Antennas are a popular topic among radio enthusiasts. The Rigol Spectrum Analyzer VB1020 option and utility kit are good tools to help improve antenna design and characterization. This combination ...

You’ve probably seen old-time photos of radio setups with the station operator fiddling with the dials on the wireless radio setup, and also adjusting a large, wirewound (or copper tubing) coil. From ...

ERI is introducing the ACS-100 antenna control system, which it calls a solution to the problem of four-port antenna switch control. It can be programmed to handle the switch position requirements ...

To get the best power transfer into an antenna, tuning is required. This process uses a load to match the transmission line to the antenna, which controls the standing wave ratio (SWR). [k3ng] built ...

Vector network analyzers (VNAs) are amazing tools that not only let you check an antenna’s VSWR (and return loss) over frequency, but also display the complex impedance of the antenna. Some can be ...

Maximum transmission efficiency occurs when the load impedance matches the generator impedance. Engineers do this to eliminate standing waves, which can severely damage equipment. Transmission lines ...

Even with the rise of cellular communications, radio networks remain an important part of business communications, especially for small businesses such as trucking and security companies. Proper ...

When you buy a cheap ham radio handy-talkie, you usually get a little “rubber ducky” antenna with it. You can also buy many replacement ones that are at least longer. But how good are they?