MF AM folded monopole characteristics

Folded monopole antennas have been used for many years in medium frequency amplitude modulation broadcast applications. These antennas offer a grounded radiating structure with a height approximating a quarter wavelength. Folded monopoles have been studied exhaustively during a recent effort in an attempt to characterize the input impedance and directivity characteristics as a function of monopole height. As a result it was observed that several impedance regions can be achieved as a function of antenna height and cage diameter. Some of these regions permit a bandwidth operation sufficiently broad to support a high fidelity response for analog or digital transmissions. This type of antenna can be useful at different heights including a self matching region at the standard 50 ohms impedance. By choosing the appropriate antenna physical dimensions, antenna tuners can be avoided and thus it increases efficiency. Measurements have been made on a full scale 72 meter tower with a 6 wire cage in order to validate the calculated antenna input impedance and directivity. The cage and supporting mast make up the equivalent of a transmission line. For this reason different standard triangular towers were analyzed in order to determine their effect on the input impedance. Tower effective radius is determined taking into account the tower width and the tower leg diameter. At the same time, a minimum antenna height with maximum efficiency has been analyzed to solve the hard problem for installations at places where antenna height is a challenge for the designer.