Ant. Tuner Shootouts

Antenna Matchbox Shootouts


You will find links to 5 different Matchbox Shoot-Outs below.

If we ask 10 people what they think is the best antenna matchbox (a.k.a. "Antenna Tuner"), we will probably get 10 different answers. 


Several may even be able to justify exactly why they chose "their" matchbox to be their favorite, but is that the best matchbox for YOU ?


Myths and Legends die hard. 


Ask any old-timer (licensed 50+ years) what the best way is to feed an open-wire (balanced-line) fed antenna and they will roll their eyes, as if dreaming, and say the JOHNSON VIKING MATCHBOX.


Of course many people have never heard of the JV Matchbox; most have never seen one, and the commercial antenna matchbox OEMs would have us believe "their" matchbox is the best solution ever.


Since its introduction by Lew McCoy in the July 1970 issue of QST (p.24) , the Ultimate-Transmatch, has emerged to be the single most popular antenna matchbox, albeit in a simpler version as originally presented.  Although the original version had a very large impedance matching bandwidth, most of today's commercial copies are restricted somewhat in their matching bandwidth.


For an overview of the different asymmetrical matchbox circuits, see:  Asym. Matchboxes

For an overview of the different symmetrical matchbox circuits, see:  Sym. Matchboxes


WHICH ONE SHALL I USE? 

(That is the Question!)


To answer that question, we must first understand the purpose of an antenna matchbox:

Purpose:   To efficiently match the impedance of the "antenna system" at the

shack end of the feedline to the output impedance of the transmitter.



The ARRL has been testing antenna matchboxes in the lab for over 20 years.  They typically test 4 or 5 similar matchboxes in each test, testing for efficiency, albeit when matching purely resistive loads.  Unfortunately, the only antenna we have that is purely resistive is the Dummy Load.


Never-the-less, the ARRL matchbox tests are a good stake in the ground for beginning our investigation into matchbox efficiency.  These reviews were published in several issues of QST, over a period of 20 years.  This makes it difficult to find the information, especially for non-members of the ARRL.


In the meantime, the ARRL has published a book written by Joel Hallas, W1ZR (SK), with the title:

 The ARRL Guide to Antenna Tuners, (ISBN: 978-0-87529-098-5)

This book contains most of the matchbox reviews that were published in QST during this time period.


Years ago I put together a summary of these reviews and published it on my original web site.  In this shootout, I have entered all of the lab measurements into a very large Excel spread sheet showing side-by-side comparison data for similar matchboxes.  This makes it much easier to compare similar matchboxes with each other.  See


The Rubber Hits the Road on REAL Antennas, not on Dummy Loads


Eventually, a few hams began comparing antenna matchboxes on real antennas.  THIS is certainly a more realistic test than measuring on a dummy load.  The only drawback is, the results are not a general statement of the efficiency of the matchboxes.  The test results are only valid on the antenna tested.  And, the the OM running the comparison test could only test with a limited number of matchboxes.


By careful examination of the matchbox technology used in each of these tests, the reader can get an idea of the best matchbox technology to use in his own application, assuming he has a similar antenna. 


Here are the four Matchbox Tests on REAL Antennas:


  • Alfred Kluss, (DF2BC) tested 6 different matchboxes (160 thru 10m) on a short dipole; specifically, with an openwire-fed 40m dipole. 
  • 2) DF2BC's Matchbox Shootout  (Currently located on my old web site)

   




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