3. ANTENNA MEASUREMENT voltage and current maximum, 32° Use of the slotted tine: standing ware ratio, mi im values, wavelength 1d current direct ‘The slotted line is used to measure voltage an viel wns erotsetions of a coaxial line, as through the slot You can enter sero irand magnetic field between the two connectors constgig the coaxial line. a Th presence of standing waves, the voltage (or current) maximuny minimum values ean be seen; the distance between a maximum ang Adjacent minimum is equal to a quarter wavelength: the speed factor g the line is equal to 1 because the dielectric is air. by measuring the distance between by two, it is possible to ob the slotted line, if this shoula ‘Once the speed factor is known, minimum values and multiplying it frequency of the signal applied to tl unknown. ‘ The standing wave ratio (SWR) is equal to the ratio of the maximum the minimum value; in fact, on the maximum, the direct and refi ‘wave values (of voltage and current) are added and on the minimum subtracted. If the reflected wave does net exist, voltage and current constant along all the line’ (fig.3.2) and their ratio is equal to characteristic impedance Zo; the SWR is equal to 1 (usually it is “SWR = 1:1"). 5 125 1 075 05 025 7A HAGA ORD. » 7 ts a a sid she a 1 ae3, MEASUREMENTS on the LINES The generator output power, tuned to the lowest frequencies (for example 509.5 MHZ), must be regulated (0 the maximum. Connect the Output of the generator to one end of the slotted fine with 7502 cable, 1~ mong. Connect 752 to the other end of the slotted fine: the line is thus terminated on its characteristic impedance Conneet a DC voltmeter or an oscilloscope to the output of the voltage probe: you can measure some tens of mV. You can also connect the field-strength meter FSM/LA to the RF €onnector and carry out the measurement evaluating the switching on of the Led. If the matching is perfect, by moving the carriage along the slotted Tine the signal amplitude will keep almost constant: anyway there may be Variations which are due to the connectors or to slight variations of the carriage alignment Change the 75-ohm termination with the 50-ohm one and measure the voltage along the line: it has stronger minimum and maximum values than the last case, + From the known formula 300 dm) G2) F(MHE] Check if the distance between minimum and maximum is equal to 1/4 the wavelength, in other words: 200 Sa nem 509,54 By varying the frequency and repeating measurements, you can observe hhow the distance between max and min is longer or shorter if you decrease or increase the frequency Repeat the exercise with a 100-Ohm termination. Note that, with the help of the slotted line, you can distinguish if the load is greater or smaller than the characteristic impedance of the line. In fact, if 100 Ohm are connected, the voltage minimum is at V/A wavelength from the load, while if there is a maximum on the load; by connecting 50 ohm, the voltage minimum is on the load and in all points one whole number of wavelengths distant from it (fig.3.2) The last measurements can be done using the current, instead of the voltage probe, keeping in mind that, with resistive load, current minimum and maximum will actually correspond (0 voltage minimum and maximum, wiIn case of ‘open line (with the already mentioned limits considering the Possibility to carry out a “real open circuit”) it oceurs the same with the difference that it is the VOLTAGE that is maximum at the line end, while the current resets and the sine behavior repeats with ct voltage EXCHANGED BETWEEN THEM (fig.3.5).