Calculating the component values for an antenna tuner
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In this article we are going to match a parallel LC circuit to an antenna. There are several ways of matching the antenna to the LC circuit, I discuss here only the matching via a variable capacitor between antenna and LC circuit. |
With the next calculator, the component values of this antenna tuner can be
calculated.
Enter: frequency, value of the coil in the LC circuit (L5)
and the unloaded Q of the LC circuit L5, C6
Also enter the complex impedance of the antenna, or the series component
values of the antenna.
(when you enter both complex impedance, and series components, the complex
impedance is used, and not the series components).
If you don't know the antenna impedance, use the standard values for the series
components: 25 Ω, 20 μH en 200 pF.
Click on "calculate".
Calculating the component values.
Here is explained what the calculator is calculating.
To calculate the component values, we need the following data:
The frequency.
The induction value of the coil (L5).
The unloaded Q of the LC circuit
The complex impedance of the antenna
The complex impedance of the antenna is build up with a certain resistor R1
which is in series with a coil (L2) and a capacitor (C3).
The values of R1, L2, and C3
are depending on many factors, like frequency, antenna length, height of antenna
above ground, etc.
The impedance of the antenna is: Zantenna = R1+Z2+Z3
= R1+J(XL2 - XC3).
With a short antenna (shorter then 1/4 wavelength) XC3
will have a higher value then XL2, the result is a
capacitive complex impedance for the antenna, so with a minus sign in front of
the J.
![]() The antenna tuner |
![]() The antenna tuner split into separate impedances. R1, Z2 and Z3 represents the antenna. R7 is not a real resistor, but represents the losses in parallel circuit L5, C6 |
Step 1
Choose a frequency, calculate the complex impedance of the coil:
Z5=+J(2.pi.f.L5)
Calculate the parallel resistor (R7) of the circuit L5 C6
with the formula: R7=2.pi.f.L5.Q
Resistor R7 represents the losses occurring in L5
and C6.
Step 2
The antenna can be considered as 3 separate components, R1, Z2
and Z3
We take the sum of Z2, Z3 and
variable capacitor Z4, we consider this sum as one
capacitor with impedance value Z8.
So Z8=Z2+Z3+Z4=
-JX8
Z8 must provide the match between resistor R1
and R7
Step 3
Z8 in series with R1 can be
converted to a
parallel circuit RP, XP with the formulas:
RP=(R1² + X8²)/R1
XP=(R1² + X8²)/X8
however, we can't use these formulas yet, because X8 not
known yet.
For impedance match, parallel resistor RP must be equal to
parallel resistor R7.
So: RP=R7
From this follows:
(R1² + X8²)/R1 = R7
R1² + X8² = R7.R1
X8² = R7.R1 -R1²
X8= √ (R7.R1 -R1²)
Step 4
Now we have X8 we can calculate also XP
with the formula:
Xp=(R1² + X8²)/X8
XP is a capacitor which is parallel
to
C6.
XP represents a capacitor value of: Cp=1/(2.pi.f.XP),
and this is in parallel with C6
Step 5
For resonance of the circuit must apply:
f=1/(2.pi.√(L5.Ctotal)
Or:
Ctotal = C6+CP = (1/(2.pi.f))²/L5 if we subtract the value of CP, the value of C6 is left.
Step 6
Finally we want to know the value of C4.
We already had X8.
With the formula XC4=X8+XL2-XC3
we can calculate the impedance of C4.
And then with C4= 1/(2.pi.f.XC4)
calculate the value of C4.
Now we know all values of the matched circuit.
Sometimes, XC4 will have a negative value, in that case
it is not possible to get a match by means of a variable capacitor on the place
of C4.
As an alternative, we then can replace C4 by a coil with
value: L4= -XC4/(2.pi.f)
Frequency shift when disconnecting the antenna
The loaded Q of the circuit
If we connect the antenna (via C4) to the LC circuit, the
Q of the circuit will degrease.
The Q we have then is called the Q of the loaded circuit (or the loaded Q).
If the LC circuit is well matched to the antenna, the loaded Q will be halve the
value of the unloaded Q.