thinking there isn't (without the inclusion of one or more physical measurements) due to all of the variables involved. To add to the dificulty, the antenna is over sloping terrain and I recall that height above terrain affects impedance. The end goal is to match a coax feed to the antenna as closely as *reasonably* possible. I understand that there's the distinct possibility that after going through all the effort to determine what ratio is needed for the transformer, a SWAG may well have produced the same or similar results... But, it's a hobby and I have the time. A general rule of thumb might say that for that single random wire you'd be looking at 500 ohms, give or take. Here's some good reading material: http://members.aol.com/DXerCapeCod/z_transformers.pdf http://www.dxing.info/equipment/impe...ing_bryant.pdf Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
Even if you do match it, it will be at only one frequency. At any other, the
mismatch returns. "-=jd=-" wrote in message ... I had about 300' of #14 insulated wire strung in this "Z" shape down one of the woodlines on my property. It really overloaded the receiver, but with an external attenuator, it was a very useable signal snagger. Last week, the new wore off and I decided to change it. I now have about 100' of that wire arranged in horizontal triangular loop. The happy surprise is that the S/N ratio is much, much better. The one thing that I would like to do is try to figure out the actual characteristic impedance of the antenna. I've found information that shows me how to do this with a noise-bridge, but I don't have one of those. I was wondering if anyone knows of a link or a formula for finding a relatively close "ballpark" figure for characteristic impedance. I'm thinking there isn't (without the inclusion of one or more physical measurements) due to all of the variables involved. To add to the dificulty, the antenna is over sloping terrain and I recall that height above terrain affects impedance. The end goal is to match a coax feed to the antenna as closely as *reasonably* possible. I understand that there's the distinct possibility that after going through all the effort to determine what ratio is needed for the transformer, a SWAG may well have produced the same or similar results... But, it's a hobby and I have the time. -=jd=- -- My Current Disposable Email: (Remove YOUR HAT to reply directly) |
CW wrote: Even if you do match it, it will be at only one frequency. At any other, the mismatch returns. There are ways to get more of a broadband match, via the use of a matching transformer. "-=jd=-" wrote in message ... I had about 300' of #14 insulated wire strung in this "Z" shape down one of the woodlines on my property. It really overloaded the receiver, but with an external attenuator, it was a very useable signal snagger. Last week, the new wore off and I decided to change it. I now have about 100' of that wire arranged in horizontal triangular loop. The happy surprise is that the S/N ratio is much, much better. The one thing that I would like to do is try to figure out the actual characteristic impedance of the antenna. I've found information that shows me how to do this with a noise-bridge, but I don't have one of those. I was wondering if anyone knows of a link or a formula for finding a relatively close "ballpark" figure for characteristic impedance. I'm thinking there isn't (without the inclusion of one or more physical measurements) due to all of the variables involved. To add to the dificulty, the antenna is over sloping terrain and I recall that height above terrain affects impedance. The end goal is to match a coax feed to the antenna as closely as *reasonably* possible. I understand that there's the distinct possibility that after going through all the effort to determine what ratio is needed for the transformer, a SWAG may well have produced the same or similar results... But, it's a hobby and I have the time. -=jd=- -- My Current Disposable Email: (Remove YOUR HAT to reply directly) |
Steve, if i were to mount something like that,
and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... Drifter... |
Drifter wrote: Steve, if i were to mount something like that, and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... You can do it several different ways. Here, I use the type of transformer that utilises a ground at the feed point. Hence, the antenna itself is always at DC ground. It's simply a matter of how one connects the windings. It's certainly possible to short the one end of the winding to the coax connector, and then just get away with a ground at the receiver. I believe this is the method that the RF Systems MLB balun uses. Myself, I prefer to have a ground at the feed point. From the feed point here it's about 9' down to an 8' or so ground rod. I also have a separate ground for the receiver(s), and I would still recommend it's use. I used to offer them for sale, and could build one any way the customer wanted. It's time consuming to make them though so I jut drifted away from it. Last time I wound one up was for a fellow in Ireland a couple years ago, and he has good success with it. I think I sold about 275 of them, but I just could not keep up. If you have other questions I'll try and help you out. I'm much better at explaining in person and if I have some exhibits to use! Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
Take a look on my website. www.kc7nod.20m.com
"Drifter" wrote in message ... Steve, if i were to mount something like that, and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... Drifter... |
just re-read you web page. good info by the way. also
looked at the 20m site. 9-1 seems to be the way to go. i 'll try making one of these. don't have the junk box i had as a youngster, (had my ticket in the 50's). used my Dad's radios, never had my own set-up and never seemed to get the time to get back into it. after my wife died, i moved farther into the country. quiet out here. and, i got about an acre here, should be lots of room to run wire. i had looked at an alpha-delta. thought i'd try to brew my own. been using a an-lp1 here. want to get outside now. picked up 2 RS long wires and stranded 18 for a song and a danced at a local winter fest. Breezshooters fest next month, should find the rest of parts and a mini box. will give it a go. i feel 55 is still young enough to fall off a roof. you recommend long wire or something like an inverted V? thanks a lot Steve... Drifer... |
Drifter wrote: just re-read you web page. good info by the way. also looked at the 20m site. 9-1 seems to be the way to go. i 'll try making one of these. don't have the junk box i had as a youngster, (had my ticket in the 50's). used my Dad's radios, never had my own set-up and never seemed to get the time to get back into it. after my wife died, i moved farther into the country. quiet out here. and, i got about an acre here, should be lots of room to run wire. i had looked at an alpha-delta. thought i'd try to brew my own. been using a an-lp1 here. want to get outside now. picked up 2 RS long wires and stranded 18 for a song and a danced at a local winter fest. Breezshooters fest next month, should find the rest of parts and a mini box. will give it a go. i feel 55 is still young enough to fall off a roof. you recommend long wire or something like an inverted V? thanks a lot Steve... Drifer... I've found that around 70' or so works pretty well for all 'round use. Start going longer and the antenna starts to get more directional with respect to the direction the wire is running. Gotta go! The boomers are moving in again! http://www.weatherunderground.com/ra...olland%2c%20MI Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
Drifter schrieb: Steve, if i were to mount something like that, and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... Drifter... Be aware that grounding does not save your radio from a lightning shock hitting your antenna. It will for some chance only prevent to burn down your house. ALL electronical stuff in your house may be dead then. |
If done right is does.
"Volker Tonn" wrote in message ... Drifter schrieb: Steve, if i were to mount something like that, and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... Drifter... Be aware that grounding does not save your radio from a lightning shock hitting your antenna. It will for some chance only prevent to burn down your house. ALL electronical stuff in your house may be dead then. |
thanks Steve...
Drifter... |
CW schrieb: "Volker Tonn" wrote in message ... Drifter schrieb: Steve, if i were to mount something like that, and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... Drifter... Be aware that grounding does not save your radio from a lightning shock hitting your antenna. It will for some chance only prevent to burn down your house. ALL electronical stuff in your house may be dead then. If done right is does. But for sure you can not do it by yourself and it will cost a LOT. And at least there is NO insurance it will work under ALL circumstances. Best (additional) way to go is to disconnect the antenna when leaving the shack or lightning is coming up whilst you are in your shack. PS: Quoting corrected. |
DRIFTER,
Read these three Links 'presented' by John Doty: [ Hosted by The Association of North American Radio Clubs "ANARC".] Longwire Impedance Matching. {Check-Out the Graphs} http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/ante..._longwire.html Actually, a fixed Matching Transformer can dramatically reduce the wild swings in Antenna Efficiency that a Coax Fed Wire Antenna exhibits. Grounding is the KEY to Good Reception http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/grounding.html Low Noise Antenna Connection http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/ante...e_antenna.html iane ~ RHF .. .. = = = Drifter wrote in message = = = ... Steve, if i were to mount something like that, and bring it to the radio by coax; how would this be grounded for static and lighting? i would rather ground outside and not at the radio...thanks... Drifter... .. |
RHF. vary good reading...
thanks... Drifter... |
"-=jd=-" wrote in message ... [snip] The one thing that I would like to do is try to figure out the actual characteristic impedance of the antenna. I've found information that shows me how to do this with a noise-bridge, but I don't have one of those. I was wondering if anyone knows of a link or a formula for finding a relatively close "ballpark" figure for characteristic impedance. I'm thinking there isn't (without the inclusion of one or more physical measurements) due to all of the variables involved. [snip] Reg Edwards has an interesting webpage: http://www.btinternet.com/~g4fgq.regp/ He has many rather complicated formulas written into easy to use programs. One of the RJELOOP programs might be helpful: http://www.btinternet.com/~g4fgq.regp/page3.html#S301" Be aware that the impedance will vary considerably with frequency, and will have a large reactive component at most frequencies. Aside from a noise bridge, MFJ sells some antenna analyzers, if you want to spend the money: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?catid=49 The ARRL Antenna book is a good reference. The Radio Amateur's Handbook has less antenna info than their Antenna Book, but it may be available in your public library. LB Cebik has a tremendous amount of antenna info on his website. Loops(and most everything else) are the http://www.cebik.com/gup/groundup.html http://www.cebik.com/radio.html A grid dip meter is a cheap antenna toy. It is a metered oscillator which can determine the resonant points of circuits. I got mine for about $15. If you get one, be sure you get the coils! I last used my grid dip meter to cut a perfectly resonant twin lead folded dipole at 162 MHz. The perfectly resonant folded dipole worked about as well as a meter test lead clipped to the antenna terminal. That's the way it often goes with receiving antennas. The radios aren't usually very fussy .. Sometimes the best approach for receiving antennas is to just string some wire, play with transformers and experiment. Frank Dresser |
I'm also thinking that without a noise-bridge, my best bet is a trial and error comparison. Joe Carr sez that at less than 1 wavelength, large loops can reach a feedpoint impedance of up to 3000 ohms (I had to read it twice to make sure); but at a full wavelength or longer, it pretty much stays at around 100 ohms. Various sources show anywhere from no match needed, all the way up to a 30:1 match is needed. I think there's just too many variables to know for sure. So, trial and error it is. I'm going to try a 30:1, a 10:1 and a 1:1 toroid xformer to see what differences, if any, I can detect just with the naked "earball". In the absence of any discernable difference, I'm going to at least use the 1:1, if only to maintain the DC seperation between the antenna element and the coax. In addition to the end Z varying radically with frequency, you will also find the classic 9:1 toroidal transformer only functions as a 9:1 over a relatively narrow frequency range- whereas a binocular core will behave as a 9:1 over almost 2 decades. Somewhere here I have a network analyzer plot comparing a toroidal vs binocular transformer. -- Dale W4OP for PAR Electronics, Inc. |
Dale Parfitt wrote:
In addition to the end Z varying radically with frequency, you will also find the classic 9:1 toroidal transformer only functions as a 9:1 over a relatively narrow frequency range- whereas a binocular core will behave as a 9:1 over almost 2 decades. Somewhere here I have a network analyzer plot comparing a toroidal vs binocular transformer. It depends a lot on the size of the transformer. You can get two decades from a tiny one made with a TV balun toroid. One trick is to keep the total length of wire in the transformer below about 5% of a wavelength at the highest frequency of interest. The antenna's Z does indeed vary a great deal, from 10's to 1000's of ohms. If you plot it in the complex plane, it makes a spiral centered at the antenna's *characteristic* Z, which for an inverted L is generally in the range of 300-700 ohms. Matching to an impedance near the center of the spiral yields a system that is not perfectly matched at any frequency, but is adequately matched over a wide range of frequencies. -jpd |
Yeah ! But the blinking NE-2 during a thunderstorm is kinda entertaining! (I had the same brain fart) ;) it seemed like the simple loading of the antenna thru the "Balun" caused noise to drop by 50% and my station count at least doubled (but I still cant get New Zealand---I need my sleeeep!) I tested the concept first with a 300/75 tv-cable balun Yodar -=jd=- wrote: That's the method I used with the end-fed random. I had built a static bleeder to go with it, which was just silly. I experienced a mental vapor- lock and didn't recognize that the xformer provided a direct DC path to ground on it's own. It could have been that I just wanted to build something - idle hands and all... |
Volker Tonn wrote:
But for sure you can not do it by yourself and it will cost a LOT. And at least there is NO insurance it will work under ALL circumstances. Best (additional) way to go is to disconnect the antenna when leaving the shack or lightning is coming up whilst you are in your shack. Not true. You have to be anal-retentive as hell to make sure that it is done right, but you can do it properly using the right equipment. Polyphaser or I.C.E. protectors do the job well, but they must be mounted on an appropriate ground window. The object of the game is not to have your equipment at ground potential; rather the object is to have the potential on all the equipment rise and fall together so there is no differential amongst the equipment. There is quite a bit of introductory material at www.polyphaser.com. Eric -- Eric F. Richards, "Nature abhors a vacuum tube." -- J. R. Pierce, Bell Labs, c. 1940 |
Is there much one can do for sensitive electronics? For example, during the
summer at my QTH, late day thunderstorms are common and on one such day I did have the antenna disconnected from my Drake R-8B but a FET still managed to get fried and I needed to send the radio back to Drake for repair. Regards John Barnard "Eric F. Richards" wrote: Volker Tonn wrote: But for sure you can not do it by yourself and it will cost a LOT. And at least there is NO insurance it will work under ALL circumstances. Best (additional) way to go is to disconnect the antenna when leaving the shack or lightning is coming up whilst you are in your shack. Not true. You have to be anal-retentive as hell to make sure that it is done right, but you can do it properly using the right equipment. Polyphaser or I.C.E. protectors do the job well, but they must be mounted on an appropriate ground window. The object of the game is not to have your equipment at ground potential; rather the object is to have the potential on all the equipment rise and fall together so there is no differential amongst the equipment. There is quite a bit of introductory material at www.polyphaser.com. Eric -- Eric F. Richards, "Nature abhors a vacuum tube." -- J. R. Pierce, Bell Labs, c. 1940 |
JB,
Three things "To Do" during Thunder and Lightening Events: 1. Dis-Connect 'all' Antennas and Ground them to the Ground Bus in your Shack. 2. Use Shorting Plugs and Wires on 'all' your Radio/Receivers Antenna Inputs. 3. Have a small 'all' Metal Foot Locker or Cabinet to place your Radios/Recivers in for Safety. iane ~ RHF .. .. = = = John Barnard wrote in message = = = ... Is there much one can do for sensitive electronics? For example, during the summer at my QTH, late day thunderstorms are common and on one such day I did have the antenna disconnected from my Drake R-8B but a FET still managed to get fried and I needed to send the radio back to Drake for repair. Regards John Barnard "Eric F. Richards" wrote: Volker Tonn wrote: But for sure you can not do it by yourself and it will cost a LOT. And at least there is NO insurance it will work under ALL circumstances. Best (additional) way to go is to disconnect the antenna when leaving the shack or lightning is coming up whilst you are in your shack. Not true. You have to be anal-retentive as hell to make sure that it is done right, but you can do it properly using the right equipment. Polyphaser or I.C.E. protectors do the job well, but they must be mounted on an appropriate ground window. The object of the game is not to have your equipment at ground potential; rather the object is to have the potential on all the equipment rise and fall together so there is no differential amongst the equipment. There is quite a bit of introductory material at www.polyphaser.com. Eric -- Eric F. Richards, "Nature abhors a vacuum tube." -- J. R. Pierce, Bell Labs, c. 1940 .. |
In article , John Barnard
wrote: Is there much one can do for sensitive electronics? For example, during the summer at my QTH, late day thunderstorms are common and on one such day I did have the antenna disconnected from my Drake R-8B but a FET still managed to get fried and I needed to send the radio back to Drake for repair. I You do not know what happened. The radio might have been damaged before you disconnected it. Sometimes the damaged FET does not fail right away. There might have been a static charge on the antenna that blew the FET when you went to reconnect it. I consider myself very fortunate that I do not live in a lightening zone and so do not have these problems but I do not use the type of antennas most susceptible to this kind of damage. Loop antennas are the safest to use as long as you make ground contact first with the radio upon reconnection. If you use a Marconi type of antenna, be sure to use a coupling transformer that is grounded in some way to give the static charge a place to go. The damaging pulse from lightening needs some kind of clamping device. Those can be bought at the same outfits that sell antennas. -- Telamon Ventura, California |
John Barnard wrote:
Is there much one can do for sensitive electronics? For example, during the summer at my QTH, late day thunderstorms are common and on one such day I did have the antenna disconnected from my Drake R-8B but a FET still managed to get fried and I needed to send the radio back to Drake for repair. First off, it could have been damaged by a surge and failed later. Second off, with reputable lightning supressors such as Polyphasers, properly set up, the radio is actually safer than it is when disconnected because the supressor will crowbar (dead-short) nanoseconds after the strike starts, when the threshold voltage is reached. It remains shorted as long as current is flowing. It should be noted that a simple static discharge such as touching a doorknob and getting a spark has to be about 3000 volts before a visible spark occurs. That is way above the crowbar voltage of the Polyphasers. Regards John Barnard "Eric F. Richards" wrote: Volker Tonn wrote: But for sure you can not do it by yourself and it will cost a LOT. And at least there is NO insurance it will work under ALL circumstances. Best (additional) way to go is to disconnect the antenna when leaving the shack or lightning is coming up whilst you are in your shack. Not true. You have to be anal-retentive as hell to make sure that it is done right, but you can do it properly using the right equipment. Polyphaser or I.C.E. protectors do the job well, but they must be mounted on an appropriate ground window. The object of the game is not to have your equipment at ground potential; rather the object is to have the potential on all the equipment rise and fall together so there is no differential amongst the equipment. There is quite a bit of introductory material at www.polyphaser.com. Eric -- Eric F. Richards, "Nature abhors a vacuum tube." -- J. R. Pierce, Bell Labs, c. 1940 -- Eric F. Richards "The weird part is that I can feel productive even when I'm doomed." - Dilbert |
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