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It is often useful to be able take measurements of RF current in the
antenna system and the primary need that I had was to confirm the
balanced RF current in each leg of the ladder line used on my
multiband dipole.
A
balanced antenna system requires that each half of the dipole
including each side of the transmission line be a near mirror image
and should also avoid nearby trees and structures in particular
metallic structures. When the system is balanced the transmission
line will have equal, but opposite current flowing in each line.
This will cancel out any radiation or reception on the transmission
line.
My
test to confirm a balanced antenna system was to simple measure the
RF current in each leg of the transmission line as it leaves the
Z-match tuner. Accurate determination of the current while desired
is not entirely necessary providing the measurement is consistent
for each transmission line leg.
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