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Re: Topband: 160m vertical saltwater grounding

To: Robert Fanfant <rfanfant@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 160m vertical saltwater grounding
From: Stan Stockton <wa5rtg@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2020 18:25:14 -0600
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
How big is the land area?

Stan, ZF9CW

> On Jan 8, 2020, at 4:30 PM, Robert Fanfant <rfanfant@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Am looking to activate a location with very limited space surrounded by 
> ocean. Think of a small rock surrounded by saltwater/ocean.  The vertical 
> will be a tall 60’+ fiberglass pole and made to resonate on 160m. I would 
> like a way to reduce the required space of the 160m antenna radial field due 
> to the limited physical space available. The vertical will be located at the 
> waters edge, or even possibly over the oceans surface. At the feed point, 
> will be a choke designed for 160m. We should also assume maximum power of 
> 1.5KW being fed into the vertical and the activation will be for a 2 week 
> duration of time.
> 
> One idea that came up is to use a floating piece of conductive material as 
> the verticals counterpoise. Specifically,   a thin conductive plate designed 
> to float on the oceans surface. From the antenna’s feed point, will be a 
> short length of  ground wire say about 6’ long,  to this conductive plate.
> 
> Question(s):
> 
>  1.  Is it possible to just use the ocean as the ground plane / counterpoise 
> ? That is, can this idea work?
>  2.  If so,
>     *   How do I determine the required square footage/size of the plate?
>     *   What material should be used as the conductive plate? (Nickel, 
> copper, aluminum, etc..? )The thought here is to make this plate as light as 
> possible, yet effective. It  will need to last the duration of the activation 
> (~2 weeks) in/on saltwater, it needs to handle 1.5KW at the feed point, and 
> likely exposed to air and saltwater as it floats on the ocean surface.
> 
> -rob N7QT
> 
> 
> 
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