How does a tuner… tune?
Most ham operators know that by combining inductors and capacitors in various configurations, they can tune their antenna impedance to match their transceiver. Many people, […]
Antenna
Using an oscilloscope to measure R, X, VSWR and power
A simple method to measure complex loads (R, X, inductance, capacitance, dissipated power, etc.) using a simple oscilloscope.
The myth of reflected power
A common topic among ham radio operators is about power lost due to high VSWR when feeding an untuned antenna. A very frequent explanation about […]
VSWR: a war of figures
Often forums, Facebook pages and other “free-speech” places offer food for thought about many details related to our hobby. This time I stumbled upon a conversation […]
Don’t wind chokes on red toroids!
I happened to stumble across some antenna projects showing common mode chokes 1:1 baluns made of some turns of coax wound on T200-2 iron powder […]
Antenna simulator vs. reality
In my experience with computer antenna simulators (I mostly use 4NEC2), I had the feeling that those tools, if correctly employed, can be quite accurate. Unfortunately, when working […]
To Balun or not to Balun?
that is the question, for many ham radio operators. A simple, resonant, single band, plain-vanilla horizontal dipole, does really need a 1:1 balun… or not? […]
Great spaces: longwire or dipole?
One of the most tempting all-band cheap antenna solution when a lot of space is available is the “long wire”. The idea is to lay a […]
The myth of SWR causing coax radiation
In the world of HAM radio, there are several myths that survive through generations despite them clashing with laws of physics. However it is quite […]
PL-259 vs. N, round 2: hard testing
(Note: this article is available also in Russian, thanks to Oleg UA9UAX!) [PL-259 vs. N on 430 MHz follow-up] – Many OM assert that they can not withstand the performance […]