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An antenna tuning hut or helix house is a small shed at the base of a
longwave In radio, longwave, long wave or long-wave, and commonly abbreviated LW, refers to parts of the radio spectrum with wavelengths longer than what was originally called the medium-wave broadcasting band. The term is historic, dating from the e ...
or
mediumwave Medium wave (MW) is the part of the medium frequency (MF) radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. The spectrum provides about 120 channels with more limited sound quality than FM stations on the FM broadcast band. During the dayti ...
radio transmitting
antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...
. It contains
antenna tuner An antenna tuner (and any of the names in the list below) is a device that is inserted between a radio transmitter and its antenna; when placed close by the antenna and properly adjusted (tuned) it optimizes power transfer by matching the im ...
– radio equipment for coupling the power from the
feedline In a radio antenna, the feed line (feedline), or feeder, is the cable or other transmission line that connects the antenna with the radio transmitter or receiver. In a transmitting antenna, it feeds the radio frequency (RF) current from the ...
to the
antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...
. Alternative names include ''antenna tuning house'', ''coupling hut'', and ''dog house''.


Equipment

The radio frequency current from the transmitter is supplied to the antenna through a cable called the
feedline In a radio antenna, the feed line (feedline), or feeder, is the cable or other transmission line that connects the antenna with the radio transmitter or receiver. In a transmitting antenna, it feeds the radio frequency (RF) current from the ...
. The antenna tuning hut contains a
matching network In electronics, impedance matching is the practice of designing or adjusting the input impedance or output impedance of an electrical device for a desired value. Often, the desired value is selected to maximize power transfer or minimize sign ...
made of high wattage
capacitor A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field by virtue of accumulating electric charges on two close surfaces insulated from each other. It is a passive electronic component with two terminals. The effect of ...
s and
inductor An inductor, also called a coil, choke, or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. An inductor typically consists of an insulated wire wound into a c ...
s (coils) that in combination match the antenna's impedance to the feedline, to efficiently transfer power into the antenna. The
inductor An inductor, also called a coil, choke, or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. An inductor typically consists of an insulated wire wound into a c ...
s, made of large
helix A helix () is a shape like a corkscrew or spiral staircase. It is a type of smooth space curve with tangent lines at a constant angle to a fixed axis. Helices are important in biology, as the DNA molecule is formed as two intertwined helices, ...
es of wire, give the name ''helix house''. The powerful
radio wave Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, typically with frequencies of 300 gigahertz (GHz) and below. At 300 GHz, the corresponding wavelength is 1 mm (short ...
s near the antenna can be a hazard for workers, so the interior of the antenna tuning hut is typically shielded with copper or aluminum sheeting or wire mesh, in order to reduce radiation from the tower. In operation the components can have a voltage of several hundred thousand volts. The building may also contain lightning protection devices and power transformers for
aircraft warning light Aviation obstruction lighting is used to enhance the visibility of structures or fixed obstacles which may conflict with the safe navigation of aircraft. Obstruction lighting is commonly installed on towers, buildings, and even fences located i ...
s on the tower. The
radio transmitter In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the ...
which generates the radio frequency current which powers the antenna is generally located away from the antenna, to prevent the powerful radio waves from interfering with the sensitive transmitter circuits.


See also

*
Antenna tuning unit An antenna tuner (and any of the names in the list below) is a device that is inserted between a radio transmitter and its antenna; when placed close by the antenna and properly adjusted (tuned) it optimizes power transfer by matching the imp ...
*
Radio frequency power transmission Radio frequency power transmission is the transmission of the output power of a transmitter to an antenna. When the antenna is not situated close to the transmitter, special transmission lines are required. The most common type of transmission l ...


References

Radio technology {{radio-comm-stub