221
indicate a circuit through the feeder and antenna but may also indicate
a short-circuit or low resistance fault, water in the feeder for instance.
Most antenna system faults increase the VSWR present on the feeder
cable. A good antenna, operating within its design bandwidth, exhibits
a VSWR of 1:1. When connected to a length of co-axial cable this may
be raised and a VSWR of 1.5:1 for the system is generally considered
acceptable. However, faults can be masked by conditions occurring
on the feeder, and a measurement taken with a standing wave, or
forward and reflected power meter at the bottom of the feeder, may not
indicate the true condition of the antenna. A measurement taken with
an accurate dummy resistive load connected to the top of the feeder ...