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I got stuck with impedance matching for an antenna. Any added components in the matching network gave a result totally different from what a Smith chart predicts. Let me explain this clearer.

  1. First, by shortening L2,C8,L5,C23, I measured my antenna "raw" impedance (without matching) at ANT1 terminal (please see attached my matching network). It gave Za_raw = 133 +j 226 (ohm). RF+ is the input feed line of my antenna. There is a SMA connector at ANT1. It connects the rest of my circuit to the antenna. matching network

  2. Then, if I replace C23 with an inductor L = 47nH, the measured impedance at ANT1 terminal is 60 + j160 (ohm)!!! But using Smith chart, with Zload = Za_raw, a serial added L of 47nH would give Za = 133 + j 496 (ohm). You can see this in the following figure. enter image description here

All measurements were conducted using a VNA. 1-port calibration was done before measuring. Any suggestions are highly appreciated.

****Modified on 17 Oct.**

Here is my construction. I shorten L2, C8, L5 & C23 using wires. The physical length of the feed line is about 29.5mm.

  • The reason for the complicated matching network is that, at first, I would like to make 2 measurement points: at ANT11 and ATN1. ANT1 should be the input impedance of my circuit, while ANT11 should be the antenna input impedance. But later, I thought I don't need to do that. I just need to tune the input impedance of the whole circuit (with all components soldered) at ANT1 to be 50 ohm!
  • Why 50ohm? In my measurement, at the resonant frequency (around 915 MHz), the impedance at ANT1 is 50ohm!

Am I right? enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ Without at least a picture of your construction, we can only guess at why your particular implementation differs from theory. $\endgroup$
    – Phil Frost - W8II
    Oct 8, 2018 at 16:18
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for your comment. I'll add my construction in my question. $\endgroup$
    – Minh Lam
    Oct 17, 2018 at 2:52

2 Answers 2

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Firstly, at 900+ MHz, shorting out components to take antenna impedance measurements is not a good practice as the lead length can be a substantial portion of a wavelength. Stray inductance and capacitance must also be avoided.

Secondly, your matching network appears horribly complicated for an impedance matching circuit. Generally, a simple "L" network (one inductor and one capacitor) will accomplish the match. If you are attempting to do something else with the network, such as bandpass shaping, please edit your question to explain this. You should also state the desired final impedance of your antenna system.

Thirdly, without seeing your physical construction, it is likely that the wires or traces of your shorted out matching network are acting as a transmission line. Any transmission line length that is not a multiple of 1/2 wavelength will transform the antenna impedance. At 915 MHz, even a 30 mm length of transmission line has relevant transformative properties. In order to properly model this, you would need to know the electrical wavelength and the characteristic impedance of this unintended transmission line. This is yet another reason to take the impedance measurement directly at the antenna feed point.

So start by taking a better impedance measurement of your antenna. Then to see how a simple L matching network functions, plug your measured impedance value into this on-line calculator. You can then take the reported L network values and put them in your Smith chart to help you visualize the effect of the two matching components. If later you then would like to see the math behind this on-line calculator, open another question to that effect.

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  • $\begingroup$ For your third paragraph, did you want to mention Port Extension function of a VNA? As I understand the antenna feed point is ANT1 as in my first design. So, the wires I used to shorten out the matching network would change the impedance of the antenna, meaning the whole circuit. But their lengths are too small, only 1-2 mm each. Could you please have a look at my antenna prototype and tell me how to measure its "raw" input impedance? $\endgroup$
    – Minh Lam
    Oct 17, 2018 at 6:01
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According to my calculations, if you have a 1.35 pF shunt across the 133+226i antenna you get 60.7-191i. Then add 60.9nH in series (20% off from your 47nH) gives you the 60+160i that you're seeing. Is it possible this could be happening in your setup? Possibly your hookup wire had 1.35 pF capacitance and about 14nH parasitics? Actually I don't yet understand how a length of coax behaves as a function of wavelength. Would it behave this way if cut to the wrong length?

EDIT: included some calculations for an example. I did this to the best of my knowledge and best intentions, however if inaccurate or unhelpful I'm sure someone will correct me and we both learn :P

enter image description here

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for your example. Yes I do think there are some parasitic inductance and capacitance of the wires I used to shorten out the matching network when measuring the raw impedance. But without shortening them, how can I measure the raw input impedance and then, using a calculator to predict the added components? $\endgroup$
    – Minh Lam
    Oct 17, 2018 at 6:23
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    $\begingroup$ I would measure a know dummy load, like a 50 ohm test dongle, via your hookup wires. Then you can calculate the parasitic shunt capacitance and series inductance. One you know your parasitics, measure your antenna again and it becomes the unknown in your calculations. it is just simple series and parallel equations for resistors, but it gets tricky because of complex numbers. a good scientific calculator makes this simple. you can store complex variables as A, B, C .. then solve (AB)/(A+B) etc. im happy to help with the maths if needed $\endgroup$
    – user13171
    Oct 18, 2018 at 18:23
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks Ryan. Could you please explain more about "measure a known dummy load via your hookup wires". Did you mean that a known dummy load is soldered across antenna feed point and GND? I believe the SMA connector is a kind of this load, right? Sorry for my poor English... $\endgroup$
    – Minh Lam
    Oct 24, 2018 at 13:35
  • $\begingroup$ Yes so the load could be a 50 ohm resistor, BUT, components being what they are, your 50 ohm resistor might be a completely different value at RF... certainly at 900 MHz... that's why you can buy a test dongle for RF guaranteed to be a specific value at a range of frequencies. and typically you can buy it for SMA connectors or whatever adaptor you have. anyway I should also warn you I'm a noob and haven't even built a working receiver yet. and looking at your pcb I think I could learn more from you than you from me :/. hopefully a guru will verify what I told you $\endgroup$
    – user13171
    Oct 25, 2018 at 0:25

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