Hi Norm, N3YFK
Are you sure that your Antenna Analyzer Times T-100 is reading a correct VSWR and R+/-jX impedance at 435 MHz ? My MFJ-269 connected to a professional 50 ohm termination goog up to 18 GHz reads VSWR = 1.2 :1 but unfortunately the MFJ-269 do not read R+/-jX impedance above 144 MHz
Do not forget that to get RHCP the helix must be winded lefthand and on reverse to get LHCP the helix must be winded righthand.
In addition,depending on how you connect the four terminals of the loops into the infinite balun you can get or End-Fire radiation or Back-Fire Radiation.
I am interested on your experiments using your data to put it into the Smith Chart and check
BTW on 70 cm using half-turn quadrifilar (two half-turn bifilar loops). with dimensions that yield the correct phase relationship with a loop wire diameter of 0.0088 wavelenght as follows and suggested by Walter Maxell W2BU
and using:
Smaller loop: D = 0.156 wavelenght lenP° = 0.238 wavelenght Perimeter= 1.016 wavelenght
Larger loop: D = 0.173 wavelenght lenP° = 0.260 wavelenght Perimeter = 1.120 wavelenght
I got a return loss of -20 dB about a VSWR of 1.22 : 1 at 435 MHz as measured on my HP8555A Spectrum Analyzer usind a well calibrated HP11692D directional coupler.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
----- Original Message ----- From: normn3ykf@stny.rr.com To: "AMSAT-BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org; "i8cvs" domenico.i8cvs@tin.it; "William Leijenaar" pe1rah@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 3:03 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Quadrifilar Helix antenna question
Gentelmen: Thank you for your input. I've measured 2.4:1 at it's intended design
frequency, using a half wave stub.
The antenna is essentially two loops (one capacitive and one inductive) in
parallel, giving an intended 50 Ohm resistive impedance at resonance. I'm measuring 25 Ohms and a bit inductive. Do have more data if anyone is interested. (smith chart, return loss)
Tomorrow I'll build both versions, lhcp and rhcp. Tonight's live demo on
so50 shows promise, though I'll need two and have to switch polarity.
73 de Norm n3ykf