I can honestly say that if ever a WWDX thread has really resonated with me, this is it!
Last edited:
After having read that, I'm glad my antenna doesn't suffer from low T!The shorter antenna designs - read this as less than 1/4 wavelength or like the 5K is shorter than a 102" whip - the "R" value changes - goes lower - when the antenna is shorter than it should be.
- - it then has to add length by using inductance (coil wind) to restore that "X" value
- - but it cannot compensate of bring the R-value back up to 50Ω
- - to make the SWR Impedance closer to 50Ω the XL is added
- - but adding that extra wire cannot bring back R except for being what the antenna "appears as" to the system - an antenna with a Lower R - which means it's offset by winds of wire to balance out Z to be closer to 50Ω
- Your R value even though the antenna is shorter - helps to reduce the needs of the antenna having to REQUIRE extra wire because it can't make up the difference in height "Big R versus Little R ". - which helps reduce the dependence of Z (Impedance) requiring XL and XC having to make up the difference (your Conjugate used by the antenna)
yup, ALOT of people like to turn simple things into the most complicated, math driven, physics expert gibberish. the bottom line of antenna design is simple, build the antenna for resonance at the operating frequency, then match feedpoint impedance to transmission line using the appropriate method. done! that is the correct way to build an efficient antenna system. periodI adjust my antenna to the lowest possible swr, from the radio using the installed coax and forget it.
Never had any problems and never fried a radio.
And, had several really good talkers. Both local and skip. All of the other stuff mentioned here is WAY too complicated for me. Anyway, I do it how I do it, no problems at all. Ever.