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How to Match an Amplifier to an Antenna

In the realm of Citizens Band (CB) and amateur radio communications, amplifiers are used to increase the amount of power going out through an antenna. Any long length of wire can be used as an antenna as long as an "antenna transmatch" is used between the transmitter or amplifier and the antenna itself. This device matches the antenna to cooperate with the frequency at which the amplifier is set to be operating. Though there are differences between makes and models, there are a few settings in common with all antenna tuners.

Things You'll Need

Electronic antenna tuner
1 two-foot coaxial pigtail cable

Instructions

- 1
  Connect one end of a coaxial pigtail interconnect cable to the "RF Out" plug on the back of your amplifier, screwing it down tightly, and connect the other end to the "RF In" plug on the back of your electronic antenna tuner, tightening this end down tightly also.
- 2
  Connect the coaxial cable that leads to the antenna onto the "ANT" or "RF Out" plug on the back of the electronic antenna tuner, securing it tightly.
- 3
  Review the owner's manual for the electronic antenna tuner you purchased to familiarize yourself where the "Band" and "Watts" controls are for your specific unit. Set the "Band" control so it matches the band your amplifier is currently set to, and set the "Watts" setting to match or exceed the amount of wattage the amplifier will be putting into your electronic antenna tuner.
- 4
  Make several short five-second transmissions from your radio so the antenna tuner's matching network can detect and adjust itself for maximum output and minimum reflected power (standing wave ratio, or SWR). Observe the indicators on your antenna tuner while making the transmissions, refraining from transmissions longer than five seconds until the the tuner's indicators demonstrate that it has made the match correctly.

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