And that’s what ham radio’s all about, right? Otherwise, we may as well use a telephone or the Internet to communicate over large distances! And don’t worry we’ll keep the equations to a minimum (or in footnotes). In addition, the knowledge gained in its use adds to our general knowledge of radio systems. Why use a seemingly-archaic tool such as the Smith chart, when calculators and software are readily available? For one, the chart remains useful as a visualization tool, representing a wealth of information in a very precise and intuitive manner. Here then, is a brief introduction to the Smith chart. But although questions regarding the chart appear in the Amateur Extra License exam, the current Question Pool has a mere 11 questions on the topic, leaving a full appreciation of the tool to the more inquisitive student. The advent of low-cost antenna analyzers and vector network analyzers (VNAs) has resulted in a renewed interest in an 80-year old tool called the Smith chart, a graphical device used to view the characteristics of RF transmission lines, antennas, and matching circuits, and to aid in the design of those systems.
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