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Re: [Amps] close to off topic - how to read antenna R + jX ??

To: dhallam@rapidsys.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] close to off topic - how to read antenna R + jX ??
From: Tomm Aldridge <KD7QAE@ARRL.NET>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 19:22:47 +0000
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Of course you mean inductive reactance at 220MHz.  There will be very 
little change in inductance with frequency unless there is a permeable 
material in or very near whose mu changes with frequency (ferrite, 
etc)or the geometry of the conductor is such that the mean area enclosed 
by the "loop" changes as a fuction of frequency (skin and proximity 
effects) enough to be seen.

David C. Hallam wrote:
> Admittedly you need a little more math than 1st year high school algebra,
> but it's not all that daunting. You also need to be able to navigate through
> the Smith chart.
> 
> On top of that, it's fun just to connect components to the terminals and see
> just how much inductance the leads of a resistor have at 220 MHz.
> 
> David KC2JD
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Kirkby [mailto:david.kirkby@onetel.net]
> Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 1:02 PM
> To: dhallam@rapidsys.com
> Cc: amps@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [Amps] close to off topic - how to read antenna R + jX ??
> 
> David C. Hallam wrote:
> 
> 
>>You can also use a Boonton Model 250A RX meter or one of the later models
> 
> of
> 
>>the 250A made by HP after they took over Boonton.  They appear on eBay
>>fairly regularly and seem to sell for prices in the $50 to $100 range.
> 
> They
> 
>>are not exactly a portable piece of equipment though as they definitely
> 
> fall
> 
>>in the boat anchor class of test equipment.
>>
>>David C. Hallam
>>KC2JD
>>
> 
> I've not used the Boonton 250A, and would suggest anyone looking at
> buying any of these professional instruments did a bit of research
> first. Perhaps buy a manual before the kit - you can always sell the
> manual if you find the kit it not suitable.
> 
> You really need to be *serious* about wanting the decent impedance
> (R+jX) measurements, and able to do the maths, but if you are, then I
> personally think some money spent on old used professional test
> equipment might be better value than spending the same money on brand
> new glossy kit from the likes of MJF. I've not used any of their antenna
> analsers, but having seen some of their kit, I'm not too impressed.
> 
> Others might disagree of course.  Is there anyone using such
> professional kit for ham radio use on here, who might like to comment?
> 
> My BSc project report would be useful here, but it was written using the
> old word processor 'runoff' on a VAX running VMS. I don't have the
> runoff file, which is a shame, as I'm sure converting a runoff file to
> pdf would not be too hard. I can't be bothered to scan it.
> 
> Dr. David Kirkby, G8WRB.
> 
> 
> 
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com]On
>>Behalf Of David Kirkby
>>Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 10:48 AM
>>Cc: amps@contesting.com
>>Subject: Re: [Amps] close to off topic - how to read antenna R + jX ??
>>
>>If anyone is serious about making antenna impedance measurements you
>>might want to consider getting a used HP vector voltmeter (make sure it
>>has the probes). With a coupler, and some attention to calibration
>>(short and open circuit loads), you should be able to make reasonably
>>accurate measurments, even without the expense of getting it
>>professionally calibrated. I used one on the final year project of my
>>first degree, looking at a vertical antenna with stacked quarter and
>>half wave sections. I measured R+jZ, then used a section of transmission
>>line of the right impedance to convert this to 50 + j0.
>>
>>Looking on eBay, an HP vector voltmeter can be bought for the same sort
>>of prices of these amateurish instruments.
>>
>>Read up about them before shelling out $$'s, but I think for real
>>measurments, you would hard to beat for the money. They are not battery
>>powered, so not much use up an antenna, but there is no reason you can
>>not make the reference plane the end of a bit of coax.
>>
>>A vector network analyser would be better, but then, even used, these
>>are serious money.
>>
>>--
>>Dr. David Kirkby,
>>G8WRB
>>
>>Please check out http://www.g8wrb.org/
>>of if you live in Essex http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Dr. David Kirkby,
> G8WRB
> 
> Please check out http://www.g8wrb.org/
> of if you live in Essex http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/
> 
> 
> 
> 
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