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MFJ-1796 VSWR

This document measures the standing wave ratio (SWR) of an MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole antenna installed on a chimney. It finds that connecting the antenna's ground pole to the metallic chimney considerably improves performance in the 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands by increasing bandwidth and reducing minimum SWR. The connection acts as an artificial ground and is very sensitive, requiring tuning to optimize SWR. A good ground system is essential for this vertical antenna to perform similarly when raised vertically compared to mounted horizontally.

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Serioja Ovidiu Tatu
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53 views13 pages

MFJ-1796 VSWR

This document measures the standing wave ratio (SWR) of an MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole antenna installed on a chimney. It finds that connecting the antenna's ground pole to the metallic chimney considerably improves performance in the 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands by increasing bandwidth and reducing minimum SWR. The connection acts as an artificial ground and is very sensitive, requiring tuning to optimize SWR. A good ground system is essential for this vertical antenna to perform similarly when raised vertically compared to mounted horizontally.

Uploaded by

Serioja Ovidiu Tatu
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
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MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

Installed on chimney at 6828 Marie-Guyart, LaSalle April 26, 2013


Dipole bottom (horizontal spokes) = 45 ’; dipole center = 50’; dipole top = 56’ 6’’
Dipole center = 7.4 m from bottom telescopic pole (ground wire)
Observation: 25’ 6’’ (house) + 19’’ (telescopic pole) = 44’ 6’’
Ground: 2 X 6’ + 1 X 4’ water pipes + electrical ground plate; all rods spaced by 1’ and linked together with Cu ground wire.

Obs.: A vertically polarised antenna often is mounted on the top of a vertical conducting mast which, being in the near field,
and also polarisation - matched, will modify the electrical properties. There is less of a problem with mounting a horizontally
polarised antenna.
MFJ 1796 requires an effective ground system in order to obtain almost identical SWR in vertical and horizontal position!
You can tune antenna horizontal on the roof, using an antenna analyser, and then raise the antenna vertically on the
GROUNDED pole. Frequencies with minimum SWR remain the same. Minimum SWR increases a little bit in the vertical
position.
You must check periodically GROUND connexions on the antenna pole to avoid (intermittent) bad SWR. Also keep attention
to avoid intermittent pole contact to huge metallic objects (e.g. bad contact to metallic chimney result in SWR variations
between 1.5 and 3 and central frequency shift between 28.500 and 29.700 KHZ!). A unique contact (tuned position) to
chimney (artificial ground) has been done.
A HORIZONTAL DIPOLE DOES NOT REQUIRE GROUNDING. THE VERTICAL ONE YES, LIKE ALL OTHER VERTICALS!
In conclusion, a vertical dipole no need for radials, but good ground conditions will bring this antenna to "live".
Extreme sensitivity of 21 and 28 MHz bands to ground connexion to chimney (acts as same artificial ground or ``radials``). First
minimum of SWR moved from 21.100 to actual value by adding an additional connexion between pole and metallic shield of
the chimney. The same effect appears in 28 MHz band. In addition, 14 MHz band become larger when connected to metallic
shield of the chimney (SWR at band limits around 4; without connection more than 5, preserving the same minimum in the
center of the band). In conclusion, for 14, 21 and 28 MHz adding connexion to metallic parts of the chimney considerably
increase the bandwidth and reduce the minimum SWR. No significant effects in 7 MHz band.
However, connexion to chimney is very sensitive to position of contact point (acts as an antenna tuner), and this position must
be tuned for optimum SWR in 21 and 28 MHz bands. Without a solid connexion, raising antenna up and getting down when
adjusting spokes can modify the SWR more than the fine tuning of spokes! The measured resistance R between metallic pole
and top of the chimney (inoxydable parts) is around 0.4 Ω. Humidity acts also in minimum SWR position inside the bands.

1
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

7.0 - 7.3 MHz

DRY:

Z = R + jX

2
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

14.0 – 14.350 MHz

DRY :

3
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

Z= R+ jX

4
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

21 -21.450 MHz

DRY :

Z = R + jX

5
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

Wider span:

Obs: tuned at 21.000 only one minimum, tuned at 21.450 only one minimum; at middle band SWR shape has 2
distinct minimums! Probably it`s an interference with some other bands.

6
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

Z = R + jX

7
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

28.0 - 29.7 MHz

DRY:

Z = R + jX

8
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

Wider span:

9
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

50.0 – 54.0 MHz

DRY:

10
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

Z = R + jX

11
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

144.0 – 148.0 MHz

DRY:

Z = R + jX

12
MFJ 1796 multiband vertical dipole SWR measurements

13

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