Topband: Topband loading coil

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

Hi, Max, and anyone else out there trying to make antennas with an SWR
meter.

Not knowing the separate resistance and reactive components and the sign of
the reactance surely do make it hard to figure out what to do next. SWR
will tell you if you got to 50 + j0 or not but trying to get both those
numbers spot on when all you know is glurg plus or minus glub for R and
X is like trying to to find your white shirt in the closet with no lamp and
the door shut tight.

If you really want to fiddle yourself with wire and stuff to come up with
antennas that work in your own situation (that really is a lot of fun) get
yourself a graphing analyzer like an AIM4170 or AEA or RigExpert. It's kind
of like having a flashlight to take into the closet with you -- much easier
to find the white shirt in the dark. Otherwise prepare yourself emotionally
for a lot of groping.

Trying to adjust any antenna more complicated than a dipole with an SWR
meter is like trying to fix your watch with a hammer.  An SWR meter is
never worth more than about a tenth of what you paid for it.

Get a graphing analyzer and after a while you will wonder what the h*ll you
thought you were doing before you got it.

73, Guy K2AV

On Saturday, June 6, 2015, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:

>
>  Ideas what to do next
>>
>
> Borrow an antenna analyzer and measure the antenna's feedpoint impedance
> with a very short piece of coax (in other words, right at the base) with
> and without the coil.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>