A Low Power Method of Directional Antenna Tuning and Adjustment

This paper describes a new method of approach to tuning a broadcast directional antenna array in the field. Several new instruments developed by the author are described along with the manner in which they allow very low power levels to be used in the initial adjustment work. Low power elements such as continuously variable wide range delay lines are used along with resistive attenuator pads to simulate the ultimately desired values needed in the high power divider and phase shifting system and to produce the very desirable effect of isolating antenna and network interactive effects and thus reducing the magnitude of the basic task in terms of time, component parts, and the stretching of a field engineer´s patience. Hence the term ISOLOGUE. Power levels range on the order of one or two watts into the system common point and this allows for the use of receiver-size components on a temporary basis in addition to providing complete safety to the engineer and those assisting him. After the pattern design value of current ratio and phase have been established using low power levels and small component elements, the high power network section blocks may be set up on a virtual one-by-one basis.