Beverage antennas

[burns]

From:	NAME: Andy Burns                    
	FUNC: Research and Development        
	TEL: 0324 493981                      <BURNS,AL at A1@GRRD04>
To:	"cq-contest at tgv.com"@rcwi01 at mrgate@grrd04

de GM0ECO (not Shetland.......thank goodness as its covered with Oil)

Over the christmas break I put together a two wire N/S 500' beverage to 
the design given in ON4UN's book. What a difference it makes in hearing 
Africa on 80m. My only problem in following the design was putting in the 
ground rods. I probably managed around 5' each end before the rocks 
defeated me. A few questions:

- ON4UN's book suggests beverages work well over poor ground. Does this 
mean I can get away with short ground rods or do I need to put down a 
radial running N/S?

- I've heard that running an insulated wire between the two ground posts 
will help. This seems to contradict the poor ground theory. Anyone got 
any experience of this?

- As the N/S beverage works so well, I must get an E/W one up before 
ARRL. Problem is I only have 200' of ground before I'm into the farmer's 
field next door. I should be able to run wires to 500' or even 1000'  but 
will not be able to put a ground rod down. What's the best solution, 
...to run a radial or to run an insulated wire back to either the feed 
point ground rod (at the east end of the wire) or to a ground rod at the 
west side of my property under the beverage wires?

I'm really only interested in 40 and 80m as I have no problem in hearing 
East Coast stations on 160m. My problem on 160m is the East Coast not 
hearing me. So if anyone hears a weak GM in ARRL, it's probably me!! 

Cheers

Andy
GM0ECO
Burns_al at grrd04.dnet.bp.com