BroadbandAntennaMatching–Part1Fundamentals.docVIP

Broadband Receiving Antenna Matching Mark Connelly, WA1ION – 15 July, 2003 This article addresses the subject of obtaining the best signal transfer from an antenna to the typical 50-ohm receiver input over a wide frequency range, with emphasis on medium-wave (500 – 2000 kHz), encompassing the standard AM broadcast band and the 160-m amateur band. This frequency range represents two octaves, about as much as can be optimally matched with a single coupling solution. With all antennas, a narrowband L-C conjugate match transfers the most signal at a given frequency but, often, a broadband method is what’s desired for the intended use. In many cases the amount of extra loss caused by “going broadband” is not that significant in the overall signal-to-noise picture. Broadband matching at medium frequencies is usually accomplished through the use of ferrite core transformers. These may use a variety of core material formulations and physical designs (toroidal, binocular, etc.). Some inherently-broadband antennas have well-defined matching schemes. A Beverage antenna, for instance, should use a 9:1 transformer to couple its wideband 450-600 ohms down to 50-75 ohms compatible with receiver inputs. The same is true for the Ewe and K9AY designs. Flag, Pennant, and Kaz/Delta terminated loop antennas should be operated with a 16:1 transformer. Other antenna types have optimum associated matching transformers as well. I have determined a number of these through experimentation. Ready to use transformers are sold by Mini-Circuits (“/”). These include T1-6 (=1:1), T2-1T (=2:1), T4-6T (=4:1), T9-1 (=9:1), T16-6T (=16:1), TT25-1 (=25:1), and T36-1 (=36:1). Each of these has a suffix such as –X65 or –KK81 denoting lead style, e.g. T16-6T-X65 is a 6-pin DIL/DIP lead configuration of the T16-6T transformer. While these are small and remarkably wideband compared to most “homebrew” RF transformers, they cannot handle much power. Excessive RF can cause distortion produc