A Lumped-Circuit Model for a Triband Trapped Dipole Array-Part 1: Model Description

Demands on emergency radio frequency (RF) links have shown how important high-frequency (HF) (330 MHz) communications can be for medium to long range. The YagiUda and the log period antenna are among some of the more popular HF antennas. The KLM's Communications Equipment, Inc., four-element KT-34A antenna is based on both types of antennas and operates in the 10-, 15-, and 20-m bands. It relies on parallel LC-circuits acting as traps to form three desired element lengths. A lumped-circuit model of this type of antenna has been developed based on the dimensions in the original manual. In part 1 we tune this numerical model to approximate the KT-34A and use it to investigate performance over an imperfect ground plane.