Antenna Tuning

by Stealth
How to match your HF antenna system to your transceiver without switching on the transmitter!
by Kelvin Barnsdale, ZL3KB *

I
MAGINE the impedance Z, that
scenario: you value must be equal
change from the to the ‘unknown’
20m band to 80m value, X. In simple
looking for DX. On bridges, all the com-
3660kHz you hear ponents are resis-
ZS3DXC just finish- tors, enabling un-
ing a QSO! What do known resistance
you have to do? values to be meas-
(Please do not say ured.
you tune up on his In more general
frequency!) Store the terms, if the known
frequency, tune away component is an
and find a clear fre- impedance made
quency, select a up of a combination
transmission mode of resistance and
that will give some capacitance, the
RF, turn the power bridge can meas-
down, adjust the an- ure complex imped-
tenna tuning unit ances made up of
(ATU), change the capacitance or in-
mode back, recall the ductance.
frequency. By this
time, he has probably WHY NOISE?
gone away. Never If the unknown im-
mind, he would not Quiet as a mouse: the prototype form of the tuning indicator. pedance is not a
have heard you any- pure resistance, ie
way because you forgot to turn the power equal values. In the opposite arms of the it possesses reactance as well as resist-
back up! bridge are impedances Z and X. X is an ance, the bridge balance will depend on the
Now try this scenario – you hear the unknown impedance, and Z is variable. A frequency of the voltage source, which could
ZS3DXC station, turn on your Silent Tuning meter (or generalised detector) is connected be a signal generator, for example. We are
Indicator, adjust the ATU using the receiver across the centre points of the arms. aiming to use a radio receiver as our detec-
(on his frequency, with no transmission For the meter to read zero (a condition in tor (to replace the meter in Fig 1), so our
from you), turn the indicator off and call him. which we say the bridge is ‘balanced’), the signal generator would have to cover all the
You have tuned your ATU with no transmis- voltages on its two leads must be the same. amateur bands on which we want to work.
sion at all! Because RA and RB are equal, the bridge The device is getting more complex by the
At the heart of this clever unit is the noise can be balanced only if Z = X. Therefore, if minute unless we can generate all these
bridge [1], about which a few words need to we know the particular value of the variable frequencies at the same time! Fortunately,
be said. we can, by using a source of near-white
noise. With the receiver as your detector,
THE NOISE BRIDGE you can measure resistances or imped-
TO UNDERSTAND how the noise bridge ances by adjusting the bridge for minimum
functions, we need to refresh our memories (ideally zero) received noise.
about bridges and noise.
PRINCIPLES
THE BASIC BRIDGE CIRCUIT THE SILENT TUNING Indicator consists of a
The Noise Bridge is like the Wheatstone 50Ω fixed impedance noise bridge that is
Bridge shown in Fig 1, but fed from an AC permanently connected in the antenna line,
source. In the left arms of the bridge, two ready to be switched in at any time. For
resistors, RA and RB, are shown; they have convenience, it uses the Galbraith Noise
Fig 1: A basic bridge circuit, where resistors Bridge PCB [2], with a 50Ω resistor in place
* kb.ew@xtra.co.nz RA and RB are ‘balanced’ against Z and X. of the variable resistor. This ensures that, at

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17 Stealth ATU 0401.p65 17 26/02/2001, 15:10

 Fig 2: The complete circuit of the Silent Tuning Indicator

balance, the bridge is measuring a 50Ω When measuring the impedance of large COMPONENTS
impedance. antennas, the noise generated in the noise THE DESIGN has concentrated on using
The noise bridge operates like this. When bridge has to compete with the noise com- parts readily available or rattling around in
switched into circuit, the antenna and ATU ing from the antenna, and sometimes the the trusty old junk box.
are connected to one side of the bridge, and latter is overwhelming. This design modu-
the accurate 50Ω resistor is internally con- lates the bridge-generated noise, and gives TRANSISTORS
nected to the other side. In the middle of the the ability to discern which is bridge noise, to Transistors TR4, TR5 and TR6 can be
bridge is your receiver, acting as a detector. be tuned to a minimum, and which is an- those listed or any high-speed switching
When the ATU is not tuned, the bridge is tenna noise. This also gives the bridge a transistor having good gain at VHF. TR1,
unbalanced and the receiver TR2 and TR3 are ordinary au-
hears lots of noise from the dio types
noise bridge. Once the ATU is
adjusted correctly, it presents TRANSFORMER BALUN
50Ω as the ‘unknown’ imped- The balanced AC drive to the
ance, the bridge is balanced circuit is provided by the incor-
and the noise heard in the poration of a balun, the toroidal
receiver drops to a minimum transformer, T1, to the right on
or zero. The transmitter is Fig 2. The voltage divider RA
never activated for this opera- and RB shown in Fig 1 is re-
tion! placed by the centre-tapped
secondary of T1, the receiver
THE COMPLETE being connected from the cen-
CIRCUIT tre to ground. The accurate
THERE ARE three main con- 50Ω resistor, made up of two
stituents of the Noise Bridge non-inductive resistors, R12
Fig 3: The PCB design, shown actual size from the track side . See the text for
circuit - the noise generator, an explanation of the two circular pads in the centre. and R13, is connected between
the modulator, and the balun. the opposite end of the same
winding and ground.
THE NOISE GENERATOR second use, as a modulated wide band Thorough tests were carried out to deter-
This is shown in Fig 2. A diode is often used signal generator for fault finding on receiv- mine the best type of ferrite to use. The type
as a noise source, but in this design, the ers! This section of the bridge, namely finally selected provided a good noise level
reverse-biased base-emitter junction of a TR1,TR2, R1, R2, R3, R4, C1, C2 and D1, up to 145MHz.
transistor, TR3, is used. This generates a can be omitted if no modulation is required.
low-noise signal which is, in turn, CONSTRUCTION
amplified by TR4, TR5 and TR6. SOME GENERAL information
Because the noise source is on the construction of the pro-
rich in low-frequency compo- totype is now given.
nents, the higher frequencies
are (to an extent) recovered by THE BOX
over-driving the later stages. I built the unit into a 64 x115mm
diecast box (including battery)
THE MODULATOR with the antenna switch and
The design also incorporates a power switch combined into a
modulator, which consists of a 3-pole double throw toggle
two-transistor audio oscillator switch mounted close to the
comprising TR1 and TR2, and a antenna BNC connectors, as
diode switch to modulate the can be seen in the photograph.
signal on the collector of TR5. Note that the RF connectors
Why modulate the noise? Fig 4: The component layout on the PCB. are close to the switch to pre-

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17 Stealth ATU 0401.p65 18 26/02/2001, 15:10

 MAKING THE TRANSFORMER BALUN
COMPONENTS LIST The transformer T1, should really be called
a balun, as it converts the unbalanced out-
Resistors, all 0.25W, unless stated TR1 - 3 BC337 or any put of the noise generator to a perfectly
otherwise audio npn type balanced noise source across the bridge. It
R1, 2, 10 100kΩ TR4 - 6 PH2369 or will be noted that this design has an unused
winding between pins 2 and 7. This com-
R3 - 6 10kΩ 2N2222A etc
pletely balances the capacitive coupling be-
R7 1kΩ
tween primary and secondary.
R8, 9 470kΩ Other items A little care should be taken in winding this
R11 15kΩ T1 Ferrite toroid Amidon component.
R12,13 100Ω, non-inductive FT50-61 with 0.3mm ● Twist together four 180mm strands of
enamelled copper wire 0.3mm enamel copper wire. Aim to have
Capacitors (see text) a twist of about 40 rotations over this
C1 - 6 10nF ceramic S1 3-pole 2-way length.
C7 10nF ceramic rotary switch ● Wind 10 turns of the twisted bundle
BT1 9V battery & through the centre hole. Note: one turn is
Semiconductors connector clip equivalent to one pass through the cen-
tre hole. Wind the turns evenly around
D1 1N4148 BNC/SO239 sockets as required
the toroid so that the start is very close to
D2 1N4004
The Noise Bridge PCB is available from: the finish.
D3 1N4004 Branch 05 Projects group, PO Box 1733, ● Separate the ends and remove the insu-
(D2 & D3 mounted under PCB) Christchurch, New Zealand. lating enamel. This can be done with a
Email: kb.ew@xtra.co.nz
soldering iron on most wire types now.
● Use a buzzer or ohmmeter to identify the
four pairs of windings. Arrange them as
serve the high-frequency performance. in the diagram Fig 5. This is the lead out
Another construction idea would be to pattern needed for the PCB.
build the unit inside the ATU. Wherever it I used masking tape to keep the strand
goes, it takes the place of a SWR bridge, ends together throughout the twisting and
and it is a lot cheaper. winding process, and a marking on the tape
The ferrite balun is rather deceiving – it shows the pair orientation for placing into
looks harder to make than it really is and, if the PCB.
0.3mm wire is used, it is not fiddly. The PCB tracks connect the windings in
the correct phase as long as the pair groups
THE PCB are maintained as in Fig 5.
The Noise Bridge PCB layout is shown in
Fig 3 and Fig 4, and was originally de- PCB ASSEMBLY AND TESTING
signed as a piece of test equipment with a Fig 5: The connections for T1, which correspond THERE SHOULD BE no special problems
with those shown on Fig 3. The winding on the
variable balance resistor instead of our toroid is four twisted strands of 0.3mm with this, as long as care is taken in solder-
fixed value of 50Ω. This is made up of two enamelled copper wire. ing the component leads and avoiding
resistors, R12 and R13, as mentioned pre-
viously.
Two 1N4004 D2 and D3 diodes are fitted
around the transistor, TR6, to protect
against inadvertent transmitter power de-
stroying the circuit. These are fitted under
the PCB directly onto the tracks.
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed
the appearance of a resistor in the second
photograph, below and slightly to the left of
TR6, which is not shown in the PCB layout
of Figs 3 and 4. I decided, after the project
was complete, to fit a small LED to indicate
the ‘power on’ condition. The LED can be
seen in the first photograph. The mysteri-
ous resistor is simply the current-limiting
resistor for the LED, and is soldered to the
two empty circular pads shown in Fig 3.
Mystery solved!
Printed circuit boards are available from
the NZART Branch05 projects group (see
the Components list). Parts can be scav-
enged from junk but, if bought new, the total
parts cost would probably come to less
than £10. Fig 6:The mounting of the PCB inside the diecast aluminium box.

♦ Don’t miss the RSGB Spring Show - Bletchley 7/8 April! 19

17 Stealth ATU 0401.p65 19 26/02/2001, 15:10

 Fig 7: Connection of the Silent Tuning Indicator
between transceiver and ATU.

OPERATING
WITH THE UNIT permanently in the trans-
mitter feeder, as shown in Fig 7, it can be
turned on whenever the ATU needs adjust-
ment. When turned on, the S-meter on the
receiver should show a level of noise of S9
Not a complex design: the internal layout of the tuning indicator.
or more. Adjust the ATU controls until the
noise level dips to S3 or less, although I find
shorting between tracks with solder tenna to SK2. Switch on the receiver and the match is good enough if dipped below
‘whiskers’ or ‘spurs’. The track density on set the frequency to your favourite seg- S8. Searching for a null is much like tuning
the PCB is fairly low, so problems of this ment of the 20m band, for example. With for a minimum on a standard VSWR meter.
sort should be rare. the Silent Tuning Indicator (STI) in the ‘off’ Remember to turn the STI off before trans-
When the components have been sol- position, you should be able to operate as mitting, or that rare DX will definitely get
dered in, hold up the board to a strong light you did before. away! ♦
and check for any unwanted inter-track short- When the STI is switched on, there should
circuits. be an immediate loud hiss from the receiver REFERENCES
Although the circuit can be tested out of loudspeaker. Now try operating the balance [1] ‘Noise Bridge’, ZL3KB, Break-In, NZART,
the case, it is a sufficiently robust circuit that controls on your ATU; changes in each September 1998
mounting it carefully in the case together should change the volume of the hiss, and it [2] The Galbraith Noise Bridge first appeared
with all off-board connections is not a recipe should be possible to find, by using the in Break-In in the 1980s. ‘Galbraith’ is a
for disaster! controls sequentially, a minimum (or even a generic name given to projects origi-
Connect your receiver to SK1 and an- null) in the hiss signal. Your STI is working! nated by the author’s club.

● John, GW3EJR, is looking for user hand- operating/instruction/maintenance manual

books for early computing equipment, the for a Lafayette HA-600A HF receiver as
Amstrad PC1512/1640, and the Micro part of a refurbishment project. All expenses
PMP135 dot-matrix printer. GW3EJR, will be reimbursed. G7WSN, QTHR. Tel:
QTHR. Tel: 01239 682 629. 01202 484 892 (eves).
● Harry, G3NGX, has recently acquired an battery, mains input, rectangular plastic ● Stephen, G0HMN, wishes to thank all
old and non-functioning Hallicrafters SX- case, hinged lids top and bottom, and those who answered his query in the
28 Skyrider. He would appreciate copies measures 135 x 105 x 55mm. MI1MTC, ‘Helplines’ column, and via the amateur
of the circuit diagram or handbook, plus QTHR. Tel: 028 6862 1436 or e-mail radio newsgroup on the Internet. He appre-
information on locating reviews and modi- michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net ciates your kindness and generosity. As he
fications. He will reimburse all expenses, ● John, G3GTJ, is looking for any technical says: “If you’re stuck for something, ask for
but would appreciate a call first. He can information and historic data relating to help. I know it works”. G0HMN, QTHR.
offer, in return, copies of the BC221 and Marconi aircraft radio receiver type ● Don, G3WDY, would very much appreci-
CR100 handbooks. G3NGX, QTHR. Tel: 118M ref: 5821-99-970-8401. It is an HF ate the loan (for photocopying) of the manual
01491 872 919. receiver of the post-war period. All costs and circuit diagram for the AVO Transistor
● Michael, MI1MTC, is looking for infor- will be reimbursed. G3GTJ, QTHR. Tel: Analyser. Guaranteed speedy return.
mation on a small elegant multimeter, 01963 240 319. G3WDY, QTHR. Tel: 020 8653 4738.
about 25 years old, marked Milano ICE ● Ken, G3DJK, seeks a listing of all XZ2 ● G0KYE requires the colour code for rewir-
Italy, Supertester 680R, 20,000 ohms callsigns that existed in 1947. Please con- ing a Yaesu FT-One mode switch. He has
per volt, with 22 sockets, scales for volts, tact him if you are able to assist. G3DJK, the technical manual, but this does not give
amps, resistance, capacitance, fre- QTHR. Tel: 020 8679 2717. the colour code. Tel: 01752 705 759.
quency and decibels. It has a 3V internal ● Christchurch ARS is searching for an More Helplines on p40...

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♦ Don’t miss the RSGB Spring Show - Bletchley 7/8 April! 21