Demystifying Smith Charts for Ham Radio Beginners

[@TheSmokinApe]

A video with more detail on Impedance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paO2YYSlmcaUqtUsi=LFCmomVvpDaVW2VF

[@watthairston1483]

The reference to 7200 khz is priceless!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Tam, the response to this video was more positive than I expected. I will do more on the Smith Chart 👍

[@Swamp-Fox]

Hands down the best Smith Chart explanation I have ever seen. The last time I tried to wrap my head around Smith Charts was while studying the ARRL Extra License Manual. I have been avoiding them since.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

When I found the smith chart on the NanoVNA it was everything I wanted / needed to know to get my antennas working I have SWR / Logmag, but it is the Smith chart I go to to work out how to fix issues. For example, a friend was putting up a fan dipole for 40 & 80. We could get a match on 40, but the match on 80 was pretty ordinary. Best SWR was 1.8:1 I had a look at the smith chart and it showed, what I expected, that the impedance was a little low at resonance because of its proximity to the ground. Simple fix. Increase the impedance at resonance by feeding the 80m dipole slightly off centre. Worked a treat….until the weather took it down a few months later. :-/

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks SF, glad it was helpful 👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

Awesome story MidLife, I agree. Once I got the Nano I started to understand antenna behavior much better 👍

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@TheSmokinApe I used to use a home made gate dip oscillator. Had a set of coils wound on wooden kite dowel shoved into a 3 pin DIN plug. Used that to find resonance and then add some sort of L match at the feed to get the SWR right. These days we are so spoilt for affordable tech to home brew, VNAs Spectrum analyzers. Storage Oscilloscopes and function generators. Even component testers for $20 Almost no excuse not to be making stuff. Antennas, match units, radio gear…you just have to get over the optional anxiety of which one project to start on 😊

[@DellFargus]

This actually clears away a lot of the fog that I had about Smith Charts that I encountered studying for my extra. Thanks!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad to hear it Dell, thanks for watching 👍

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Professor Ape in the house! If it matters, These are my favorite type of videos.. Well done, thanks for making this. Shared it

[@TheSmokinApe]

Howdy Andy, glad you liked it bro!

[@tamstutz921]

I really like this video. If possible, I would love for you to build on this, please. For me, it would help to see actual numbers from a current system plotted, and then how to interpret and use the Smith Chart to adjust and improve the current system.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Tam. The response to this video has been better than what I expected. I will do more stuff on the Smith Chart in the future 👍

[@dougdaniels]

Thanks Ape. First science class I've taken in 45 years. I could have used this when I self-taught for my Extra!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Doug, glad you liked it 👍

[@WECB640]

4:40 LOL! 🤣 This is excellent Ape. Keep educating and raising the bar. 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

haha, thanks for checking it out Hollywood!

[@bpsengineer_AC7PB]

Wow! Seeing graph paper and a fancy compass sent my mind back to college in the 1980’s and made me want to hold my HP-41CX calculator. 😊

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for watching Brian 👍

[@K7EGA]

Thank you for making this video!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Scott 👍

[@terryboyle]

now I feel that I have to look for more videos to see the effect of the other variables. Please keep these videos coming

[@TheSmokinApe]

I can do more more on Smith Charts, I do have a few on Impedance 👍

[@donausmus4281]

I really enjoy these "actually informative " videos. Every now and then, it helps knock the rust off of the deeper understanding of your topics. 73, K1DLA

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Don, glad you like them 👍

[@1975adam]

K got me @ 11 p.m est this is new too me let's check this out ..honestly as a 11 meter person in my late 40s and thinking about going futher i find your videos very informative..keep up the good work cheers

[@TheSmokinApe]

THanks Adam, glad you like the videos 👍

[@jamescady723]

Many thanks. Love these. You get to the point without bloviating. Very helpful.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey James, glad you liked it. Thanks for watching 👍

[@ac1o]

You had me lmfao when you said 7.200. 😂. I hope everyone else gets it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, thanks for watching 👍

[@ac1o]

@@TheSmokinApe my pleasure you have good videos plus educational content

[@TheSmokinApe]

Gald you like them

[@ExtraAmateur]

That comment had me choking on my morning coffee. 😂

[@tamstutz921]

I was laughing, too. I can’t believe what a train wreck that freq is. It’s embarrassing, actually.

[@godarklight]

Hopefully the start of a series! Looking forward to it, being able to read the smith chart on the NanoVNA lets you do all sorts of things with ease, like finding distance to a cable break, ideal components needed to match an antenna, adjusting baluns for that perfect 1:1 SWR, making perfect 90 degree phasing lines etc. The NanoVNA spoils us and is a very powerful tool, and the online "will kelsey smith chart" will let you muck around with matching networks and give you an intuitive feeling for how they work.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey GDL, this video had a better response than I expected, so I will do more. AND you are right, there are a few good online tools that are helpful, thanks for watching bro 👍

[@markt.3454]

Good stuff!! I learned this years ago and really needed a refresher.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Mark, glad you liked it 👍

[@aoerstroem]

Massively useful and very interesting video. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this ❤

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it, thank you for watching 👍

[@roger9552]

The VSWR can be found directly from the plotted circle. The intersection of right hand side of the this circle with the horizontal axis ( straight line) is the VSWR

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right

[@jimglover6448]

a very VERY good presentation. Bravo!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thank you very much!

[@janiceemery2008]

Excellent Ape, thank you for sharing that Smith Chart information.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Janice 👍

[@LA9RKA]

A nice and easy introduction of the Smith Chart.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it!

[@adcraziness1501]

Yes. I now fully understand that they make sense to others.

[@curtstacy779]

Good start on the Smith chart! by the way, an antenna can be resonant on more than one frequency, and they can line up right on or near the other bands we have privileges on because of the harmonics. it was designed that way. and the guy who told you about the open feed line was giving you information. if you have an antenna field 400ft away from your shack, instead of running high-dollar massive coax use an open feed line it will save a lot of money and be better. there are places to use all of the different designs. everyone lives in a different situation with different problems to overcome.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I have a lot of friends who use open wire feedline, I put comments in like that to joke with them. So, when it comes to antenna like EFHW that are harmonically "resonate" on multiple bands, that's not really the case. An antenna generally "that's the word I used in the video" is resonate on a single frequency and near resonate on harmonically related frequencies. I have bult, bought and tested a great number of them and I have never seen one that was truly resonate on any HF frequency much less multiples. Thanks for watching Curt 👍

[@curtstacy779]

you need to do a 1/4 wave. the matching network will make them resonate on single frequencies. try a simple 40 meter dipole you will be resonant on multiple frequencies. don't expect a 1:1 match every where, but you will be able to use a lot.@@TheSmokinApe

[@grumpy_ken]

recently discovered your channel and these vids are really helpful

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Ken, glad you like them 👍

[@rohnkd4hct260]

Very good description of a Smith Chart! Probably one of the best. And, I liked the “stab” at 7200 gang 😆

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Rohn, glad you liked it 👍

[@bassangler73]

Very informative Ape! Thanks bro!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey BA, glad you liked it 👍

[@VE6SFX_HamRadioRookie]

OMFG Dude I needed this so much you have no idea. Finally I get it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks awesome Ben, glad to hear it was helpful 👍

[@mikeZL3XD7029]

G'day Ape, It was me that asked for you to do this video and I'm really glad I asked! Great to see that some other folks found some value in it too. Just a note for people that are new to Smith Charts and struggle to remember which hemisphere of the chart is which, IndUctance has a U in it, this is the Upper hemisphere. I realised that as soon as I saw your diagram! Oddly enough Ape, where did you get that Smith Chart print-out from? That looks like a really handy tool for a newbie to charts, like me. Cheers, Mike T

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Mike, it wasn't just you. There are a few flavors of Smith Charts, here is the one I used for the video: www.eeweb.com/wp-content/uploads/smith-chart.pdf

[@M7BXR]

Great help, thanks. So, in an ideal word that SWR circle needs to be as small as possible and centred slap bang in the centre of the chart? If the centre of the circle is above the "equator" then you need to add capacitance to the antenna and similarly if the centre of the SWR circle is below the "equator" you need to add inductance? Any tips on how to do this? I suppose that would be dependent on the type of antenna?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey M7BXR, you are on the right track. I would appear my friend, at least I think we are friends, Mr. BDRFI nailed it as always.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@BusDriverRFI I knew it had to be something 👍

[@mdbryan9525]

Nicely done.

[@TheSmokinApe]

thank you

[@dan_in_sd]

Great video Ape. 👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Dan 🍻

[@wileytraylor5404]

Hi. Any possibility you might make a Part 2 to show how the Nano traces the response on the Smith Chart as the frequency slowly sweeps?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I'll work something out. The response to this video is more positive than I expected so I will do more.

[@spysweeper]

Nice one! Thanks!!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching SS

[@ubergeek318]

You don't know how bad I needed this

[@TheSmokinApe]

SideBoom!

[@ubergeek318]

@@TheSmokinApe you know us CB'ers can't read nothing but swinging needles

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@ubergeek318 well, I wasn’t gonna say anything…

[@Cliff-KI5OPP]

I get to go to bed smarter than when i woke up

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, thanks for watching Cliff

[@jrogich]

I was wondering if you could address the topic of how the shape of induction coils affects the bandwidth. I built a 110 micro Henry coil for my end fed half wave, but I’m wondering what shape would give me the best performance, long and thin, or fat and short.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I can, I will put it on the long list. Short answer is fat, short with space between the coils is more efficient.

[@HVACER1969]

Is there any way to take what you discover on your rig expert or similar device and translate that to determining what your incidence angle is, and can you take the data collected and incorporate that into any antenna modeling software like EZNEC or MMANA-GAL?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey HVACER, Mr. BDRFI is correct.

[@clems6989]

@7:44 The otger half of the smith chart deals with admittance...

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right

[@ornithopterindia]

👍Thank you sir,

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hey, can you make a smith chart video?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ll get to it one of these days, kinda busy with cat videos at the moment

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right

[@75ohmHAM]

Nice dude!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Allen 👍

[@Siskiyous6]

Now i know when I find that package of smith charts in my shack as I move that I should keep them.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right

[@Ezzell_]

Thanks for the video that I needed. What area of the country are you at?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you like the videos 👍 I'm going with south central USA!

[@martymctry20]

Resistance in German is "Ohm'scher Widerstand" so best translated to "OHMian resistor/resistance"

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Marty 👍

[@jonathanlister5644]

How about the equator being the path of least "resistance".

[@TheSmokinApe]

Maybe, but I think the OMs say "pure resistance" 👍

[@jonathanlister5644]

Yeah I know, I was just desperate to squeeze in a cheap pun! I loved your explanation. These diagrams used to make me dizzy!@@TheSmokinApe

[@KF0NNQ]

Well explained. Lol, this wouldn't made for easier studying for the extra ticket. Thanks and 73, KF0NNQ.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Bill, thanks for checking it out 👍

[@yevhenbrych2591]

What does SWR mean?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Standing wave ratio

[@angelscomputers]

Thanks for the video but I will suggest a more down to earth video like in a 10k feet above where I can just take my antenna analyzer or nano VNA, do a sweep and understand what is telling me IN BASICS in regard of "the antenna is good for my purpose"?, etc but VERY "for dumb people" like me which are not interest in all that information you provided (which is great for other people) and we can just do a sweep and in less than 10 seconds understand where we at, like when reading SWR. Also ive seen many times when shopping for an antenna where the manufacturer shows a smith chart and I have no clue what is telling me, it will be great if at that time in 5 seconds I could understand if is good for my purpose or not. If you can give examples even better. I hope I'm explaining myself. Thanks for all your help understanding stuff

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Angel. Sometimes folks feel dumb, but that's because they are exposed to something new, over time the complex will become simple. We are all new at first and feel this way. Look at it like this, in order to interpret a Smith Chart at a glance you need to know the parts of the Smith Chart and what they mean, that's what I covered in the video along with some extra stuff. If you even only take that part away you have a stronger understanding than before AND the next time, it's less complex. Thanks for watching 👍

[@angelscomputers]

You are completely right my friend. Is just that sometimes we live a life so busy that the little bit of time we have to play radios is to take a tool and find “it works? No? Move one” you know. I hope one day (probably when retire) have the time and brain to learn all the ins and outs. Thanks for your honest and down to earth reply.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Angel 👍

[@goobercrow198]

Damn ape you now have me thinkin your primate nickname is a ruse! Might think about going with “The Professor” 🧐 and it also goes well with your cahr buddies. Let’s see Chuck be “Mr. Howell” 💰 Jeem be like “Gilligan” 🤪 even though he more resembles the “Skipper” TO is kinda a hybrid “Skipper as he’s always jabbing at Jeem but he also has a lot of professor qualities. 👨‍✈️🧐 I’m sure someone can come up with a catchy new theme song for y’all! Oh and what an excellent video right here explaining the smith chart🧐

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, thanks Goober, I will let the boys know we have a new show idea...

[@wb7wbw-l2p]

Thanks! Now I have a headache! I recently got a Nano and you have taught me a lot. WB7WBW

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for watching bro 👍

[@macgyver5108]

0:30 why do I keep saying "pretty fart smeller"?

[@TheSmokinApe]

haha

[@DonzLockz]

This dont look basic Son!😂 I needs moe edumacating!😁

[@TheSmokinApe]

C'mon son!

[@DonzLockz]

@@TheSmokinApe 😄👍

[@SMShannon55]

Not all of the power bounces back and forth like a ping-pong ball. Just as a majority of the forward power passes into the antenna except for the reflected power, a portion of the reflected power passes through the trans-match into the radio. How much depends on the impedance mismatch between the 50 ohm cable and the impedance of the trans-match.

[@deplorable-0ne]

I thought you said this was for beginners?😂😂

[@deplorable-0ne]

@BusDriverRFI I'll revisit it after I learn some other things that pertains to antenna propagation

[@deplorable-0ne]

@BusDriverRFI so it's basically plotting the electrical values of an antenna on a chart after its built?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks BDRFI

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Deplorable. I think these charts are more on the technical side for beginners but these concepts are part of the general test. I agree at the first exposure it's complex but I am trying to get the concepts in a consumable state to help folks, thanks why I make the videos. I cover a lot of these concepts in bite size chunks in my antenna playlist... thanks for watching 👍

[@Harriet_Tubgirl]

Reeeee trans match. He’s making fun of rot pockets!!!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Everyone loves hot pockets 👍

[@bryantwalley]

@@TheSmokinApe mmmmmmm. Yes indeed.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right

[@lifegettingintheway2710]

It is probably a niggly point but... reflected waves are created at impedance discontinuities. Very common at the junction of feed lines and antennas. That might be the Transmatch but doesn't have to be. The entire feed might be 50 Ohm non-reactive right up to the internals of the output stage of the transmitter (and is especially evident in tube type amplifiers). Transistor amplifiers disguise a lot of useful metrics that tube amplifiers are metered to present. And that brings up another useful to know concept. All discussions regarding SWR need to consider the different effects on the signal source, depending largely on technology. The impedance of tube amplifiers are thousands of Ohms away from transistor amplifiers and tubes are voltage devices whereas transistors are current devices. This means things. When working with transmission impedance transforms the in-phase voltages have very different impacts on system survivability in full-power transient mismatches such as a falling limb might produce. Theories then, to be consistent, have to consider the specific technologies involved. Nobody running a micropower QRP rig is going to see flames issue from their breadboard rig if the neighbor's walnut tree falls on their antenna, but if they are running 1KW from a pair of grounded grid 3-500Z tubes they may have an entirely different experience.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the info on the tube amps, I really don't have much experience with them.

[@parkedruce7264]

🤷 *promosm*

[@TheSmokinApe]

Bitter much?