[TowerTalk] Why 50 Ohms?

[Paul Christensen]

> I don't think so. 50 ohms was the standard for VHF/UHF communications
> gear because it more closely matched the impedance of the most common
> antennas -- a quarter wave vertical with radials, or a quarter wave on
> the roof of a vehicle.  It did NOT become common in ham radio until the
> days of solid state rigs with fixed tuned output stages, and the
> designers of those rigs chose 50 ohms.

Gary, K9AY, presents an interesting hypothesis that combines theory and some 
evolutionary practical developments:

http://www.highfrequencyelectronics.com/Archives/Jun07/HFE0607_Editorial.pdf

Paul, W9AC