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Page 6-30
Vector-LP Radio Beacon Transmitter Technical Instruction Manual
Issue 1.1
Section 6 Theory of Operation
6.7 MODULATION DEPTH WHEN
USING A HIGH ‘Q’ ANTENNA
When the transmitter's output is connected to
a high 'Q' antenna system, the modulation
envelope observed on the RF current
waveform may differ from that on the RF
voltage waveform. This difference is caused
by antenna impedance mismatch at the
sideband frequencies, which results in
reflected power standing waves on the feed
cable. Depending upon feed cable length, the
sideband impedance may be more or less
than 50
:
. When the sideband impedance is
less than 50
:
, the sideband current will
increase and may place undesirable stress
on the solid state devices in modulator/power
amplifier.
When calibrating the modulation limits for the
monitor (see 3.6.7), the system automatically
tests using both current and voltage samples
and selects the sample that places most
stress on the transmitter (i.e., the highest
modulation depth).
The following explanation should assist in
understanding this phenomenon.
A typical radiobeacon antenna is relatively
inefficient, since it is very short when
compared with the wavelength of the carrier
frequency. The high capacitive reactance of a
typical antenna is tuned to the carrier
frequency, by an antenna tuning unit's (ATU)
loading coils, to produce a series resonant
circuit. The resulting net antenna system
resistance is then transformed to 50
:
by a
matching transformer. When the antenna is
very short compared with the wavelength of
the carrier frequency, the series resonant
circuit has an extremely high 'Q'. Under these
conditions, the antenna system may present
a 50
:
load to the transmitter at the carrier
frequency but different impedance at the
sideband frequencies.
The mismatch at the sideband frequencies
will cause a standing wave on the feed cable.
Depending upon the length of the feed cable,
the sideband impedance of the antenna
system will appear to be more or less than
50
:
. When the transmitter is connected to a
high 'Q' antenna system, the difference
between the carrier impedance and the
sideband impedance may cause RF stress
current limits to be exceeded. When this
occurs, remedial action must be taken
instantly.