DB, after I got my I-10K with the trombone working in the model and producing 1.36:1, SWR...I decide to make a comparison between the patterns to see what the differences were...between the models with and without matching.
The first model shows the I-10K with a match, and the second model is without the match. The antenna view, and the patterns also have the currents turned on. The models are also set to show the Vertical, Horizontal, and Total RF field and the indication of some Horizontal RF produced for the I-10K model...was a surprise to me and this may be significant to the antennas performance. At least it is something to consider. I also notice a smaller Horizontal contribution in the pattern for the model without the matcher included. Go figure!
At the end I also added two pattern overlays, with one then the other activated, to show us the maximum gain, angle, and pattern shape differences. The trombone does look to have a positive effect for the model with a matcher included. It shows a little better gain, and definitely includes some horizontal RF in the pattern which could be of benefit in the real world use.
I can't be sure, but these differences may have some beneficial effects on performance that could be detectable maybe. The model with the matcher also shows about 1/2 as much current flowing on the mast for some unknown reason.
Both models produce very similar patterns with about the same maximum gain, which is good, but the no-match model shows about double the current flowing on the mast, which is not so good.
I have made other models with their physical matching device added to the model, but the matchers were all physically much smaller than the trombone matcher. So, IMO the I-10K's matcher may really provide a little benefit over other similar CB 5/8 wave antennas...like Bob85 reports to us using his I-10K.
So I figure modeling most CB antennas without including the physical matching device probably will shows us about the same information about gain and angle performance. If the antenna needs a matcher however, you will either need to model the electrical matching provide as a feature in the software, or do without SWR and Bandwidth information.
