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Receiver input impedance matching

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Fig 1
Fig. 1. Diagram showing connections when using TV front-end baluns for receiver impedance matching.
L1,L2 TV front-end balun coils.

After purchasing a new t.r. switch I realized it would be a problem to couple the switch to the receiver, since the receiver has a 300 ohm input and the switch has a low-impedance output.

Several methods of solving the problem were considered. I thought of using transmitting-type balun coils, building a matching device, or using antenna coils from an old junk-box receiver. It suddenly dawned on me that TV front-end tuners use a pair of balun coils to match a balanced 300 ohm line to a low-impedance unbalanced line. After purchasing a pair of these coils from a surplus store I installed them between the switch and receiver and found an increase in signal strength of at least two S units over the previously mismatched condition.

These balun coils are available from most surplus stores and measure about 3/8 × 1½ inch. They are bifilar-wound, one being a dark color and the other shiny in appearance. Close examination will identify the proper leads or an ohmmeter can be used to find the correct leads. The diagram in Fig. 1 shows the proper connections.

Clark A. Chamberlain, WSRSH.

The table below shows measured impedance at the 72 ohm side with a 330 ohm resistive load connected to the 300 ohm terminals. - Ed.

Frequency (Mc)Input Resistance (Ω)Equivalent Shunt Capacity (pF)*
7100-86.5
1490-.1
2180+10.4
2870+10.5
3068+10.4
5050+4.5
100109-4.0
14553+2.5
220160-1.5

*Shunt capacitance required to be added (-) or subtracted (+) to resonate the circuit at the given frequency.