Scribd
Upload
191 views

SWR Meters Make You Stupid

This document discusses principles of transmitter power output and load impedance. It states that maximum power transfer occurs when the source and load impedances are equal. A quarter-wave transmission line can transform impedances between its ends. Standing wave ratio is infinite when a quarter-wave line is open or shorted at the load end. Low SWR does not ensure optimal power transfer on its own. Measuring impedances with a vector network analyzer is recommended over relying solely on SWR. Parallel resonances in multiband antennas should be avoided.

Uploaded by

nosajseveer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
191 views

SWR Meters Make You Stupid

This document discusses principles of transmitter power output and load impedance. It states that maximum power transfer occurs when the source and load impedances are equal. A quarter-wave transmission line can transform impedances between its ends. Standing wave ratio is infinite when a quarter-wave line is open or shorted at the load end. Low SWR does not ensure optimal power transfer on its own. Measuring impedances with a vector network analyzer is recommended over relying solely on SWR. Parallel resonances in multiband antennas should be avoided.

Uploaded by

nosajseveer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 38

SWR Meters Make You Stupid

By
Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ
First things First

Usually, footnotes and references are placed at the end
of a presentation, but these two works are so profound
and important that I will list them up front and center.
These are both required reading by EVERY radio
amateur:

“My Feedline Tunes My Antenna,” by Byron
Goodman, W1DX, March 1956, QST

Reflections, by Walt Maxwell, W2DU, published over
a number of years by ARRL, first as a QST series, then
as Reflections, Volume 1, 2, and 3.
Nichols’ Rule of Law #1

A Minute of Measurement Trumps a Decade of
Debate
 All of the concepts introduced in this presentation can
be proven by real world experimentation and
measurement
Nichols’ Rule of Law #2

If you can’t measure it, it doesn’t exist.
Nichols’ Law #3

If you want to know what’s happening, follow the
heat
A Couple of First Principles

Maximum Power 
Note:
Transfer Theorem  For the bulk of this
(Jacobi’s Law): presentation, we will
deal with purely
 Maximum power will resistive situations,
be transferred to a load which can be solved by
when the source simple Ohm’s Law
resistance is equal to methods. No dreaded
Smith Charts will
the load resistance appear; that is for
another presentation.
TRANSMITTER

RS

RL

Voltage Source
Some Practical Notes

Most modern solid state HF rigs actually have a much lower source
impedance than 50 ohms, usually somewhere between 25-30 ohms.
You can supply considerably more than rated power with a lower
impedance load than 50 ohms...(for a while!) However, we will use
the nominal recommended 50 ohms as the reference for this
discussion.

For this discussion we will assume lossless transmission lines and
antenna tuners. (Always understand the IDEAL before studying the
REAL).

We have included the SOURCE resistance in the transmitter proper.
Whenever speaking of a transmitter, we refer to the voltage source
AND the internal resistance, at all times.
Shall we begin?
Self Evident Truth #1

The output power of a radio transmitter is entirely


dependent on the load.
TRANSMITTER

RS

RL = ∞

Voltage Source

Proof of Self-Evident Truth #1


No current can flow into an open (infinite resistance) load
TRANSMITTER

RS

RL = 0

Voltage Source

Conversely, no voltage can be developed across a zero resistance (short circuit) load
In both the previous cases, the
transmitter generates 0 power.
Self-Evident Truth #2

In any transmission line, the power delivered to the


load is the forward power minus the reflected
power
Self-Evident Truth #3
In any LOSSLESS transmission system of any
complexity, the power delivered to the load will
equal the power generated by the transmitter
The Quarter Wave Transmission Line

The Quarter Wave Transmission line is a special,


very useful case that demonstrates some important
transmission line principles.
The Geometric Mean

In a quarter wave transmission line:


(Z0)2= Zs x ZL
This fact is very useful if you want to figure out the
characteristic impedance of an unknown
transmission line. But there’s more!
A quarter wave transmission line shorted at the load end will
appear as an open circuit at the source end. Conversely, a
quarter-wave transmission line open at the load end will
present a short circuit at the source end. The standing wave
ratio in both these cases is infinite.
TRANSMITTER
λ/4
RS

Voltage Source

Extension of Self-Evident Truth #1


No current can flow into an open (infinite resistance) transmission line.
Therefore no power is generated at the input of the transmission line with
Infinite SWR.
So…..

Where is all the “harmful reflected power” coming


from in this infinite SWR scenario?
Now, let’s talk about a somewhat less
extreme situation, with a real, practical
application
50 ohm resonant dipole

λ/2

600 ohm ladder line, ½ wavelength

50 ohm
transmitter

Q: What is the SWR on the transmission line?


Q: Will the transmitter be happy?
Always remember and never forget:
A transmitter never “sees” an SWR; it
only sees an impedance.
Transmission line theory belief test
The following setup will show if you really believe the
principles presented. No complex calculations are
necessary, you can easily solve this in your head, unless
you’ve succumbed to ARSE...Amateur Radio Stupidity
Exchange.
100W FWD 36W RFL
0W RFL FWD =?

Bird Bird
200
TX Wattmeter TUNER Wattmeter
Ohm
#1 #2 Load
The FPC (Fat Purple Crayon) Smith
Chart
The Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) is
the best antidote to SWR stupidity
Low SWR for the Right Reasons
Properly interpreted, SWR readings can be very helpful, but low SWR is
never an end unto itself. When using lossy transmission lines, low SWR
will keep additional losses to a minimum. Also, when approaching the
voltage breakdown limits of transmission lines (or other transmitter
components), having a low SWR will assure those limits are not
exceeded.
Some Notes End Fed Wires

Or Voltage Fed antennas in General


The Good News
An unstable, “touchy,” voltage-fed antenna can be tamed by
feeding it with ¼ wave transmission line. This “scoots” the
impedance to the left side of the Smith Chart at the feed
point. The classic Zepp antenna and the J-pole take
advantage of this principle.
A Few Miscellaneous Notes
In GENERAL, SWR rises more quickly as a result of
REACTANCE, than it does as a result of resistive
mismatch. The use of a VNA shows this pretty
graphically. The implication of this is that you
should RESONATE first, and then MATCH
second. However, MINIMUM SWR does NOT
always occur at resonance, especially if the antenna
is a high impedance sort, such as an end fed wire or
double Zepp. The VNA is your friend here, as
well.
More Miscellaneous Notes

Until you get up into the UHF range, MOST transmission line loss is due to copper
(I2R) losses. This is why IN GENERAL, higher impedance transmission lines are
less lossy, as reducing current reduces heating loss dramatically.
******
In any multiband antenna, PARALLEL resonances should be avoided like the Ebola
virus. Parallel resonances are always EXTREMELY touchy and narrow-banded,
almost by definition. If you’re using a VNA, your antenna impedance should
always be centered, or left-of-center of the display.
******
For simple HF antennas, it’s usually not necessary to obsess over the “balun issue.”
Near field environmental issues have far more to do with antenna balance and
feedline radiation than the quality of any balun. For complex, high gain antennas,
at near-free-space elevations, balancing becomes more of an issue.
Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the four Elmers most responsible for


getting me started in this whole radio adventure so many
years ago:
Mike Aust, WB6DJI
Tim Aust, WB6ZUF
Phil Jaque, KD6CKS
Mr. David Scott, WA6ZIO

You might also like