Get ready for the FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your licensing test!

Multiple Choice

What happens to the bandwidth of an antenna as it is shortened through the use of loading coils?

Shortening an antenna with loading coils raises its Q and narrows its bandwidth. The loading coil makes the antenna behave like a higher-Q resonant circuit, storing more energy relative to what is radiated. Since bandwidth is roughly inversely related to Q, a higher Q means the range of frequencies over which the antenna can efficiently operate becomes smaller. In practice, coil losses can further reduce usable bandwidth, but the main effect is the increased Q that tightens the bandwidth.

Shortening an antenna with loading coils raises its Q and narrows its bandwidth. The loading coil makes the antenna behave like a higher-Q resonant circuit, storing more energy relative to what is radiated. Since bandwidth is roughly inversely related to Q, a higher Q means the range of frequencies over which the antenna can efficiently operate becomes smaller. In practice, coil losses can further reduce usable bandwidth, but the main effect is the increased Q that tightens the bandwidth.