A novel approach to the design of insulators in MF tower broadcast antenna stays

Static discharges on stay insulators of broadcast tower antennas can be efficiently eliminated by simple coils. Thus only relatively small RF voltages are left on the insulators, so that smaller and cheaper insulators can be used. A new method for evaluation of these RF voltages at insulators is presented, which can be used for the design of the insulators. The method is based on analysing the antenna and its stays as an integral wire structure. Mutual influences of the insulators, as well as influences of the stays on the antenna input impedance and radiation pattern are thereby properly taken into account.